Hi there folks,
Just a little question. I'd like to go to either Germany or England this summer time. I'm wanting to see lots of museums, culture and architecture. I wonder if you might be able to offer your advice (based on your own experiences) as to which of these countries would be the best choice for me? All the Best. Jackie.
L' Angleterre
For a first time traveler, I'd suggest you start in London for a week. Then take the Eurostar fast train down to Paris for another week. If time permitted, there' s a fast train down to Barcelona from Paris that would be a good addition.
If you were going to see Germany, I'd suggest you'd fly into Munich and stay there 4-5 days. Then rent a car and hit the Romantic Trail. Or, take a train over to Salzburg for 2-3 days. Then rent a car and drive south through The Alps--turning the car in at Innsbruck. You could take a train back to Munich and fly out of there.
Plenty of museums, culture and architecture in both. Most American first-timers choose England, because their language is somewhat similar to ours, and we know a lot about the culture and history from watching television. Germany is I think more interesting because it is more different. But if it is a first time for you , the logistics (such as train travel or communication) will be easier in England.
How long is the trip? They are equal more or less as far as museums, culture and architecture and it depends on where you go.
Go to Germany where your dollar will go further. Start in Berlin.
Chocolate or Vanilla?
You won't know how you feel about a place until you've been. Furthermore, these countries are not uniform. For instance, Berlin and Munich are as different as New York and Los Angeles, and people from southern England treat northern England as though it's a different planet (and, of course, vice versa). Then there's the difference between rural and urban destinations (you haven't seen "England" if you've only seen London, any more than you've seen "America" if you've only been to New York). And finally, Germany was only unified in 1871; each part has a very different heritage, cuisine, and even spoken dialect, and these distinctions persist (Bavaria, Prussia, Swabia, etc). England has been unified far longer, but there are still major regional distinctions.
Both Germany and England have more "museums, culture, and architecture" than you can see in a lifetime, much less one trip. So that doesn't help you decide.
Look at as many travel books as you can - raid your library. Watch as many travel videos as you can- Rick's are here: https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show. Read up on the places - is there a particular museum, style of architecture, or cultural attraction you favor? Which is easier or cheaper to get to from your home town airport(s)?
Note that when looking for flights, London and Frankfurt are the busiest airports and get the most nonstop flights from the US. But there are also nonstops from some US cities to Manchester, Birmingham, Munich, Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Berlin. Furthermore, with one plane change, you can get almost anywhere. So, if you want to start or end in Nuremberg or Liverpool, you can. Don't book flights until you know your itinerary, to avoid backtracking and wasting time and money.
A lot of people will say England because of the language. Well, I spent a weekend in London and never understood anyone. So many people in England speak dialects that are very difficult for American's to understand. On the other hand, if you stay in well traveled tourist areas in Germany, there will be people there who speak English (about 60% of Germans do) and they are taught the "Kings English", which is a lot easier to understand than English dialects. I also feel that the culture of Germany is more similar to ours. So, I'd go to Germany.
I like David's suggestion of Munich. If you like museums, there are plenty to see in Munich. There are art museums - the Alte- and Neue-Pinakotheke and the Pinakothek der Moderne. Right in the same area, a U-Bahn stop from the Hbf, is also an Egyptian museum, a Paleontology museum, and a museum of Greek and Roman sculpture. Out on an island in the Isar River, east of downtown, is the Deutches Museum, their version of our Smithsonian.
Unless I wanted to go somewhere really, and I mean REALLY, out of the way, I would never rent a car in Germany. Germany has the most extensive rail network in Europe, 40% larger in rail km than that of much larger France, and only 1% less dense than the much smaller Swiss network. With almost 1000 stations in Bavaria alone, you are never far from a station, and the rail system is enhanced by a vast network of public buses.
As for the Romantic Road, as has been mentioned here multiple times, there is nothing exceptional about the road itself, a two-lane country road clogged with tour buses, lorries, and farm equipment. It's the towns themselves that make it interesting. In 2007, I did the entire Romantic Road, except for Füssen to Weiskirche, entirely by public transportation (it can be done). I would say the best town on the Road is Rothenburg, and it is readily accessible by train. However, everyone wants to go there; some think it is too touristy. A less touristy version of Rothenburg, complete with a mostly intact wall with a Wehrgang you can walk on, plenty of Fachwerk buildings, and a church steeple you can climb, is Nördlingen. Nördlingen is also readily accessible from Munich by train (in about 2 hrs). From Nördlingen, Dinkelsbühl is less than an hour away by direct bus, but I found Dinkelsbühl a disappointment after Nördlingen. If you stay a few nights in Nördlingen, an interesting side trip by train is about 15 minutes south in Harburg, with it's intact castle.
From Munich, you can go by train to Salzburg or Berctesgaden with a stop on the way at Ludwig's island palace of Herrenchiemsee. Or take the train via Mühldorf to Burghausen to see the castle there.
For a mountain experience, take the Meridian train to Brannenburg on the Inn River. From there take the Zahnradbahn (cog railroad) to the top of the Wendelstein. Then come down the Seilbahn (cable car) on the other side to Osterhofen and take the Bayrische Oberlandbahn (BOB) back to Munich. Of course, if you tried to do this by car, you'd have to backtrack to Brannenburg to pick up your car. If you leave Munich at 8:44, you'll get to Brannenburg at 9:40 where you'll be met by the Wendelstein Ringlinie bus at 9:45, which tales you to the Zahnradbahn Talstation at 9:51. Otherwise it's a half hour, 1½ mile walk to the Talstation.
Hi,
Ordinarily, I would advise England if it is indeed your first trip. But it depends. I went to England first on the first trip since the flight landed there from Calif. On my first time over, my intention was to spend most of the trip in Germany following the first few days in London. If you pick Germany, then be sure to go to Berlin and spend at least a full week there. How long do you have? I would suggest the Middle Rhine area, then swing northward to Lübeck and Hamburg, after that to Berlin, or after the Middle Rhine, go and visit Frankfurt, then continue to Berlin. The museums are just numerous in Frankfurt and Berlin. Any particular and specific interests.in Berlin?
Jackie, I think we need some clarification from you. Are you planning to go to England or Germany for a week or two or are you planning to spend the whole summer in one country? Also, are you only interested in seeing lots of museums, culture and architecture (which kind of focuses on major cities) or are you also interested in spending time in the countryside?
