Comments on Germany/Austria itinerary?
Jul 30th, 2008, 11:02 AM
#1
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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
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
Jul 30th, 2008, 11:58 AM
#3
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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.
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.
Jul 30th, 2008, 06:34 PM
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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.
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.
Jul 30th, 2008, 06:56 PM
#8
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
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
Jul 31st, 2008, 06:44 AM
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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.
I think the only way to really appreciate Rothenburg is to stay overnight -- or two.
Jul 31st, 2008, 07:57 AM
#12
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
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
Jul 31st, 2008, 09:55 AM
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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.
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.
Jul 31st, 2008, 01:06 PM
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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.
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.
Jul 31st, 2008, 05:46 PM
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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.)
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.)
Jul 31st, 2008, 05:51 PM
#18
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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.
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.
Jul 31st, 2008, 06:36 PM
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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.
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.
