Bigfish7

In early November we're taking a Danube River Cruise from Vienna that ends in Nuremberg. We're staying in a condo in Oberstaufen for a week following cruise & will be picking up car in Nuremberg. Help with itinerary is appreciated. We're in our 50s from US & don't speak German. We love to drive, meander through villages, eat local cuisine, take lots of photos & experience the sense of place that comes from stopping for coffee at a cafe or walking into a hardware store. We fly back home from Tegel Airport in Berlin.

treplow

I'll be glad to give you some routing suggestions from Nuernberg to Oberstaufen. But having some sense of timing would be most helpful. How much time will you have to get from Nuernberg to Oberstaufen? After Oberstaufen, the area I know well,how much time do you have to get to Berlin, or would you consider flying there from Munich?

Bigfish7

We are driving directly from Nuernberg to Oberstaufen when we leave the river cruise (guessing departure from boat around 9 a.m.) We will be in Oberstaufen for 1 week & will drive directly to Berlin to fly home. If we need to stay over on the way to Berlin we can certainly do that. We're very early risers (usually before the sun rises). Our first trip to the area, so we do want to see some castles, husband hopes to drink some German beer & I'd love to bring back some Christmas gifts (but know that I'm early for the Christmas Markets). We like good food, but will be bringing casual clothes as we're traveling with 1 suitcase each. Any direction you can provide is appreciated.

treplow

OK, that helps. As I understand it, you plan to drive in one day from Nuernberg to Oberstaufen. That doesn't leave you much leeway to visit places en route, because it gets dark earlier in that part of Europe than Salt Lake and environs.

My suggestion: Leave Nuernberg on the Autobahn A-6, going west. Take it as far as the intersection with the Autobahn A-7,(86km.) From that intersection, the most direct way is taking the A-7 south as far as Kempten, Exit #134. On the Kempten by-pass, look for route B-19 or follow the signs to Immenstadt (I grew up there).In Immenstadt, follow the B-305, going west, or follow the signs to Oberstaufen - Lindau (42km to Oberstaufen). As rule of thumb, figure 100km/hr on the Autobahns, 65km on the B roads (Bundestrassen, like US Federal Highways).

Now, as to possible side tours: #1: At the intersection of the A-6 and A-7 turn north for 21km on the A-7, to the Rothenburg exit #108, and visit that old city. This would be a detour of about 50km. #2: Take exit #49 on the A-6, 5km before the A-6/A-7 interchange, and drive the B-25 south to Dinkelsbuehl (20km).I personally prefer this old city over Rothenburg. Less touristy. After D., take the unnumbered highway south to Ellwangen, and from there, head to the Autobahn A-7 at Entrance #113. About a 5km detour. (#3) On the A-7, south, take exit #129, Memmingen Sued, and take the unnumbered highway to Ottobeuren. This nice village has one of the most impressive basilikas in the Bavarian baroque style (11km).To get back onto the A-7, follow the signs to Bad Kroenenbach (Entrance #131, about 10km). Overall, about a 8km detour.

Kempten has also a nice town center.

Considering the likely weather and scenery, I would not drive all the way to Berlin. Taking the most direct way will take you most likely 1 1/2 days or more of driving. The most direct route Oberstaufen - Berlin is driving to Munich, and take the A-9 all the way to Berlin. Roughly 700km.

markan

Here is a website you might find helpful and interesting as far as finding places near Oberstaufen that have their own breweries and restaurants.

http://www.braugasthoefe.de/en/

For example if you explor the map on this website you'll see that on the way from Oberstaufen to Neuschwanstein you may pass through the village of Nessalwang where this brewery/hotel/restaurant exists and it might be worth stopping there for lunch so your husband can enjoy their beer as I assume you'll be driving for him .

http://www.hotel-post-nesselwang.de/restaurant/

Another possibility if you want a very nice site to visit that also has it's own brewery/beer hall is Kloster Andech's about 1/2 west of Munich. Maybe about 45 minute - 1 hour drive or so from Oberstaufen.

http://www.andechs.de/kloster-andechs.html

I agree with Treplow about Dinkelsbuehl. It's a really beautiful old walled city and preferrable to Rothenburg IMO. Also two nice breweries in Dinkelsbuehl that can be enjoyed while there. Such as Weib's that has it's own brewpub right in the middle of Dinkelsbuehl inside the wall:

http://www.weibsbrauhaus.de/

and then Hauf http://www.hauf-bier.de/

I don't believe they have their own brewpub but their excellent beer can be found in quite a few outlets in the city including this very nice restaurant calld the Wilde Mann right at the entrance to one of the gates:

http://www.wilder-mann-dinkelsbuehl.de/index.html#


Hope this helps your husband find and enjoye good Bavarian (or Franconian in the case of Dinkelsbuehl) beer.

Bigfish7

Thank you so much for your feedback. The directions are exactly what I was hoping for ...