Hi, all. will be traveling in may or June of 2027. We would really like to do hiking, see mountains/nature, and some castles.
in the reading i've done, seems like maybe starting in Munich and then traveling south might be our best bet?
There are direct flights into frankfurt from my home base airport, and flights into Frankfurt are the least expensive, so wondering if that might be a good option, too?
would love any input!
IMO you'd do well to fly into FRA and hit the slopes that are just a short train ride from the airport. You'll find 40 castles/fortresses in a 40-mile stretch of river valley that is laced with scenic hiking trails.
Marksburg Castle is in Braubach (a town on the Rheinsteig Trail below.
Burg Eltz (Rick Steves' favorite castle in Europe) can also be hiked to if you wish and is just a short distance upstream and into the hills from the Mosel River Valley, which is also peppered with castles, like the one you see in the photo.
Russ is correct in that the middle Rhine river valley is a target rich environment for castles/fortresses and easy hikes . But if you want mountains, nature, and more strenuous hiking, then you need to get down to the Alps. I would not consider either Frankfurt nor Minich to be a convenient base for either. For the Rhine, select one of the Rhine towns with both a boat dock and a train station. For mountains and hikes, I'd go with Garmisch Partenkirchen.
Frankfurt may be the cheapest flight option, and would work if you want to concentrate on the Rhine area. But if your goal is the Alps, then you would want to look at your options for Munich. Either a connecting flight, or a train (duration about 3+ hours) .
But if you want mountains, nature, and more strenuous hiking, then you
need to get down to the Alps.
Nothing wrong with the German Alps, but as anyone who has hiked the Rheinsteig and Rhine Castle trails can confirm, these are not easy hikes. Read the elevation gains and descriptions in the links I provided. And they are very scenic as well. You will ascend and descend steep cliffsides with great views of the gorge, amble through pastures and vineyards, trek through thickly-forested sections, and stumble into ruined castles here and there... and you'll find other surprises too, such as little inns here and there...
like this one on the Rhine Castle Trail...
https://resc.deskline.net/images/RPT/1/3f19633c-54c7-40c6-8493-cf5ef973059f/99/image.jpg
The Mosel is challenging and scenic as well. The hikes around Bullay and around Bernkastel which I've done are dramatic and very satisfying.
https://www.komoot.com/guide/2903/wandern-rund-um-bullay
https://www.komoot.com/guide/499370/wandern-rund-um-bernkastel-kues
Climb the observation town across the river from Bullay... Great views...
Personally I would fly into Munich. Visit The Bavarian Home Mountains. From Berchtesgaden (Salzburg,AT) to Garmisch-Partenkirchen/Mittenwald to Füssen to Oberstdorf. I would consider time allowing a dip into Austria, Südtirol, IT, and even west into Switzerland. For me the sweet spot is the third week in June. More or less the beginning of the high season. Wildflowers blooming, Alms opening and most cable cars running. Plenty of castles, castle ruins in the region.
What do you mean by mountains ? I love the Rhine but thair ain’t real mountains there. For those you need to be along the Austrian border.
Indeed there are no true mountains in the Rhine/Mosel region. Just as there are no true castles in the German Alps. If (and castles!) in your title means that castles matter more than mountains, you probably should head to the Rhine/Mosel - especially if you will fly into FRA. Mountains matter more? Then head south. Germany didn't position all its great destinations in one convenient spot. Thus you have choices to make. But don't forget that an alpine town like Berchtesgaden will mean 7 hours or so of train travel at the start of your trip and another 7 at the end if you want the direct (and cheaper) flight into FRA, journeys that are not just long but also are not feasible without the purchase of additional tickets for long-distance trains; the Deutschland Ticket alone will cover all your train rides from FRA to the Rhine/Mosel and all your local day trips as well. FRA > Alps > FRA would be a good way to waste 2 of your 8 days.
Garmisch-P for a city, Mittenwald for a smaller place.
From Munich, just over the border to Salzburg is a solid choice. Plenty of nature and some impressive options nearby.
