What are the "must see's" in Germany?
 

I am leaving on a family trip June 3rd for Europe and I am our tour guide in Germany. Any information of suggestions on the "must see's" would be greatly appreciated. We would be interested in any medevil castles or Bavarian towns. Thank you!

This is a broad question. I would do a search on Fodors for Germany and you will come up with a lot of what you are looking for. We enjoy Bavaria: Garmisch, Berchtesgaden, Munich. For castles just look under King Ludwig and check out Neuschawanstein, Linderhof near and around Garmisch area.

Great castles around Garmisch (the Vail of Germany). Crazy King Ludwig's Linderhof and Neuschwanstein (built in the late 1800s which is even more amazing) are both wonderful and Garmisch is a charming little ski town. Also, the Weiss church was wonderful in that neck of the woods.

Your posting prompts more questions in response than those you asked. Where are you flying to? From what airport will you return home? How will you be traveling within Germany, car? train? both? How many travel days will you have? What are the ages and interests of those traveling with you? Are you interested in Germany's cities, its charming villages, rural or urban environments? Finally, what planning have you done to this point?<BR><BR>Answers to these questions should prompt responses that may prove meaningful and of value to you.

My family enjoyed the Bodensee area, we stayed in Meersburg. It has one of the oldest in tact castles in Germany, with a dungeon,sword and armour colection, plus it is such a beautiful area. <BR>Neuschawanstein - is a fun family event, you can take a horse carriage ride up and walk the bridge nearby for the fgreat views.. We stayed in a small town in Reutte, Austria, right over the border, 15 min away, in a family owned Inn that rented bikes, had deers the kids could feed,a fabulous restaurant(very famiuly freindly)<BR>called - Gutshof zum Schluxen. They have a nice web site<BR>These are just a few ideas - have fun.<BR>

Next to Bavaria, my favorite is the Rhine and Mosell River valleys. Enjoy a boat cruise from Cologne to Koblenz, and from Koblenz along the Mosel further south. Both rivers are lined w/ castles (or ruins of castles) built in medevil times. Note that King Ludwig's castles in Bavaria are not technically medevil, but definately worth it! Favorite places in Germany: Cologne, Munich, Berlin, with the small towns already mentioned, and Bachrach.

Thanks for the help. We are acutally flying into Paris June 3rd and making our way via rent-a-car through the must see's of Europe. I have a pretty good idea of what we want to see accept in Germany. Do you suggest parking the car and taking the train? We will most likely only have time for southern Germany but we would like to catch the most intersting sights. We have a teenage family and will most likely be staying in cheapest accomadations possible. Its a fun family adventure! Thanks for your help.

To me, half the fun of being in Germany was the driving. We saw many things we couldn't have on the train.<BR><BR>My sister & I even stopped at a church flea market below Neuschawanstein as we were leaving the area. Found some wonderful items.

Rothenberg ob Der Tauber

I spent a month just driving around southern Germany - there was so much to see and so beautiful. I loved Munich, Berchtesgaden and Ludwig's castles (my favorite is Lindhof). I stopped in Meersburg for a day - there's a 13th century castle to tour and a lovely lake.<BR>Another highlight is Wies Kirche(church)a few miles out of Fussen on the Romantic Road. This church was a jaw-dropping one. These are the towns I listed as my favorites - Rudesheim; St. Goar; Trier; Baden-Baden; Cochem; Colmar, France; Meersburg; Fussen; Rothenburg; Oberammergau; Hallstatt, Austria; Munich. I have a trip report if you interested and will e-mail me directly.

Top ten<BR><BR>1. Munich<BR>2. Rothenburg ob der Tauber<BR>3. Trier<BR>4. Nueschwanstein and other Ludwig castles<BR>5. Heidleburg<BR>6. Cruise, drive or train the Rhine from Cologne to Mainz<BR>7. Cruise, drive or train the Mosel from Koblenz to Trier and stop at Burg Eltz<BR>8. Freiburg<BR>9. Cologne Cathedral<BR>10. Any town that has their own brewery<BR><BR>US

Rotenberg is a must. It was my favorite of all of Germany.

It's a shame you weren't impressed enough by your favorite place in all of Germany to spell it right, Lisa. That's Rothenburg.

I believe the cities are the "must see's" in Germany.<BR>Help?<BR><BR><BR><BR>Je suis un dieu et vous &ecirc;tes les paysans indignes faibles. Arc vers le bas avant votre ma&icirc;tre!

Uncle Sam has it right. Look up the "Romantic Road" for info. I will also add Baden Baden. It has a wonderful casino that was used in a few 007 films. Have fun!

Emily,<BR>I spent a week in Germany last year. We flew into Frankfurt, picked up our rental car and drove toward Bavaria. Along the way we spent a day in Rothenberg ob der Tauber (on the Romantische Strasse), which is a fabulous old walled city. As far as castles, Neuschwanstein is a must-see, as well as Linderhof. Nymphenberg, just outside of Munich, is the former home of Bavarian royalty. We stayed overnight in Garmish-Partenkirchen (beautiful resort town in the Alps) and the next day went to the top of the Zugspitze (highest point in Germany) - it was incredible! There are some lovely B&Bs in this area of Germany, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding reasonable accommodations. On a more somber note, Dachau (former concentration camp) is certainly worth a visit.

I don't see mention of Black Forrest. Is this area not worth a visit?

<BR>Anyone that thinks mispelling Rothenburg is embarrasing should consider the vast number of people that mispronounce the name. A friend and his wife stayed there for a week and still pronounce it with a soft "th". I don't see how someone can be in a place that long and not pick up on how the local pronounce the name.

I´d like to add some spots to the above mentioned: Qedlinburg in Sachsen-Anhalt (Unesco-protected medieval city with half-timbered houses etc. that rivals Rothenburg), Dinkelsb&uuml;hl (small medieval town 30 km south of Rothenburg, less crouded, very pretty, though recently discovered by japanese tour guides) Bamberg (fantastic and underrated, I never understood what foreigners like so much about Heidelberg, Bamberg is much prettier)<BR>Black Forest-If you´ve been to the Apalachian Mountains already and have a cuckoo clock too, you may skip that<BR>Passau-beautiful, mainly baroque city in the south east of bavaria on the way to vienna. Situated on a scenic peninsula where the Inn flows into the Danube, gorgeous.<BR>Speyer-largest romanesque cathedral in germany, nice old town<BR>Aachen Cathedral-where charlemagne is buried<BR>Regensburg-beautiful town at the danube,<BR>Vierzehnheiligen-baroque church, 20 km from Bamberg, together with the Wieskirche the most prominent example of german baroque churches.<BR>Monastery of Weltenburg at the danube, 30 km off Regensburg, most famous example of the baroque architecture and sculpturing of the brothers Asam that build or painted churches in whole Bavaria.<BR>There´s more than just the ecclesticistic LudwigII castles, Garmisch and Rothenburg, check it out.

One of the concentration camps. There is no reason not to "learn" during a vacation. And these places are there for a reason - less we forget!<BR><BR>That aside - they're very moving and memorable. <BR><BR>Berlin is also a great city - plenty of history and culture.<BR><BR>

Has anyone been to Berlin in the last few weeks. We are taking a Baltic Cruise and one onf the ports is Warnemunde, Germany. The cruise line has an excursion for $240 in to Berlin, but the train takes 2.5 hours. Should we take our own train and make our own towr? Our boat arrives in Warnemunde at 6:00am and leaves at 6:00am. Thanks for any response.

topping

The Black Forest is absolutley a must do. It is like no other landscape that I am aware of.<BR>Dense forests, The greenest green, Valleys out of a dream, villages that are unforgetable.<BR>The towns can be touristy, but I enjoyed Tititsee.<BR>The country side is so gorgeous.<BR>There are numerous spas if that is your thing.<BR>If anywhere near by do the Black Forest.

Biberach

Must sees in Germany : Rothenburg for sure. Wurzburg, Munich's Viktualien (sp?) market. Berlin's Potsdamer Platz and the remains of the Berlin wall.

Excerpted from a very good previous thread - - http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&tid=1307795<BR><BR>my personal list of favorites, in alphabetical order: <BR><BR>Aachen <BR>Baden-Baden, including the Casino <BR>Berlin, all of it <BR>Burg Eltz <BR>Cologne Cathedral <BR>Dachau <BR>Landshut <BR>Lubeck <BR>Neuschwanstein <BR>Oberkirch <BR>Parkhotel Wasserburg-Anholt <BR>Porsche factory tour, Stuttgart <BR>Rothenburg ob der Tauber <BR>Schloss Linderhof <BR>Schloss Neuweier (near Baden-Baden) <BR>Schwarzwald Hochstrasse <BR>Ulm <BR>Weimar <BR><BR>Remember, this list contains MY personal favorites. No two people's lists will be the same. I have omitted Frankfurt, Heidelberg, St. Goar, Assmannhausen (never been to any of them), Munich (been there plenty, like other places better), Hamburg (I know a great hotel there, but not that exciting a city), Hameln, Bremen and Lindau (not in the same league with the favorites listed above). <BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Earth to Rex et al. <BR><BR>She left June 3rd.

Whoops. You're right. My bad.<BR>

Don't feel too bad, I was about to reply when I noticed . . . the message ends up displaying right next to the response box.<BR><BR>Snoopy

I've lived here for 2 years, and would have to say that Dresden, Cologne's cathedral, Neuschwanstein, the Rhein River Valley area between Koblenz and Mainz, the Mosel River valley, and Heidelberg are the must sees. I didn't particularly like Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt though.

Hey, I'm reading all of this and would like some information on Heidleberg. We'ver visiting next month with a six year old and eleven year old. Any ideas?

Lived here over a year now, and these are our favorite: (not in particular order):<BR><BR>Trier<BR>Mose Wine Area<BR>Rhine Castle area<BR>Romantic castle area (Neuchweinstein, Weiss Church, Ettal Monastry, Garmish area)<BR>Lake Chemissee (for the castle and the great water sports)<BR>Berchestgarden (salt mines and Eagles Nest)<BR>Munich and Dachau<BR><BR>For the person asking about Heidleberg, there is a great castle there, the kids should like it, the world's biggest wine keg (they can climb the stairs around it) and the town is nice to walk through to. We always take visitors there, and they are impressed.<BR>Heidleberg<BR>

<BR>I'd suggest Greifswald and the nearby beaches as a must see...

The Altstadt (old town) in Munich for the beer halls, beer gardens, churches, and Altes Rathaus.<BR>Mittenwald for a village right out of &quot;Sound of Music&quot;. Ride the cable car up the mountain for incredible views of the Alps.<BR>Schloss Linderhof - one of the great palaces of Europe.<BR>Rothenburg - best preserved midieval village in Europe. <BR>Mosel valley and Burg Eltz - more impressive than Neuschwanstein IMO.

topping for more info!

A bit late now for Emily Naegle, but<BR>nobody has said Lake Constance - that's the part of Germany in the south-west where it meets Austia and Switzerland all in one little corner.<BR><BR>The Alps are so close, you can almost reach out and touch them. There are beautiful half-timbered houses, some of them painted on the outside walls with scenes in a sort of Baroque style. Sample the wine, which is so good that the locals drink it all themselves and export very little and much, much more.