Hi Forum,
I found a great deal that gets me to Munich in late March for an 8-9 day trip. I'm overwhelmed by the options and hoping to get some thoughts on where to go. Some ideas that come to mind are Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Berlin (but I'm open to more suggestions). I'll be traveling alone. Really love libraries, castles, good views, cheap eats. Also, is Munich worth exploring or more useful as a starting off spot?
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
With 9 days you have time for 2 max 3 destinations including Munich. Logistically if 2 then Munich and Prague or Munich and Vienna. If 3 then Munich, Prague, Vienna or Munich, Vienna, Budapest. Prague and Budapest are cheap eats comparing to Munich and Vienna. Prague and Budapest have good views and castles, too. Munich and Prague have the best beer, in Prague substantially cheaper. I did not mentioned Berlin; too little time. It's a huge city with a lot to see although it's not an eye candy like Prague or Budapest.
When in Munich you can do some day trips outside of Munich and go to the Palace by bus outside Munich. Do take out of your library the RS Muncih guide book and he lists all the day trips you can take. You may just want to stay just in Munch. It has wonderful art museums, a palace in the city, great churches and great views from the churches. But if you want to go to another city, do see which is the shortest time on a train to either Prague or Vienna. Remember travel time eats up your touring and checking in and out of hotels. I went to Munich and Vienna this year and stayed 5 nights in Vienna and did not see everything! There was a wonderful musuem to see, the Belevedere Palace to tour, wonderful churches, great palace to see the Imperial Apartments. I would stay longer in Vienna than Munich but both are great cities. I just found more to see and do in Vienna and not leave the city. I have been to Prague and there are wonderful streets to walk, great town square, beautiful churches and the Mucha museum and many other things to see and do. Get the guide books to see what your interested in. When you determine what ciities you will be staying in, let me know and pm me and I will give you more ideas. Have a great time. I think Munich is worth exploring more!
Is Munich worth exploring, or more useful as a starting off spot?
In a word, both !!
With such limited time, do not look beyond 3 destinations, preferably 2.
Munich > Vienna > Budapest
Munich > Prague > Berlin
With such little time, I would echo the advice to limit your time moving from place to place. We spent a good portion of a day at Dachau and a very full day at Neuschwanstein while staying in Munich. Salzburg could be another option if you wanted to add another destination without spending too much time in transit.
Munich and Vienna are both 4 day cities--as they're large, important cities.
And Salzburg is in between. It's a straight shot via train.
To through Prague or another big city into such a short trip would break the camel's back.
"Really love libraries, castles, good views, cheap eats... Also, is Munich worth exploring...?"
Libraries: Can you read German?
Castles: Hohensalzburg is another reason for including Salzburg on your itinerary.
Munich: You need to do some research on your own to find out if it interests you. Nymphenburg Palace and Residenz Palace are popular - but Munich is shy on real 700+-year-old castles. You may want to head to northern Bavaria to see places on the German Castle Road.
Thank you all for the advice! One thing is that I've heard a lot of people have mixed feelings about Vienna but generally love Prague. Would you all advice sacrificing Munich (just using it to fly in/out of) for the sake of visiting both?
It is subjective, of course, but I would line your cities in desirability in this order:
Prague
Budapest
Vienna
Berlin
Munich
Some will agree, some will have different order.
I am writing again, I love Vienna, Prague and Munich in that order. Not to say you may love those cities in a different order.I have not been to Berlin or Budapest but as you know they are very much wonderful cities.Since you are already in Munich you may want to stay in Munich and see it. Why move around so much when you are already in a great city. Do get the guide books on each city, you can watch free videos of Rick Steves and other travel shows on YouTube. You can also look on this website there is are on line scrapbooks of the places you want to visit. Seeing is worth 1000 words as they always say.
In Munich you can go to St. Michaels Church, St Peter's Church, Nymphenburg Palace, The Residenz ( the city palace), The Alte Pinakothek (14th to 19th Century) art, Neue Pinakothek ( I loved this museum), Asam Church, tons of beer halls, Frauenkirche church, Marienplatz, BMW musuem, Dachau Concentration camp to name a few places and things to see and do.
In Vienna, St Stephen's Cathedral, Kunsthirsorisches Museum ( amazing museum), Hofburg Imperial Apartments, tons of wonderful cafes, Belevedere Palace ( where The Kiss is by Klimt), Karlskirche church ( looks like a church that should be in Rome), Albertina Museum, Hofburg Treasury, Schonbrunn Palace, tons of concerts, and many other museums.
I love Prague, but it has been several years since I visited. But there are tons of sites, places to visit and great beer.
No matter what you pick, it will be amazing and fun and interesting and different that the US!
Have a great time.
