Netherlands --> Germany --> Czech Republic
Apr 14th, 2015, 02:25 PM
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Netherlands --> Germany --> Czech Republic
Hello,
I'm taking a trip with my best friend (two college seniors!) to visit the Netherlands, Germany and Czech Republic. We're trying to plan our itinerary and book hostels/trains in advance. I'd love some help with an itinerary. We don't want to rent a car, so ideally travel by train and bus.
We would love to be in Berlin for the International Beer Festival (August 1-3rd) for one or more days. Any recommendations about routes or villages to see along the way? We figure that we'll only be seeing the Northern part of Germany (sorry Munich!) seeing Berlin and maybe on other city on our way to Prague. We also heard about Česky Krumlov in the Czech Republic and would love to do a day trip.
Day 1. July 28 We'll be flying from Nice to Amsterdam (finishing study abroad)
Day 2. July 29- Amsterdam
Day 3 July 30- Amsterdam
Day 4. July 31 Travel to Germany
Day 5. August 1- Berlin Beer Festival!
Day 6. August 2- Berlin Beer Festival!
Day 7. August 3- Berlin Beer Festival!
Day 8. August 4- Berlin
Day 9. August 5- Other city in Germany?
Day 10. August 6
Day 11. August 7
Day 12. August 8
Day 13. August 9- Travel to the Czech Republic
Day 14. August 10- Prague?
Day 15. August 11- Prague?
Day 16 August 12- Prague?
Day 17 August 13- Fly home!
I'm taking a trip with my best friend (two college seniors!) to visit the Netherlands, Germany and Czech Republic. We're trying to plan our itinerary and book hostels/trains in advance. I'd love some help with an itinerary. We don't want to rent a car, so ideally travel by train and bus.
We would love to be in Berlin for the International Beer Festival (August 1-3rd) for one or more days. Any recommendations about routes or villages to see along the way? We figure that we'll only be seeing the Northern part of Germany (sorry Munich!) seeing Berlin and maybe on other city on our way to Prague. We also heard about Česky Krumlov in the Czech Republic and would love to do a day trip.
Day 1. July 28 We'll be flying from Nice to Amsterdam (finishing study abroad)
Day 2. July 29- Amsterdam
Day 3 July 30- Amsterdam
Day 4. July 31 Travel to Germany
Day 5. August 1- Berlin Beer Festival!
Day 6. August 2- Berlin Beer Festival!
Day 7. August 3- Berlin Beer Festival!
Day 8. August 4- Berlin
Day 9. August 5- Other city in Germany?
Day 10. August 6
Day 11. August 7
Day 12. August 8
Day 13. August 9- Travel to the Czech Republic
Day 14. August 10- Prague?
Day 15. August 11- Prague?
Day 16 August 12- Prague?
Day 17 August 13- Fly home!
Apr 14th, 2015, 02:53 PM
#2
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To be sure, Berlin is a fascinating city... but the beer festival is a kind of neighbourhood fest. Besides, it is from 7 to 9 August.
On the way from Amsterdam to Berlin, interesting places would be teh historic city of Münster and Quedlinburg and Wernigerode at the north flank of the Harz.
But maybe you want to revise your itinerary completely since you messed up the dates of the beer festival...
On the way from Amsterdam to Berlin, interesting places would be teh historic city of Münster and Quedlinburg and Wernigerode at the north flank of the Harz.
But maybe you want to revise your itinerary completely since you messed up the dates of the beer festival...
Apr 14th, 2015, 02:59 PM
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More time in Amsterdam and less at the Beer Festival - Amsterdam is a perpetual beer fest for your ages in its many neat nightspots where English is spoken and if into cannabis - sold legally in coffeeshops (don't ask for coffee!) - but besides there is so so much to see and do in Amsterdam - world-class museums - one of the world's most lovely cities - bike ride on the famous Dutch bike paths into the flat countryside, etc.
Dresden would be a natural stop en route to Prague - the Florence on the Elbe shines once again - just south of Dresden is Saxon Switzerland - do a nice day out in one of Europe's prettiest river valleys by train and boat - climb up to some clifftop fortresses.
But 4 days in Dresden would be a bit much for folks - why not end your trip in Vienna and put another country under your belt.
Anyway trains are fantastic - yes www.bahn.de/en has lots of neat discounts if you book months in advance to guarantee them as they are sold in limited numbers and do sell out often way way early - non-changeable from a specific train though and a hefty penalty for refunds. Yet full fare fully flexible tickets can cost a ton - if wanting flexibility actually the German Youth Railpass can be a great deal and now you can get to Prague on it - or the Benelux Youth Pass - but if OK with trains in stone weeks ahead of time the discounted ticket route will be best.
For lots of great info on German and European trains check: www.seat61.com - the guru now of discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
Dresden would be a natural stop en route to Prague - the Florence on the Elbe shines once again - just south of Dresden is Saxon Switzerland - do a nice day out in one of Europe's prettiest river valleys by train and boat - climb up to some clifftop fortresses.
But 4 days in Dresden would be a bit much for folks - why not end your trip in Vienna and put another country under your belt.
Anyway trains are fantastic - yes www.bahn.de/en has lots of neat discounts if you book months in advance to guarantee them as they are sold in limited numbers and do sell out often way way early - non-changeable from a specific train though and a hefty penalty for refunds. Yet full fare fully flexible tickets can cost a ton - if wanting flexibility actually the German Youth Railpass can be a great deal and now you can get to Prague on it - or the Benelux Youth Pass - but if OK with trains in stone weeks ahead of time the discounted ticket route will be best.
For lots of great info on German and European trains check: www.seat61.com - the guru now of discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
Apr 15th, 2015, 01:07 PM
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Hi jdaisy- I would personally reverse your trip if possible. This should cut your travel time...
July 28 - Fly Nice to Munich
- 3 full days (4 nights) in Munich (daytrip to castles?)
Aug 1 - Munich to Prague by bus (faster than train)
- 3 full days (4 nights) in Prague (daytrip to Česky Krumlov ?)
Aug 5 - Prague to Berlin by train
- 4 full days in Berlin (5 Nights) (daytrip Dresden or Sans Soucci?)
Aug 10- Berlin to Amsterdam by train
- 2 full days (3 nights) in Amsterdam
If you want to be adventurous, there is a night train (City Night Line, with sleeping cars)that leaves Berlin shortly after midnight and arrives at Cologne around 6:15 AM. There is a 2 hour layover before a direct train leaves from Cologne and arrives in Amsterdam about 11:30 AM. This would give you another 1/2 day in Berlin and Amsterdam. The sleeper costs extra but you save the price of a hotel in Amsterdam.
Aug 13 fly home from Amsterdam (Many more flight options than from Prague)
Have a great trip!!!
July 28 - Fly Nice to Munich
- 3 full days (4 nights) in Munich (daytrip to castles?)
Aug 1 - Munich to Prague by bus (faster than train)
- 3 full days (4 nights) in Prague (daytrip to Česky Krumlov ?)
Aug 5 - Prague to Berlin by train
- 4 full days in Berlin (5 Nights) (daytrip Dresden or Sans Soucci?)
Aug 10- Berlin to Amsterdam by train
- 2 full days (3 nights) in Amsterdam
If you want to be adventurous, there is a night train (City Night Line, with sleeping cars)that leaves Berlin shortly after midnight and arrives at Cologne around 6:15 AM. There is a 2 hour layover before a direct train leaves from Cologne and arrives in Amsterdam about 11:30 AM. This would give you another 1/2 day in Berlin and Amsterdam. The sleeper costs extra but you save the price of a hotel in Amsterdam.
Aug 13 fly home from Amsterdam (Many more flight options than from Prague)
Have a great trip!!!
Apr 15th, 2015, 03:22 PM
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If you want to experience a Nazi concentration/death camp take the train to nearby Sachenhausen, gas chambers still intact - about 40 minutes north of Berlin as I recall. No beer there though!
http://www.stiftung-bg.de/gums/en/
http://www.stiftung-bg.de/gums/en/
