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Bamberg | Salzburg | Oktoberfest Suggestions?

I have a free day on my family trip in Germany. We are staying in Lenggries and have a car. We currently have plans to see Neuschwanstein Castle, Munich, Oktoberfest, Salzburg, Berchtesgaden, Garmisch and we have a free day on a Sunday. My dad is from Bamberg and hasn't been there since childhood so I thought it might be a worthwhile trip. Will anything be open on a Sunday? What would you suggest? Is there a better day trip?

Also, we have a free afternoon in Munich. Any non-misses?

What is your "Must do/see" list for Salzburg?

Any Oktoberfest suggestions for a family of 5? All adults.

THANKS!

Posted by
1506 posts

I like Sunday mornings in Germany because they're very quiet. It's the ideal time to take pictures without crowds of people getting in the way. That being said there's usually someplace open, coffee shops usually, but most places that do open Sundays don't until around noon. Churches being the major exception.

The Pegnitz river flows up from Nuremberg thru Bamberg, where it joins the Main (which then flows to Frankfurt). The walk along the river through the old part of town is really nice. I think it would make a really good way to spend a day just walking around.

Many years ago I used to go there quite often as I had a friend who's father owned a Gasthaus. Bamberg is a University town and was good for meeting girls.

In Munich, provided you're not tired of museums, you can go over to the area by the Alta Pinokothek (Old Art Museum) and have your choice of that or the Neue (New Art Museum), the Modern art museum, the Crystal Museum, the Egyptian Museum, and several others. While I like those the engineer in me prefers the Deutsches Museum on it's own island in the river. If the weather is good I suggest a walk through the English Gardens or along the river. If you must do the beer garden thing the Hofbrauhaus is over rated, try the Lowenbrau or Pauliner ones (although if you're doing Octoberfest you may want to pass.)

Not knowing how long you'll be in Salzburg I'll only say this; you can easily spend a couple days walking around the old town and sticking your head into all the neat places. The fortress alone is half a day. But if you have the time you can walk around the hill the fortress is on and into a much less tourist visited part of the city. If you like plants or nature, the Botanical Gardens and the Kapizunerberg (across the river from the fortress) are nice.

Posted by
21188 posts

For Oktoberfest, go mid-week to find a table easily in the early afternoon. Buy a 5-person Bayern Ticket for 49 EUR and all of you can take the 9:47 train from Lenggries to Munich Hbf. Takes just over 1 hour. Your Bayern ticket is also valid on the Munich transit system, so you can take the U4 or U5 one stop to the Theresienwiese, where Oktoberfest is. In the tents, most tables will have "reserved" placards on them beginning about 17:00, so you can sit at these tables until the reservation begins. That will give you noon to 17:00 to drink your fill. You can stay in Munich as long as you want. The last train back to Lenggries is at 4 past midnight and the trains go every hour at 4 past the hour.

Write the names of all the travelers on the back of the Bayern Ticket. Weekday validity is 9 am to 3:00 am the next day. You will all have to travel together at all times, or at least with the person holding the ticket. If one of the group wants to leave early, they will have to buy their own return ticket.

Posted by
980 posts

For Oktoberfest, go mid-week to find a table easily in the early afternoon. Buy a 5-person Bayern Ticket for 49 EUR and all of you can take the 9:47 train from Lenggries to Munich Hbf. Takes just over 1 hour.

There is a slightly better option than the Bayern-Ticket if you are just going from Lenggries to Munich, the MVV-BOB-Ticket. It is 24€ for a single or 37€ for groups up to five and covers the Bayerische-Oberlandbahn trains from Lenggries to Munich and any inner ring Munich transport (SBahn, UBahn, buses and trams). Use that 12€ you saved on a Maß for me!

DJ

Posted by
265 posts

What you might want to see in Salzburg is a matter of personal taste: Sound of Music Tour? Mozart birthplace? the Hohensalzburg Fortress? Shopping? What's your pleasure? But after your day, get thee to the Augustiner Bräustuberl for wonderful beer from wooden casks brewed by, or at least under the supervision of monks. It is a delight. It is in the RS guidebook, and a short walk along the Salzach will get you there.