Places to see in Bavaria and Austria
 

I am planning a road trip with 5 adults from Bavaria to Salzburg and have ideas of places to visit in between, but want to get some advise/suggestions. To give a little background, my boyfriend and I did a two week trip this past September/October from Munich to Innsbruck to Venice, to Rome, to Florence, back to Innsbruck, and flew out of Munich....all in a car in two weeks. Yes, it was a lot, but it was absolutely AMAZING! We attended Oktoberfest, saw amazing historical sites in Itay, ate amazing food, and just had a wonderful time. It was so amazing that we want to do something similar but bring our family along. This trip will be shorter by a few days and cover less ground as we will be doing an open jaw flight. We don't mind driving and hopping to different places even if its for a short time.

Here's what I have in mind and would appreciate any suggestions:
- Fly to Stuttgart and stay for a day or two to settle in
- Drive from Stuttgart to Rothenburg for a day trip then drive down to Munich
- Stay in Munich for 3 or 4 days
- Drive from Munich to Innsbruck for a night
- Drive from Innsbruck to Salzburg for a few nights
- Fly out of Salzburg

Here's some ideas of what we plan to do or see in each place:
- Stuttgart: relax and eat (maybe visit Porshe or Mercedes if we are up to it)
- Rothenburg: explore the city
- Munich: Oktoberfest, Dachau, BMW Museum (maybe)
- Innsbruck: Krimml Waterfalls, drive to Meiders to go on the alpine coaster (did this before and have to do it again)
- Salzburg: Eisriesenwelt ice caves, drive to Hallsatt, Motzart's house, Eagle's Nest

Yes, I know...a lot of stuff, but we did a lot the last trip that we didn't expect to do, and would like to have different ideas of things to do in the other places and we can choose from. So basically, any places/things in between Stuttgart, Munich, and Salzburg.

If any of you are interested in our most recent trip through Germany, Austria, and Italy let me know.

- Fly to Stuttgart and stay for a day or two to settle in
- Drive from Stuttgart to Rothenburg for a day trip then drive down to Munich>

Quite a detour - Rothenburg is northwest of Munich - I'd settle in Munich and do Rothenburg as a day trip from Munich - Rothenburg not being at all on the way to Munich from Salzburg.

Flying into Stuttgart and out of Salzburg might not be the best thing if coming from the States. Moreover, if you rent a car in Germany and return it in Austria, you may incur a hefty and unnecessary cross-border drop-off fee. From Salzburg you are only two hours from the Munich airport. I suspect that form the States you will find that arriving in Frankfurt and departing from Munich makes the most sense.

And from Frankfurt you can drive the first day after recuperating via the castle-studded Castle Room, thru a scenic river valley the whole way to Rothenburg, a town to savor fully you want to stay overnight in as during the day tourists - even in September, especially on weekends can be overnwhelming - but at night the town is magic (and there is also the Night Watchman's tour at night I believe!).

Then take the Romantic Road thru gems like Nordlingen and Dinkelsbuhl to Munich (or Fussen if Neuschwanstein Castle is on your itinerary.

Be sure to check drop off rates for returning in Austria or plan to drive back into Germany to return (or v.v. for pick ups in Austria).

Yes, we will be flying from Los Angeles. I figured since Stuttgart is an hour and a half from Rothenburg, it made sense to fly there. Then from Rothenburg to Munich which is about two and a half hours.

Oops - I'm sorry about my post mixing up Stuttgart and Salzburg - forget my comments about Salzburg-Rothenburg-Munich - from Stuttgart yes very nice first stop.

Sorry for my poor reading. I think you however got it right.

<i>I figured since Stuttgart is an hour and a half from Rothenburg, it made sense to fly there.</i>

Do flights originating outside Europe fly into the Stuttgart airport?

Michael, I looked into Air Berlin (who we used on the last trip) and they fly into Stuttgart. It's actually cheaper than flying to Stuttgart than Munich or Frankfurt.

How many stops LAX to STR? Which stops?

I will have to check that. I was going to fly into Paris and take the train to Stuttgart next time. I really want Paris also but want to also see that region. Do stay the night in Rothenburg. The town is great after dark.

<i>It's actually cheaper than flying to Stuttgart than Munich or Frankfurt.</i>

Good for you. I did not know that. However, that cross-border drop-off fee might actually eliminate any savings for flying out of Salzburg.

www.viamichelin.com will tell you how much it costs to drive from Salzburg to the Munich airport.

If cross border drop fees are a concern, the car may be returned in Freilassing, only a few kilometers by train from Salzburg but in Germany.

check about returns in Salzburg's main train station area - sometimes that could be considered a German point for drop-off purposes. At least it is also considered to be a German train station, a part of it is and that is why Bavarian lander tickets are valid into a few miles of Austria. Not sure but easier to return there then Freilassing.

flpab, from LAX to Stuttgart there are one and two stop options that go from either LAX to Dusseldorf to Stuttgart or LAX Chicago to Berlin to Stuttgart. Check Airberlin.com.

I looked at the drop off fee using Avis and it's $170 USD. Not too bad considering moving 5 people back to Munich and going to a new hotel...it's more convenience than anything.

Aside from the logistics, my topic was more based on what places between these locations are must sees? Whether its off the beaten path or not.

Hi,

Unless there's a need o stay in Innsbruck (alpine coaster?), consider dropping Innsbruck (1 nights stays add stress in my opinion) and add that night to Salzburg. You can go on "alpine coasters" (actually called Sommerrodelbahn) in the Salzkammergut and Berchtesgaden area's. Berchtesgaden is less than 30 min. drive from Salzburg. We actually base in the Berchtesgaden area for our trips that include Salzburg, Hallstatt, etc.

Here are 2 close to Berchtesgaden (and Salzburg):

http://www.hochlenzer.de/rodelbahn.html

http://www.duerrnberg.at/

These are nearby Salzburg:

http://www.rodelbahnen.at/sommerrode...Startseite.htm



Between Munich and Salzburg, visit Ludwig's amazing Herrenchiemsee palace.

http://www.herrenchiemsee.de/englisc...lace/index.htm

Spend at least a night in Rothenburg ob der Tauber and be sure to take the Nightwatchman Tour at 8pm. No reservations, just show up at 8pm.

http://www.nightwatchman.de/index.php?&sprache=ENG

A few minutes from Berchtesgaden are:

http://www.koenigssee.com/lake-koeni...artholomew.htm

http://www.jennerbahn.de/de/englisch/

Between Munich and Salzburg, visit Ludwig's amazing Herrenchiemsee palace.

http://www.herrenchiemsee.de/englisch/n_palace/index.htm>

great idea and easy to do - smack midway between Salzburg and Munich - well maybe not exactly midpoint but a good break - Prien it the city to take a train to or drive to and then take a boat to this Bavarian Versailles on an island in the Chiemsee - like any Mad Ludwig creation a surprise at every turn - not your ordinary castle or palace in this case.

Skip Stuttgart. Drive to Rothenburg upon arrival. Stay there within the city walls and take nightwatchman tour at 8 pm.

Skip Innsbruck. Spend more time in the Salzburg/Berchtesgaden area. Beautiful spot. This eliminates some of the driving and allows more time to actually get out of your car and see the area.

What kind of car are you getting for 5 people with bags?

Don't forget sound of music tour in Salzburg

Drive from Munich to Innsbruck for a night !!!
but dont miss to visit the most beautiful castle in the world NEUSCHWANSTEIN ( New Swan Stone )www.new-swan-stone.eu/
is located in a small village Hohenschwangau about 5km from Austria.
you will need 4hours to make the tour for one castle Neuschwanstein

I'd tell you to fly into and out of Munich. That way you won't have any drop off fees on your rental car.
If you have desires to take an auto factory tour, go to the BMW Experience in Munich. And don't forget to take in Dachau--a must see for any traveler.
Pickup your rental car at a city center location as you're leaving town. Airport rentals always have huge concession fees and taxes.
My wife and I went out of our way to see Neuschwanstein, and it was not as large as expected. After seeing so many real castles, it was not worth going out of the way to see it.
We've made that circle tour around Bavaria and Western Tyrol a number of times. The scenery in the Austrian Alps is truly breathtaking--and easy to travel through.