Where to go in Germany, and how to get to Basel, Switz.?
Jun 24th, 2004, 02:27 PM
#1
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Where to go in Germany, and how to get to Basel, Switz.?
We're planning to cruise north from Basel, Switzerland and we have lots of options for the week prior to the cruise. We can fly (from the states) into Munich and then on to various towns in the lower portion of Germany, and then continue into Basel.
The problem is that we want to use train travel as we think that would be the best option for us. I've seen on these posts many comments about towns such as Fussen and Garmisch, but people always seem to be driving to them.
Are there any other towns that have rail connections that would be good to go to? We like small towns, beautiful scenery and cafes.
Or would it make sense to go to Paris first? This trip will be in August and I know it may be very hot in Paris then. The only time we were in Paris, it was in the autumn. I'm making myself nuts with all the possibilities.
Thank you for any help, it is greatly appreciated.
The problem is that we want to use train travel as we think that would be the best option for us. I've seen on these posts many comments about towns such as Fussen and Garmisch, but people always seem to be driving to them.
Are there any other towns that have rail connections that would be good to go to? We like small towns, beautiful scenery and cafes.
Or would it make sense to go to Paris first? This trip will be in August and I know it may be very hot in Paris then. The only time we were in Paris, it was in the autumn. I'm making myself nuts with all the possibilities.
Thank you for any help, it is greatly appreciated.
Jun 25th, 2004, 04:41 AM
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We used the train to travel FROM Basel to Lucerne to Zurich (direct routes) last September. You can plunk route possibilities into the German or Swiss rail sites and see if you have to make transfers, how long the trip will take, etc.
Lucerne is a very picturesque town (not a tiny one, though) situated on a river and lake, ringed by mountains (not high Alps but peaks nonetheless), and has an interesting old center. You can find lots of information by doing a search here.
Our photos from this trip (Amsterdam, Germany, Basel/Lucerne/Zurich) can be viewed here, if you are interested:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=ch4vgx4...0&y=75r72h
German rail:
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/que...quest=yes&
Swiss rail:
http://www.rail.ch
Lucerne is a very picturesque town (not a tiny one, though) situated on a river and lake, ringed by mountains (not high Alps but peaks nonetheless), and has an interesting old center. You can find lots of information by doing a search here.
Our photos from this trip (Amsterdam, Germany, Basel/Lucerne/Zurich) can be viewed here, if you are interested:
http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=ch4vgx4...0&y=75r72h
German rail:
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/que...quest=yes&
Swiss rail:
http://www.rail.ch
Jun 25th, 2004, 05:06 AM
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Hi Unn,
I must admit I'm stumped by your concern that you'll get lost and miss your boat . . . ??? Do you mean lost within a city and not find the train station? Rest assured, there are lots of folks who can help you find your way, from your hotel staff to the man on the street!
Anyway, are you locked into flying into Munich? If so, you may want to go Munich-Innsbruck-Scuol-Luzern-Basel. If not, you may want to fly into Milan and make a straight south-to-north line: Milan-Lugano-Luzern-Basel.
I don't see the advantage to going to Paris, especially if you like "small towns," etc.
The towns I mention above are small-ish that you can get to by train (or, for Scuol, by Postbus) with 0, 1, or 2 changes. Thay all have drop-dead gorgeous scenery, lots of cafes to sit 'n soak it all in, and great day-trip opportunities to get into the country. If you want to go to smaller towns & villages, your train ride will be longer, with more connections.
To get more information on these places, do a text search here. To research your train connections & routing, go to the rail sites Travelnut provided!
Have a great trip!
s
I must admit I'm stumped by your concern that you'll get lost and miss your boat . . . ??? Do you mean lost within a city and not find the train station? Rest assured, there are lots of folks who can help you find your way, from your hotel staff to the man on the street!
Anyway, are you locked into flying into Munich? If so, you may want to go Munich-Innsbruck-Scuol-Luzern-Basel. If not, you may want to fly into Milan and make a straight south-to-north line: Milan-Lugano-Luzern-Basel.
I don't see the advantage to going to Paris, especially if you like "small towns," etc.
The towns I mention above are small-ish that you can get to by train (or, for Scuol, by Postbus) with 0, 1, or 2 changes. Thay all have drop-dead gorgeous scenery, lots of cafes to sit 'n soak it all in, and great day-trip opportunities to get into the country. If you want to go to smaller towns & villages, your train ride will be longer, with more connections.
To get more information on these places, do a text search here. To research your train connections & routing, go to the rail sites Travelnut provided!
Have a great trip!
s
Jun 25th, 2004, 05:29 AM
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Unn,
ps.
I thought these pages may help. The pages on Basel & Scuol, I can absolutely vouch for as I know the poster and rely on his advice. The ones on Lugano & Luzern also look good. You can do some surfing around Virtual tourist for other pages on your possible destinations --
Basel:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/a919b/
Scuol:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/a8885/
Lugano:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/5be89/a8c30/
Luzern:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/25f9c/a8c1d/
Let me know if I can help further.
s
ps.
I thought these pages may help. The pages on Basel & Scuol, I can absolutely vouch for as I know the poster and rely on his advice. The ones on Lugano & Luzern also look good. You can do some surfing around Virtual tourist for other pages on your possible destinations --
Basel:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/a919b/
Scuol:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/a8885/
Lugano:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/5be89/a8c30/
Luzern:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/25f9c/a8c1d/
Let me know if I can help further.
s
Jun 25th, 2004, 05:37 AM
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Hello, Unn, (Hi, s') If it is your intention to visit places in southern Germany, I can add from experience that train travel is a very good possibility for the southern towns of Lindau and Uberlingen on Bodensee (with wonderful boat connections to Meersburg and Mainau), Freiburg and Triberg, and Neckargmund. All pretty places. J.
Jun 25th, 2004, 02:41 PM
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We just got back from Germany and took trains (and a few buses) everywhere quite easily. We went to Fuessen from Munich via train, took the shuttle buses to the castles, and spent the day touring the two castles. We also went to Garmish-Partinkirchen and to the top of the Zugspitze using the train system too. We stayed in Meersburg for 3 nights and got there via train and bus (from Friedrichshafen).
In other words, the train system works well and don't feel you can't get to where you want to. It was quite easy and very enjoyable to ride the trains everywhere.
In other words, the train system works well and don't feel you can't get to where you want to. It was quite easy and very enjoyable to ride the trains everywhere.
Jun 26th, 2004, 05:04 AM
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The train system in Germany is exctensive, connecting more than 6,000 cities and towns. Here are some webpages that show the rail lines and some of the towns in southern Germany that you can visit.
Southwest Quadrant (north of Basel):
www.rail-and-relax.de/index1.html
Southeast Quadrant (Munich, etc.):
www.bayern-takt.de/htdocs/bahnkarte.htm
Southwest Quadrant (north of Basel):
www.rail-and-relax.de/index1.html
Southeast Quadrant (Munich, etc.):
www.bayern-takt.de/htdocs/bahnkarte.htm
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