We are trying to travel completely by train this summer in Germany and France. We know that we might have to take a break and rent a car somewhere along the way though. What is the best and fastest way to go from Neuschwanstein Castle to Meersburg and then to Colmar. Is this doable in a day? We will have toured the castle early in the day but we don't want to book too much for one day. Oh we'd love to see the Isle of Flowers too if possible!
If someone could look over this and let me know if this will work by train that would be great! I have used the Rick Steves' travel maps.
Our itinerary:
Day 1 Munich to Berchtesgaden
Day 2 Berchtesgaden to Salzburg
Day 3 Salzburg to Fussen or somewhere near Neuschwanstein (suggestions)
Day 4 Fussen ( or nearby) to Meersburg, then on to Colmar
Day 5 Colmar to Oberwesel
Day 6 Oberwesel (cruise the Rhine) to Bonn
Day 7 Bonn to Maastricht
Day 8 & 9 Maastricht to Amsterdam
Day 10 Amsterdam to Brussels
Day 11 Brussels to Paris
Day 12 Paris
Day 13 Paris
Day 14 Fly home
Thank you all! We welcome all suggestions as this is our first trip to Europe! We are super excited!
Posted by
Washington DC
28371 posts
I find the Deutsche Bahn website the easiest to use for checking train schedules. If the schedules don't extend to your travel period, use earlier dates that match the actual day of the week you anticipate traveling each leg.
I don't believe I've taken any of the specific trips you're planning, but I think Day 4 is doubtful if you anticipate seeing Neuschwanstein that day (rather than on the previous day). It looks like Fussen to Meersburg is over 4 hours by train and then Meersburg to Colmar is a little longer. You'd need to add sightseeing time.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Even the lightest of travellers might find travelling with luggage to a new hotel every day a bit burdensome over 11 days. I did it once in Italy over 6 days and I found that to be my limit. Try and find a few bases rather than move every day.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Seriously, do not try to do this. You will be spending all your time travelling on trains and checking into and out of hotels. Some of your journey legs are very long, and even some of the shorter ones use quite slow local trains. I'd pick one or two places before Paris to stay and either explore them or do day trips.
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Thanks for the tips! We are still in the planning stage so I can tweak our schedule! We are each only packing one carry-on so we are traveling very light. Any suggestions of how or where to stop off to slow our trip down and sightsee? And does anyone know if gondola rides are offered anywhere other than Colmar? That is the main reason for going there. Or should we skip it and move up through or near the Black Forest to get to the castle in Oberwesel/Rhine River? (I'm thinking maybe rent a car in Fussen then. Would this be a better option?)
Thanks again for the input!
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
I wouldn't go to Colmar just to ride a gondola - it's completely foreign to the local culture and the canal banks are perfectly accessible on foot.
My personal suggestion would be:
Days 1-5: Stay in Munich, explore the city and do day trips to other locations like Berchtesgade, Fuessen and Salzburg if you want.
Day 6: Train Munich to Oberwesel, buying a discount ticket from bahn.com well in advance. Expect to spend 6-7 hours on the trains.
Day 7-8: Explore Rhine region from Oberwesel
Day 9: Travel from Oberwesel to Paris (assuming you have already booked a return flight from Paris - if not I would choose between either Paris or Amsterdam for the last few days). Again the trip will be just over six hours and you should book a ticket from bahn.com. Try and pick the train alternative changing at Koblenz and Saarbruecken, as you then get a very scenic ride down the Mosel valley.
Day 10-3: Paris
Day 14: Fly home.
Posted by
OP
6 posts
That sounds like a good idea! Thank you so much for taking the time to go over my itinerary. I truly appreciate it!
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
I'd look at streamlining along lines similar to this.
Day
01. Arrive Munich. To Salzburg (2nts)
03. To Fussen (2nts)
A car would be really beneficial these first 4 days
05. To Rhine (2nts)
07. To Amsterdam (3nts)
10. To Paris (4nts)
14. Depart Paris
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Thanks! That sounds doable. I am working on doing that right now! Streamlining like you suggest should work out great! :)