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Old May 17th, 2011, 06:55 AM
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German cities - need advice

Hello!

Would appreciate input from the experts here on a trip I'm planning for September.

Landing in Frankfurt we are heading over to Prague and from there to Amsterdam.
In between those destinations we have a total of 6 days we can spend in German cities on the way. I'm trying to figure out which cities we should go for. Due to their location along our route the candidates are as following:
- Nuremberg
- Munich
- Dresden
- Berlin
- Hamburg
- Bremeb

Out of this very worthy list we have to pick 2, maybe 3 cities tops (While we could visit more I don't want to turn the trip into a mad rush between trains).

So which cities would you advise?
Our priorities are really with architecture and potential for walks around the city that really gives you a feeling for it. We are big on gothic churches and want to see at least one medieval castle. Museums are a small priority, we like to hit one or two in each city ,but not to overdo it. Nightlife not a big priority although live music venues/bars with good beers are a plus. "Quaint" not a priority. Focus is on seeing something new and unique to Germany that we wouldn't be able to see elsewhere.

So based on this information - what are the top three cities you would suggest we visit? What are the ones we absolutely can't miss?

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide!!
kladan is offline  
Old May 17th, 2011, 07:22 AM
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Based off your list and the things you like I think Nuremberg/Munich/Bavaria would be a good option. You could easily spend 6 days in that area right after landing in Frankfurt.

If you want two areas consider doing the Rhine/Mosel area when you land, then heading to Nuremberg, and then to Prague.
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Old May 17th, 2011, 08:15 AM
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Stop off in Rothenburg ob der Tauber on your way to Nuremberg. It's very touristy but you may enjoy the old town atmosphere. Munich is a little out of the way if you are going to Prague but it too is worth a couple of days. Hofbrauhaus has ompah music and beer. You could do a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich. It's touristy and not medieval but certainly plays the part.

Have a great time!
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Old May 17th, 2011, 01:03 PM
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I would recommend to take a stop in Dresden (2 days) and Berlin (4 days).
1. Both of them are not too far off your Frankfurt-Prague-Amsterdam loop. I'd head to Dresden first, then Prague and over to Amsterdam via Berlin.
2. Dresden can provide a medium-sized city feel and attractive surroundings along with some ancient buildings of historical significance.
3. Berlin is cheap, relaxed, offers lots of activities and can cater to everyone's taste with regards to historic sites, atmospheric cafes, good restaurants, relaxed or wild night life etc.
I would not bother with the detour to either Munich or Hamburg in connection with this route (both are interesting, albeit very different from each other, but too far North and South for your purposes). Nuremberg doesn't do anything for me personally as all it has is a castle, but its city centre consists of largely bland buildings and it overall feels quite provincial. Bremen warrants maybe half a day - after that you would have seen it all.
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Old May 17th, 2011, 01:20 PM
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I like the area in and around Nurnberg, including daytrips to Bamberg BUT given your Prague location and the ultimate end in Amsterdam I would strongly agree with Dresden for the art museums if nothing else and then to Berlin for the absolute wealth of things to see and do and then the very easy connections to Amsterdam
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Old May 17th, 2011, 08:43 PM
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bookmarking
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Old May 18th, 2011, 05:03 AM
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Great big thanks to all who left suggestions here, very helpful!
Please keep them coming if there is more others want to share.
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Old May 20th, 2011, 11:11 AM
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Bamberg is very close to Nuernberg--it is our favorite small city in Germany. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has a lot of history. The old town (Altstadt) is wonderful, and it is a part of today's city, not just a prettily maintained tourist enclave.
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Old May 22nd, 2011, 06:28 AM
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I vote for Dresden, with a possible daytrip off the beaten path visit to Seiffen (a tiny gem of a town that absolutely should not be missed), Prague, then Regensburg and on to Munich, with a flight to Amsterdam. This is a version in reverse of a trip we took last Nov/Dec. I have a review up with a lot of tips and hints that I picked up from these boards. This same route can be done very efficiently by either car or train.
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