Bavaria, Salzburg, and Venice Itinerary Question

renting a car for the entire Germany and Austria portion, then taking the train to Venice from Salzburg

Check one-way cross-border rental. These are extremely expensive. Recommend to return car in Germany.

Rental car in Munich is not the best idea - public transport is better.

Ensure you will have driving permission for Germany, means a valid driving license and IDP.

Thank you, I have rented a car in Europe before and have checked into the additional fees for dropping it off in Salzburg (it was minimal in that case). I do have a IDP and am aware of the few additional requirements as well. We would be using public transport in Munich, but would be parking our car at the hotel.

I think your pace is too rushed. After a week, I'm ready for a day of just hanging out, no day trips, no schedule. However, if you've traveled at this pace before, more power to you.

The Saturday N'stein day is too much, IMHO. The area is spread out and involves a lot of walking and lines, even with timed tickets. Are you going to both palaces? I actually think this area is a tourist trap, and could easily be skipped.

Give Venice more time. Where are you staying? We love the Cannaregio area, away from the crowds, on the quiet back canals. It's a completely different experience from the St Mark's Square crowds.

Have a great trip. Safe travels!

...advice is appreciated on where we could trim time off.

Saturday: All 3 are palaces, not castles. Is it important to see all three? Perhaps you spread them out across different days if it is. IME the King Ludwig II palace that is most impressive of all is missing from your list - and not in Füssen... Herrenchiemsee, on Lake Chiemsee, half way between Munich and Salzburg.

https://i0.wp.com/www.reverberations.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Herrenchiemsee-Chiemsee.jpg?resize=900%2C600

https://www.herrenchiemsee.de/englisch/tourist/index.htm

Friday: The main purpose of memorializing Dachau was to discourage future generations from forgetting/denying the Holocaust and to communicate the end-consequences of racism and Fascism. So unless you are susceptible to these leanings and require such lessoons, it is unnecessary to put yourselves through the stomach-churning details of Dachau or the time it subtracts from your trip. Enjoy a day seeing the Wieskirche, Ettal, and Oberammergau instead.

The main purpose of memorializing Dachau was to discourage future generations from forgetting/denying the Holocaust and to communicate the end-consequences of racism and Fascism.

I completely agree with you, Russ.

I would also like to add that Dachau is a tough place to visit, and I recommend everyone visit the NS Documentation Center in Munich beforehand. It prepares you well for your visit to Dachau. You get important information about why it happened and what we can all do to prevent it from happening again, and how to recognize the signs.

Visiting a concentration camp is a very moving experience and nothing that can happen just by the way. I'm not saying you'll plan it that way, I'm just saying it will leave a mark.

You might want to consider not driving right after an overnight flight. I lived just south of F'furt and have driven there quite a bit. But arriving sleepy, jet lagged, and perhaps on new turf, it might be better to take the train(s) to Rothenburg. Or even Wurzburg and rent the car there. You might be different, but most people are just not 100% themselves in that circumstance. In my case, I don't need to be around sharp objects; and driving is for me is an accident waiting to happen. Just offering food for thought.

I've not been to Dachau, but I have to say that visiting Auschwitz and Birkenau was the most important "tourist activity" I've ever done.

When one is confronted with racism and bigotry, the experience of having seen the end result of this hatred at its extreme is a very powerful persuader. We can never allow the world to forget.