Going to Berlin for an event and then will visit Auschwitz, Prague, Switzerland and the Black Forest, not necessarily in that order. Will probably rent a car to save some travel time. What maps do I need? Any idea what weather is like in early spring in Germany? I've got a couple more months to finalize plans but have already bought the event ticket and booked airfare. Please advise at your convenience. Thank you!
Posted by
Schwerin
4055 posts
Will probably rent a car to save some travel time.
Care for IDP. In cities like Berlin rental cars are seldomly a plus. Use public transport - good to know.
Train connections recommended: https://int.bahn.de/en/
What maps do I need?
Most correct map for Europe: https://wego.here.com/
For best navigation without mobile connection: Sygic GPS Navigation: https://www.sygic.com/gps-navigation
Any idea what weather is like in early spring in Germany?
Full range possible from winter conditions with snow to nice sunny spring days up to 15°C.
Posted by
Minnesota🌲
10298 posts
I agree with Mark that it is not a good idea to have a car in Berlin. In fact, if you are going to the Black Forest, I would suggest taking a train down to that area. Overall, trains are a good way to go , so I would consider public transportation. However, if you decide not to, I would suggest checking Auto Europe for rental cars.
Gengenbach is a good place to consider as a base in the Black Forest, and it is one of my favorite places. I stayed in Gengenbach for 4 nights in 2022 and absolutely loved it. The town is very charming with beautiful half-timbered houses (it's frequently called a "chocolate box" village) and has a beautiful Altstadt, with quite a few restaurants and cafes to choose from. There are lots of things to do on a day trip there and it's very quick (and easy) 40 minute train ride from Strasbourg, if you wanted to take a quick day trip over to France. And if you stay in Gengenbach, one nice benefit is that you receive a KONUS card, which entitles you to free public transport throughout the Black Forest region. There are many charming villages in the region that you can visit along the Black Forest Railway, and there is also the Vogtsbauernhof (open-air museum) that is a joy to visit and easily accessible by train.
In terms of maps for driving, I just use Google Maps GPS. I've used it throughout Europe and the UK and have never had any real problems. I like it better than the satnav devices that come with cars, and most rental cars now have Car Play or the equivalent.
What do you mean by early spring? I was there in May and the weather was good, but in late March and early April you will undoubtedly get some rain and cooler weather. But it's all variable so you just never know.