you want to "see it all" in Germany and then plan on spending three nights in Rothenburg and only one night in Dresden - somehow these thoughts don't exactly go together.

IMHO, you really need to answer Russ's question on your personal interests: art, beer, etc.

There's just so much to see and do in Germany and 21 days isn't all that much time.

3 days in Rothenburg for me at least is 2.5 days too much - this is a small quiet town at night and during the day simply overwhelmed by bus tour groups. Stay in a place more real IMO.

In the day, one day trips from Rothenburg to Wurzburg, Schwaebisch Hall, Dinkelsbuehl, Feuchtwangen etc., and the one returns in the alter afternoon or evening to a decidedly less horrid town than the one painted by the alarming number of Rothenburg critics.

It is popular for a reason - it will always please some people to denigrate something because it holds an attraction for the masses.

is popular for a reason - it will always please some people to denigrate something because it holds an attraction for the masses.>

Yes indeedy but I am giving my opinion after having been to Rothenburg several times - wow giving an opinion is denigrating on purpose! Kind of haughty IMO.

Oh my, there are some great ideas posted, all of which are appreciated. Out idea of staying three nights in Rothenburg was to pick up a couple of quiet evenings and mornings away from the grueling crowds. The hope is to walk the way, see the streets before and after the arrival of tourist buses. Our experience in traveling is that timing is nearly everything. During midday we can escape to Dinkelsbühl or other small, less touristed towns. Based on the advice we will limit Rothenburg to two days and then move on. So many good ideas, so little time to see everyting!!!

On to a new question: Munich and southward. We are planning 5 days in the area, 3 in Unterhaching and 2 in Munich. The idea is to use Unterhaching as a base (using points to stay at a hotel) and then into the city. I learned to ski on the Zugspitze but have never been to the top; it is a must see! The goal is quality and not volume, so keeping the travel compact is appealing (no need to consider driving to Berchtesgaden).

The ideas have been great and are appreciated. I hope my questions are not a problem.

During midday we can escape to Dinkelsbühl or other small, less touristed towns.>

Not sure you are lumping Dinkelsbuhl in with less touristed towns because during the day it ain't - just as mobbed with tour bus groups as Rothenburgh and perhaps even more so because it is smaller I believe - and also very cute! Nordlingen in a similar dreamy town with somewhat less tourists.

I actually enjoyed Augsburg a lot - a big city but with a really sweet Altstadt (sp?) or Old Town center.

Duh, sorry, PalenQ. Why lump Dinkelsbuhl in with Rothenburgh? Well, because when I first visited Dinkelsbuhl 30 years ago it was empty. I haven't been back to Germany for 25 years and I keep forgetting things change. Thank you for pulling me back to reality. We will look into Nordlingen and maybe Augsburg.

Well not to throw the baby out with the bath water - Dinkelsbuhl is a really neat town and even with a lot of tourists perhaps will be enjoyable, at least for a quick look.

mid-summer unfortunately is when the Romantik Road towns are most crowded with lots of bus tours and tourists - the earlier in summer you can hit them the better for lesser crowds and avoid weekends as well if possible.

The many great ideas that have been posted are greatly appreciated. I thought I might post our developing plans to see what folks think. I have always been an insanely independent planner, so this is new to me and I am enjoying the feedback.

Arrive Frankfort + 1 night
Frankfort region (nights 2-5)
Hidelberg (nights 6-7)
Rotenburg (nights 8-9)
Bayern (south of Munich) (nights 10-12)
Munich (nights 13-14)
Nurnberg (nights 15-16)
Kulmbach? (night 17)
Dresden (night 18)
Berlin (nights 19-23)

Yes, we added a couple of days beyond the planned 21. Why Kulmbach? Well, a landlord introduced me to Kulmbach Mönchshof in '81, as the greatest beer in the Welt. It is silly.

Suggestions, anyone? Thank you, in advance, for your kindness.

Of the destinations you mentioned, only the Kulmbach seem to be the "remote" location. Even that is connected by hourly trains from Würzburg. Obviously, Frankfurt region and Bayern cover both urban and rural destinations.

Hi renaud,

personally i dislike 1-2 night stops [of which you have many[ and find them really tiring. many of your destinations are pretty close together, and can be amalgamated - Munich & Bayern [Bayern is actually the state in which Munich is situated, but stay in Munich and do day trips] NÜrnberg & RotHenberg [ob der Tauber] are really close together, you can see HEidelberg from FrankfUrt etc.

worst of all you are really short-changing Dresden which is well worth more than 1 night.

I would do the following:

Arrive Frankfurt (nights 1-5)
Munich (nights 6-10)
Nürnberg (nights 11-14)
Kulmbach? (night 15)
Dresden (night 16-18)
Berlin (nights 19-23)

also you need, as indicated above, to get the spelling right - lots of places in Germany have very similar sounding and looking names and you need to know which one you want which you won't if you get the spelling wrong.

have a great trip!

I like annhig's itinerary. On the one or two night stays, it's all the packing and repacking and getting to and from the train station and finding the hotel that's really off-putting.

Germany has so many wonderful places to see - enoy!

as long as they do NOT spend up to 5 nights in Frankfurt itself! Lots of nicer smaller towns nearby, like Wiesbaden for one.

RothenBURG not -berg dear annhig... or do you seriously want to send them to a tiny village in the Odenwald hills?

Here's how I would do three weeks if I wanted a German "sampler" tour.

Days 1-4. Fly into Munich, explore the city. Optional day trip to Bamberg.

Days 5-8. the Alps. Because they're there. Gobsmacking scenery, fresh air.

Days 8 - 10. Southwest - Black Forest. Heidelberg day trip. Option 2: Bremen and Luebeck. Don't forget northern Germany is worth seeing too!

Days 11-14. Get away from the car AND the train with a bicycle tour through Muensterland, enjoying the scenery around the villages and water castles. Mostly flat terrain, well off the usual tourist path, lots of help available for route planning, renting bikes, accommodation, etc.

Days 15 - 17. Dresden, Saxon Switzerland. In Dresdehttp://www.muensterland-tourismus.de/4495/radfahren-muensterlandn, step away from the pork and wurst and dine at a winebar with excellent fish like Winzerstube ( http://www.winzerstube-zum-rebstock.de/ ) or go for German bistro cuisine at Villandry (www.villandry.de) Some might say that you can see all the sites in Dresden in one day. Don't believe that for one minute. I just came back from four+ WEEKS in Dresden and still had things to see. Make sure you try the fab local wines!

Days 18-21. Berlin.

Day 22. Fly home.

Bicycling in Muensterland:
http://www.muensterland-tourismus.de...n-muensterland

RothenBURG not -berg dear annhig.>>

oh dear, quokka, i fell into my own trap!

but i think the "ob der Tauber" might have been a bit of a clue.

I hear there are several Burgberg's in Germany or is that Bergburg's?

Good timing.
I initially wrote this itinerary on a Word document for a friend in the UK and have recently posted it online.
It combines a few highlights and a few lesser-known but really nice places.

http://www.funtravelandfood.com/2011...n-germany.html

Have a nice trip