We will be visiting Germany and Austria in late November/early December. This is my 6th visit and my husband's second. Last year we visited Munich, Salzburg and Vienna. We both love Salzburg (I went to university there and have been back a half dozen times since) and Munich is always fun. Salzburg and Berlin are the only absolutes in our plan.

Since we are at the mercy of using miles, we are booked to fly into Berlin and out of Frankfurt and have 11 nights to spend. We like to combine cities and villages and our travel style is active, lots of of walking, daytrips, absorbing the feel of the area more than being intent on seeing "sights". Stunning scenery (we live in flat and hot Florida) and enjoying the Christmas festivities are high on our list. We hope to change our departing flight from MUC but this is unknown at the moment. If that happens, we will stay our final night in Salzburg and head to MUC from there.

We will be using Germany/Austria Flexipasses and taking buses and trains as needed. No rental car.

We are spending three nights in Berlin and then our next definite destination is Salzburg. Here are my thoughts so far:

Berlin 3 nights
Nurnberg 2 nights with a daytrip to Regensburg
Salzburg 5 nights with daytrips to Zell am See, Bad Ischl and St. Gilgen
Last night in Heidelberg for late morning departure to USA from FRA.

Another thought is:

Berlin 3 nights
Munich 3 nights with daytrips to Nurnberg and Mittenwald/Garmisch
Salzburg 4 nights
Straight to Frankfurt for last overnight

My considerations are keeping our longer train connections between primary destinations short enough so as not to chew up most of a day. Hence the consideration or Nurnberg as it is perfectly placed for mid way stop with direct service via ICE from Berlin and to Salzburg. And we really do not want to spend too much time checking in and out of hotels so not interested in one night stays as we prefer to base somewhere and make daytrips.

Any comments or thoughts on our plan or suggestions for other itineraries?

I haven't been to all the places you listed, but 2 years ago I visited Nurnberg (for 3 days/nights) and really enjoyed the town - a very pleasant surprise. I did 2 day trips from there: Bamberg (beautifully preserved medieval town, a UNESCO site), and Bayreuth (mainly because I was interested in the Wagner association). I also visited Wurzburg, which also is a UNESCO Heritage site.

In any case, I'm pretty sure the Christmas Market at Nurnberg is quite a huge deal...
http://www.christkindlesmarkt.de/english/

I was in Nuermburg recently and went out to the old Nazi parade grounds a few miles south of town (S-Bahn station near site) - and there are the still standing what a sign there proclaims are the most significant grouping of edifices extant from the Third Reich

such as the grandstand where Hitler often viewed military parades on the mile or so long stone block avenue that has been all cleaned up from being weed-covered when i was first there years ago

and a stadium and other relics that are still sobering and remind us that it was not really that long ago when the Third Reich and their vile program held power in one of Europe's most cultured countries.

Romantic Strasse from Frankfurt to Munich or to Fussen is truely very romantic, if you haven't been there.
Especially Rothenburg is straight out of a fairy-tale.
Fussen- Ruette-Zugspitz- Garmisch is a scenic route.
You can stay at Ruette or Fussen, to see Neuschwanstein Castle.
You can also visit Dresden, which is Gem.
Don't miss Schloss Helbrunn near Salzburg for water fountains.
Hallstat in the Austrian Lake district is very romantic.

Bertchesgaden, Obersalzburg to see Hitler's Eagle's Nest is a very scenic day trip from Salzburg.
The whole area is so beautiful, with so many options and such efficient public transport system, it's very difficult to choose. I would love spend 7 days in Bavaria and another 7 days in the Salzkamargut lake district.
All the best for a super romantic holiday.

Do Nuernberg instead of Munich if you have both been there already. The Christmas market will make it worthwhile alone.

I am with yk on this one - consider a daytrip to Bamberg instead of Regensburg. Although Regensburg is lovely, Bamberg can't be beaten, really.

Ok, I will look into Bamberg, thanks!

We have been to Berchtesgaden, Garmisch, St. Gilgen and more - anxious to explore more of this area as well.

We visited Liderhof last year and enjoyed it but really no interested in Neuschwanstein though we did drive there to see the outside (my mother could not make the climb).

If you are spending your last evening in Frankfurt, you will be able to enjoy the Christmas Market there. It is one of the oldest, over 600 years old and very lovely set up in the town square. A lot of our very old churches in this area also have great organ concerts during the Advent season. The organ in the Kaiserdom is especially wonderful to hear as it is massive.

If you are tired of Christmas markets by then, you can always visit one of the many museums or galleries here. My faves are the Städel, the Musuem of Modern Art, Liebig House (sculpture), and the Leather Musueum.

We still are undecided between the last night in Frankfurt or Heidelberg and hoping for more input.

While we enjoy the Christmas markets, we really just love Germany at that time of the year. And we do have many opportunities to visit museums so really are looking for our last day and night to be more of a relaxing and fun day since we will be spending a chunk of time on a train whatever we decide. The organ concerts sound wonderful - that is something we would enjoy!

For lots of suggestions on itineraries by rail in Germany and Austria check out: www.ricksteves.com and http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id33.html - tons of great info and useful links. For great stuff on Austrian and German trains themselves: www.seat61.com

Thank you.

Really just trying to determine our main stops first so I can finalize hotels and then plan around those citiesfor day trips. I have always found trains and buses easy in that part of the world.

A downside of Nurnberg is that it is really crazy during the Christmas Markets and reasonable hotels will be hard to find. I stayed in Regensburg a few years ago in December and really loved it.

Already have the Nh booked at 60E a night. Great reviews, 4 star hotel new hotel and a king non smoking. Also booked in Munich 5 star at a great rate. So now just need to decide!

Regensburg is a longer ride from both Berlin and requires double connections rather than 0. We really do not want to lose more time than we have to on transportation. And we want it to be easy with luggage as well. But it is on our list of cities to visit and thanks for the info.

Kfusto;

NICE hotel booking.

Heidelberg has never "done it" for me so if you are looking for recommendations for alternatives near FRA, consider Wuerzburg (1:25 direct train to the airport), or Mainz (0:27 direct to the airport) or one of the smaller Rhein towns like Rudesheim (1:24 milk run with 1 change).

Salzburg to Wuerzburg is about 4 hours with one change in Munich and a short stop (only) in Nuernberg.
Salzburg to Heidelberg is about 5 hours with either 1 change or a milk run.

If you get to Bamberg, try and have a Bamberg onion at the Schlenkerla tavern and clink your your glasses of Rauchbier together while toasting Fodor's. I'll hear you.

Speyer and its famous cathedral, is a neat old town on the Rhine that is not very far from Frankfurt Airport and with rail links to it.