sparkchaser

I forgot to add that for your epic road trip, I suggest getting some Michelin maps/guides:

Germany:
Michelin Germany Southeast Map 546 - http://amzn.to/2pFtrNa
Michelin Green Guide Germany - http://amzn.to/2oPkZ90

France:
Michelin France Atlas - http://amzn.to/2pFtNmY
Michelin Green Guide France - http://amzn.to/2pazQOO

Spain:
Michelin Green Guide Spain - http://amzn.to/2psInNA
Michelin Spain & Portugal Road Atlas - http://amzn.to/2poypLe

sparkchaser

Crap. I don't know how I missed your list of cities but I did.

OP, ignore my itinerary and I'll work on another one for you. Sorry about that.

sparkchaser

ok, second attempt:

Sept 13: Arrive Munich. Overnight in Munich.

Sept 14: Munich. Overnight in Munich.

Sept. 15: Drive to Nuremberg. Overnight in Nuremberg.

Sept. 16: Spend day in Nuremberg. Overnight in Nuremberg.

Sept. 17: Take day trip to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Overnight in Nuremberg.

Sept. 18: Drive to Prague. Overnight in Prague.

Sept. 19: Spend day in Prague. Overnight in Prague.

Sept. 20: Drive to Vienna. Overnight in Vienna.

Sept. 21: Spend day in Vienna. Overnight in Vienna.

Sept. 22: Drive to Budapest. Overnight in Budapest.

Sept. 23: Spend day in Budapest. Overnight in Budapest.

Sept. 24: Drive to Belgrade. Overnight in Belgrade.

Sept. 25: Spend day in Belgrade. Overnight in Belgrade.

Sept. 26: Drive to Zagreb. This is going to be a long travel day. Overnight in Zagreb.

Sept. 27: spend day in Zageb. Overnight in Zagreb.

Sept. 28: Drive to Linz. This is another long travel day. Overnight in Linz.

Sept. 29: Spend day in Linz. I'd say to make sure to eat a Linzer Torte but honestly they aren't that great so don't do that. Overnight in Linz.

Sept. 30: Drive to Salzburg. Go to the Mozart Dinner at the St. Peter Stiftskeller. Overnight in Salzburg.

Oct. 1: Spend day in Salzburg. Leave Salzburg in the early afternoon and drive to Innsbruck. Overnight in Innsbruck.

Oct. 2: Spend day in Inssbruck. Overnight in Innsbruck.

Oct. 3: Leave Innsbruck and either spend the whole day (approx 11 hours) driving to Montpellier and overnighting there OR spend almost the whole day (approx 13 hours) driving to Toulouse and overnighting there.

Oct. 4: Drive to Barcelona.

Holy crap that's a lot of driving. You're going to need a holiday from your holiday when that's over (which explains the several days in barcelona).

You can remove the Nuremberg portion and substitute that for a stop in Geneva or Lyon on your way from Innsbruck to Toulouse.

sparkchaser

With the cities you have picked, it's going to be very difficult to make off the beaten path type excursions. If you really want to do that, I suggest getting Michelin maps and green guides for the countries you will be driving through and see what kinds of things catch your fancy that are no more than 10km off the motorways.

rtt0921

Cheryl, please, no abuse, but try to understand the following: your itinerary is already full for three weeks and focused on staying to the east of Munich. After you are done with it, you are left with a straight two-day drive just to get to Barcelona. Two days with no sightseeing stops, just driving. It is going to be very expensive in terms of both fuel and tolls. I know as I have done the drive before. There is no other easy way to do the drive other than through the places you have mentioned. You can go from Milan into the Alps and through the Frejus Tunnel and then back down to Marseille, but the privilege of crossing the tunnel alone will set you back €50. Flights to Barcelona will set you back €200-300 for the group, that's how much you'll spend on fuel and tolls to get to Barcelona, but instead of in two days, you'll be in Barcelona in two hours.

On the other hand, you'll have a car in an itinerary focused entirely on cities between Munich and Zagreb, where a car will be useless. Why not cut some of the more distant destinations (like Belgrade), as well as dedicate the time you would lose driving to Barcelona on seeing some of the countryside along your route, stopping in small villages, taking the scenic routes? Your itinerary ignores the Alps almost completely, you'll have a stop in Innsbruck but won't see any of the Alpine wonders of Austria. In fact, you'll be doing a circle around the Alps. Add a stop or two in the mountains. Sacrifice the drive to Barcelona and enjoy some of the many natural wonders of this part of Europe.

cherylm459

Thank you for the great itineraries and map suggestions this will give us some food for thought. Thank you

sparkchaser

Are you sure that the rental company is fine with you driving to Bosnia and Hungary?

You know, it might not be a bad idea to return to Munich after Innsbruck and then fly to Barcelona. That would free up a few days.

dugi_otok

Hi Cherl

I hope you return to Fodors for more suggestions. Many 1st timers give up soon after posting.

Your itinerary type is named after the film "If it's Tuesday,this must be Belgium". If that is what you want I say do it. If flying into Munich, pick up leased car in Munich, drive to Barcelona, drop off car, fly out of Barcelona is a given, with a preferred go to list of cities and a list of cities to avoid because you have been there, done that, then I propose the following as a possible itinerary to build on.

Substitute Ljubjana for Belgrade. Substitute Berchtesgaden
(or Garmisch-Partenkirchen) for Innsbruck. Eliminate Linz. For the itinerary covering your want to see cites(modified) start in Munich, end in Prague:

https://goo.gl/maps/rZYxznWZE982 16hrs28min(1538km)

Munich (3 nights)
Berchtesgaden (or Garmisch-Partenkirchen)en route
Salzburg(2)
Ljubljana(1)
Zagreb (2)
Budapest(3)
Vienna (3)
Prague (3)

Now for the drive from Prague to Barcelona.

https://goo.gl/maps/yvwx2hta9HJ2 17hrs47min (1797km)

Nuremberg (1)
Gengenbach (1)
Beaune (1)
Uzes (1)
Barcelona (4)

WoinParis

We are all use to driving distances living in Australia as it can take up to two hours to get to work each day and over 100km each way so driving for three hours every


You're wrong. Europe is NOT Australia. Distances are not the same, traffic is not the same. Ever tried to drive the scenic route from Nice to say St Trop ? 3 hours top. At 3 am. 6-7 hours in july.

OP I am past judging people. You want to drive, I'm ok. You don't want to share your reasons I'm ok - but frankly what can I tell you ????

Just look at a map, avoid water and pick up a route ! Not that complicated, but if I tell you to go via Brussels will it help ?

So as far as I'm concerned, I gave some advice - that pieced together with other advice can elp you. You don't like my advice or the way I give it ? You know what ? I don't care one bit. I am not the one doing the driving. Find a route you like. I can't be bothered.

Ah, just one thing : drive on the right side.
Another thing : I'm Belgian. Means I'm even less rude than French, as far as the caricature goes. But if you react during your trip the way you react here, don't be surprised if you find yourself in Warsaw when you ask to go to Barcelona.

Warsaw is nice, mind you.

cherylm459

Thanks dugi for your suggestions I will have a look at that thanks again.
Woinparis thanks appreciate it i will look at a map.

kja

Better!