Stephaniescott

First time for Europe and we want to take our son to Munich Germany for Octoberfest and then visit Alsace France where my Grandfather was born. Then we want to take train to Tuscany and then to Venice and then off to Rome. We only have two weeks and was wondering if we would be able to do it all? Thank U

ellenem

Begin your thinking with the actual days you have. Are your travel days to and from Europe included in the "two weeks"? If yes, and you are from the U.S., chances are you will depart on Day 1 of your trip and arrive in Europe on Day 2, and will probably be tired and jet lagged that day. You may be alert for some afternoon activities, but don't count on it. Day 14 will be all about checking out of your hotel and getting to the airport to fly home. So perhaps you have 11 or 12 days to actually experience the places you plan to visit. Also keep in mind that every tme you change hotels/cities, you will lose about half a day (if not more) checking in and out of hotels, getting to train stations/airports, waiting, and actually traveling.

You have named Munich, Alsace, Tuscany, Venice, and Rome--five places in 12 days, with about 2 of those days lost to changing locations. Almost every other day you will need to pack up and relocate. Some enjoy this very quick pace with just a cursory glance at a place, but I'd prefer no more than four locations in that amount of time.

Gretchen

I know it is your trip--but it is a "first" one. Would you consider a tighter loop after Alsace and go to Paris and environs.

bobthenavigator

Actually, the 3 Italy destinations are about perfect for your time. Adding Munich and Alsace is way too much.

neckervd

Count AT LEAST 4 FULL days for a somewhat decent visit of Rome, 2 days for Florence and 2 other days for Venice (of course without surroundings).

Train journey times:

Munich - Strasbourg: 4 to 4 1/2 hrs, plus 2 hrs for hotel check in/check out and local transport at Munich and Strasbourg = 6 to 7 hrs, plus the time you need for transport to the place where your grandfather was born (can take up to 3 hrs or so).

Strasbourg - Venice via Basel: 9 1/2 hrs, plus 2 1/2 hrs for hotel check in/check out and local transport at Strasbourg and Venice = 12 hrs, plus the time you need for local transport from the place where your grandfather was born (can take up to 3 hrs or so).

Strasbourg - Venice via Munich: 11 1/2 hrs for day trains, 12 1/2 hrs for overnight train (sleeping cars), plus 2 1/2 hrs for hotel check in/check out and local transport at Strasbourg and Venice = 14 to 15 hrs, plus the time you need for local transport from the place where your grandfather was born (can take up to 3 hrs or so).

Venice - Florence: 2 hrs, plus 2 1/2 hrs for hotel check in/check out and local transport at Venice and Florence = 4 1/2 hrs.

Florence - Rome: 1 1/2, hrs plus 2 hrs for hotel check in/check out and local transport at Florence and Rome = 3 1/2 hrs.

There are also low cost flights from Mulhouse (Southern Alsace) to Venice. Fares start at 50 USD (with 1 piece of checked in luggage.
http://www.easyjet.com/

Stephaniescott

Thank u all for the comments. It has really helped me understand the time restraints. I guess we will do Germany and France and do Tuscany and Rome the next yr.Now with that said, any suggestions what else we should do other than Octoberfest and visiting Alsace?

michelhuebeli

It’s a lot to take on, as others have pointed out. You would want at least three days on the ground in Munich, the day of arrival isn’t worth much (you haven’t slept...), the second day you’re just about getting there, needing a nap in the afternoon (and the beer will wipe you out), the third day you’re fully functional (unless hung over from the day before...they serve beer in a one-liter “Mass”!).

Then you’d have to relocate.

I suggest you turn this trip around, to make sense of the geography (look at a map).

Fly to the Alsace region first - where exactly are you headed? The nearest airport is BSL EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg (indirectly from the US), or Zürich ZRH (directly from US) and head straight for the nearby Alsace. See how close that is to the Alsace on this map: www.euroairport.com/en/passengers/access/

These are the buses: http://www.euroairport.com/en/passen...ccess/bus.html

These are nearby train options: http://www.euroairport.com/en/passen...ess/train.html

Read up on the region:www.euroairport.com/en/our-region - beyond your family history there are plenty of other good reasons to enjoy that region, and the nearby Black Forest if you get a rental car and drive to Munich, maybe along the Romantic Road (http://www.romanticroadgermany.com).

Mulhouse is 30 minutes from the BSL airport.

As an example from Zürich airport (trains leave from underneath), trains to Mulhouse-Ville takes only 1:40 hr. From Mulhouse you can reach smaller towns.

Then head for Munich - four to five hours by train. From Munich there are good train connections to Venice, including a brilliant night train you might like as an alternative to a night in the hotel - you leave Munich at 23:40 and you pull into Venice Santa Lucia by the Grand Canal at 08:33. There are various levels of sleeping comfort at varying prices - see www.bahn.de and also good info at www.seat61.com.

I’d skip Rome - too far, too much there that you won’t have time for - book your tickets to fly home from Venice.

bigtyke

You might find some good ideas at www.bensbauernhof.com - my favorite resource for travel in southern Germany

janisj

>>Now with that said, any suggestions what else we should do other than Octoberfest and visiting Alsace?<<

Munich, Alsace and Paris woud make a lovely 2 week vacation (actually less than 2 weeks as ellenem explains)

Stephaniescott

Thank u Michel so very much. This really helps. since we would be flying into Zurich, should we sight see there first then go to Alsace and Munich? And Could we just do Venice when we visit Tuscany and Rome the next yr or would that be too much? Also bigtyke, thank u, I will check it out.

Stephaniescott

The only thing janisj is that Paris doesn't interest either of us. I was just wondering if we could at least get a few days in Tuscany too?

bilboburgler

I might do the alternative of

Alsace and a day trip Bad Durkheim (world's biggest wine festival) followed by Munich and the beer festival

Going to Italy is stretching is and a bit crazy when there are so many great things north of the Alps.

Gretchen

I am interested in why Paris doesn't interest you--again, I know it's your trip and tastes are personal. But having never been there, I just wonder why. ;o)

Stephaniescott

It has just never appealed to me. Don't really know why. What do u like about it?

neckervd

May be it would be useful to know WHERE you want to go in Alsace.

Wissembourg for example is close to the airports of Karlsruhe Baden-Baden, Frankfurt Hahn, Frankfurt Rhein-Main, and Stuttgart, whereas St-Louis is about 3 miles from Basel airport and less than 100 miles from Zurich airport.

If you fly to Strasbourg, you will have to change planes at Paris CDG.

If you stay at Neuf Brisach, the easiest way to go to Munich is the direct Freiburg - Munich bus, from St-Louis, you better take the tramway up to Basel Bad Bf and go on by direct train to Ulm and then to Munich, whereas from Strasbourg, you have to take the train via Stuttgart.....

Gretchen

Not a fair question for me since my parents lived there in the 20's and I grew up hearing about PARIS!! ;o)
But it is a magical city for life, art, architecture, literary moments, food, sitting, relaxing and enjoying. Probably the most "iconic" city in the world, to my thinking. It is also very "accessible" --easy to navigate particularly by walking or public transportation, and always something nearby to take in. I never tire of it, and there is always something new to do or see after many trips.
I have had my fill of Italy, although Florence could call me.

janisj

It is simply one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

But different strokes . . . Nothing says any city is a 'must' . . .

PalenQ

Munich Germany for Octoberfest and then visit Alsace France where my Grandfather was born. Then we want to take train to Tuscany and then to Venice and then off to Rome. We only have two weeks>

Possible but...

Fly into Frankfurt - go via Strasbourg to Alsace location

2 days in Alsace

Move to Munich - 3 days

take night train to Venice - 2 days

train to Florence (Tuscany) - 3 days - do one day trip by bus to a proverbial Tuscan hill town - Siena about an hour from Florence is as awesome as any!

Rome 3-4 days.

For train info check out these IMO fantastic planning sites - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com.

If going first class (my years of incessant European train travel tells me that there are immense benefits to first class, especially in Germany and Switzerland where you can hop any train anytime - always find seats in first class not so in 2nd class - if so check out the Eurail Select Saverpass - for 3 countries - Germany, Switzerland and Italy (and France too if traveling very far from Strsbourg, a few miles from Germany.


Rome - 3-4 days

PalenQ

I have been to Paris a zillion times and have been to most famous European cities many times - to me Paris is one of the most fascinating cities in Europe but by far not its prettiest - lots of folks come back saying how dirty Paris was - a common complain by casual first-time tourists - the city is not old by European standards either as Hausmann pulled down much of it in the mid-1850s - this did creates a harmonious architecture and equal levels of buildings pretty much but I'd rather have something more eclectic and ancient for my beauty - Florence and Rome are beautiful to me - Venice of course - Amsterdam because of its canals - Prague because of Castle hill and the Charles Bridge always being in view it seems.

J'aime Paris and it is fascinating as much or more than any European city but it ain't going to be named Miss European city on books along.

PalenQ

books alone - oops books alone - maybe bouquinistes (Seine side book stalls) - meant looks alone.