Bavaria 5-Day Itinerary Advice
Feb 25th, 2014, 02:14 PM
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Bavaria 5-Day Itinerary Advice
Hello!
My son (almost 20) and I will be spending a few days together in Germany before meeting a larger group in Italy. We arrive in Munich at 1pm on May 18th and need to be in Fiesole by mid-afternoon on the 23rd.
He's very much into history, cars and outdoor activities such as biking/hiking. He doesn't care for art (boohoo) or museums. I think he would like: BMW plant, beer gardens (he's legal there, isn't he?), Neuschwanstein and other castles, a day or two of great hiking, biking and scenery. I'm up for anything. I was in Munich years ago for Oktoberfest and hit a few of the highlights (mainly art, gardens, markets and beer), but I don't know much about the surrounding area.
So...I'm trying to decide if we should base ourselves in Munich and do all day trips or if we should move around. Also, should we rent a car or rely on public transportation? Finally, from what I can tell, the best way for me to get to Italy on the 23rd is by flying from Munich to Florence. The overnight train is twice the cost of a flight (although I realize I wouldn't need a hotel that night....but how well would we sleep and we arrive in Florence so early that we wouldn't be able to check into our pension).
We can cover a lot of ground so please keep that in mind. We are not casual travelers who sleep late and spend a lot of time dining, although we do like good food. We like to be on our feet and pack as much in as we can.
I sincerely thank you for any input!
jglags
My son (almost 20) and I will be spending a few days together in Germany before meeting a larger group in Italy. We arrive in Munich at 1pm on May 18th and need to be in Fiesole by mid-afternoon on the 23rd.
He's very much into history, cars and outdoor activities such as biking/hiking. He doesn't care for art (boohoo) or museums. I think he would like: BMW plant, beer gardens (he's legal there, isn't he?), Neuschwanstein and other castles, a day or two of great hiking, biking and scenery. I'm up for anything. I was in Munich years ago for Oktoberfest and hit a few of the highlights (mainly art, gardens, markets and beer), but I don't know much about the surrounding area.
So...I'm trying to decide if we should base ourselves in Munich and do all day trips or if we should move around. Also, should we rent a car or rely on public transportation? Finally, from what I can tell, the best way for me to get to Italy on the 23rd is by flying from Munich to Florence. The overnight train is twice the cost of a flight (although I realize I wouldn't need a hotel that night....but how well would we sleep and we arrive in Florence so early that we wouldn't be able to check into our pension).
We can cover a lot of ground so please keep that in mind. We are not casual travelers who sleep late and spend a lot of time dining, although we do like good food. We like to be on our feet and pack as much in as we can.
I sincerely thank you for any input!
jglags
Feb 25th, 2014, 02:37 PM
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Yes he is legal there and just about everywhere in Europe where 18 or younger is the legal drinking age.
You may consider basing in a place like Garmsich-Partenkirchen which is at the foot of the Zugspitze and if you have a car an easy day trip from Fuessen and Mad Ludwig's castles or you can tan take a train there from Garmisch to Eutte, Austria and then a mini-bus or taxi the feww miles thru the gap to Fussen - you d not need a car either as buses if not trains go everywhere.
For the train to Italy go to www.bahn.de/en - the German Railways site and if you book way early can get some discounted tickets to Verona or some place then use www.trenitalia.com for the Verona or Trento, etc train to Florence - again big savings for discounted tickets which however are non-refundable non-changeable I believe but much cheaper than full fare if you want to lock yourself in early - this is if you want to see the beautiful Alpine scenery in between Germany and Italy - toherwise fly - overnight train has discounted seats from about 49 euros - I mean berths in a multi-person couchette - city center to city center and savea a lot of time even over flying which always takes a half day getting to airport and back, etc.
These are nice overnight trains I have taken several times - your son may even relish the experience - most folks do sleep - specially if you bring a little vino on board - allowable, etc.
If doing trains - every around Bavaria -check out these IMO superb sites: www.seat61.com - good info on discounted tickets; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. In Bavaria be sure to use the Bavaria Pass, sold locally where for about 39 euros all of yous can travel throughout Bavaria on regional trains for the whole day and city trams, buses, s-Bahns and U-bahns all day and night - even covers the Garmisch to Reutte train via Austria to Fussen.
If you wanted to go by train and not take all day consider breaking your journey in Verona for a day - one less day in Bavaria and one day here - a really old-world historic city with of course Juliet's balcony - a fake but still nice to see!
You may consider basing in a place like Garmsich-Partenkirchen which is at the foot of the Zugspitze and if you have a car an easy day trip from Fuessen and Mad Ludwig's castles or you can tan take a train there from Garmisch to Eutte, Austria and then a mini-bus or taxi the feww miles thru the gap to Fussen - you d not need a car either as buses if not trains go everywhere.
For the train to Italy go to www.bahn.de/en - the German Railways site and if you book way early can get some discounted tickets to Verona or some place then use www.trenitalia.com for the Verona or Trento, etc train to Florence - again big savings for discounted tickets which however are non-refundable non-changeable I believe but much cheaper than full fare if you want to lock yourself in early - this is if you want to see the beautiful Alpine scenery in between Germany and Italy - toherwise fly - overnight train has discounted seats from about 49 euros - I mean berths in a multi-person couchette - city center to city center and savea a lot of time even over flying which always takes a half day getting to airport and back, etc.
These are nice overnight trains I have taken several times - your son may even relish the experience - most folks do sleep - specially if you bring a little vino on board - allowable, etc.
If doing trains - every around Bavaria -check out these IMO superb sites: www.seat61.com - good info on discounted tickets; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. In Bavaria be sure to use the Bavaria Pass, sold locally where for about 39 euros all of yous can travel throughout Bavaria on regional trains for the whole day and city trams, buses, s-Bahns and U-bahns all day and night - even covers the Garmisch to Reutte train via Austria to Fussen.
If you wanted to go by train and not take all day consider breaking your journey in Verona for a day - one less day in Bavaria and one day here - a really old-world historic city with of course Juliet's balcony - a fake but still nice to see!
Feb 25th, 2014, 03:03 PM
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http://www.bmw-werk-muenchen.de/lowband/com/en/
email then at least a month in advance to reserve an English speaking tour. This was so worth it. I loved seeing all the cars being built and the show room/restaurants/gift shops are nice also. Easy to reach.
Garmisch is so good because there is so much to see so do spend a couple nights there for sure.
email then at least a month in advance to reserve an English speaking tour. This was so worth it. I loved seeing all the cars being built and the show room/restaurants/gift shops are nice also. Easy to reach.
Garmisch is so good because there is so much to see so do spend a couple nights there for sure.
Feb 25th, 2014, 08:20 PM
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I would break up the 5 nights. A couple in Munich and a couple near Fussen or Garmisch (castles, hiking). My mom and I traveled all over Italy last June and did nearly all 2-night stays. We also like being on the move and found this worked for us. I'd add Andech's Monastery to your list. It's about 1/2 hour outside of Munich. Great beer, food, history, and it's really beautiful.
Feb 25th, 2014, 09:20 PM
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hi jglags,
I live in Garmisch, and I (naturally) think that would be a good spot for your trip. You can easily get to the castles by train or bus, and of course there is spectacular hiking and biking right outside the door! There is great public transport here, which makes it easy to start a hike or bike ride, travel from village to village, and then come back by train.
You'll be travelling closer to the locals if you take public transport, rather than being isolated inside a private bubble. Also, you may want to limit your carbon emissions while here -- since public transport is available and so good, it seems a shame not to use it. Scientists have predicted that Bavaria will lose all its glaciers in 30 years due to Global Climate Change, so you may want to help preserve the beauty you are coming over to see.
Have fun as you plan!
s
I live in Garmisch, and I (naturally) think that would be a good spot for your trip. You can easily get to the castles by train or bus, and of course there is spectacular hiking and biking right outside the door! There is great public transport here, which makes it easy to start a hike or bike ride, travel from village to village, and then come back by train.
You'll be travelling closer to the locals if you take public transport, rather than being isolated inside a private bubble. Also, you may want to limit your carbon emissions while here -- since public transport is available and so good, it seems a shame not to use it. Scientists have predicted that Bavaria will lose all its glaciers in 30 years due to Global Climate Change, so you may want to help preserve the beauty you are coming over to see.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Feb 26th, 2014, 04:15 AM
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Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. My immediate thought is that we will spend two nights in Munich and three in Garmisch, not rent a car and take the overnight train to Florence. I'm going to spend time putting together a better itinerary and run it by you all again. Many, many thanks!
