Leaving Prague in July and have one overnight somewhere in Germany on the way to Amsterdam for our flight home. Seems like a night in Berlin would be the easiest for train travel. I'd rather find another "old city" to stop in if someone can suggest a good itinerary/line for cross Germany travel. Much appreciated!
Posted by
Green Bay
20158 posts
How about Lueneburg, not too big a detour on the way between Berlin and Amsterdam.
Posted by
San Francisco
14535 posts
To fit your description of an "old " town, Lüneburg can be done but you'll have transfer in Büchsen from Berlin or take the ICE Berlin to Hamburg, then transfer to Lüneburg, one of my absolute favourite towns in Germany. This also depends on which route you're taking to Amsterdam from Berlin (if you are tailoring this route)...through Hannover or via Frankfurt.
If your route is leaving from Berlin, then I suggest Minden an der Weser, hardly any tourists go there except Germans. I like Minden, have spent a few nights there. Take the ICE to Hannover Hbf, transfer to Minden, an "old" historic and garrison town where the "Mittellandkanal" connecting the Elbe and Weser, a town with half timbered buildings, (Fachwerkhäuser), a real scenic Altstadt, plus the Prussian Westfalen Museum and battlefield site of Minden. Minden is not diversion en route to Amsterdam, Lüneburg is. The IC train stopping in Minden has its terminus in Amsterdam Centraal. That's a direct shot for you.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks for the input....I guess I need to find a more detailed map as neither town shows up on my Rick Steves map. I'll definitely pursue!
Posted by
San Francisco
14535 posts
Not surprising that these two towns don't show up on the RS map given his focus on Germany. Neither has a train station classified as a Hbf.
@ sonidavison...Another cityie, larger than Minden or Lüneburg, and one with a Hauptbahnhof that is not too much of a diversion "for cross Germany travel" is Münster/Westfalen. Certainly not a city swamped with US and international tourists. I suggested Minden since it fits in your route logistically but if you want to flex the route and logistics, then Lüneburg is much more interesting historically and culturally. Lüneburg is one of my few favourite towns in Germany, Minden is not.