Sanity Check on Plan

I think this is very fast paced. You'll have only 12 days in Europe, but 5 of these will be travel days, with only a partial day in your destination city on each of these days. And your first day will be jet lagged. You aren't really giving yourself very much time at all to see what each of these cities has to offer.

Two days in Berlin (one of them jet lagged), 1 1/2 for Vienna (Melk will take the bulk of a day), 1 1/2 for Salzburg (B'gaden will take most of the day), 1 1/2 for Munich and Dachau ( Fussen will be a long day), less than one day in Rothenberg, and less than one day in Frankfurt.

Honestly, I think the only place that has adequate time allotted to it is Salzburg. I really think you need to eliminate a couple of places or add at least another 5 days to your trip.

I don't think it's "crazy," but it will be go-go-go, with only a few days each for some major cities. In particular, Berlin is being shortchanged, not only because it's large with tons to see and do, but because the day of arrival is often a jetlagged haze (and depending on when you arrive, can be shortened to boot). You'll barely be adjusting to Berlin before getting on another plane. Similarly, you only have two full days and two half days (at best) in Vienna. With a sidetrip to Melk, when do you plan to actually see Vienna?

Also, I see you're counting days twice (e.g., you have August 6 in both Berlin and Vienna). Remember that you lose a half day, if not more, when changing cities, so you really shouldn't do that. Count nights instead of days, and treat 3 nights in a place as 2 full days, 2 nights as 1 full day, and 1 night as less than a full day.

Summary: I'd cut one destination, and spread the newly freed-up time among the remaining places.

EDIT: cross posting with the one above, but you see we said almost identical things!

I think your plan is very doable, and the pace is quite manageable. I read "6 -9", for example, to mean that you leave Berlin on the 6th, and stay in Vienna for three nights, giving you 2.5 days in your three main stops, as long as you get an early start in the morning of travel. I do agree that Berlin needs more than one full day- unless you have already been there, I'd consider moving a day from Salzburg. You can see a lot of Salzburg in the half day of your arrival, and visit B'gaden the next morning. Better still would be to cut out the night in Rothenburg- it's cute to walk around in for a couple hours, but not an essential. Note also that Schonbrunn Palace is not a side trip from Vienna- it's in the city, a short Metro/tram ride from the centre, so you can see other sites in Vienna on the same day.

Schonbrunn is in Vienna, as in it is within the city. It is not a side trip. Skip Melk if you really want to do Vienna justice.

Also note that August 15 is Assumption, a Catholic holiday which will be celebrated in Munich. Expect closures on that day.

Thank you all for your feedback. Really appreciate it!

I've done trips such as this before. And it is a hectic pace. Keep in mind, getting to/from Füssen from Munich will be an all-day trip. Dachau is easy to manage but keep in mind that it is very difficult to "have a nice day" after touring Dachau.

Also, I'd consider visiting Melk on your way to Salzburg. That way you are at least being efficient.

Travel safe!