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Extra day … add to Constance or Rothenburg?

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I’ve reworked our itinerary thanks to the good advice here. Now we’re thinking of visiting the Lake Constance area after Munich (1.5 days), then to Stuttgart area for car museums (1 day), then to Rothenburg (1.5 days). Then to the Rhine area.

A few questions:

  • We may have an extra day to play with. Not sure if we should spend the extra day in the Lake Constance area for a total of two full days, OR spend 2 full days days in Rothenburg?

  • We are interested in flower island and possibly the pile dwelling museum in the Lake Constance region. It feels like a day is enough, but maybe it’s too rushed. I haven’t researched Rhine Falls so didn’t include in my list of activities.

  • How many days are advised for the Rhine area? Really want to visit Rheinfels and Burg Eltz, and the river cruise of course. Are two full days enough to move around the Rhine Valley and the Mosel area?

  • Better to rent a car in Munich, or train to Lake Constance and rent a car from there?

Thank you!

Posted by
987 posts

There's much more to do at Lake Constance than Rothenberg odT. Mainau, Castle Meersburg, the Zepplin Museum, the Urwelt Museum, Konstanz Altstadt, Lindau, etc.

You can do Rheinfels and Burg Eltz in 2 days, depending on the schedule for the river cruise, which you want to start from Bingen/Rüdesheim.

I can't advise on car rentals from Munich or Konstanz, as I drive myself, but be advised that traffic is very slow around the lake. it can take two hours plus to go from Konstanz to Dornbirn/Lindau. And, depending on how you travel, you will need a vignette for driving in Austria and Switzerland. Those can be purchased at the last stop south in Germany.

If you decide on staying longer in Rothenberg and get bored, just jump on a train to Bad Windsheim or Ansbach, both of which are nice towns.

Posted by
1578 posts

It is easy to spend a full week around Lake Constance. Same with the Rhine/Mosel areas.

For the vast majority of people, one day is enough for Rothenburg.

Posted by
2439 posts

2 days is not enough for the Rhine/Mosel. I would forget Lake Constance if it would be just for one day. Also forget driving unless there is some out of the way place that you MUST VISIT that is inconvenient to visit. for example we needed a car to visit the village my great-grandfather came from. Your trip is rushed enough without the complication of a car

Posted by
6669 posts

Are two full days enough to move around the Rhine Valley and the Mosel area?

I agree with stephen. Certainly not if you are actually going to do some of the nature walks and bike riding you were talking about in addition to the Rhine cruise, Burg Eltz, and Burg Rheinfels.

The Mosel: probably better than the Rhine for a family bike ride IMO.

The Alf/Bullay ferry crossing upstream from Cochem has bikes for rent:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/3_6_Bullay_%28Hintergrind%29_F%C3%A4hre_nach_Alf.JPG

Here's a list of rental shops in Bullay, Alf and other Mosel towns

Alf has been a great spot for our short family hikes as well...
Trails from there take you to...

Prinzenkopf lookout tower
Burg Arras
Marienburg

Cochem is the large tourist destination in the immediate area of Eltz/Bullay/Alf and worthy of a visit as well.

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