Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)
-   -   Comments on Germany/Austria itinerary? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/comments-on-germany-austria-itinerary-404452/)

BjorkChop Jul 30th, 2008 11:02 AM

Comments on Germany/Austria itinerary?
 
How does this look to you? I know it's quite busy but we can handle it. I think it's going to give us varied scenery.

Berlin - 2 nts
Potsdam - 1 nt
Munich - 2 nts
Salzburg - 2 nts
Garmisch - 2 nts
Dinkelsbuhl - 1 nt
Rothenburg - 1 nt
Heidelberg - 2 nts
Bacharach - 2 nts
Frankfurt - 1 nt

Ematthew Jul 30th, 2008 11:49 AM

Think about adding Lindau on Lake Constance (after Munich?)

bettyk Jul 30th, 2008 11:58 AM

Spend 3 nights in Berlin and do Potsdam as a day trip.

Same with Rothenburg and Dinkelsbuehl. They are less than an hour apart so do Dinkelsbuehl as a day trip.

You have a long driving day from Berlin to Munich. I'd go to a mapping site like mappy.com to plot out your itinerary.

TuckH Jul 30th, 2008 11:58 AM

It's quite busy but I think you can handle it. It'll give you varied scenery.

Therefore it looks good to me...

bettyk Jul 30th, 2008 11:59 AM

How are they going to add Lindau when they hardly have enough time for the places they want to see already?

TravelingMan61 Jul 30th, 2008 12:59 PM

Agree about Berlin (3nts). Stay in Rothenburg (2nts) not that much in Dinkelsbuhl to keep you busy IMO. I find Wurzburg a great find for 2nts and skip Heidleberg. Just a opinion.

DAX Jul 30th, 2008 06:34 PM

I like the Residenz in Wurzburg and the old town is rather interesting but what's way more impressive than Wurzburg is DRESDEN.

Just a thought, Bacharach is nice but not spectacular enough for a sole destination to waste so much time/gas. There are other places that I would recommend over the Rhine/Mosel valley such as Bamberg or Nurnberg since you're already in Bavaria.

pja1 Jul 30th, 2008 06:56 PM

Hi,

Just thought I'd add that I'd also skip the night in Dinkelsbuhl and stay 2 in Rothenburg. If you want to see Dinkelsbuhl, see it for an hour or two on the way to Rothenburg. Also, I'd keep Bacharach and the Rhine, unless you can swing 2 nights in Cochem on the Mosel instead.

Paul

Jake1 Jul 31st, 2008 05:13 AM

I'd stay 2 nights in Dinkelbuhl and visit Rothenburg as a day trip. Rburg is just a bit too, too "tour bus" central for a place to stay overnight.

cparris Jul 31st, 2008 06:42 AM

I would try to stay an extra night in Berlin and also the Garmisch area.

bettyk Jul 31st, 2008 06:44 AM

Oh Jake, I couldn't disagree more. While Rotenburg is full of tour buses during the day, we've often found ourselves alone if we get off the streets around the main square. And it's quite peaceful in the late afternoon when the tour buses have left and especially magical in the early mornings. Also, much depends on the time of year you go.

I think the only way to really appreciate Rothenburg is to stay overnight -- or two.

pja1 Jul 31st, 2008 07:57 AM

Hi,
I find myself once again agreeing with bettyk! Stay in Dinkelsbuhl as opposed to Rothenburg... I wouldn't. Dinkelsbuhl is nice, but Rothenburg is great, even if it is touristy. Plus, the Nightwatchmans tour is simply the best hour you'll spend there.

www.nightwatchman.de

Paul

Jake1 Jul 31st, 2008 09:55 AM

Different strokes for different folks. While Rothenburg is real pretty, everything in the town is touristy--shops, hotels, restaurants. Yes, the nightwatchman tour is fun entertainment, but some people prefer staying in a real, living town, not a tourist enclave.

It's purely a matter of personal preference. So I recommend not staying in Rothenburg while other people do recommend staying in Rothenburg. Neither is right or wrong, it's just what you enjoy.

pja1 Jul 31st, 2008 12:15 PM

I agree.


bettyk Jul 31st, 2008 01:06 PM

Jake, of course, everything on Fodor's is opinion driven.

We have been to Rothenburg at least 6 times but did visit Dinkelsbuehl a couple of years ago as a day trip from Bad Wimpfen.

We really liked Dinkelsbuehl but found all the traffic distracting. And yes, it is a real city with people busy going back and forth to work, but it is also touristy.

While I think Dinkelsbuehl, Noerdlingen, Feuchtwangen and other small towns on the Romantic Road have much to offer, IN MY OPINION there is no other town like Rothenburg with its historically intact medievel buildings.

There is a reason why tourists flock to Rothenburg.

kja Jul 31st, 2008 01:12 PM

Hi, BjorkChop -

Sounds like a great trip, but - depending on what you want to see and do - you might want more time in Berlin (4 or 5 days) and Munich (3 or 4 days).

Enjoy!

Russ Jul 31st, 2008 05:46 PM

Nice time frame for your destinations overall - but needs some tweaking.

Problems: You need at least 3 nights in Berlin. First day, if just arriving in Europe, will likely be shot anyway. You need another night in Munich too.

Daytrip R'burg - Dinkelsbuehl - stay 2 nights in one town or the other to avoid packing/unpacking.

Heidelberg doesn't require 2 nights. Stop there during the day for several hours on the way to the Rhine instead. This saves you 2 nights, one each for Munich and Berlin.

I would also squeeze one more day out for the Rhine. You'll probably arrive late if spending time in Heidelberg that day, and you'll want to tour a medieval castle (Marksburg? Burg Eltz?), take a river cruise, taste some wine, and visit some of the other Rhine villages, maybe some Mosel villages (Cochem, Beilstein) as well. I'd suggest one night only in Salzburg to capture that extra day.

I'd stay in Mainz instead of Frankfurt on your last night - a more pleasant place to stroll, shop, have a nice meal on your last evening, and only 20 minutes by S-Bahn to FRA (I think Frankfurt is about 15 minutes anyway.)


Pegontheroad Jul 31st, 2008 05:51 PM

I have to add my two bits about Rothenburg. I agree that it's way too touristy, but after all the day-trippers go home and in the morning before they arrive, it's a different place.

I wouldn't spend two nights in Heidelberg, either. I do think that Burg Eltz shouldn't be missed. It's my favorite of all the castles I've seen.

DAX Jul 31st, 2008 06:36 PM

You can also use Heidelberg for your last oevrnight in place of Frankfurt. It's only an hour drive/ICEtrain from the Frankfurt airport. One afternoon & evening is enough to enjoy Heidelberg. I've stayed in Mainz a few times but I think Heidelberg has the ultimate castle ruin with a comparable old town atmosphere.

I absolutely wouldn't sacrifice/reduce Salzburg for those dinky towns along the Rhine or Mosel. Salzburg has the grand Medici architecture & squares to impress you.


bettyk:
<<"IN MY OPINION there is no other town like Rothenburg with its historically intact medievel buildings." >>
Not sure if you've been to Carcassone. I think it is as incredibly charming & perfect as Rothenburg but with an even more impressive double wall and gate bridges.

bettyk Jul 31st, 2008 06:40 PM

No, Dax, I haven't been; but I'll ad it to my list! Thanks.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:54 PM.