Need Germany itinerary advice
 

Turns out we only have 10 days in Germany. We have to arrive and leave from Frankfurt. We want to see Munich,Fussen,Rothenburg, but would like to throw something else in.

Please comment on my proposed itinerary:
1. Fly (15 hrs total)
2. Arrive in Frankfurt, drive rental car to Rothenbug
3. Rothenburg
4. Rothenburg to Fussen via Romantic Road
5. Fussen area
6. Fussen to Salzburg
7. Salzburg area
8 Salzburg to Munich (turn in car)
9 Munich
10 Munich
11 Munich to Frankfurt (train)
12 Fly

Too much time in Munich? Too much travel time wasted on 11th day? Too boring, too busy?

Any helpful comments?
Tim

Tim, I like your trip. I am not sure the time of year, but I would add a 3rd day to the Salzburg area and day trip into the Lakes region east of there. You really do not need more than 2 days in Munich. With 10 days, I would do 2-2-3-2-1

I agree with Bob, cut back the time in Munich a smidge. When in Rothenburg, be sure to catch the night watchman's tour (9 PM at the main square, in English). Its a treat, and you get a lot of town info. Walk the wall, and beyond the town to the tiny village of Detwang. Visit the toppler Schlosschen en route. Not to be missed is the medieval crime & punishment museum. If you speak any German, there is a lesser known museum in a typical villager's house in the general vicinity of the town square that I really liked as well.
I was initially going to say too much time in Rothenburg, but then I realized it should be nicely relaxing. Enjoy!

Hi Tim - I think you have the makings of a very good itinerary. Rothenburg is an excellent destination for your first day. If you have an early morning arrival at Frankfurt you should be on your way and arrive Rothenburg by noon, which will give you plenty of time to get settled in before possible jet lag sets in. The next full day in Rothenburg should be more than enough time to enjoy the village and surrounding area. Recommend an early start for your drive to Füssen which will give you time to stop in Dinkelsbühl or Nördlingen or both. You should still arrive in Füssen with enough time to explore that surrounding area. For your full day in the Füssen area you should have plenty of time to visit the Royal Castles and if you are ambitious enough you can drive a nice loop north to Steingaden - take a right for a stop at the Wieskirche - on to Oberammergau - the Ettal - Linderhof. Garmisch might be a stretch for you but definitely possible also. Return to Füssen by reversing your route or drive by the Plansee and then via Reutte. The drive to Salzburg offers several options for stopovers depending on the route you take. A southerly route can take you via Lermoos and Innsbruck. The more northerly route can take you via Bad Tölz and Chiemsee. From Salzburg you can enjoy a trip to Hallstatt and the lakes and the day you head for Munich you could take your time and spend some time in Berchtesgaden. The days you have planned for Munich should allow you more than enough time to enjoy the city. The train ride to Frankfurt can take from 4 to 6 hours depending on when you leave and the classification of the train you take.

I've taken the same routes many times over the past few years so if you have any specific questions or need any sort of assistance - just post your questions here to give the board a chance to respond or drop me an email... Ben

We did a very similar trip in the late 90s. I agree to add a day to Salzburg and cut one from Munich. On the day we drove from Rothenburg to Fussen, we made a detour to both WiesKirche (beautiful church in a meadow just off Romantic Road) and to Linderhof (another cool Ludwig castle). The following day we went to both of Ludwig's castles near Fussen. After visiting Neuschwanstein, be sure to hike up to the bridge for great castle photo ops.
((H))

Forgot to say we will be there during the end of April, begining of May.

Thanks for the great replies so far!

Tim

Hmmm, Looks like I forgot how to email users directly here.

bavariaben - I saw elsewhere that you recommend haus-karin in Rothenburg. Sounds like the kind of place we are looking for.

On the off chance, can you recall if the place was "smokey". We do not smoke and sometime we hit a place that reeks with cigarette smoke. A little is OK. I know in Europe it is hard to avoid.

Also any recommendations for lodging in Fussen or Reutte?

Two of our favorite spots to stay in ROTHENBURG: REICHS KUTCENMEISTER OR MARKUSTURM HOTEL.

Both places are well located within the walls. The Markusturm Hotel is on many tour books about Germany and on the etchings because of the scenic spot next to the tower. The rooms are updated and nice.

I agree with the others. I enjoy Munich, but Salzburg is better to spend your extra time. Everyone has comments about the SOUND OF MUSIC TOUR in Salzburg, but we enjoyed it. The guy made it fun and we saw a lot of beautiful area. Watch the movie before you go.

Hi Tim - there are many favorite accommodations in Rothenburg but yes you are right - I highly recommend the Haus Karin. In September I stayed in Rothenburg 3 nights - two with Frau Weiss. My pre-trip concern was that three nights might be too many considering the amount of times I have visited Rothenburg already - but the time was just right for me. Plenty to do to keep me busy (relaxed might be a better word). The Haus Karin had no smoke smell at all. It was squeaky clean as far as I could see.

http://www.bensbauernhof.com/hauskar...enburgodt.html

If you are looking for similiar lodging in or around Füssen - I would recommend the Haus Weiher in Hohenschwangau - just below Neuschwanstein. Frau Oswald is just as nice and her rooms just as clean. These are all nice accommodations in the vicinity.

http://www.bensbauernhof.com/pensionweiher.html
http://www.bensbauernhof.com/landhannes.html
http://www.bensbauernhof.com/hansler...aubrunnen.html
http://www.bensbauernhof.com/scholde...irche2003.html
http://www.bensbauernhof.com/popplerhofnearfuessen.html
http://www.bensbauernhof.com/hotelmu...schwangau.html
http://www.bensbauernhof.com/featuredbnb.html

Ben (my email is [email protected])

Another nice place in Hohenschwangau is the Romantic Pension Neuschwanstein:

http://www.albrecht-neuschwanstein.de/index2.html

We stayed there for 2 nights in June 2002. It's also right under Neuschwanstein castle.

We had a nice, affordable Bavarian meal at Alpenhotel Meier.

http://www.alpenhotel-allgaeu.de/engl/e-index.htm

It's on the road between Hohenschwangau village and Schwangau. Just a couple of minutes from the village by car.

I agree with all the recommendations of BavariaBen of 11/29. Here is a bit more detail on a scenic route from Sazlburg to Munich: Salzburg to Berchtesgaden on the Austrian B-160/German B-305. From Berchtesgaden on the B-305 to Schneizlreuth and on toward Inzell. Just before Inzell, turn left on the B-305; stay on the B-305 as far as Reit i. Winkel.

After poking around this picture postcard alpine village, take the B-305 to the Munich Autobahn at Bernau. On the way you will pass through Unterwoessen (where I grew up), Marquarstein, Grassau. If you have lots of time at the Autobahn intersection. don't get on it as yet and continue on the B-305 to Prien and drive down to the lake boat terminal in Stock (right hand turn at the center of Prien, go underneath the train bridge, 3km to Stock). In Stock you can take a boat to the Herrenchiemsee island where King Ludwig (of Neuschwanstein fame) built a palace. Takes about 3hrs, including some sightseeing around the palace.

But you shall miss the Mosteltal and Castle Burg Eltz.
M

Sorry, You will miss The Moseltal...
can't spell and use grammar in the same English sentence.
M

I would like to give a strong second to RufusTFirefly's recommendation of the Alpenhotel Meier in Hohenschwangau. If the weather is nice and you can sit outside there is a great view and I remember saying at the time that they make the best salad I've ever eaten in Germany. Still holds true...

I also think treplow's suggested route is a very good idea. Reit im Winkel is a nice little village as is treplow's hometown of Unterwössen. I stayed at a very nice farm in Unterwössen a few years ago.

All the more reason to take the more southern route via Lermoos and Innsbruck when traveling from Füssen to Salzburg or the route via Mittenwald and Innsbruck when leaving from Garmisch to Salzburg. You've got some great options and can't go wrong either way... Ben

And if you're at the Meier at dusk when the cows come in from the pasture, you get a nice cowbell serenade.