Any advice would be greatly appreciated on the C.K. or Rothenburg choice -- or any other suggestions as well.

Arriving Prague Dec 13 and leaving Munich Dec 23. I'm traveling with my 16 year old daughter who has interest in castles, the Holocaust, shopping, Christmas festivals. Planning on 5 nights in PRG due to late arrival first night and free hotel but can shorten to 4 nights. Would like a smaller city/village setting as most nights will be in large cities (PRG/MUC). Considering either C.K. for 2 nights with 1 night on a German border town (Passau??) or Rothenburg for 2 nights.

Th Dec 13: Arrive early eve PRG

Fr Dec 14: PRG – city sites

Sa Dec 15: Day trip (Karlstejn)

Su Dec 16: PRG – city sites

Mo Dec 17: Day trip (Terezin)

Tu Dec 18: Cesky Krumlov – 2 nights

Th Dec 20: Passau

Fri Dec 21: Munich 2 nights (Dachau/Neuschwanstein)

Su Dec 23: early am departure

Or

Tu Dec 18: Rothenburg – 2 nights

Th Dec 20: ????

Fri Dec 21: Munich 2 nights (Dachau/Neuschwanstein)

Su Dec 23: early am departure

Thanks!

The castle in Cesky Krumlov is not open after Nov. 1, and that is a big attraction of this heritage town. Have no info about Rothenburg, sorry.

I really love both CK and Rothenburg. Rothenburg is far more touristy but as you have the opportunity to stay for a couple of nights you will get to see the place once the busloads have departed.

I haven't been to CK around Christmas time but we spent 2 or 3 nights in Rothenburg the week before Christmas with our 3 kids a couple of years ago then aged 14 (girl), 16 (boy) and 18 (boy). They absolutely adored it. Thought the Christmas shops, the Christmas markets etc were absolutely wonderful. They also really enjoyed the Night Watchman's Tour and dinner at the Hell Restaurant.

The kids haven't been to CK so can't give a comparison from their point of view but I suspect Rothenburg would win. I know Sara has said the castle at CK will be shut at that time of the year. I don't know if that means you can't get in at all or there are simply no tours. We were not able to do a tour of the castle when we were there, but we still enjoyed wandering around the grounds and were able to go up to the top of the tower.

Incidentally the kids also really enjoyed Neuschwanstein but we didn't bother to tour the castle as we (mum and dad) had been a coule of times before and knew the tour was not that exciting. What the kids really enjoyed was just walking around it, the views, and the pristine snow, the snow and more snow. As you might guess, we don't have snow where we live. Kids did really enjoy a tour of Lindenhof castle though. It is a much better tour.

Incidentally, we enjoyed our day trip to Karlovy Vary (the famous spa town which used to be called Carlsbad - it reminded us very much of a minature St Petersburg) much more than our day to Karlsteijn but it is much further out. Karlsteijn can be done as a half day, Karlovy Vary you do need to take the whole day.

You don't say how you are getting around. That could well affect your final itinerary as well, especially if you are constrained by train schedules.

Also, I assume you are talking about this Christmas. Just remember that Prague, Rothenburg and Munich are all VERY crowded at this time of year so you need to be organising accommodation asap.

I suggest you pick Rothenburg, if for no other reason that CK is harder to get to if you don't travel by car.

Another option: Stay in Wuerzburg and do a day trip to Rothenburg. Wzbg. has a great castle overlooking the city, well worth seeing is also the museum in the castle, even for the kids. It is less overrun with tourists and has the charm of a mid-size university town.

I've been to both on more than one occasion and would have to give the nod to Rothenburg. It's touristy yes, but for good reason. It's wonderful during the day and even better after the tour buses leave for the day.

Walk the wall, take the night watchman tour, see the criminal/torture museum and shop till you drop.

Cheers, the turnip

I'd probably knock out both day trips & do both. Daytrips = spending (too)much time getting back & forth & arriving home w/little or no energy. CK is easy to get to by train. I have old reports on here about both places just click my name & go back a bit.

You aren't giving yourself enough time in Praha, sweetie darling. From your itin. you are only giving 2 full days to seeing the sites of Praha. That is not enough in my opinion. You could spend an entire day just exploring the Castle Complex and Mala Strana. I would skip Cesky Krumlov and spend more time in Prague. Terezin, by the way, is A MUST SEE.

I love CK, but I couldn't imagine visiting in winter when the castle and baroque theatre are closed.

Thingorjus