I will be visiting Germany for the Christmas markets for the first time this year. I’ll be visiting Munich, Dresden, Nuremberg and Stuttgart.

From what I’ve researched, Munich – Nuremberg – Stuttgart are all easy as I can get from one to the other by direct train journeys of a reasonably short time.

Dresden is out of the way and I need to figure out the best way to work it in with as much time efficiency as can be mustered.

These are the options I’ve come across assuming I travel from Munich to Dresden:

• return to Munich before continuing on to Nuremberg (basically dividing my total time in Munich into two shorter stays on the front and back end of Dresden)
• continue from Dresden – Nuremberg (train via Leipzig)
• continue from Dresden to Leipzig (I can only really afford a half day there in the PM based on my itinerary), stay overnight and then continue on to Nuremberg the next morning

I note that there is a direct coach (Flixbus) from Dresden to Nuremberg but frustratingly the journeys are all in the middle of the night or bang in the middle of the day during times I’d otherwise be sightseeing (12-5pm).

For those who have done a similar itinerary before, what is your suggestion for which route to take? I don’t want to forego Dresden merely be reason of the inconvenience but I cant think of any other logical way to work it in beyond the above options.

I don't really understand your directions but the train from Dresden to Nurnburg takes only 3 hrs or less, but you have to transfer once or twice. A bus won't be quicker no matter when it leaves, it will be longer.

From what I've looked at the shortest journey from Dresden to Nuremberg was 3hr42min via Leipzig. It isn't a horrendously long journey but in the Winter with reduced hours of light I'm not quite as keen on taking that long a chunk out of one day.

If you look at the Deutsche Bahn site, most trains (if you stick to ICEs and ICs) are 3h30 - 3h36. Select the option for fastest connections. You do have to change trains, in some cases twice. I see no harm in spending the night in Leipzig if you find 3h+ too big a bite. They will also have markets, and if you are interested in classical music, Leipzig is an important destination (home of the Gewandthaus, plus the Schumanns, Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Bach all lived here). It is quite a nice city although some of the wartime losses were plugged with modern buildings. Flying from Munich to Dresden will probably cost you 3 hours anyway when you factor in the check-in process and getting to and from the airports. I would certainly stick to trains, they are a good experience in Germany.

Lavandula

I would suggest stopping the night in Leipzig. It's a really interesting city, with both a historic district and more modern neighborhoods. Some call it the new Berlin, as it's become home to many creative types and small entrepreneurs who have been priced out of Berlin. On my first visit there, I stayed at the Westin and the neighborhood around it was very quiet and full of buildings needing restoration. On our most recent visit, the neighborhood was full of cafes, restaurants, small independent stores etc.

There is a Motel One in Leipzig that's very close to the famous Nikolaikirche (I attended a Christmas eve service there, it was lovely). It's an easy walk from the hotel to the Christmas market. We love Motel Ones, they're not at all your typical roadside motel. https://www.motel-one.com/en/hotels/...nikolaikirche/ Used to be a great little cafe and bagel bakery close by but I don't know if that's still there.