NEED ITINERARY SUGGESTIONS FOR 10 DAY TRIP TO GERMANY
 

I am looking for itinerary suggestions for a 10 day trip to Germany in August. We'll be renting a car and will land in Munich where we'll spend the first four nights (husband needs first day to rest up). We will fly our of Stuttgart where we'll spend the last two nights and see the car museum and factory.

Also my 12 year old son's favorite subject is French so we would like to cross over border to France for a day -- any suggestions on where to cross? My husband doesn't like museums. I'd appreciate any advice.

tell us more of what you want to see? Small towns? castles? big cities?

I would visit Strasbourg for my "entrance" into France. Stroll the streets after dark, and see the cathedral in late afternoon sun.

Do you want to see the Alps? Berlin?
Our preference is usually to spend the majority of time out of the big cities. Munich is great, but 4 days would be way too long for us. Just an opinion.

Let me throw out a few towns to consider.
Munich, nurmberg, Bamburg, Wuerzburg, then spend a few days on the Rhine/Mosel river valleys (Cochem), see cathedral in Cologne, then over to Strasbourg, then out of Stuttgart.
You've kind of made a counterclockwise circle....but you missed the Alps, Garmish, the "disney" castle. Hmmm

You'll find many suggestions and answers to your questions by using the "search this forum" function on this page.

During your stay in Munich, I would suggest exploring/day trips to Salzburg, Bertchesgaden, and Garmish area. All three can be reached by train.

For a wonderful area that is French speaking, I would recommend spending 3 days exploring the Wine Route and little towns in Alsace, a couple days exploring the Black Forest area, Baden-Baden, Freiburg areas, and then spending the last 2 days in Stuttgart, with maybe a day trip to Rothenburg.

I hope this will give you a starting point for your planning. ((b))

I absolutely agree with the other responses. I was fortunate to live in Germany for 3 years. It's a beautiful country. Do make sure you go to Garmisch and go up the "Zugspitze" (spelling?? as well as the Eagles Nest in Bertchesgaden. Another beautiful view. The castles along the Rhine are impressive to see from a river cruise. Rothenburg is a medieval walled in city. Very touristy but I loved it. It was very much something you can't see at home. Oh, while down in Bavaria, the main tourist sites were the "Disney" castle (Neuwanstein - pardon the spelling again) and Linderhoff (mini version of Versailles). susan

If you've never been to Germany before, I would second overnighting in ROTHENBURG (medieval walled town, impressive setting).

Perhaps consider driving north from Munich via NURNBERG(old town w/fort, toy center) & BAMBERG before reaching Rothenburg or take the romantic road through DINKELSBUHL( similar to Rothenburg w/ less dramatic setting)

From Rothenburg, consider driving through SCHWABISCH HALL. Then drive to HEIDELBERG (favorite stop for americans) stopping in BAD WIMPFEN or MOSBACH.

From Heidelberg, drive south to BADEN BADEN, STRASBOURG,COLMAR & the Alsatian wine villages, back to Germany via FREIBURG, Black Forest, ROTTWEIL, HECHINGEN(for its mountain top castle) just an hour south of STUTTGART. Hope that helps.

It's definitely a marathon, so you may cut BAMBERG/NURNBERG or ALSACE to slow it down.

Thank you for all your suggestions. I am now thinking that crossing into France may be too much for this trip. I am now thinking of taking a day trip out of Munich to Salzberg. After our stay in Munich, I am considering driving to the Alps (Garmisch) and then going up the Romantic Road to Rothenberg and then on to Stuttgart from where we'll fly home. Does this sound like a good 11 day itinerary. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

I made the above suggestions keeping in mind that your husband doesn't like museums (much the way I am). These places are really vivid that they'll jump on your senses without having to go indoors/museums to enjoy. Even the castle in Hechingen can be enjoyed from the large central courtyard (outdoor cafe) after going through an underground concentric driveway.

Salzburg is an excellent destination. One of my favorite hotels in oldtown is Hotel Elefant for its Austrian flavor room quality and location. A less expensive(less ambiance) old town hotel is Blaue Gans. Across the riverbridge is another favorite hotel but a bit pricey, Hotel Sacher.

I am not a big fan of Garmisch & its Zugspitze for many reasons, I would recommend MITTENWALD. You can do both by train using the Bayern train day pass (21 euro per family).

I still like the recommendations for the Route de Vins in Alsace (overnight in Riquewihr - Hot l'Oriel/dinner at le Sarment d'Or, but that makes a long trip, and Rothenburg (rec: Hot Burg) The castle Burg Etlz just W. of Koblenz in the Moseltal is my fav - Ludwig's Neuschwanstein and Liderhof are IMHO less impressive.
The MB museum in Stuttgart is wonderful, better than Porsche and BMW.
Enjoy!
M

Rothenburg is jammed in the day, so try to be there overnight, or stay into the evening. 15 KM east of Rothenburg is an old castle, which has a restaurant and hotel rooms. In the town of Colmburg....the place is Burg Colmburg. It is high on a bluff, overlooking the "plains" and you can see Rothenburg in the distance. You can almost picture the traders, centuries ago, plodding along the trade routes that passed Rothenburg. (The city was at the intersection of an East-west route and a North-south route.)
I would highly recommend the "night watchman's tour. I believe it starts at 8pm...meet up at the town square. In English, takes about 45 min of walking (easy walk). Look for the tall guy in a black cape with a "scythe"type prop. It cost 4 or 5 euro. Very interesting history. I wouldn't miss it if you get to Rothenburg and can be there in the evening.

I would agree with DAX and ekelleyga.
Salzburg is fun, but the Bavarians are better hosts.
I really like the Hot. Wolf-Dietrich and the really great "organic" restaurant just X the street.
Orders of magnitude above the OK, but "bare-bones" Hot.Blaue Gans

I would agree with DAX and ekelleyga.
Salzburg is fun, but the Bavarians are better hosts.
I really like the Hot. Wolf-Dietrich and the really great "organic" restaurant just X the street. I have the name somewhere if you want it.
Hot. W-D is an order of magnitude above the OK, but "bare-bones" Hot.Blaue Gans IMHO.
M
PS everyone who visits Alsace is stunned by the relaxing pace, great food and wine, and 16th century houses, and no one believes they are actually in France - at least not until you see the military cemetaries in Lorraine.

ekellyga mentioned the hotel in Burg Colmberg. We stayed there for 2 nights in June 2002. It is excellent--high on a hill (as castles usually are), great views, convenient to Rothenburg, nice restaurant. Rooms are modern, so don't expect cold stone walls and cobwebs everywhere. Also has a golf course for the duffers out there.

Burg Colmberg website:

http://www.burg-colmberg.de/

A shame to miss the Alsace, but probably wise given the time restraints. Your second proposal looks good, but if doing Salzberg after Munich, why not then cut straight across Bavarian Alps from Salzberg to Berchtesgaden to Reit im Winkl to Tegernsee (overnight in that area, somewhere like Gmund?) to Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Fussen. See 2 of Mad King Ludwig's extravagant castles en route: Linderhof & Neuschwanstein. From Fussen go up the Romantic Road via Wieskirche, Donauworth, Nordlingen, to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. I second the notion of overnighting in Rothenburg - it is impressive by day, but pure magic after the tourist busloads have gone. Then to Schwabisch Hall and Bad Wimpfen then along the Neckar to Heidelberg, and so on up via Michelstadt to the Rhein - Bacharach especially - and the Mosel.

Sorry, just re-read your initial post and see that you have last few days in Stuttgart. Probably puts Rhein & Mosel sections of my above itinerary out of reach, but it could realistically bring the Alsace back into play. From Heidelberg go to Strasbourg from where you can do daytrips to Ribeauville, Ricquewihr, Colmar, Eguisheim and so on before cutting back to Stuttgart. Enjoy!

Does anyone know approx. how much money (in US or Canadian) it will cost to take a train from Munich to Berchtesgaden?

corbett--here's the German railroad website: www.bahn.de Click on the "Int. Guests" tab at the top for English version. You can find train schedules and exact ticket costs there.

You've gotten some good suggestions. My husband and I have been to Germany (Bavaria) 4 times; the last time with our 2 preteen sons this past November. We have friends that live between Stuttgart and Munich; and in 9 days time (this last trip) our itinerary included an overnight trip to Strassbourg. In that short period of 2 days, we managed to walk around Strassbourg and Colmar, as well as the the quaint little villages of Riquewihr and Ribeauville between the two cities. I really enjoyed walking the streets of those smaller villages...beautiful architecture...lovely setting...even better in the summer I am sure. If your son is into French, I think you should fit this in. Oh, while in Strassbourg, take the glass boat tour on the Il River! It's not expensive; and frankly, it is a great break from being on your feet all day. Your son would enjoy this. My children were amazed at the Cathedral in Strassbourg.

We also took a day trip to the Alps (just for the scenery; with no *desitination* in mind); a day trip to Rothenburg (if we weren't with friends we would have spent the night here); a day trip to Munich (on the train...thought the kids would enjoy the train ride...boys went to the top of the Olympic Tower while girls went shopping :-))...

I think you'll be surprised at what you can fit into a 10-day period. :-) Go to Neuschwanstein and just enjoy the ride there! It's beautiful countryside!

I love Munich for people-watching and shopping but I think 4 days might be a bit much for me too. The countryside in Bavaria is just so pretty and the villages are so quaint that it just seems a shame to spend too much time in a big city.

Y'all enjoy!