tailsock

After having to postpone a previously planned Russian trip I'm seriously considering a trip to Germany in mid May. I'm a travel photographer and always wanted to visit Munich. I was intrigued to learn that it was within striking distance to the Austrian Alps and Innsbruck, another place I've considered visiting. Visions of snow capped mountains and beautiful valleys came to mind. (wondering if the mountains will still have snow?) Please keep in mind I will be there for photography and NOT be visiting museums or checking into quaint bed and breakfasts. I'd be interested in your suggested itineraries.

I want some old world city center type scenery, old churches, maybe a castle, and some natural beauty in the Alps. If you know of any small, colorful villages that have gorgeous city centers and half timbered buildings that would be desirable. As for the Alps I'm not an accomplished hiker so climbing a mountain will be out of the question. That means places that offer amazing views that would be easily reachable would be most desirable. I'll have 7 maybe 8 days tops to and from the US including travel days. What would be a good way to go about this? Any stopovers you'd recommend? I'd be open to renting a car if there aren't any major hurdles to consider...otherwise maybe rail. I would be flying into and out of Munich. Thanks!!

swandav2000

Hi tailsock,

Although it's in the Bavarian Alps and not the Austrian, Füssen is one of my favorite little mountain towns. It is full of historic old buildings, an authentic castle right in town, and it has a river running by its side as well as a large lake just outside of town (maybe 5 minute's walk). The area is ringed by beautiful, lush mountains. Most folks know Füssen as the site of that in/famous "castle" Neuschwanstein, but I've visited Füssen twice and haven't been inside the castle -- to me, it's a lesser draw.

I'm not as familiar with the Austrian Alps, so hopefully others will be able to help.

I'll also add that the construction in mountain towns -- at least on the Bavarian side -- is mostly stucco, not half-timbered houses. You don't get into the half-timbered stuff until you go a bit farther north, like around the Black Forest.

Have fun as you plan!

s

fourfortravel

Reith in Alpbachtal comes to mind for the classic half-timbered buildings, their flower boxes bursting with color, set against lush green hills. There may even be a few cows on the hills, too, though there is no city center. Alpbach itself, as well. Hall in Tirol's Altstadt will keep your camera busy. Kufstein, and its fortress may also be worth considering.

tailsock

Great ideas so far! Thank you! Is renting a car the way to go for this?

PalenQ

Car is great for touring rural areas but if going to cities take the train which goes everywhere. Innsbruck would be a great Alpine base as would towns like Kitzbuhel on rail line to Switzerland which is where I would head to really see awesome Alps - Munich-Fussen-Interlaken area would be great - fly into Munich and out of Zurich - the Interlaken area IMO is the best equipped awesome Alpine area for casual tourists and cars are not even allowed above a few cities. For lots on trains check www.seat61.com; BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.

A driving trip from say Munich-Garmisch-Fussen-Munich would be an awesome drive. But trains do it too.

tailsock

Thanks for the advice PalenQ. I hoped you'd turn up! As of today I'll be flying in and out of Munich so no Zurich for me this go-round.

I'm intrigued by the possibility of using train exclusively as it would be one less thing I wouldn't have to worry about (parking, gas, traffic, etc.) I would like to visit at least a few small villages (perhaps in Black Forest). My plan was to see the Neuschwanstein castle before heading towards the Austrian Alps and then back up. I just don't know how far north I'd be able to see in 10 days before I'd have to trek back down to Munich for my flight back to the US.

swandav2000

Hi again,

Oh, I'm so glad that you want to use the train exclusively! We're already seeing damage from global climate change as our glaciers shrink and our winters get shorter and warmer. I've lived in Garmisch for 9 years -- a single, 63-year-old-woman -- without a car, and I get around just fine. I haven't rented a car for any of my journeys up to the Black Forest, around Bavaria, into France, and many times into Switzerland. I think taking the trains is more fun, too, because you aren't locked inside a private bubble.

If I were you, I would go immediately to your farthest point upon landing. Your arrival day is likely to be a wash, anyway, due to travel and jet-lag, so just get the longest journey over with on that day. That way, you can wake up in your destination and enjoy your first day on the ground. Also, if I were you, I would head to Freiburg (im Breisgau), which has good train links. You can base there for a few days and do day-trips out to see some other villages. Rick Steves details a very nice walk on his website that runs from Sankt Peter to Sankt Märgen, and he gives the details to get the bus going and coming back again.

Then you can head to Füssen for 1 or 2 nights to see the castle, and, I hope, enjoy that pretty town. And from there down to the Austrian Alps.

I hope your plan firms up in the coming days -- have fun!

s

tailsock

I haven't ruled out renting a car... still considering both options but honestly it may be simply easier for pulling over and shooting. I read about the Grossglockner High Alpine road and it may give me the Austrian Alps experience I'm looking for. As of right now I want to spend no more than 2 days tops capturing some Alpine scenery before heading back north to see more of Germany. Austrian destinations that guarantee a scenic drive would be fantastic. Salzburg looks great but appears to be quite a distance from Neuschwanstein Castle. (I forgot to mention that this is a must see) Wondering if there are better options that have more dramatic views as well. Ideally I would be able to loop back upward into the Black Forest region where I will be able to pick any number of small towns with glorious market squares with medieval half timbered buildings.

So far this is my overall goal which can be adjusted as needed:
1. Munich/ Neuschwanstein Castle
2. Austrian Alps/ picturesque Alpine villages/ lush valleys with snow capped mountains towering behind
3. Black Forest/ half timbered market squares
4. Dresden
5. Back to Munich to fly home



Market Square in Bernkastel

fourfortravel

tailsock, we drove a portion of the Großglockner Hochalpinstraße a couple of summers ago, and even as a pretend photographer I can assure you that you will not lack for iconic scenery. You will need an auto; there are numerous pulloffs designed for exactly that. Unless, of course, you plan to hike in and out.

tailsock

Great to hear that. Any towns there you would mark as a short base for two nights? And no I don't plan on doing any hiking unless it were an easy/short one.

PalenQ

Trains go up into the Black Forest to lots of small towns and neat rural areas. Freibourg could be a good base.

dugi_otok

>>I haven't ruled out renting a car... still considering both options but honestly it may be simply easier for pulling over and shooting. I read about the Grossglockner High Alpine road and it may give me the Austrian Alps experience I'm looking for. As of right now I want to spend no more than 2 days tops capturing some Alpine scenery before heading back north to see more of Germany. Austrian destinations that guarantee a scenic drive would be fantastic. Salzburg looks great but appears to be quite a distance from Neuschwanstein Castle. (I forgot to mention that this is a must see) Wondering if there are better options that have more dramatic views as well. Ideally I would be able to loop back upward into the Black Forest region where I will be able to pick any number of small towns with glorious market squares with medieval half timbered buildings. <<
>>So far this is my overall goal which can be adjusted as needed:
1. Munich/ Neuschwanstein Castle
2. Austrian Alps/ picturesque Alpine villages/ lush valleys with snow capped mountains towering behind
3. Black Forest/ half timbered market squares
4. Dresden
5. Back to Munich to fly home<<

Großglockner Hochalpinstraße is closed in mid May. I suggest Garmish-Partenkirchen for your alps stay. Zugspitze: Ascent to the summit from either the German or Austrian side.
Bayerische Zugspitzbahn Bergbahn AG
https://www.zugspitze.at/en/home/.
Nearby excursions Mittenwald, Oberammergau, Linderhof. Do Neuschwanstein after your alps visit.

For Black Forest stay in Freiburg or Gengenbach.

Your trip will be more efficient if you go to Garmish-P on day one after landing in Munich avoiding visiting Munich twice.

Consider dropping Dresden it's a long haul there and back. You could substitute northern Bavaria/Franconia choosing some of Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Rothenburg, Regensburg.

A car works best. How many nights do you have?

Then:
1. Alps
2. Kings castles
3. Black Forest
4. Northern Bavaria
5. Munich

https://goo.gl/maps/oZyK5Gxr3UG2

tailsock

thanks for your reply dugi. I've looked into some of those places but need to check the others. I like the idea of starting at the very bottom where the Alps are and then heading North. At this time I'm leaning towards a car because I could pull over If I saw something I wanted to shoot. (I took full advantage of this while driving in Ireland) I really envisioned starting out in the Austrian Alps though as opposed to the Bavarian Alps. I wouldn't mind driving a little further south to reach someplace with super impressive scenery, colorful/painted Alpine villages, attractive foothills, etc. where I could actually drive through the mountains like the Großglockner Hochalpinstraße. Scenic roads of this nature where one could pull over would also be valuable.

Here is what I was envisioning:


examples

In answer to your question I have 8 total nights. I actually did consider dropping Dresden but was just stunned by how gorgeous it was and was going to try to make it work somehow. I would consider someplace closer

swandav2000

Hi again,

I am very sorry to hear that you will be driving -- as I noted above, transport is so good here in Bavaria that a car isn't necessary, and we've already seen damage from global climate change. I won't be able to help you further, as I just cannot help someone who will be driving here. I'm sure, though, that you'll get the help you need from other posters here.

s

dugi_otok

Großglockner Hochalpinstraße is open early May according to their website. https://www.grossglockner.at/gg/en/index
So your trip could be something like this: https://goo.gl/maps/BAjmhuXFSUC2

fourfortravel

tailsock, we based for two nights in Lienz for our Großglockner drive. The city is pretty, with an Italian charm, as is most of the Ost Tirol (East Tyrol). I believe it is also possible to stay at a Gasthof on the alpine road itself.

tailsock

It looks like the Großglockner is closed until May so this is fantastic news! A few other questions:
1. Are the mountain tops likely to still have snow?
2. Is there an easy way to rope a pretty spot in Switzerland in as either a day trip or half day? I saw how close it was on a map.
3. At Busch Gardens Williamsburg (here in the US) there is a large beer hall/restaurant called the Festhaus. (Google) What are these called in Germany and where am I likely to see them?

dugi_otok

>>1. Are the mountain tops likely to still have snow?<<
Yes

>>2. Is there an easy way to rope a pretty spot in Switzerland in as either a day trip or half day? I saw how close it was on a map.<<
Following my map, the best detour to Switzerland would be between Neuschwanstein and Freiburg/Gengenbach. A couple of spots might be to Stein am Rhine and Rhine Fall.

>>3. At Busch Gardens Williamsburg (here in the US) there is a large beer hall/restaurant called the Festhaus. (Google) What are these called in Germany and where am I likely to see them?<<
Biergartens are found all over Germany. Many in Munich. Most famous being Hofbrauhaus(music every day), Augustiner Keller, and Paulaner.

scrb11

I flew in and out of Munich last August and into September, about 2 weeks.

Most of the time spent in Austria after renting a car out of Munich.

First headed to Lermoos and stayed for 3 or 4 days. You can get hold board deals for like 70 Euros. It may be more in the winter during ski season or a lot of these places may close in spring between the ski and summer seasons.

I got a 3 or 4 day pass which allows use of cable cars in the region. google Grubigstein to get an idea of the views. You also get one ride up Zupspitze during this 3 or 4 days.

I went up Geubigstein a couple of times, to get photos with different weather. But my pension had great views outside the balcony so I took long time lapse movies and HDR with my tripod set up.

Then I spent 3 days in Innsbruck. Stayed in center. Parking wasn't free but it wasn't too bad. Again Innsbruck card to visit several cable cars around the city.

Then Salzburg and the Salzburg card. Cable cars aren't as good around Salzburg, though there was one in Bertechsgaden undergoing repairs. Not the elevator to the Hitlers nest but another one overlooking a lake.

Then a couple of days in Hallstatt. Bad weather both days but on the morning of my departure, sun broke out so re-took some photos around the village. But then visited 5 Fingers nearby where there was a lot of fresh snow up top. I hiked from the cable car to the 5 Fingers platform overlooking Lake Hallstatt for 30-40 minutes each way in my shorts. Beautiful up there in early Sept.

Then 2 Nights in St. Wolfgang before returning to Munich for the flight back to Us.

First afternoon of arrival was spectacular, with views from balcony across the lake. Next day though was overcast and fogged in at the top of the cogwheel train so I didn't go up Shaftsbergbahn but that also looks spectacular when the sun is out.

tailsock

WOW!!! Stein am Rhine is EXACTLY what I'm looking for. Medieval compact village with glorious architecture and painted buildings. Not close to the Swiss alps but picturesque nonetheless! an Excellent suggestion!!!

Thank you everyone else for your suggestions and input so far. Keep them coming if you think of anything else. I still have lots of places to check into.... not enough hours in the day.