We're planning a trip to Germany over Thanksgiving. We already have our plane tickets arriving/departing via Munich. We'll arrive on November 17 and depart on November 24, so we'll be there 7 nights.

Our first inclination was to base in Bamberg since we are self-proclaimed beer lovers. We had considered 5 nights in Bamberg and 2 nights in Munich. But the more we think about it, the more we're thinking of adding in a third city...which leads us to Heidelberg.

We normally don't city-hop so much during a weeklong visit, but we thought we'd give it a shot this trip. We're hoping to *not* rent a car and want to travel by train. We intend to take a train immediately from Munich to Heidelberg (or elsewhere?) and save our 2 nights in Munich for the end of our trip.

Does Heidelberg make the most sense for the first 3 nights, considering arrival in Munich and next stop Bamberg? I'm concerned about the lack of a direct train line to Bamberg - not sure it makes sense to have to switch lines a few times.

We don't have great needs when we travel...prefer small to mid size towns where we can spend our days walking, eating, and drinking.

I'm planning my first trip to Germany later this year...plan on flying in to Frankfurt, immediately take train to Heidelberg as my base for a few days, then train to Munich for most of my time. Day trips to Ludwig's castles and Dachau, then Bamberg for two nights and back to Frankfurt for two nights before I fly back. I will have a little more time than you're planning on, but it strikes me that you're planning too many nights in Bamberg and too few in Munich. Heidelberg makes sense for you, but 2 nights is probably enough. Also consider Nurnberg on your way back from Bamberg to Munich, even if just for a few hours.

Sorry, I should have clarified our current Bamberg plan...which is just two nights. We originally thought 5 nights, but decided that was too many.

So the thought is:

3 nights Heidelberg (maybe)
2 nights Bamberg
2 nights Munich

I'm just worried about the Munich to Heidelberg, Heidelberg to Bamberg idea and wondering if that's the best use of time/trains or if there's another destination similar to Heidelberg but more convenient to Bamberg.

Thanks for your info and suggestion of Nurnberg.

I would recommend Würzburg. It has a splendid baroque castle, a charming old town and, if you might get a little bit tired of beer, wineries.
http://www.wuerzburg.de/system/international/englisch/
For train connections:
www.bahn.de

Heidelberg is certainly worthwhile but 2 nights should be plenty. A car would save time, however the German drinking and driving laws are strictly enforced. If this is your first trip to Germany, be assured that driving in Germany is not difficult and that roads are usually much better marked than in the US, particularly in cities. It harder to get lost there than here.

Thanks for the suggestion of Wurzburg...will check it out. I've loved every Unesco-World Heritage site we've been to so far.

I also like the idea of having a car for additional freedom...looks like multi-day train pass and car is about the same price. We would save our drinking for the town in which we were based as to avoid having to drive under the influence...no need to take risks.

Figured 3 nights in Heidelberg is really 2 nights when you figure first day is a complete loss due to arrival. We usually crash super early the day of arrival and sleep about 14 hours -- takes care of the jet lag.

Since you are traveling at thanksgiving Bamberg,Heidelberg, Nurnberg, and Munich all of these towns will be having at least 1 Christmas market. I don't buy anything but they are fun to look and glu wine takes chill off. Also because of Christmas time there are lots of concerts and things going on so check out with either town websites or their tourist office for days you are in town.
In Bamberg be sure and sign up for tour of church and new residenz in english for 1.5 hrs for 4 euro each. We signed up for it again in Sept but last time we took it guide showed us around for 2 hrs and we were only people on tour. We had our own guide for 2 hrs for 8 euro. What a bargain.
I think I would stay in Bamberg 2 nights and Heidelberg 2 nights. I thought there was more to see in Bamberg than in Heidelberg.
If it was my trip I would just go to Bamberg 2, Munich 3 and Salzburg 2 which is also wonderful at Christmas time). You can take EC train and only takes 1hr 28 min and 26 euro. Well after thinking about train times I think I would go 2 days Bamberg, then train to Salzburg 3 nights (because of travel time) then early morning from Salzburg to Munich 2 nights. Have fun

Having spent time in Bamberg, Wurzburg and Nurmburg I would suggest visiting these cities which are concentrated near each other rather than Heidelburg. If you are a beer lover, do not forget Coburg and Kulmbach which are nearby. There are about 60 braueri in this triangle region. We think Wurzburg is a real sleeper, a city that does not get the attention it deserves considering its attributes. Nurmburg has 3 christmas markets not just 1. We loved it there for advent and did not think it was touristy. Most visitors we spoke with were Germans.

Check with German Rail (www.bahn.de). There is a direct ICE from Munich to Bamberg every two hours. Travel time is 2:21. There is also a connection with a change of trains in Nürnberg that only takes 1:57. If you have a little longer, there is a regional connection with a change of trains also in Nürnberg that takes 3:38. With the regional trains, up to 5 people can make the trip on a Bayern ticket for only €25, total.

Before you get fired up on the Christmas markets, check when they start.

Tollwood in Muenchen starts 11/29
Nov 30th in Bamberg. I am sorry I saw Nov 24 and did not see Nov 17th arrival and 24th is departure. You will be too early for Markets so forget about that.

Thank you everyone for your advice... We have decided to swap Heidelberg for Wurzburg -- makes more sense given our timing, and we liked everything we read about it. Thanks!!!

New itinerary:

* 3 nights Wurzburg (2 productive nights since 1st night is lost to jet lag)
* 2 nights Bamberg
* 2 nights Munich

Just to add a little more confusion, you might consider Salzburg as your third option. I like Heidelburg but would take Salzburg over it in my planning. Salzburg is a great "walking-around, beer-drinking" town also.