I need suggestions on an itinerary!

The problem with night trains is that if you want any kind of sleeping compartment, the cost is equivalent to a hotel room. A tiny hotel room that shakes and screeches to a halt all through the night. And there really aren't any night trains from Lyon to Munich.
Besides Provence, I'd suggest Burgundy, Swiss lowlands, or Alsace. If you want to go to Munich, fly.

In addition to Sam's description of a train sleeping compartment, you'll likely also share that compartment with others, so it's also a moving dorm room. You get to your destination the next day, but not necessarily refreshed or well-rested.

Dylan R,

i went to Dachau and Auschwitz-Birkenau a couple weeks ago and i will say if you can go, go.

as far as how you want to get there, thats up to you, your body and your pocket book.

I took my first overnight train from Budapest to Krakow. It was fun, but not restful. I guess the train went to several countries where i have not had the opportunity to plan to see, so you can say i slept through them. But i remember hearing voices from other countries and some parts of the ride was alot smoother than others. There were alot of coupling/uncoupling of cars/engines and such and i can say that the horns on the locomotive is loud even when heard from the 1st class car and from the rear.

I would look for some inexpensive puddle jumper if you can. But if all you can do is train, go for it.

happy trails.

Budget European airlines don't go from every airport to every airport, and Paris-Munich flights are on Air France and Lufthansa. You might check Matrix ITA for the pricing. Trains may well suit you.

Munich is a great city and very worth seeing--especially if you're young, single and enjoy the Bohemian life. And as everyone says, Dachau and other "work camps" are important for all travelers to see. It and the Anne Frank Haus in Amsterdam had an affect on my daughter when she was 12 years old.

Have a great time!

Lufthansa has direct flights from Lyon to Munich. The key to a good price is to buy a round trip with the return several weeks later and then toss the return ticket. That way you can get it for 164 euro.
The train can be done in 8 hours for 89 euro, nonrefundable, 136 euro full fare.

If you're into history, you could always head north to Normandy. Then pop over to Belgium (perhaps Bruges). You're not hitting Germany, but you're getting something other than France. If your heart is set on Germany, you can do the Alsace, perhaps Colmar and Strasbourg, then head from Strasbourg over the German border to any of the towns/cities within striking distance. (I'd personally recommend my first suggestion over the second.)

Oh, and if you want to see both a concentration camp and Berlin, there's a camp outside the city: Sachsenhausen. I've not been to Dachau, but I hear Sachsenhausen is not as "good". But if you do Berlin, there's both Sachsenhausen and, in the city, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews. It is a great exhibit. Here's a somewhat humorous account of a visit to Berlin, where we visited both the memorial and Sachsenhausen. http://karilogue.com/berlin-last-winter/

Kariann,
I like the idea of going to Normandy. Originally I was thinking the south of France or Italy even. I want to go somewhere besides France. I'm going to Lyon but have been to Florence and Rome already so there's two major places in Italy I've been to. I wouldn't say I have my heart set on Germany but I've never been and it's a popular place to visit, and rightfully so.

I live in Germany right now and I travel all over the country and bordering regions. It's awesome, no doubt. It's just a question of what your priorities are: proximity, money, packing in as much as possible, or what. Because this year was the 70th anniversary of D-Day, I think they have everything updated and looking good in Normandy. I wanted to go this summer but didn't have time. Then again, it's probably a super easy train ride between Paris and Berlin? I don't really use the train, so I'm not sure. Munich is also worth seeing--beautiful, great glockenspiel, near Dachau, great museums (I love the Deutsches Museum), Bavarian restaurants...also worth a visit. (Berlin also has world-class museums.) There's not much in Germany that isn't worth seeing!

I was in Berlin last year and loved it. I agree that it's imoortant to visit the death camp memorials, perhaps the train or a cheap flight to Berlin or Munich would be possible.

If not, there is plenty of ancient history in southern France: Nimes, Orange, the Pont du Gard, many more since Provence was an important Roman province.

kariann.marti's suggestion of Belgium is interesting, and on the way to Bruges is Ieper (Ypres in French), with WWI history, and its excellen In Flanders Fields musuem. Great beer in Belgium, too ;-)

Hi,

"Would it be feasible to go to Germany?" Why not? Going to Germany from Paris or Lyon can be easily done. From Paris Est take the early ICE train to Frankfurt, arriving just before 11 am. You can proceed to Munich, stay for a few days. The Munich-Berlin leg you have the night train option on the CNL, as you suggested. I rode Hamburg to Munich on the CNL, found it good enough, satisfactory, did that CNL route again two laters later. Yes, I did the CNL ride to avoid paying for a room or a hostel. The cheapest way to do that is to take the sleeperette (Ruhesessel) option, the reservation for that is mandatory. Now, if you decide to choose a sleeper or a couchette, keep in mind the prices for those options are a good deal more.

If you depart for Germany from Lyon, take the TGV train to Strasbourg, stay a night or go on to Munich.

Hi,

Another more direct way from Paris to Munich is the CNL option. By night it's direct, daytime requires transfers. You may want to consider this option, if you don't want to do the train changes. I took Paris-Munich CNL a few years ago; yes, it's a moving dorm but so what? I've been in compartments where they were a full house, ie, all six seats occupied, but on the Paris-Munich leg only four of us, a bit better. It all depends on what you're willing to cope with or tolerate.

Which historical sites do you have in mind in Berlin? Your level of interest?

I would highly recommend both Munich and Dachau - I've visited a few concentration camps and Dachau is well-preserved and has a good museum.