I agree with PalenQ - Salzburg is much more of a very interesting medium sized city than a tourist trap. What draws people is the fascinating design of their old city, and how well preserved it is, plus things like its classical music scene and its relationship to "The Sound of Music".

It's true that much of the old city is pretty touristy with shops, cafes, bars, etc. But there is much more to Salzburg, and it is well worth a visit.

Perhaps Dachau, since it's a Munich suburb?

Dachau I hope is not the tourist trap it once was!

If you get to Salzburg, book tickets to the Marionnetten Theater. They do operas with marionettes that ares so lifelike, they are amazing. The do "The Sound of Music" now; it is the only one done in English. For those done in German, there are precis in English. I have seen all of those operas except "The Sound of Music" because it hadn't begun yet when I was there. The entire "Sound of Music" thing is mostly for English speaking tourists. The Austrians don't care.

From Munich, it is not far to do an excursion to Bertchtesgarden. If you drive there, look for the signs to the Kehlstein Haus. That is what the Germans call it. Hitler's headquarters were on top of the mountain and the views are gorgeous. Unfortunately, the musem aspect of the place is played down and it is basically a location for nice photos and a meal at the restaurant.

I have never spent quality time in Munich. When I was in Salzburg, I went to Munich for the day to see the Science Museum. It was miserable weather and I didn't make it to the Hofbrauhaus. For that there will have to be a home exchange in Munich someday.

<i>If you get to Salzburg, book tickets to the Marionnetten Theater. They do operas with marionettes that ares so lifelike, they are amazing.</i>

I would not do this and instead do the Mozart dinner at the
St. Peter Stiftskeller in the altstadt. It's a 3 course period dinner featuring the "best of" Mozart performed by a string quartet and two opera singers. http://www.mozart-dinner-konzert-salzburg.at/

If you want marionettes, go to Prague. The marionettes at the National Marionette Theater in Prague do an outstanding "Don Giovanni".

Thanks for all the great replies. It looks like we'll be going to both Rothenburg and Salzburg on separate days. When we return I'll let everyone know which one we preferred and why.

I cannot comment on the relative merits of the Salzburg Marionnetten Theater versus the Prague Marionnetten Theater, as I have never been to Prague, but I have seen similar marionette opera performances in other places in Europe and enjoy them wherever they are. Remember that they use recordings for their operas, so you are not choosing specific singers when you choose where to do your marionette opera--as you may do when deciding to attend a "people" opera.

The Salzburg Marionnetten Theater tours the US every few years and I have seen them also at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The current program can be found here:

http://www.marionetten.at/programme/programme

The Salzburg group will tour the US and Canada in October-November 2014. A list of cities is announced here:

http://www.marionetten.at/repertoire-en/tours

I am delighted to see that Washington, DC, is on the agenda, but I might be away during the performances.

The Prague Marionette Theater website is here:

http://www.mozart.cz/

Just to remember that Berchtesgaden is much closer to Salzburg than to Munich.

But Berchtesgarten can be easily done as a day trip from either. I was disappointed that there really is not a museum dealing with the devastation created by the Hitler regime at the top. Berchtesgarten is all about the view and the restaurant--and not too much about Hitler. There is a museum down below, but I did not have the time to see it.

Remember, when you get to Berchtesgarten, you have to take the bus transport to the top of the mountain and cannot drive your car. You have to come and go when the bus does.