Dear Travel Experts,
We (two Malaysian ladies) are going to Bavaria, Austria, and the Dolomites in early September! As nature lovers who adore scenic landscapes, charming villages, and easy hikes.
We’ll be traveling on a budget, using public transport, and staying in hostels or Airbnbs, with a daily budget of €160 per person. While we’re not particularly interested in museums or opera, we love leisurely strolls, immersing ourselves in local culture, and occasionally treating ourselves to regional specialties.
We’d love your expert advice on our itinerary:
Day 1-4: Munich & Day Trips
Day 1: Arrive in Munich
Explore Marienplatz, English Garden, and Elisabethmarkt
Dinner at Augustiner Bräustuben for a local Bavarian experience
Day 2: Neuschwanstein Castle & Füssen
Train to Füssen (~2 hours, Bayern Ticket ~€27)
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle & scenic Alpsee Lake
Day 3: Berchtesgaden & Königssee
Train to Berchtesgaden (~2.5 hours)
Boat ride on Königssee to St. Bartholomä
Short hike to Malerwinkel for stunning views
Day 4: Munich to Tegernsee
Visit Nymphenburg Palace Gardens & Westpark
Train to Tegernsee (~1 hour) for a scenic lake retreat
Day 5-7: Tegernsee & Bamberg
Day 5: Tegernsee
Relaxing walk along Tegernsee Lake
Take the Wallbergbahn cable car for panoramic mountain views
Enjoy a local meal at Brauhaus Tegernsee
Day 6: Travel to Bamberg & Explore
Train to Bamberg (~3 hours)
Visit Little Venice, Altes Rathaus & Bamberg Cathedral
Day 7: Bamberg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Morning stroll through Bamberg’s Old Town
Train to Rothenburg ob der Tauber (~2 hours)
Explore Plönlein & medieval town walls
Day 8-12: Rothenburg → Salzburg & Surroundings
Day 8: Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Visit Burggarten for a scenic picnic
Try local bakeries for pretzels & Schneeballen pastries
Day 9: Rothenburg to Salzburg
Morning in Rothenburg
Train to Salzburg (~4 hours)
Day 10: Salzburg
Explore Mirabell Gardens, Getreidegasse & Kapuzinerberg
Sunset views from Mönchsberg
Day 11: Day Trip – Hallstatt or Wolfgangsee
Option 1: Wolfgangsee (ferry ride & lakeside walk)
Option 2: Hallstatt (iconic lakeside village)
Day 12: Salzburg to Berchtesgaden (Klausbach Valley Hike)
Train to Berchtesgaden (~50 min)
Bus to Klausbach Valley (Ramsau)
Easy Alpine hike with rivers & meadows
Day 13-15: Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Day 13: Travel to Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Train from Berchtesgaden (~3.5 hours)
Visit Partnach Gorge (easy scenic hike)
Relax at Ludwigstraße
Day 14: Zugspitze & Eibsee
ake the Bavarian Zugspitze Railway (~€60 round trip)
Easy scenic walk around Eibsee Lake
Day 15: Travel to Bolzano (Dolomites Base)
Train from Garmisch to Bolzano (~3.5 hours)
Walk around Piazza Walther & explore Bolzano’s old town
Day 16-18: Dolomites (Base in Bolzano)
Day 16: Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm)
Bus to Seis am Schlern (~40 min)
Cable car to Alpe di Siusi (Europe’s largest high-altitude meadow)
Easy scenic hike & return to Bolzano
Day 17: Val di Funes & Santa Maddalena
Train to Bressanone/Brixen, then bus to Val di Funes (~1.5 hours)
Walk through Santa Maddalena village with Odle Peaks backdrop
Day 18: Seceda
Train to Ortisei, then cable car to Seceda
Day 19-21: Vienna & Wachau Valley
Day 19: Travel to Vienna
Train from Bolzano to Vienna (~7 hours)
Explore St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Graben & Rathausplatz
Day 20: Day Trip to Wachau Valley
Scenic train ride along the Danube River
Visit Dürnstein
Day 21: Departure from Vienna
Additional Question:
We’re thinking of adding Prague & Cesky Krumlov to our trip. Would it feel too rushed and how to go about it ? Which is more scenic Hallstatt or Wolfgangsee?
We’d love to hear your feedback and any recommendations! Thank you in advance