lovetotravel2

We are in the preliminary planning stages for this trip in late September. Wondering if you have any thoughts or suggestions.

Thinking of:

flying into Frankfurt - train to Rothenberg for 2 nights

train Rothenberg to Fussen - 2 nights (for Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein)

Switzerland 5 nights

Verona/Padua/Vicenza area - 3nights

Lake Garda 2 nights

Lake Como 3 nights including day trip into Milan

fly home from Milan

As a little background we had a fabulous European trip in Fall 2010 (I did a trip report) - our Avalon river cruise was cancelled the day of our departure - we grabbed a Eurail pass and travelled for 16 nights from Budapest to Amsterdam by train. At that time we did not get to Rothenberg and King's castles which is why those are the only spots in Germany this trip.

One specific question right now and surely there will be lots more. Looks like train from Rothenberg to Fussen requires minimum 4 changes of train. Does that seem right? Is there a better way we should be going?

Thanks for any suggestions!

Russ

N'stein - a late 19th century palace, not a castle - offers a 30-minute tour and this season is being refurbished, a process which includes scaffolding and shrouding of he exterior. So the trip to Füssen may not be terribly worthwhile, given the fact that in place of Hohenschwangau, you can see one of King Ludwig's palaces in Prien, just on hour east of Munich on the train line to Salzburg, the same line you're probably using to reach Italy. Herrenchiemsee is on an island in Chiemsee Lake - quite a setting.

http://home.arcor.de/oberpfalz-nord/...s/chiemsee.jpg
http://www.herrenchiemsee.de/englisc...lace/index.htm

scatcat

You are planning a beautiful trip. Some may think it's a little fast paced, but I would do it. The train between Rothenburg and Fuessen is a little trouble. There are some routes that require only 3 changes. Are you buying a Eurail Pass? If not you can do the train from Rothenburg to Fuessen with a Bayern ticket. I think it's 42 € for up to 5 persons.

Russ

Some departure times from Rothenburg to Füssen require 2 changes, some 3, some 4.

Russ

A Bayern ticket daypass, good on all regional trains and buses in Bavaria, costs 26€ for two travelers. (There's a new price structure as of this month.) On weekdays, it's good only after 9 am.

Mimar

2 changes is 3 separate trains. Hope you're traveling light!

lovetotravel2

Wow, you Fodorites are amazing! Thanks for the speedy replies.
When we saw Berg Eltz in 2010 it was being refurbished but still a great experience. We loved the walk through the forest to see it. This trip we were thinking of staying at Gutshof zum Schluxen and riding bikes to the 2 castles.
Yes, we plan to get a Eurailpass.

PalenQ

If going by rail thru Switzerland for 5 days consider the Swiss Pass as perhaps a great deal for all you Switzerland transports - trains, lake boats, postal buses, city trams and buses and even free entry to over 400 Swiss museums (though the attraction IMO in Switzerland is not museums but the high Alps and the Interlaken/Berner Oberland/Jungfrau Region area IMO is both literally and figuratively the absolute highlight of Switzerland - the dreamy picture of Switzerland often etched in our minds' eyes - soaring glacier-girdled peaks, thrilling aerial cableways, toylike mountain climbing trains, scintillating hikes for all abilities and difficulties - a Valhalla of great scenes and experiences.

Anyway for lots on train in Germany, Switzerland and Italy check out these IMO fantastic sources - www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.seat61.com and for Switzerland www.swisstravelsystem.com.

The Interlaken area is about smack half-way between say Munich and Milan, Italy so a natural stop not requiring hours on a train to get to from Germany.

PalenQ

One specific question right now and surely there will be lots more. Looks like train from Rothenberg to Fussen requires minimum 4 changes of train. Does that seem right? Is there a better way we should be going?

www.bahn.de - German Railways schedule page shows as few as 2 stops, some 3 and yes some 4 or 5 - but Rothenburg is on a deadend spur line from Steinach so that is always one change - a simple change usually on the same or a nearby platform - ditto for other changes on the route. No matter what it seems it takes about 4.5 hours regardless of number of changes and yes that is the quickest way from Rothenburg by train. Check into the Romatic Road buses that also run direct between Rothenberg and Fuessen from about May thru October - may not be quicker but you get key stops en route like at the lovely rural Weiskriche and small cute little towns plus running commentary en route.

dugi_otok

Romantic Road bus:

http://www.touring-travel.eu/?id=6&L=2

lovetotravel2

Wow, amazing idea about the romantic road bus!
And thank you PalenQ for the great Switzerland info.

bigtyke

changing trains is easy and not be be a concern unless you are loaded down with luggage. (I once did a train trip in the US with business associates with 26 -pieces of luggage!!!)

traveldawg

Don't get too excited about the Romantic Road. We have done the drive many times from Rothenburg down south. The Road is more a tourist idea than a road of romantic sites. You will see pretty German country, but not much else.

PalenQ

Yes the Romantik Road was a creation of the German Tourist Office in recent decades and yes I also find the actual road anything but romantic - two-lane highway filled with trucks, etc when I have taken it - but yes especially after Augsburg going south you do go thru some nice country and the bus stops at some small towns and the isolated weiss Kirche I believe en route to Fussen. So utilitarian way of going between Rothenburg and Fussen and seeing something in between.