So, a friend is celebrating his 40th birthday at Oktoberfest this year Monday, 9/30-Thursday, 10/3 and my husband and I are contemplating going. Not going just for the fest, but had originally planned on Berlin and are trying to make this work.

Is it too rushed to do the following?

Berlin arrive 9/26- check out 9/30
Munich arrive 9/30- check out 10/2
Austria arrive 10/2 - check out 10/5...how to split up between Salzburg/Vienna?

Thoughts? Suggestions? Alternatives?
Appreciate the responses!!

one day in Salzburg and one day 2 days in Viena - just going to big cities if fine but driving in them ain't though Berlin and Munich, thanks to WW2 have some of the widest most drivable streets of any cities in Europe practically - but take the train from city center to city center - check schedules at www.bahn.de/en - the German Railways pan-European web train schedule site for schedules - and check out these IMO fantastic sites with oodles of great info on German trains - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Thanks, PalenQ. Was thinking we'd get a car upon departing Munich. Or, do you think we should just use the train system the whole time?

For the little time you have, take the train. I would even skip Salzburg in favor of Vienna. Moreover, there are steep cross-border drop-off fees on rentals that most people would want to avoid.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...27111169/show/

That's definitely a faster pace that I would want, but it depends on what you want to see and experience.

FWIW, I was glad to have 4 full days in Berlin, and that was before many of its current attractions opened, so if going again, I'd want at least 5 full days there. I was glad to have close to 3 full days in Munich, and I thought 4 very full days too little for Vienna. I enjoyed my 1.5 days in Salzburg; I'm sure I would have enjoyed more, but was OK with that time frame in light of my interests.

The train is worth serious consideration.

Enjoy!

If you want to go to Oktoberfest in 2013, you need to get a hotel reservation ASAP.

I can highly recommend Hotel Uhland, which is a charming little hotel, in a converted mansion, in the nice residential area just a couple of blocks from the Oktoberfest park. Offers a breakfast buffet. Loans free bikes. It gets booked very far in advance.

Thanks all. We actually have a hotel reserved in Munich, so we're good there. Am mostly concerned we're rushing the trip. Need to be in Munich sometime between 9/30-10/3. Not sure how to arrange the days/time.

ttt