High level Germany Itinerary Help Pease
 

My wife and I are looking to do a trip through eastern Germany with a stop in Prague this spring. I am curious if anyone has any suggestions to shore up my itinerary.

Fly into Berlin and stay 3 nights
Train to Prague and stay 3 nights
Train to Munich and stay 2 nights
Rent car from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen stay 3 nights
Drop off car in Munich fly out

I am pretty firm on the 11 days. If I had to move one day from one of these locations and add to another, which would it be and why? i.e. Is 2 days enough in Munich versus 3 in Prague?

All depends on your interest for Garmisch. I suppose you plan to visit the whole area around Zugspitze (LInderhof, Wieskirche, Oberammergau, Ettal, etc.) and to do some long hikes. Otherwise you would need neither a car nor 3 full days.
I suppose you know that most people stop over at Dresden, a real gem between Berlin and Prague.
As to Munich, a visit is possible in 2 days, but if you are interested in museums and castles in and around the town (up to Chiemsee and Rosenheim), you need more time. Similar comment for 3 FULL days in Berlin and Prague.

Your itinerary really depends on your interests, especially with respect to what "spring" means. According to your itinerary:

Day 1/Night 1 Arrive Berlin
Days 2-3/Nights 2-3 Berlin
Day 4/Night 4 Prague
Days 5-6/Nights 5-6 Prague
Day 7/Night 7 Train to Munich (about 6 hours, give or take)
Day 8/Night 8 Munich
Days 9-10/Night 10 Rental car to Garmisch
Days 9-10/Nights 9-10 Garmisch
Day 11 Depart Munich

If I am understanding this itinerary properly, you have two full days in Berlin; two+ full days in Prague; one+ day in Munich; and two+ days in Garmisch. What are your priorities for these destinations? Our first holiday to Berlin was four full days; and our first to Prague (with day trips to Terezienstadt and Cesky Krumlov) was five full days. We have been back and forth to Munich and Garmisch numerous times for various reasons, but each, especially Garmisch if you are an outdoor enthusiast, deserves more time.

> do a trip through eastern Germany with a stop in Prague

What happened to the eastern Germany part, except Berlin?

Which place could do with a day less? Really depends on your interests. Museums take a lot of time if into those. Or do you want to do a day trip to say Dachau from Munich?

Anyway for trains - booking really early can score deep discounted tickets - www.bahn.de/en - the German Railways site is easy to book own tickets for trains involving Germany. Forn sage advice on booking your own discounted tickets: www.seat61.com; general train info - BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.

Personally I would cut out on stop and spread days around to others.

Thank you all for your input. I added one day so it's about 2 full days in each place. I couldn't pick a place to remove.

I would stay overnight in Dresden and see its center:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7623230920764/ and subsequent pictures.

No time for even a quick look at Dresden I think. But at least a few-hour stop - easily done- could be nice.

I would consider dropping Garmisch and concentrating on those cities a bit more. Maybe do a day trip to Garmisch or Fussen from Munich.

What the heck is a high-level itinerary to anywhere? What makes it better than a low-level itinerary?

maybe tall?

not sure what makes it better high or low but high-level sounds better than low-level!

"High level" just means the executive summary or outline. The OP is likely waiting to flesh out the specifics (sightseeing objectives, travel logistics, and so forth.) :)

I can’t add much, but I would join the chorus in adding time for Dresden. You could consider dropping Munich altogether, and save that and Garmisch for another trip. Berlin- Dresden- Prague sounds amazing to me. And don’t forget that there are tons of day trips near these places. Dresden turned out to be so interesting that the only side trip I did was to Erfurt, which is home to a stunning cathedral.

Of the places you have listed, I have been to Munich. I think I had booked 3 nights- I was mistaken in thinking I would be happy with a day there and a day trip elsewhere. Well, the day trip did not happen, and I didn’t even see all of what I wanted in Munich!

Buses are quicker Prague to Munich than trains which take a roundabout route.

I checked and you are right but you only really save about 40 minutes. Not having made the trip before, wouldn't the comfy train be worth the extra money and time?

Yes I'm a rail nut and would take the train but others here have said buses were comfy and can be really cheap -so can trains - and yes trains always IMO more comfy than buses, especially for long rides.