I am trying to come up with an itinerary for one week. We have a conference in Munich and then I would like to travel for a week. We have done this before...one time we went through Austria and another to Alsace and Switzerland. I have two thoughts...either to mainly travel in Germany including Berlin or to go south into Italy. For the southern trip I would like to stay in the Dolomites and possible see Verona before heading back to Munich(with a few other stopovers). For the Northern part I would go through Nurnberg, Berlin Dresden and possible Prague or try to see the mosel area like Cochen and to Berlin and back to munich...it seems like too much driving. Any suggestions??

What time of the year will you be there?

"too much driving" - so why drive at all? Germany has an excellent train network. If all you plan to see are cities there is no need for a car anyway, and even the Mosel valley can be done by public transport.

In terms of driving or using trains: It depends on what you want to do and see, the time of year, how many people, etc. Sometimes one is better, sometimes the other, sometimes a combination.

I love the southern route to the Dolomites with the castle country on the way down and Salzburg on the way back to Munich. Look at the web site for Val Gardena as your base camp in the Dolomites. Verona is also doable from there as is Lago Garda. That is fabulous country !

We are going at the end of June. We also would rather drive then take trains. How would you divide up the days for say the southern route. Thats where I am having alot of trouble. It would be easier if I add one night and have 8 nights before or after Munich which I can probably do. I like a combination of country and city if possible.

Here is my pick:

Drive to St. Gilgen on Wolfgangsee---see Hallstatt, Salzburg, and lakes region from here--3 nites

Drive to Val Gardena in Dolomites---2 nites

Drive to castle country--stay in Oberammergau---2 nites

Last nite near Munich airport

That is a start--good luck.

Hi,

I also like the "southern route" idea. Starting and ending in Munich, this is my suggestion...

From Munich to Zell am See, Austria - 2 nights

Zell am See - Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse - to either Alta Badia or Val Gardena (Dolomites) - 3 nights

Either Fuessen or Mittenwald, Germany - 2 nights

Stay by the Munich airport the last night. We like Freising and especially liked Erding. Very nice old town just 20 minutes from the airport. You can drop the car at the airport.

We have a trip report covering a similar itinerary from October 2006.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34893886

and photo's at:

www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html


Hope this helps.


Paul

Hi Cp,

> Any suggestions??<

Plan

a visit to Southern Bavaria and Austria, starting and ending in Munich.

Visit the Bodensee.

Visit the Romantic Road

Enjoy your week.

Thanks for all the replies. Paul your pictures were great. I have to look into Zell am See. Did you like that area better then Berchtesgaden area? We have been to Hallstadt and Salzburg and Innsbruck so I want to avoid those (also by lake Constance) We have stayed in Partenkirchen so these other suggestions are good. What town on the romantic road did you like the best. I have seen Rothenburg years ago, but not my husband.

Zell am see does look nice. Has anyone been to the area in Italy...Toblach or Sesto...It is further east but looks nice.

Hi again cparris,

Along with the Pension Mayringerlehen being our favorite place, we liked staying in Ramsau (Berchtesgaden area) because it's central to the Salzkammergut, Salzburg, Herrenchiemsee, Bad Reichenhall, Zell am See and many other places of interest to us. If you've seen most of these places and want to get to the Dolomites, I'd go with Zell am See followed by a drive over the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse and then into the Dolomites.

As for which area we liked better, I'd have to say the Berchtesgaden area. I must say this is based on the fact we stayed in Ramsau (Berchtesgaden) on two separate trips and only visited Zell am See for one day as a day trip from Ramsau. Never stayed there (yet!).

Our favorite along the Romantic Road... We visited only Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Dinkelsbuehl. Rothenburg, no contest in my opinion.


Hope this helps.

Paul

I need to plan sort of two ways...if our daughter comes along she may not want to spend so much time in the mountains. I know she wants to see Berlin. I would like to do some hiking...so maybe if she comes I can wrangle a couple of days in Berchtesgarden and then see some sights on the Romantic road, like Rothenburg, and head to Berlin. Dresden also sounds like an interesting city. I think it is too much to go to the Rhine/mosel area which is beautiful. When we went to Switzerland a couple of years ago it rained almost the intire trip...so my husband and daughter were wishing they were in Greece. At least with a combo of cities and countryside they would be happy.

If my daughter doesn't come I may go for the Dolomites. Got to keep everyone, including myself, happy.