Choosing between an extra day on Romantic Road, Linderhof and Potsdam Sansouci
 

I have 9 days in Germany and will be spreading them between Berlin, Munich, Romantic Road and finally ending in Frankfurt to catch a flight home.

Have already decided to fly Berlin-Munich to save time on a budget airline (early morning flight - so we'll get almost full day in Munich).

Wish to seek collective insight from those who have travelled to these places - which would be your pick?

My goal - not to see everything but a good sampling of city, museum, palaces, medieval town.

At the moment, the plan is 3 days Berlin, 2 days Munich, 3 days Romantic Road (Neuchwenstein, Rothenburg, Wurzburg), 1 day Frankfurt - this will provide time for Sansouci but not Linderhof and more time to see towns along Romantic Road.

Should I cut 1 day in Berlin and skip Sansouci in lieu of more time on Romantic Road or include Linderhof in the itinerary?

BTW we'll be driving on Romantic Road, during weekday.

I have never been to Potsdam, but can definitely tell you that Linderhof is definitely worth visiting. Even in the rain the grounds are beautiful and I glad that we had time to walk around them and the Venus Grotto was pretty. The guide we had in the palace was very good and definitely knew about all of Ludwig's castles.

If you haven't already booked the flights, an option would be Salzburg instead of Berlin. It's less than 2 hours from Munich (by car) and easily doable in the time you've got. That would allow you to fit in Linderhof.

Unfortunately I've already booked flight for Berlin...

Hi K,

We thought that Linderhof was the best of Ludwig's castles.

The Grotto is amazing.

((I))

Some tough choices

You can easily spend a week in Berlin, so I would not give up any time here.

I agree with ira - Linderhof is my favorite of Ludwig's castles. I was very disappointed with Neuschwanstein and I'd skip it.

And, of all the places on the Romantic Road, Rothenburg is my least favorite, although it is a favorite of many people. I'd consider a stop, but not spend more than 1/2 a day.

Have fun!

It is a matter of personal taste, but I would not skip Neuschwanstein. Linderhof is beautiful, but not much different in concept from other opulent palaces (if you've already seen the others). Neuschwanstein is a truly unique, stange, verging on bizarre personal conceit. I've never seen anything like it before--the whole Wagnerian operatic view of Germanic/Norse mythology wrapped up in a fantasic confection.

For me, this particular castle puts the exclamation point on that period of history when the wretched excesses of the remaining royal families of Europe were moving the continent towards both peaceful and violent revolutions and the eventual creation of democratic/socialist states.

As others said: Tough question. I think you cannot go totally wrong with either option.

But if I reconsider what you said in your OP ("My goal - not to see everything but a good sampling of city, museum, palaces, medieval town."), this speaks for Sanssouci.

Linderhof, Neuschwanstein, the towns along the Romantic Road, and also Würzburg may be different in detail, but they are more in the same league than Sanssouci.

Sanssouci is not only the (relatively small) palace, but a whole bunch of gardens, parks, and palaces -- which are as an "ensemble" part of the Unesco World Heritage. Postdam itself has an old town with the Dutch quarter (4 blocks of typical red brick houses from the times of the Dutch immigrants), and the wooden houses of the Russian colony Alexandrowka.

I would not say that these features "beat" Linderhof -- it's more a matter of taste and diversity.

Thanks to all for your insights :)

It's really a tough choice (one which I have to make) as Germany has so much to offer. I've never had Germany on my "list of places to visit" but now that I've done more research, I wish I have a month to spend there!

Someone who has been to Egypt (a place which is on my list) once told me... "after 3-4 temple visits, they all start looking the same". I don't want to fall into that trap hence the desire to have a mix of things.

Having said that, Linderhof still sound very intriguing but it is quite likely at this stage that I'll have to postpone that for another trip... maybe to include it in a visit to Austria given the proximity.

Further question:
- How is Sansouci relative to Versailles?

This is my first visit to palaces/castles in continental Europe. Having visited palaces/castles in England and Scotland before, am quite looking forward to experience the differences in style and architecture.

Hi kakijalan,
Ludwig's Neues Schloss (Herrenchiemsee) might be easier to fit into your plans. It's just 1 hour from Munich.

www.herren-chiemsee.de

After seeing Neuschwanstein and Linderhof, this is probably my favorite of the three. Amazing. Plus the setting, on an island on a beautiful lake with the Alps in the backgound, made for a great afternoon.

If you go to Neuschwanstein, try to see Hohenschwangau also. I found the tour of Hohenschwangau (Ludwig's boyhood home "next door") to be very interesting. Also, if you some extra time, the Tegelberg cable car and luge ride are just 1 mile up the road from the castles. The luge ride alone is a lot of fun.

www.tegelbergbahn.de/index.php?id=160

www.tegelbergbahn.de/208.0.html

Rothnburg... I found it to be too touristy, although St. Jacobs Church (with Tilmann Riemanscneider's masterpiece of an alter), walking the wall at night and the Nightwatchman's tour were just fantastic!

www.nightwatchman.de

Hope this helps.

Paul

Another vote for Linderhof here. It is my favourite of the Ludwig castles. The outside of Neuschwanstein is spectacular but on the last two times have foregone the tour because it doesn't hold enough interest for me. I still stop at Neuschwanstein and walk up to appreciate the scenery but then move on. Of course, I know it is easy for me to say that having done the tour in the past so I know what I am missing out on :)

In relation to Sanscouci I have never been so can't make a comparison there.