We are planning an autumn trip next year to Germany for 10 days (travel days not included). We were thinking of using Stuttgart and Düsseldorf as bases.

We will have (and want) a car.

For Stuttgart we are thinking of a day trip to Triberg and Gengenbach. A drive over to the Swabian Alb another, and exploring Stuttgart itself. If we go during the volkfest we will spend time there, and might go over to the place where the pumpkin festival is.

For Düsseldorf we were thinking of a day trip down to Cologne and maybe Trier. Another to ride down to Bingen, park the car, take a cruise up to Boppard, train back to the car, and some type of scenic drive back to the city.

Question is, should we spend five days in each, or spend four in each and go to another town for the remaining days. If so, where? We aren't ones that enjoy cycling, hiking, etc. and touring castles aren't that enjoyable. With that said, a few nights in the BF or the Rhine don't make much sense.

We loved Bavaria (we have been to Munich, and some small towns on the Romantic Road), so maybe hit a town in Bavaria we haven't been to?

There are some nice places en route between Stuttgart and Dusseldorf - Heidelberg, Mannheim and Mainz are all worth visiting.

Further to the east, Wurzburg is lovely; another alternative would be to head west into the Pfalz where there are some beautiful little villages along the Weinstrasse. here's a link to the website with a map showing the main routes:

http://www.suedlicheweinstrasse.de/s...app/karte.html

If I were you, I'd base in Koln, visit Dusseldorf on the S-Bahn. If you're going to Trier, why wouldn't you include Aachen?

I love this part of Germany. Why Dusseldorf in particular?

Why not pick up the car in Koln and drive down the Rhine?

Then off to Stuttgart.

"We loved Bavaria (we have been to Munich, and some small towns on the Romantic Road)"

I that case, I really think Düsseldorf (or Cologne) is a strange choice for a 5-day travel base.

First of all, you intend to do day trips to Trier and into the Middle Rhine Valley for a Rhine cruise. Both outings involve lengthy drives and an exit from (and return to congested metro areas.

Also, you won't find anything like the Romantic Road towns in Cologne, D'dorf, or Trier. But that doesn't mean you should zoom back to Bavaria. I understand the value of visiting Cologne and Düsseldorf, which I believe you could likely accomplish in 2-3 days. But I would definitely spend at least 2 days and nights in the Middle Rhine and Mosel region.

"We aren't ones that enjoy cycling, hiking, etc. and touring castles aren't that enjoyable. With that said, a few nights in the BF or the Rhine don't make much sense."

??? There's more to the Rhine and Mosel than you understand, perhaps. Like the RR towns you saw, several of the Rhine and Mosel towns there have spectacular old world buildings, old defensive towers and town walls. Wineries? Yes - everywhere. Scenery? Much better than on the Romantic Road. The scenery from the 2-hour boat cruise you have in mind is nice, but the scenery from atop the Rhine cliffs is exceptional as well; Trier makes for a nice visit but it's not in a scenic spot and is a mostly modern place (aside from those structures with Roman roots.)

Linz am Rhein (between Cologne and Koblenz):
http://www.brodyaga.com/pages/photos...aga.com%29.jpg
http://www.staedte-fotos.de/1024/lin...ttor-35747.jpg

Braubach (Rhine, 10 min. from Koblenz) - http://www.romantischer-rhein.de/upl...ltstadt_02.jpg

Bacharach (Rhine, near Bingen):
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...arach_BW_9.JPG
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...arach_BW_1.JPG

Fall wine fest in Oberwesel (Rhine near Bacharach):
http://www.oberwesel.de/uploads/pics/P1060485.JPG
Old town wall in Oberwesel: http://www.voos-camper.de/wohnmobil_...berwesel_2.JPG

View of Rhine and Oberwesel from the Günderodehaus inn:
http://www.christiane-geldmacher.de/...in2014-003.jpg

Wine Museum / tasting room in St. Goarshausen's old city tower: http://www.rhein-lahn-kreis.de/image...emou7dthn601h7
http://www.welterbe-atlas.de/uploads...oarshausen.JPG

Winningen (Mosel): https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4120/...50deb0ee_z.jpg

Bernkastel (Mosel) - http://en.bernkastel.de/fileadmin/_m...brunnen_02.JPG

Cochem (Mosel) Market Square: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...hem,_Markt.JPG

Cochem river scene: http://www.cochem.de/tourismus/bilde...r_Bild_238.jpg

Cruises from Cochem: http://hotel-simonis-koblenz.de/incl...opimage&id=143

Reason for Dusseldorf:

With the exception of Paris' Louvre and Rodin, we aren't museum people. Give us a nice town with sights to see, streets to "get lost" in, great food, and doesn't die at night...we are thrilled.

Asking about Cologne the past few weeks, I was told by a couple people that with not enjoying museums, we'd probably only enjoy the city for a few hours.

I knew Dusseldorf was close, so I thought that would be better.

Thank you for the info Fussgaenger. We must have been typing at the same time...I didn't see your response until after my post above.

I didn't notice any of those things about Dusseldorf but I'm not a night life person. We went for some of the architecture but even that was pretty brief. Koln is much more exciting.

I agree with Fussgaenger about Trier. Besides the Porta-Nigra, Trier is just okay. We did travel a little out of our way for it but I wouldn't advise others to do so. And again, Fuss has a good point about the Rhine. Personally, I'd rather drive it but any way you travel it makes a nice journey.

In Bavaria, you might look at Bamberg and Coburg.

Here writes the one who has worked in Cologne and Düsseldorf:

Both cities have great museums, but much more.

>>>Give us a nice town with sights to see, streets to "get lost" in, great food, and doesn't die at night...we are thrilled<<<

I think Düsseldorf would be a good choice for you. There is the Carlstadt, a Renaissance-style part of the old town with cobbelstone streets, gaslamps, a wonderful baroque church (Maxkirche, where Mendelssohn-Bartholdy - the Wedding March - was organist). There is also the boardwalk along the Rhine - very lively during day and night and very beautiful. There is the Altstadt (Old Town) with hundreds (no kidding) of restaurants and bars. There are also parks and the Königsallee, the elegant street for high-class shopping. You will be thrilled in Düsseldorf - I promise (regardless what other posters say who never really have been there).

For a bit of history, you might visit some thousand-year old ruins of Charlemagne's palace in Kaiserswerth, a lovely village which is actually one of Düsseldorf's neighbourhoods.

Close to Düsseldorf, do not miss the Neanderthal Museum. Even if you are not museum people you will be appaled by the reconstructions of Neanderthal men. You can also visit the site where the bones had been found and you can hike through the lovely Neanderthal Valley with corrals with ice-age animals.

I second the proposal to see Aachen - it has a magnificent cathedral, dating from 800 A.D. (where Charlemagne was crowned) and a medieval City Hall.

Not far from Aachen you find Monschau, arguably Germany's most romantic small town.