Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Switzerland/Germany/Austria

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Switzerland/Germany/Austria

Planning a week-long trip to the Germany/Switzerland/Austria area in May. Where should I fly into, base out of to see as much of the region as possible? Would like to get a taste of both natural beauty, history of berlin, and the culture of Bavarian country. Which towns are must see? How many days in each?

Becky: You did say a 'week'? I would pick ONE Country and try to see 'SOME' it in one week! Germany probably fits the perfect "one country" to see out of these three! Especially with your Bavarian Country comment. What do you like? Big cities, Mountains, Lakes, there is a wealth of information from my fellow Fodorites! Just give them a lead! JOHN

Becky, In one week you will do well to see Munich, the Salzburg region, and Bavarian castle country.--that is a full week. I would divide it 2-3-2--flying into and out of Munich. Have fun!

I agree with the others that your itinerary is too much for one week. Even if you just choose Germany, one week still isn't enough time. I suggest that you pick either Berlin or Bavaria and concentrate your week on that. Unless you plan to fly between Berlin and Bavaria, the trip will be about 6-7 hours and will eat up most of one day. If you want to pack the most into your week, I would suggest making Munich a home base. While in Munich you could make daytrips to the following: Oberammergau/Linderhof Castle Garmisch-Partenkirchen/Zugspitze Neuschwanstein Castle Salzburg Austria Rothenburg I'm not sure what type of budget you are on or when you are flying but you may want to check the price of a flight into Munich. You may get by cheaper flying into Frankfurt and taking a train to Munich (which is about 3 1/2 - 4 hour trip).

This question could mean two different things: a) all three countries or b) specifically, the place where the three counties converge. Or a 50-100 mile circle aroud that. If I substituted Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana in this same request, I think most people would assume the latter interpretation. And the logical base would be Cincinnati. From there you could still day trip to the casinos on the Indiana side of the Ohio river, the Lexington bluegrass/horse farms area, Kings Island, Wright Patterson Air Force national museum and other Southwest Ohio area attractions. There is no similar logical "base" in the DE/CH/A "drei-ecke" (literally, three-corner). Reutte, Austria is a reasonable such base, but it's a little town (close to Neuschwanstein) - - and not close enough to reasonably day trip to such places as Munich (and Dachau), Oberammergau, Garmisch-Partenkirchen (maybe close enough for this one), Salzburg, Innsbruck and/or Liechtenstein (well, yes it is close enough for those two), Bregenz, Sankt Gallen or Konstanz. So I think this needs to be a move-around trip. Choose three destinations and plan 2-3 night stays. Fly in and out of Munich and construct a circle. Has the makings of a great, great trip. Best wishes, Rex

topping, for becky...

Rex, You are so full of crap ! Becky, maybe you should just go to Cinc. and save your money--they have very good German food there.

Rex, she obviously means all three countries because she says she wants a taste of "history of Berlin" and Berlin is not near Austria or Switzerland.

Becky, Natural beauty and Bavarian country could be satisfied using Munich as a base. Berlin history is another matter as it's a bit of a trip from Bavaria to Berlin. Munich as a base gives you access (in 1-2 hours driving) to AT and CH. I liked one poster's idea of drawing a circle (~200km) around Munich and see what falls into your "sphere of travel". hth, mj

Dear me ([email protected]) I actually DID miss that now didn't I? It was the "base out of" I was adressing more than anything. I stand by my main premise, This is a move around trip. And if it is to include Berlin, the one of these three needs to be removed: Bavaria, Switzerland, Austria. I know which one I'd remove. Yoo hoo - - yo-del-lay-dee-hoo. Best wishes, Rex

Hi Becky - I agree with John to a point that a week isn't time enough... we spent 10 days in Switzerland alone a couple of years ago and didn't see anywere near enough... But, we just got back from over there on Tuesday so I'll make a suggestion that if you stay in Munich, near the main Banhoff (train station) which is centrally located and is wonderful, and day trip by rail, you can hit quite a few interesting places within a 1 1/2 to 2 hr travel time (Salzburg, Linz, etc) or alternately split the time up and stay a couple of days each in Munich, Salzburg and Garmisch. Berlin is too far (and not that interesting anyway)... Vienna is too much to see in that time... I know because we had 3 FULL days there last week and just scratched the surface. Best wishes for a great trip... Barry

topping - - to get any word from becky?

Barry, what do you mean "Berlin is not that interesting"? I was there three days and still didn't have enough time to see everything. As my mama always told me: If you didn't find it interesting, you ain't doing it right!! I banish you to the Fodors nether world!!

Hi, You may consider a comfortable night train to Berlin from Munich. Stay there. Take another night train to frankfurt.Take a bus for Romantic Strasse to Munich or Fussen. Don't miss Dachau concentration camp. Hitler's Eagle's Nest at Obersalzberg is great. Best luck. Parag.