It's been many years since I travelled in Europe and I need some help! My husband and I would like to plan a trip that would include the Mosel Valley near Koblenz and Cochem (Germany, where he was stationed in the Air Force) down to Schaffhausen, Switzerland (where I lived for a year), over to St. Gallen, Switz. We might also want to go over into southern Germany in the Garmisch area and then over to Zermatt. We're looking at 10-12 days. Is this too ambitious, time wise? We don't want to be exhausted during the trip. What are the driving time estimates? (we'll be renting a car). Also, would it be best to fly in and out of Frankfurt? Or into Frankfurt and back home by Zurich or Munich? We're looking at the last week of May and first week of June. Thanks for any help!

Your planned trip is indeed ambitious, but I think doable in 12 days without tiring yourselves if you make one small change.

I would suggest arriving in Frankfurt and departing from Zurich, with car pickup and dropoff at those airports.

Cochem is less than two hours drive from Frankfurt. Allow five hours for the drive from there down to Schaffhausen by autobahn.

From Schaffhausen it's a nice drive to Garmisch via Konstanz - *St Gallen* -Bregenz, Kempten and Fussen, although some navigation is required, as there's no direct road through, and you will strike some more difficult mountain roads. To enjoy this section you really need to take time to explore along the way a little and to break your journey for a couple of days again at say Fussen (Neuschwanstein, Wieskirche, Linderhof).

Zermatt is starting to look a bit out of the way now, given that you are heading back to Zurich from Garmisch. If it's mountains you want, Grindelwald or (Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau) is rather more accessible, and much closer to Zurich. But there is still a lot of heavy driving involved to get here from Garmisch, although it's a reasonably direct route.

Well they're my thoughts for you to consider.

Harzer

You need a good map, and the very capable assistance of a web site like www.viamichelin.com or www.mappy.com

I agree that it is "doable" - - only you know how much driving time you will tolerate.

Best wishes,

Rex

Hello ally75

I agree with Harzer.

We did something similar:

(arrive Frankfurt)-Rothenburg-Ottobeuren-Schwangau (near Neuschanstein, not too far from Garmisch)-Appenzell(very near St. Gallen)-Muerren (in the Berner Oberland)-Murten (near Bern) - Baden-Baden- Beilstein (on Mosel)- Cologne- Frankfurt in 14 nights. I think you would definitely want to consider your Zurich outbound gateway idea as you have even less time. I'd also definitely suggest the Berner Oberland as it is closer than Zermatt and, I am told, just as lovely. Driving time for our itinerary was about 28 hours, which was quite enough, I assure you.

Thanks for the tips! My husband is really the one that tacked Zermatt on there--he's remembering what it was like to drive as a single, 19 year old G.I. and not the almost 50 somethings we are now! Garmisch and Zermatt may be "either/ or", not both. We're travelling with friends, one of whom has never been to Europe and the other has never been to Switzerland. Sounds like staying in the NE part of Switz. and going over to the Bodensee area would be the wisest.

With the very greatest of respect: Why are you driving if you really want it to be stress-free and if, and only if, you don't plan much deviation from the main routes? Also, how many of you are going to be crammed into that rental car? This is "comfortable?" Just a thought..otherwise sorry to intrude and have a great trip.

Thanks for the reply, AuntFanny, but we DO want to deviate from main roads. My husband really wants to explore and show us all the small villages he grew to love when he lived there, many which are more easily seen if you have a car. Also, we'll be able to have our own schedule and not that of a train or bus (also, won't be having to haul luggage up and down stairs of train stations!.) We want to explore the small roads, stop when we feel like it, etc. Ally