The Rhine or Bavaria??
 

My boyfriend and I will be traveling to Germany in October. We've made tentative plans to fly into Frankfurt, then make our way down to Switzerland and then Northern Italy. We'll have only three days for our stay in Germany, and I just can't decide – should I head down The Rhine? or should I make a beeline for the Bavaria region?? (I hope I have my geography right!??) We are looking for less traveled, less touristy places. Thanks in advance!

You can get on the high speed train that goes along the Rhine and at least see some of it and end up in Munich.

You can do both, as the Rhine can be done adequately in one day. You will arrive in Frankfurt in the morning. Just take the train to the Hauptbahnhof and switch to a train going to Koln. That train will take you up the Rhine and you can eihter go to Cologne and see the beautiful cathedral and return or exit at Koblenz and then take the train back to Frankfurt and on to Munich.<BR><BR>US

3days is about right for the Rhine. The area considered most scenic is northwest of Frankfurt between Bingen and Koblenz. There's too much to see and do for just a day:<BR><BR>Tour Marksburg Castle in Braubach (the best on the Rhine)<BR><BR>Do some wine tasting (there's a winefest with fireworks in Boppard on October 5)<BR><BR>Cruise the river on a K-D boat<BR><BR>See the WWII museum at the site of the old Remagen Bridge in Remagen (north of Koblenz)<BR><BR>Have a stroll through the very cozy, cobbled, and half-timbered towns of Bacharach, Boppard, Oberwesel, and St. Goar<BR><BR>Catch the free-flight show (eagles and falcons) at Burg Maus Castle in St. Goarshausen<BR><BR>See the Roman ruins in Boppard and take the gondola ride up for a terrific view of the river<BR><BR>Hike along the cliffs overlooking the river and the Lorelei Rock between St.Goar and Oberwesel<BR><BR>Take a bike ride along the paved path that follows the river<BR><BR>Take a side trip to Cologne, Trier, or Burg Eltz Castle (not far from Moselkern on the Mosel River west of Koblenz)<BR><BR>Relax in one of the wine towns along the river and just watch the river run<BR><BR>Remember that "Bavaria" is a huge (70,000 square km) region that you couldn't hope to see in 3 days. Have a closer look at your options there and see what interests you. Then, once you can be more specific, maybe we can give you some helpful advice.<BR><BR>

Russ,<BR><BR>Good point, I was giving an overview via train. It will clearly take more than one day to do what you have described.<BR><BR>You cannot do much of Germany in three days regardless of where you start. <BR><BR>An overview of the Rhine, Bavaria or even Munich is about all you'll get.<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>US

topping for newzgrl

Thanks for the input -- mainly, I understand that I cannot possibly see all or even very much of Germany in three days, so I am looking for help in choosing which area(s) to focus on. Hopefully, I'll be traveling much more (this is my first trip to Europe) and someday can take three weeks for just Germany. What is going to be the most picturesque? Most memorable?

Good advice from #8, unfortunately 20 years late.

Since you're arriving in Frankfurt, only have 3 days, and will have October weather: I vote for the Rhine. Do you plan to travel by train? Stay in one of the old villages on the river (Bingen, Bacharach), take a day trip river cruise (if they're running then), tour a hilltop castle.
From your Rhine village take the train to Strasbourg and spend a day there.
For your third day drift through Alsace. A car would be best but you can make it work with buses. Stop at Colmar and one of the wine villages. Spend the night in Basel.
Or you could spend all 3 days in the Rhine valley, adding Trier and Cochem, maybe Strasbourg.