Pretty small towns in Bavaria
 

I've been to Germany about a bizillion times, but I think I'll go back again in June 2016 to visit small towns in Bavaria and in the Alps in general. A bit of Austria and maybe even Switzerland might be in the cards, too. Wherever they speak German, even the incomprehensible version spoken in der Schweiz.

I've been to Garmisch and Berchtesgaden a couple of times each, but wouldn't mind going back. I haven't been to Murnau, Mittenwald (except on the way to somewhere else) or Fussen. (I don't want to see Ludwig's castles agrain, by the way.) I would also like to go to Prien am Chiemsee to see the Frauenchiemsee and the Herrnchiemsee.

II just want to relax, stroll around, eat, drink coffee in a sidewalk cafe and admire the architecture. I'll be 80 years old (damnit!) by next June, so I won't be up for anything exciting.

Any suggestions for other pleasant villages?

Oberammergau is one of my favorite places. I always want to go there. Mittenwald is very nice and very walkable. Murnau train goes to Oberammergau. Partenkirchen side of town is nicer and quieter than Garmisch and you might enjoy it more. The historic Ludwigstrasse in Partenkirchen, part of it was once the Roman Road from Venice to Augsburg. Great shops, restaurants and places to stay. Check out Grainau also. It is located at the foot of the Zugspitze mountain.

Hi Peg, sorry I cannot help with Bavaria proper but I do have some ideas..

We were in an area just slightly north of Bavaria (I think, I am geographically very impaired!) that is called Rheinland-Pfalz this past summer. There were 2 towns there that I highly recommend:

Neustadt an der Weinstraße

I found this place amazing. A HUGE aldtstadt untouched by WWII bombing and a truly functioning place, not only a tourist mecca. Wonderful for tourists but actually real as well, if you know what I mean. None of the Disney-esqueness that is Rothenburg. And yet I was entranced!

Also fascinating was Speyer, about 25 miles away from Neustadt. I just checked w/DH and he says that historically this area had been part of Bavaria, so my geography is not totally off the mark this time….Speyer had lots of Roman history as well. I was surprised that neither of these places seem to be frequented by many Americans, b/c they were both more interesting (for me) than many of the other "bigger name" spots….

Thanks for the suggestions, folks. I've been to Speyer but just briefly. I've never been to Neustadt an der Weinstrasse.

I'm interested in your comments on Partenkirchen, flpab. I haven't been to Grainau, but I've spent some time in Oberammergau--in 1998 or thereabouts.

We thought Miltenberg, Wertheim, Karlstadt am Main and Iphofen were all easily walkable – and in close proximity to Wurzburg.

There’s also Bad Wimpfen, Schwaebisch Hall , Dinkelsbuhl and Noerdlingen.

And, we really loved Mittenwald. So many places, too little time!

Well, Peg, I was just about to wax lyrical about Mittenwald, but I was so gobsmacked by your age, I kind of forgot about it. You are one amazing inspiration! :)

One of my favorite little towns in Bavaria is Iffeldorf. It has no "must see" sights or any major sights to speak of, it's just a pretty chocolate box village with lovely views of the mountains and its own small lake, a very pleasant hotel with good on-site restaurant (you can eat inside or on the lakeview terrace), a few cafes and shops. There are bus stops in the village and a train station at the edge for exploring farther afield.

http://fahrplan-bus-bahn.de/bayern/i...busfahrplaenen

http://www.landgasthof-osterseen.de/ (where I stay)

I asked my friend who lived in Bavaria about this and her reply was……

traveling on the Romantische Strausse is lovely and offers many small towns. Some examples: Oberammergau, Berchtesgaden, Bad Reichenhall, Bad Tolz, Fuessen. ….

Guess you've been to some of these… she also mentioned Rothenburg.

On a boat trip we visited Wertheim which someone mentioned above… and which I remember as being charming.

I agree with flab on Oberammergau and Mittenwald, cute villages. Just Dow the road from Mittenwald, Seefeld Austria is a cute ski village. As long as we are talking Austria, how about Hallstatt or some of the other, Salzburgerland lakes district villages.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to investigate those I don't already know.

Have you been to Bamberg?

Prien and the Chiemsee (incl. the islands) is a pretty good spot.
Nearby: Aschau im Chiemgau, Reit im Winkl

Mittenwald, also a fine hub to explore the Alps. In addition to its cute town center you have the cable car to Karwendel mountain in town. You can enjoy the views from the top without any additional climbing.

Murnau, again a good base. The town itself - incl. the museum with art from the Blue Rider (pre-expressionism) period.
Iffeldorf and the lakes are just nearby.

Bad Tölz is also a nice small town.

Kufstein (in Austria) is already somewhat bigger in size (like Garmisch) and home of the famous Riedel glass ware.

Bregenz (also Austria) is also somewhat bigger and has a beautiful location with the mountains in the backyard and Lake Constance as the front yard.

Travelwise, the railway connections in that part are more hub and spoke, with Munich as the hub, and all lines going towards Munich. If you want to travel parallel close to the Alps, transport will often require buses, which may run less frequently than the trains. But at any of you potential destinations, you won't be stuck in one place if you don't have a car.

We liked Landshut. There is a castle but a better treat for us is a wealth of houses and businesses with Baroque facades. At every corner there is another interesting building to view. The "Altstadt Straße" has many sidewalk cafes and restaurants. I have provided some pictures but it is difficult to get the flavor of so many attractive buildings.

The town is very walkable but take a taxi from the train station into town unless you like long walks with luggage. The Landshut version of the Hofbräuhaus is quiet with good food. Even better is the Augustiner an der St. Martins Kirche, reservations often required.

https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Other-...8726799_vsK4kd

https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Christ...0635634_WwvXRT

>>On a boat trip we visited Wertheim which someone mentioned above… and which I remember as being charming.<<


I never tell anyone about Wertheim because I don't want the tourists to ruin it.

Peg - I hope I am like you when I'm 80.

An embarrassment of riches! Your suggestions make my mouth water.

Thank you so much for the suggestions! I am thinking maybe I'll need to spend a month on this trip instead of the three weeks I had planned. I want to spend a few days in Warsaw first, so I'll need more than just the remaining two weeks for this visit.

We spent the night in Wertheim. Great castle and easy walk to get there. Our hotel had the best Greek restaurant. The train stops there if doing train. It was an hour or so from Frankfurt. I loved this little village.

Peg: I hope we are still out there like you are at 80. We love Germany since I was stationed there in 1970-71 in the Army. We cannot count the trips back in the ensuing years.

If you are in Bavaria try a non-German town. Salzburg. The Bristol Hotel. My wife and I enjoy this area so much we switch between staying in Berchtesgaden or Salzburg. Check it out.

We depart November 2015 for an AMA river cruise from Budapest to Prague......gonna be some Gluwein on that trip!

We are not quite 80 yet, but going back to Bregenz, which is actually in Austria next May. Look up Lindau...it is a tiny island on Lake Constance (Bodensee), a couple of hours by train from Munich, and a short boat ride from Bregenz.

From Lindau, you can catch a ferry to Mainau, the Garden Island, which in itself is a beautiful trip on the lake, surrounded by high mountains in Austria and Switzerland. Walking around Both Lindau and Mainau is delightful, and mostly flat. Bregenz is great too, with its sea stage for operas, and a cable car up to the top of the Pfaender Mountain,with great views and "Sound of Music" scenery at the top.

Too many choices! Happy travels!

Thanks, everyone. I printed this and will explore various of your suggestions and undoubtedly will chose from this list.