Going to Germany for a wedding - looking for suggestions for what else to do
 

Last month the daughter of our dear friends got married near us in Michigan. The groom is from Germany and because only 3 of his family were able to come over for the wedding, they decided to have a second wedding in Germany in August and we're invited! We want to make a 2 week trip out of it and are trying to figure out what else to combine it with.

The wedding festivities are August 16-18, Friday-Sunday and are in a tiny town called Eisenbuhl, on the eastern border of Germany about 2 hours north of Nuremberg and equidistant between Frankfurt and Prague. We'll likely need a car to get to the wedding and are open to car, train, or perhaps even plane for the remainder of the trip.

We've been to Germany once before (2013) and visited Berlin, Nuremberg, Munich, Fussen, Rothenberg, and Wurzburg. So we're looking for suggestions of other places in Germany to visit. We're also open to places outside Germany. We've already been to Vienna and Prague. Our main interests are history and pretty scenery.

Sorry if this is too vague and I appreciate any ideas. Thanks!

Pat, there are so many possibilities, I don't know where to start! Are you flying in/out of FRA? The roads are clogged with holiday goers in August; we joke that all of Germany goes on vacation that month.

Re history, are you interested in Luther? In castles?

You need an idea of places to go instead of narrowing down from an enormous number of possibilities?
Just in Germany alone, I can quickly come up with:
Many places around the area: Bamberg, Erfurt, Dresden, Leipzig, Quedlinburg, Eisenach-Wartburg Castle, etc.
Many places along the Mosel: Cochem, Burg Eltz, Trier, etc. or along the Rhine between Bingen and Koblenz.
Or escape to a higher altitutde location like Garmisch-Partenkirchen, etc. and visit Linderhof on the way.

That place in the middle of nowhere is not a bad starting point for a road trip.

You'll be less than a mile from the former West/East German border, and the neighboring state of Thuringia can keep you busy for a while with scenery and history.
The villages of the higher elevations of the Thuringia Forest are known for all kinds of craftmanship, esp. Christmas-related items.
Eisenach, Erfurt and Weimar would be my preferred "city breaks" - but all of them still more towns than cities.
https://www.visit-thuringia.com/trav...our/index.html

On the other side of the German/Czech border the spa "triangle" of Bohemia is also beautiful, esp. if you want to unwind in old world grandezza.
Though I would book any accomodation here in advance as the towns are both compact and popular.
https://www.czechtourism.com/a/west-...-spa-triangle/

Have you consulted a good guidebook or two? They should provide the information you need to identify options that suit your interests.

wow, come to central Europe and make a choice

For me, I would recognise that all of Germany will head south or to the coast for the holidays so unless you love being with loads of people look at cities. For instance, I've been in Cologne or Stuttgart in August with no one there.

Saxony is ok along the Elbe. The Mosel is lovely.

German trains are great and go everywhere - for regional trains there is usually a great deal in the Lander Tickets or regional train pass valid on regional trains for about 30-35 euros total for two people. For lots on German trains check www.bahn.de/en - German railways site; BETS-European Rail Experts and www.seat61.com.

Some great suggestions, thanks!

VolCrew we're leaning towards flying in/out of FRA but it depends on what else we decide to do. We're interested in all kinds of history, castles, Luther, pretty much anything.

greg, I'll look into those locations.

Cowboy1968, a road trip has a lot of appeal. And Christmas related items? I could get in trouble there :)

kja, I'll definitely be checking some guidebooks. My local library is on a 2 week shutdown for re-carpeting so I'll be getting some on Monday when they re-open.

bilboburger and others who pointed out that Germans are on holiday then, very helpful! We've always visited Europe in the fall, so that's something I didn't think about.

PalenQ, thanks for the train info. I didn't know about the Lander ticket.

The research continues :)

PalenQ, thanks for the train info. I didn't know about the Lander ticket.>

Here's all the dope on the Bayern-Ticket, a Lander Ticket:

Munich Tourist Information

even covers to Salzburg, But only on regional trains that may take an hour more and are less comfy.

We did a quick but full trip in September that included Switzerland, Germany (Fussen area was beautiful, castles, bike ride); and Austria (Salzburg and scenic trip to magnificent lake Hallstatt, one of the most beautiful places anywhere. Here is our trip report: https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...esome-1659589/

It will be hot so head for the mountains. We love The Garmisch area best.

Dreseden is a possibility: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjpsKahy

If you have a car you can tour Franconia and Thuringia: Bamberg, Erfurt, Veste Coburg:

Maybe :-)
The Thuringia Forest is famous for all kinds of glass ornaments, like this manufacturer in the small town of Lauscha:
https://www.krebslauscha.de/?language=en

In the Ore Mountains, which is the mountain range roughly from nearby Hof to Dresden, you find wood carving craftsmanship in almost every village and town.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ore_Mountain_folk_art

While there is no guarantee that this years's summer will be as glorious and endless as the one of 2017, both regions - Thuringia Forest and Ore Mountains - are perfect getaways to get into some higher elevations for cooler and fresher air. Oberwiesenthal, for example, sits at a 600ft higher elevation than Garmisch. And the peaks are a little higher than 3000ft.