I am flying into Nuremberg, Germany in May 2014. I will be there for about 3 weeks. That will be my home base, with a place to store all my belongings. What are you're recommendations for sightseeing? I've never been to Europe before! I love food and beer! Also, wine too Also, I really enjoy seeing the TRUE culture of different areas, not just tourist areas. I will have a car available as well, although most people tell me to use the train.

I know this is very broad! But I am trying to get an insiders thoughts! Thanks so much!

Austria, Switzerland, France, Czech….are all on my radar! What do you recommend?

But I also keeping reading about Belgium? And of course, Venice is somewhere I'd love to see, but not sure if it fits?!

With three weeks, there is plenty to see in Central Europe: Germany from Berlin to Munich, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary will together give you plenty to do.

You could go as far west as Venice and stay there for three or four nites. Venice is a fairly easy drive or train ride from Munich or Salzburg and is more eastern than western Europe. So it fits.

Save France, Belgium and the rest of Italy for another time.

Get a good guidebook or three--Germany for sure, Austria and Czech Republic also, and read about what's near where you'll be.

If you want true European culture, take the train unless you just can't get where you want to go by train.

With the number of possible destinations of interest far from Nürnberg, it seems you would be on the road for the entire 3 weeks. What is the merit of having a home base in Nürnberg? All the destinations mentioned need many nights stay away from Nürnberg.
If you are interested only in day trips from Nürnberg, you would have to limit your travel scope.

I'm not sure what you mean by using Nurnberg as your "home base". These other places are not day trips. You will have extended drives )or train trips) to most of these places and hotels to stay in for however many days.

Can you clarify why you would need a "home base".

How much are you bringing that you need a place to store your belongings. For a three week trip you need one small suitcase - about 19" or 21". You would take this with you for the entire trip.

In three weeks you could visit Vienna, Prague, Berlin, Dresden, and Munich.

Use a car if you plan on visiting small towns. If you stick with cities then the train is best.

Prague is an easy trip by bus and in May there is a Beer festival in the city.

Nurnberg is less than an hour (by train) away from the the "Smoke beer" brewing center of Bamberg....mmmmmm.
Well worth it to sit in any of the town's 6 immediate breweries outside, sipping this wonderful beer.
train schedules can be found at www.bahn.com

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/que...button.suchen=

I absolutely agree with adrienne. Those are wonderful cities, but I would include Salzburg.

Make a loop! http://goo.gl/maps/YXWMm

Thanks so much for the info!

Unclegus: I am going to check out that beer festival!! Thanks for that heads up!

Adrienne: Those sound great, I will look further into them.

Mokka4: I will definitely check out those breweries!!

By home base, I mean that I am visiting friends in Nuremberg, where I will leave my suitcase and just take a small overnight bag and thats who's car I will have access too if needed.

http://www.ceskypivnifestival.cz/en/czech/prague-2014/
I have attended all the previous Beer festivals apart from the very first one.I will be at this years but will only be there for the last 2 days of the festival arriving in Prague on the evening of the 30th may.

I checked their website, and saw a booking section. Do your recommend booking a table ahead, or is it okay to just go at any time ? Thanks so much!!! I know nothing about Prague, just started reading up on it, and wasn't sold on going. But now I am sold!

no just go when you want if you go before 2.00pm you get in free but even then entry is cheap.have a look at this trip report of mine from last year,explains what goes on.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...e_Bohemia.html