I am planning a trip to Germany centered around Oktoberfest in late September. We will have 12 days and need some help with the itinerary. My initial thought is to fly into Berlin and stay 3-4 nights, take the train to Prague for 3 nights then Munich for 4 nights. I know we want to do a side trip to the Bavarian Alps from Munich as my husband wants to see some castles and I want to go to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The castles are important as they are on my husband's bucket list. Is this just a day trip or should I plan to book a hotel to fit all that in and cut a night from one of the cities? Should we rent a car for the trip to the Alps? We have 11 nights total so I am stuck on how many nights in each city and if we are missing another stop we should be making. Black Forrest? Freiburg? We plan to get around by rail and not rent a car. Any suggestions for must sees, places to add, and tweaks to the timing would be much appreciated!

Book trains to Prague and bus to Munich (faster than train) at www.bahn.de/en for cheapest rates - for Bavaria use the Bavaria Ticket or other local pass depending on where you stay - at stations. For lots on trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

With 4 days for Munich and castles I'd stick with trains or buses which will take you everywhere you want. Forget Black Forest - long way and Bavaria is just as neat.

Take the train from Munich to Prague, much more civilised than a motorway bus, with fares from just €15 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class.

Book the train not at bahn.de (who want to put you on their motorway bus) but at Czech Railways www.cd.cz - you print your own ticket.

The train service has just been increased from 4 to 7 direct trains every day each way, all trains are now air-conditioned with power sockets at all seats and (in most cars) free WiFi. There's a minibar serving drinks and snacks, or feel free to bring your own picnic and beer along.

In fact I'd also check Berlin to Prague at www.cd.cz - exactly the same trains are sold by both DB and CD as they run them jointly, but tickets are usually sold off more cheaply by the Czechs than by the Germans for a given date and train. Worth knowing!

When traveling to Prague from Berlin just south of Dresden is Saxon Switzerland - gorgeous sandstone cliffs topped at points by imposing forts - but the scenes are good mainly on the west side of the train so chose a seat on left side when going to Prague.

Dresden would make a nice overnight or few-hour stop - put bags in station locker and see the Florence on the Elbe as they called it once and now again since main riverfront monuments have been restored to former pre-war and prfe-commie glories.

Trains take an hour longer than the comfy buses - which take about 4.5 hours but trains are inherently more comfy. Take whatever is more conducive to your time you want to leave.

Are you sure you can see and do everything you want in these wonderful destinations in the time you have? For my tastes, you are trying to fit in a bit too much -- but that's me, and what matters here is YOU. Here's what I recommend: Get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library), identify the things you most want to see in each location, check their opening/closing times on the internet, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation, add some time on either side (for getting to/from your lodging, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting lost/oriented, etc.). Then see how things fit together.

WHICH castles? There are four builds and some are, IMO, more impressive than others. There are also the Residenz and the Nymphenburg which are easier to get-to in Munich.

Neuschwanstein of course is what everyone wants to see! but as Dukey says there are many others less gaudi and off the radars of many.

Eleven days for your proposed itinerary is ambitious. Castles in these parts are as common as speed bumps, and "side trips" to the Bavarian Alps can mean any number of itineraries. My suggestion, as kja's above, would be to consult some guide books or other information to help identify what you both would like from this holiday.