Woyzeck

Greetings,

I would appreciate help planning a very brief (1 week) trip to Germany. I myself have travelled fairly extensively around Germany and have studied there on numerous occasions - in fact, I am in Germany at the moment.

The trip is actually for 2 good friends, who are visiting from the US and have never been to EUROPE! Unfortunately, they don't have much vacation time to spend here. So my challenge is how to deal with the time that they have available in a most efficient manner.. That's where I need your help.

They are arriving and departing in Frankfurt. They have 7 nights in all, but the last night will have to be spent in Frankfurt, as they have a very early flight. So they have 6 nights! I know that they want to head south to Bavaria. They are interested especially in seeing Munich, Neuschwanstein and perhaps other small sights in the area. They also like nature, which made me think of the Black Forest as a possible destination.

My idea was for us to take the train from Frankfurt to Munich and spend 3 NIGHTS there, recovering from jet lag, sight seeing, and settling into the city a bit. I figure 2 full days will give us a chance to see many of the sights, without feeling like we are running ourselves into the ground.

Then I thought we could rent a car for the remaining 4 days/3 nights. This is where I need to figure out a good route. I thought we could pick up the car in Munich and drive out very early to Fuessen to see the castles, and maybe take in Zugspitze and Oberammergau along the way. Then drive to Innsbruck, AT and spend 1 NIGHT there (or 1 night around Fuessen??).

Then I'd like to take the car towards the Black Forest. We could take a leisurely drive and stop along the way. Perhaps staying the night in Freiburg (?) or another great Black Forest town.

We could continue on the last day driving north to intersect with the Romantic Road, visiting some towns along the way and perhaps staying in Bamberg (?) or Rothenburg (?) or some other small town.

For the next day, they already have to be in Frankfurt that night. So we will do some country driving and take in some sights along the way.

I know it is a ridiculously short amount of time. I would really love to hear suggestions or comments on my admittedly sketchy preliminary itinerary. Thank you so much for your thoughts!

RufusTFirefly

I might have missed it in your message, but when will they be in Germany?

treplow

I know you know that this an awfully short time and will involve a lot of driving. So here is a possible itinerary: Add one day to your suggested stay in Munich and take a driving day trip to Berchtesgaden along the scenic route, on to Salzburg and back to Munich.

After Munich, drive for an overnight in Fuessen via Garmisch (Zugspitze?) Leermoos. Reutte. Next day: Drive from Fuessen to Lindau via Reutte, Oberjoch, Hindelang, Immenstadt. Stay somewhere along the Bodensee (Lake Constance), perhaps Meersburg. Next day Meersburg - Black Forest - stay in Baden-Baden. Next day, Baden-Baden - Heidelberg - along Neckar to Heilbronn, Autobahn A-6 to Autobahn A-7, north to Rothenburg. Stay Rothenburg. Return to Frankfurt, with a stop-over in Wuerzburg.

If this appeals to you, let me know and I can give you more detailed routings.

Mimar

Just to throw out yet another idea, I really enjoyed our time on the Mosel, including a visit to Burg Eltz. The Rhine was nice, the Mosel dreamy with really cute little towns. And Trier was interesting. The Mosel could be tied in with time on the Rhine.

Woyzeck

Thanks for the thoughts. They are very helpful.

My friends will be coming for the first week of March - I know! Very soon. They found a cheap flight from the East Coast on short notice and booked it just a few days ago.

I like the idea of a day trip to Berchtesgaden and Salzburg. My problem is that we only have 6 overnights (not including the final night in Frankfurt).

Your itinerary Treplow, is really helpful, but I believe it is one day too long for us. If we add a night in Munich, we only have 2 overnights remaining before we return to Frankfurt.

Nevertheless, I'll keep the suggestions closely in mind. I was not aware of all the towns you mentioned. Is Rothenburg good enough so that we can leave Bamberg off the list?

I know it will be a lot of driving, but we all like road trips anyway, and I cannot imagine a nicer place to drive the scenic routes than Bavaria.

Woyzeck

Also, in the first week of March, are the roads around Füssen, Oberammergau, etc too rough to attempt to drive? Too much snow?

RufusTFirefly

W--Bamberg and Rothenburg are very, very different experiences. Bamberg is a real city. Even the Altstadt has real businesses, not just tourist shops. It is a very well preserved Altstadt divided by the Regnitz River--our favorite place in northern Bavaria.

Bamberg does get tourists, but it is not a major mass tour market.

Rothenburg is a touristic confection. The Altstadt is totally focused on the tourist trade--shops are almost all (if not all) tourist oriented. It is very well done and well worth seeing.

If I could only visit one, I'd choose Bamberg.

treplow

You could encounter some snow around Garmisch - Fuessen (and Berchtesgaden)in March. Afterall, Garmischand Berchtesgaden are winter sports resort.

As to Rothenburg vs. Bamberg, that's "eine Geschmacksache" as the Germans say (a matter of taste). In terms of your itinerary, Rothenburg is closer to the Munich (or Black Forest) Frankfurt axis than is Bamberg.

In view of your tight schedule, here is another thought: Skip the Black Forest. I don't think it is at its bestin March. Instead, go Munich, Berchtesgaden, Salzburg,Innsbruck, Garmisch, Fuessen, Rothenburg.

For the scenic trip to Berchtesgaden, get off the Autobahn A-9 Munich-Salzburg at Siegsdorf, follow the signs Deutsche Alpenstrasse ( the scenic German Alpine Highway)to Berchtesgaden (the road designation is B-306 and B-305). In Berchtesgaden, take the ski lift up the Jenner,it's on the way from the RR station (where you will be entering Bgdn on the B-305) to the Koenigsee. On a clear day, it has a beautiful panorama of the alps.

Then continue on the B-305 toward Hallein, Salzburg. Stay in Salzburg.

While there, get yourself an Austrian Autobahn user's decal, at any gas station. Don't drive the Austrian autobahns without it. If you get caught, it is costly and time consuming. The decal for 10 days is now, I believe, about $10.

The next day, drive on the Salzburg- Munich Autobahn (A-9) as far as the Inntal Dreieck, exit 101 (interchange) and follow there the signs to Innsbruck on the A-12.

Go past Innsbruck to the Zirl exit (Exit 87). Head from Zirl to Garmisch, via Mittenwald - - - a real scenic drive again. Stay in Garmisch and on the next day drive to Fuessen via Leermoos and en route take the cable car up the Zugspitze. (It is faster than the cog railway from Garmisch) or go directly on to Fuessen.

Take the A-7 outside of Fuessen to Rothenburg. It's a about a 3hrs. drive.

Unless you hit a real winyerstorm, the suggested routing should be good, even in the winter. I have driven these roads many times, summer and winter.

Russ

I think treplow has it right - skip the Black Forest and just take an alternative route back north through Bavaria on the return.

March is generally not too bad in Germany - one of the drier months - but in the Alps it's often foggy and wet - and in Garmisch or Berchtesgaden a clear day is best to make the trip worthwhile. You might plan to just follow the weather report while in Munich and head out to one or the other of these towns if the weather is good (I'd suggest Garmisch/Mittenwald over B'gaden) then stay an extra night in Munich if you haven't done all you want to do there. You can tour Neuschwanstein in bad weather, of course, but it's an amazing sight to behold on the approach, so don't go there if it's foggy if you can avoid it.

Rothenburg is amazingly well preserved, but the tourist kitsch is almost too much. We really liked Bamberg - very authentic, beautiful small city with great brew pubs. I'd stay there. And if you do, get up to the amazing rococco Vierzehnheiligen Basilica near Staffelstein to the north of Bamberg - wow.

Woyzeck

Thanks for the BIG BIG help. I love the suggestions.

I too was leaning towards skipping the Black Forest. My friends had mentioned it, and while I would hate to make this a strictly BAVARIA type of trip, it seems to make the most sense to leave it out and work in Salzburg...

I'll let you know what I concoct and try to report back some news about the trip.

Cheers again!

Woyzeck

Thanks to all of you for your help in making the most of the limited time we have. It looks like we will have a great trip. So far, I have booked:

Munich - 3 nights

Then with a car:

Salzburg - 1 night
Garmisch - 1 night
XXX (Rothenburg) - 1 night
Frankfurt - 1 night

Question about the Austrian Autobahn: What is the name of this decal that costs 10 $, so I know what to ask for when I go to the gas station?

Muchas gracias. Herzlichen dank. Cok tesekuller!

Fernweh

This decal is called "vignette" and costs 7.60 Euro for a 10 day period.
If you get caught without one, fines could be up to 1,000 Euro.