Would you rather stay 3 nights in Berchtesgaden or... 2 nights in Berchtesgaden and 1 night in Oberammergau (or any where in Garmisch Area) before going to Rothenburg?
Thanks,
Luz

I'd opt for at least one night in Oberammergau. The painted houses are worth several hours, as are the marvelous shops. If you like wood, you'll be in seventh heaven.

We have done this area many times as we find it fantastic in summer and winter.

I would do the 2 nights Berchtesgaden and 1 night in Garmisch. You can drive to Oberammergau very easily from Garmisch and the drive is nice.

Ober is smaller than Garmisch so this will depend on the towns you like. If you stay in Garmisch you can visit Linderhof on the way to Oberammergau. There is not that much to actually do in Ober other than visit the woodcarving shops and eat some strudel.

Rothenburg is also fun. Do the nightwatchman's tour that leaves at 8pm from the town square..in English...fun way to see the city and hear some good stories.

Will you be driving? If so, stay 2 nights in Bgd'n, visiting the Kehlsteinhaus (Hitler's former tea house) with a fabulous view of the mountains. If you have more time, also take the boat ride on the Koenigsee, but DO NOT get off at St. Bartholomae; rather go to the end of the lake and return from there. On a busy day, it can take forever to get back on to a boat at St.B.

On your way to Garmisch, follow this routegdn. - Deutsche Alpenstrasse (B-305) to Reit i. Winkel, Austrian B-172 route to Koessen, Walchsee, to Autobahn A 12.(Be sure you have a user's decal before you get on the Austrian Autobahns.) Take this Autobahn past Innsbruck. At Zirl, get off Autobahn and head north on the Austrian B-177/German B-2 to Garmisch.

After your stay in Garmisch, head north on the B-2 to Oberau. Take road to Ettal, Oberammergau. From Oberammergau, backtrack to just before Ettal for road to Schloss Linderhof. After Linderhof continue to Ammerwald, Plansee, to the B-314 near Reutte. From there it is about 20km to Fuessen. But the junction for the Autobahn A-7, which takes you north to Rothenburg, is just a few km before you get to Fuessen. (Fuessen - Rothenburg about 220km)

I have driven all these roads, except the Ettal-Linderhof- Reutte part. The ones I have driven are all good roads.

treplow, Is this route the same as the German Alpine Drive? If I wanted to get to Fussen and see the castles where would you stay? Thanks Jim

sabbin--where to stay depends on what you want in accomodations. We like a quiet place after an active day. So we stayed in the village of Hohenschwangau at the Romantic Pension Neuschwanstein (formerly Pension Albrecht). Nice size rooms, modern private bath, view of Neuschwanstein castle directly overhead, free parking, good breakfast. We paid 64 euro double per night.

http://www.albrecht-neuschwanstein.de/

A nice Bavarian restaurant nearby at the Alpenhotel Meier on the road between Hohenschwangau and Schwangau:

Oops, hit post before I added the restaurant link:
http://www.alpenhotel-allgaeu.de/engl/e-index.htm

I would opt for one night in Berchtesgaden. I would spend a night in Salzburg (Hot. Wolf-Dietricht and the rest just X the street are great), then Partenkirche (more charming than nearby Garmisch). The Burg Hot in Rothenburg is VG too.
M

Rufus, Thankyou, If I buy tickets for the castle N. before I go, is it easy to get from the hotel to the castle? I appreciate your time. Jim

I agree....2 nights in Berchtesgaden and one in Oberammergau. In the Berch. area we stayed in Obersalzburg...in an old Nazi SS barracks...now the Hotel Turken!It is on the road to Eagles Nest! and Salzburg is only 30 minutes away. What a great area! Have fun!