2 Weeks Itinerary in Germany, Austria and CZ

Posted by hatim5152 on 03/31/16 06:02 PM

My parents (50s), my wife and I (27/28) are planning a trip to Europe in May. We will be renting a car. Here is what we have so far. Please advise if there is anything we should change.

Arrive Frankfurt
Day 1: Boppard
Day 2: Cruise on the Rhine
Day 3: Drive to Wurzburg, visit the Residence and drive to Flachlansden.
Day 4: Rotherburg and Wendelstein, back to Flachlansden
Day 5: Augsburg and on to Salzburg
Day 6: Salzburg
Day 7 Munich day trip
Day 8 Zell Am See and Berchtesgaden day trip
Day 9: Hallstat on the way to Vienna
Day 10: Vienna
Day 11: Vienna
Day 12: Zamek Lednice on the way to Prague
Day 13: Prague
Day 14: Prague
Day 15: Return

We are interested in the scenery, palaces. gardens, nature and parks, tours, some outdoor activity and walking around in cities and towns.

We chose the Rhine valley because it would be somewhat different (atleast scenery-wise) than the rest of the trip. But we are willing to skip that and directly fly into Munich or Stuttgart. We are also debating whether we should visit Wurzburg or Fussen for 2 nights.

Posted by Lee

Lakewood, Colorado

04/01/16 08:06 PM

19099 posts

"Day 4: Rotherburg and Wendelstein, back to Flachlansden "

The only Wendelstein I was aware of was the mountain near Innsbruck, Austria. Now I see there is also a town of Wendelstein near Nürnberg, but that is not the mountain. Doesn't look like there is much there to see. Are you sure you know where you are going.

Posted by Paul

NYC area

04/01/16 08:43 PM

2908 posts

Hi,
As you're driving, you are going right past Munich on your way to Salzburg. Why day trip nearly 2 hours back to Munich after you just passed it the day before? Zell am See and Berchtesgaden are worth a full day each. The scenic route to Zell am See would go via Berchtesgaden and then Lofer in Tirol and then Saalfelden. Very scenic. The Rossfeld Panorama Road just a above Berchtesgaden is an extremely scenic alpine drive. I think you're seriously short changing both Berchtesgaden (and the area) and Zell am See. Same for the Rhine and area.

Paul

Posted by Russ

Paradise

04/01/16 11:28 PM

6650 posts

"We are interested in the scenery, palaces. gardens, nature and parks, tours, some outdoor activity and walking around in cities and towns."

I think you must mean FLACH-S-LANDEN, where you have a rental, perhaps?? I don't know Zamek Lednice. But with your interest in nature and scenery I would say that it seems inconsistent to fill your trip with an abundance of cities like Würzburg, Augsburg, Salzburg, Munich, Vienna and Prague. (I also think you have a lot of strapped-in road hours with all these spread-out places.) Munich, Vienna and Prague will likely have you getting around on public transport; meanwhile, the car will sit idle in those places.

"We chose the Rhine valley because it would be somewhat different (atleast scenery-wise)"

Unlike some of those destinations, the Rhine has scenery. If you want some outdoor activity, the Rhine is your place, and I'd suggest at least another night there.

Boppard scenery: Will you find time to hike up (or take the chair lift) to Gedeonseck and the Vierseenblick lookout?
Oberwesel - walk the old town wall
Biking near Marksburg Castle
Rhine Castle trail (Rheinburgenweg)
Rheinsteig trail
Burg Eltz - instructions for hiking to Burg Eltz (Eltz is on the Mosel but an easy day trip from Boppard.)

Palaces... gardens... The Residenz is on your route but you might also consider Nymphenburg in Munich where there's a lot more to see.

Posted by hatim5152 OP

04/02/16 05:51 AM

8 posts

Thanks for the replies.
@Lee Thanks for the heads up. Turns out the Wendelstein I want to go to is near the border with Austria.

@Paul It does seem pointless to drive past Munich. We could go to Munich instead of Augsburg on our way to Salzburg. Or we could skip Munich entirely and save it for another trip. Or Swap the time in Prague for Munich instead. This will let us have a whole day eachfor Zell Am See and Berchtesgaden.

@Russ I will consider making more time for the Rhine Valey. I am also thinking of driving to Fussen instead of Flachlansden (Nuremberg and Rotherburg).

I'm also considering dropping the car off at Freilassing (across the border from Salzburg) and then taking the train to Vienna and then to Prague. We will miss a few places on the way, but... The second part of the trip (after Bavaria) is open to any changes. For eg. I could visit Slovenia instead of Prague. However, I am looking to book the air tickets within the next week.