[Need Help ] Is 12 Days in Europe Sufficient
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
[Need Help ] Is 12 Days in Europe Sufficient
Hey Guys, I planned to go to Europe in Spring, End of MARCH 2019.
Here is what I have planned with estimated time of departure. Would like to know if it is doable? Will it be too tiring?
Traveling in Europe via Train/Rail/Bus
Date : Spring, 29 Mar 2019 to 09 Apr 2019
Day 1 - Berlin > Nuremburg
0730 - Arrival
1030 - Train to Nuremberg
Spend a night at Nuremberg
Day 2 - Rothenburg
0930 -Nuremberg to Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber
1800 -Train to Munich
Day 3 - Munich
0715 -Munich to Zuspitze
(This is a Day trip from Munich)
Day 4
0630 - Munich to Berchtesgaden and Kognisee Lake
(This is a Day trip from Munich)
Day 5
0800 - Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle and Fussen
(This is a Day trip from Munich)
Day 6 (Switzerland)
0600 - Munich to Zurich
1100 - Zurich to Rheinfall
1700 - Rheinfall to Luzern
Day 7
0800 - Mt Rigi, Luzern
Day 8
0080 - Luzern Zurich
1200 - Lunch at Zurich
1600 - Zurich to Munich
Day 9 (Prague)
1015 - Munich to Prague
Day 10
Prague Castle
Petrin Hill
Day 11
Prague Old Town
Day 12
1900- Prague to Finnland
End of Trip
Will I have enough time to enjoy this trip?
Thank you!
Here is what I have planned with estimated time of departure. Would like to know if it is doable? Will it be too tiring?
Traveling in Europe via Train/Rail/Bus
Date : Spring, 29 Mar 2019 to 09 Apr 2019
Day 1 - Berlin > Nuremburg
0730 - Arrival
1030 - Train to Nuremberg
Spend a night at Nuremberg
Day 2 - Rothenburg
0930 -Nuremberg to Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber
1800 -Train to Munich
Day 3 - Munich
0715 -Munich to Zuspitze
(This is a Day trip from Munich)
Day 4
0630 - Munich to Berchtesgaden and Kognisee Lake
(This is a Day trip from Munich)
Day 5
0800 - Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle and Fussen
(This is a Day trip from Munich)
Day 6 (Switzerland)
0600 - Munich to Zurich
1100 - Zurich to Rheinfall
1700 - Rheinfall to Luzern
Day 7
0800 - Mt Rigi, Luzern
Day 8
0080 - Luzern Zurich
1200 - Lunch at Zurich
1600 - Zurich to Munich
Day 9 (Prague)
1015 - Munich to Prague
Day 10
Prague Castle
Petrin Hill
Day 11
Prague Old Town
Day 12
1900- Prague to Finnland
End of Trip
Will I have enough time to enjoy this trip?
Thank you!
#2
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
No many days not practical - way too hurried except day trips from Munich - figure in transit time - trains - book long-distance trains at www.bahn.de/en for those involving Germany but in Bavaria use the bargain Bavaria Pass that gives up to several people unlimited travel on regional trains for the whole day including city transports - www.seat61.com has loads on booking own long-distance intra-country tickets online yourself - general info BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com. check www.bahn.de/en for Bavarian Ticket details - this will cover all your trips in Bavaria.
#3

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
If enjoyment to you means bouncing around Europe like a ping-pong ball, interspersed with long hours on trains and in stations, I suppose it will work. Generally speaking,though, I don't think many people would find this enjoyable at all.
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 98,259
Likes: 12
Let's see, if I'm counting correctly you named 19 places in 13 days' time.
That is nothing I would want to do. Way too many places in too short of a time, moving around way too much for me.
That said... Have you ever planned and taken a trip like this before? Do you like to travel at a really fast pace and not spend much time in any one location? If so, maybe it's perfect for you.
That is nothing I would want to do. Way too many places in too short of a time, moving around way too much for me.
That said... Have you ever planned and taken a trip like this before? Do you like to travel at a really fast pace and not spend much time in any one location? If so, maybe it's perfect for you.
#5

Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 0
Why are you landing in Berlin if you are not going to spend any time there? I would recommend landing in a location you actually want to visit and spending a few days there. OK, so you then have 10 days or so left over. Keep in mind you lose half a day or so traveling between locations. I would choose to spend my remaining 10 days in three or four locations at the most.
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#9
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
> I think it is an excellent tour of a variety of trains and train stations
Ditto.
Hi d,
You are making the usual newbie mistake of trying to cram everything into one trip.
There will be others.
You could have a very good visit if you limited yourself to Germany.
Ditto.
Hi d,
You are making the usual newbie mistake of trying to cram everything into one trip.
There will be others.
You could have a very good visit if you limited yourself to Germany.
#11
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 329
Likes: 0
I did this kind of trip once. But I was not sure to be alive the year after. If you have a normal life expectancy you should split it and come back to 'do' the other legs later.
Berlin is worth at least 5 days, Prague 3 days minimum (without daytrips to Karlorivary or such) Muenchen is worth 3 days minimum - you have zero day to visit it, you use it as a base for daytrips.
Berlin is worth at least 5 days, Prague 3 days minimum (without daytrips to Karlorivary or such) Muenchen is worth 3 days minimum - you have zero day to visit it, you use it as a base for daytrips.
#12

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
If you are planning to go in March/April, don't forget to consider the weather (might be cold) and the length of the days, which might affect your touring. If you haven't booked flights yet, maybe look at Italy as an alternative at that time of year. 12 days would be nice, but still fast paced, for Venice/Florence/Rome. If you want to stick with Germany, your Berlin to Munich route would have plenty to do for 12 days. Save Switzerland, Prague, Finland for a warmer season.
#13

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 0
I do not know your circumstances - where you are traveling from (your current plan does not figure in jet lag), who you are traveling with, whether you or your travel partners have any physical constraints, etc.
You're underestimating how long it takes to check out of hotel, transfer to train station, check into hotel, etc. Your current plan has you have zero time to eat! What if you get lost? Even with mobile maps and Google, you still may get lost!
Why are you wanting to go to each of these cities? Figure out what draws you there and plan what to see. This will help you gauge how long you need to actually be in each. While the time of year you are planning to go should be light on crowds and lines, but still figure that some of the more popular places to be busy (Prague Castle, Neuschwanstein for example). Plan for each travel day to eat up at least half - sometimes more - of your sightseeing. Your current plan seems as if you just want to check cities off your list. I know you're considering replacing Zurich (with another city!) - but why do you even want to go to Zurich? Do you have a connection there? What is in Zurich that you want to see? Think to yourself on each and every destination on your list.
You're underestimating how long it takes to check out of hotel, transfer to train station, check into hotel, etc. Your current plan has you have zero time to eat! What if you get lost? Even with mobile maps and Google, you still may get lost!
Why are you wanting to go to each of these cities? Figure out what draws you there and plan what to see. This will help you gauge how long you need to actually be in each. While the time of year you are planning to go should be light on crowds and lines, but still figure that some of the more popular places to be busy (Prague Castle, Neuschwanstein for example). Plan for each travel day to eat up at least half - sometimes more - of your sightseeing. Your current plan seems as if you just want to check cities off your list. I know you're considering replacing Zurich (with another city!) - but why do you even want to go to Zurich? Do you have a connection there? What is in Zurich that you want to see? Think to yourself on each and every destination on your list.
#14



Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 75,080
Likes: 50
The OP has a newer thread with a substantially different itinerary . . .
[Help] Germany, Austria and Prague via Train and Bus
[Help] Germany, Austria and Prague via Train and Bus
#16
Original Poster
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
#17
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 570
Likes: 0
You can accomplish your plan (by train) IF you do not mind spending long travel days with a lot of rail station changes. If you lay this out, here is what people are attempting to tell you:
Berlin to Rothenburg ob de Tauber: 4 Trains, 3 Changes, 6 Hrs. 20 Mins. travel time
Rothenburg ob de Tauber: to Luzern: 5 Trains, 4 Changes, 6 Hrs. 59 Min. travel time
Luzern to Garmisch-Partenkirchen: (Zugspitze): 5 Trains, 4 Changes, 6 Hrs. 44 Min. travel time
Garmisch - Partenkirchen to Berchtesgaden: 3 Trains, 2 Changes, 4 Hrs. 21 Min. travel time
Berchtesgaden to Prague: 4 Trains, 2 Changes, 7 Hrs. 29 Min. travel time
You essentially have 11 days (including arrival day in Berlin) as on day 12, you are leaving Prague. In that time, what have you accomplished except seeing a lot of the inside of rail carriages and rail stations.
I am getting ready to leave on a rail trip of 17 days, with 37 trains and four countries. However, my purpose is to ride trains, as I am a rail fan. This is probably my 35th trip to Europe and I previously have visited many of the same sites I will pass through. But my objective is not to see the sites, it is to travel by train. (I do not recommend this for everybody and many of the forum participants would not enjoy such a trip.)
So yes, you can do what you want but I believe you must determine what your objective is. If it is to develop a check list, then great. If it is to enjoy travel and form lasting memories and images of the place you have visited, then don't be in such a hurry. My suggestion, eliminate Prague and possibly Luzern, as destinations and fly into Frankfurt and out of Munich. You can use the DB rail site to plan your rail trips and the hotel booking site, booking.com for hotels. Rome2rio is also an excellent planning tool.
I recommend you start with a Europe map, do a bit of research yourself and stop asking others on this site if this is possible.
Berlin to Rothenburg ob de Tauber: 4 Trains, 3 Changes, 6 Hrs. 20 Mins. travel time
Rothenburg ob de Tauber: to Luzern: 5 Trains, 4 Changes, 6 Hrs. 59 Min. travel time
Luzern to Garmisch-Partenkirchen: (Zugspitze): 5 Trains, 4 Changes, 6 Hrs. 44 Min. travel time
Garmisch - Partenkirchen to Berchtesgaden: 3 Trains, 2 Changes, 4 Hrs. 21 Min. travel time
Berchtesgaden to Prague: 4 Trains, 2 Changes, 7 Hrs. 29 Min. travel time
You essentially have 11 days (including arrival day in Berlin) as on day 12, you are leaving Prague. In that time, what have you accomplished except seeing a lot of the inside of rail carriages and rail stations.
I am getting ready to leave on a rail trip of 17 days, with 37 trains and four countries. However, my purpose is to ride trains, as I am a rail fan. This is probably my 35th trip to Europe and I previously have visited many of the same sites I will pass through. But my objective is not to see the sites, it is to travel by train. (I do not recommend this for everybody and many of the forum participants would not enjoy such a trip.)
So yes, you can do what you want but I believe you must determine what your objective is. If it is to develop a check list, then great. If it is to enjoy travel and form lasting memories and images of the place you have visited, then don't be in such a hurry. My suggestion, eliminate Prague and possibly Luzern, as destinations and fly into Frankfurt and out of Munich. You can use the DB rail site to plan your rail trips and the hotel booking site, booking.com for hotels. Rome2rio is also an excellent planning tool.
I recommend you start with a Europe map, do a bit of research yourself and stop asking others on this site if this is possible.
#20
Original Poster
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Day 1 - Stop over at Nuremberg
Arriving Berlin : 7 A.M
Since it's the first day we don't plan to do any sight seeing.
Travel from Berlin to Nuremberg - Train 3.5 hrs
Probably walk around handcraft market at Nuremberg near our hotel and have dinner near by.
Day 2 - Main Attraction Rothenburg
Nuremberg to Rothenburg - Train 1 hr 15 min
Spend 9 am to 5 pm at Rothenburg
6 pm Train to Munich - Train 3 hrs
Check in hotel at Munich
Day 3 - Main Attraction Zugzspite
8 A.M leave Munich to Garmisch - Train 1 hr 22 min
Spend 10 am to 5pm sight seeing there
5 pm depart Garmisch back to Munich - Train 1 hr 22 min
* no changing of hotel
Day 4 - Main Attraction Neuschwanstein Castle
7 A.M leave Munich to Fussen - Train 2 hr
followed by a 10 min bus 73
10A.M to 5PM at the Castle and Fussen
5 PM Leave Fussen back to Munich
* no changing of hotel
Day 5 - Munich to Zurich
Leave munich in the morning - IC BUS 4hrs
Reach Zurich by Noon, have lunch there and take a 45 min train to Lucerne - Train 45 min
* Check in hotel at Lucerne
Day 6 - Lucerne
Full day at lucerne
- no changing of hotel
Day 7 - Lucerne
Full day at lucerne (old town exploring)
- no changing of hotel
Day 8 - Lucerne > Zurich > Munich
After breakfast at Lucerne, Leave for Zurich - Train 45 min
Have Lunch at Zurich and do some shopping
4 P.M bus back to Munich - IC Bus 4 Hr
Travel back to Munich
Day 9 - Munich > Prague
tea time at Prague
Day 10 - Prague
Full day Prague
Day 11 - Prague
Full Day Prague
Day 12 - Prague
Half day at Prague
Evening 7 P.M Flight home
Arriving Berlin : 7 A.M
Since it's the first day we don't plan to do any sight seeing.
Travel from Berlin to Nuremberg - Train 3.5 hrs
Probably walk around handcraft market at Nuremberg near our hotel and have dinner near by.
Day 2 - Main Attraction Rothenburg
Nuremberg to Rothenburg - Train 1 hr 15 min
Spend 9 am to 5 pm at Rothenburg
6 pm Train to Munich - Train 3 hrs
Check in hotel at Munich
Day 3 - Main Attraction Zugzspite
8 A.M leave Munich to Garmisch - Train 1 hr 22 min
Spend 10 am to 5pm sight seeing there
5 pm depart Garmisch back to Munich - Train 1 hr 22 min
* no changing of hotel
Day 4 - Main Attraction Neuschwanstein Castle
7 A.M leave Munich to Fussen - Train 2 hr
followed by a 10 min bus 73
10A.M to 5PM at the Castle and Fussen
5 PM Leave Fussen back to Munich
* no changing of hotel
Day 5 - Munich to Zurich
Leave munich in the morning - IC BUS 4hrs
Reach Zurich by Noon, have lunch there and take a 45 min train to Lucerne - Train 45 min
* Check in hotel at Lucerne
Day 6 - Lucerne
Full day at lucerne
- no changing of hotel
Day 7 - Lucerne
Full day at lucerne (old town exploring)
- no changing of hotel
Day 8 - Lucerne > Zurich > Munich
After breakfast at Lucerne, Leave for Zurich - Train 45 min
Have Lunch at Zurich and do some shopping
4 P.M bus back to Munich - IC Bus 4 Hr
Travel back to Munich
Day 9 - Munich > Prague
tea time at Prague
Day 10 - Prague
Full day Prague
Day 11 - Prague
Full Day Prague
Day 12 - Prague
Half day at Prague
Evening 7 P.M Flight home

