Berlin, Munich (Octoberfest) and village itinerary

We were at Oktoberfest last year around the same time. It is a blast! We had no problems getting into the tents early in the day. You do not want to be there at night when all the drunks are in high gear. If you can avoid the weekend, you will be better off. We did spend a pretty penny for our hotel within walking distance, but they upgraded us and it was really nice just walking to the Marienplatz and the festival. Have a great time!

Thanks, Karen. Where did you stay?

Two days are very little time for Berlin. Would spend a day more there plus one more day for day trip to Potsdam palaces (not a Monday).

Likely Dachau will be well filled up with Octoberfest mooded people - maybe not the best atmosphere for that memorial. You might consider visiting Sachsenhausen Memorial near Berlin instead.

I do not understand what people attract on Octoberfest. It cannot compete with real beer festivals and is neither the largest or most local folk festival in Germany. To me the most un-German thing tourists ask for when visiting Germany. But only personal opinion. Have fun with it but please do not think that this is representative for Germany.

Use DB trains for domestic transport and local public transport in Berlin and Munich.

Both cities will be expensive due to events. Berlin Marathon on Sept. 28.

We lived in Augsburg, Germany for four years and did the Oktoberfest three times. Augsburg is about 50 miles west of Munich and they have trains about every half hour. Consider staying in Augsburg if you have a problem finding lodging nearer to Munich.

You itinerary is fine. I presume that the day trip to Castles is down to Fussen, which can be a long and tiresome day, just keep that in mind.

When people go to Munich, I always suggest staying there 3 days just to see the city. Also, visiting Salzburg, Austria and Berchtesgaden as well as Fussen/Garmisch for a couple of days. Your trip would not be long enough for all that.

Thank you all for the feedback. Unfortunately, we are not able to change our dates to avoid Octoberfest due to work schedules.

I appreciate the suggestion of staying in Augsburg as an alternative to Munich.

I'd appreciate any other feedback on a possible itinerary, especially feedback on the end of the trip. Should we fly continue on to Salzburg and fly from there? Less time in the Alps, contine to the Rhine area, and fly from Frankfurt?

Thank you!

I think both your itineraries are too busy and you're trying to do too much and are prioritizing things different enough that coming up with a coherent itinerary is tough.

One thing to keep in mind: Charming small villages are everywhere in Germany. Yes, St. Goar and Rothenburg are charming, but there are lesser known, charming places that would make more sense for a Berlin-Munich trip, which is essentially what this is. But Oktoberfest really complicates everything here. Yes, the rest of the city isn't overly affected by Oktoberfest except for those darn hotel prices. But it seems problematic to stay well outside Munich if half of what you want to do on this trip is stuff IN Munich, you know?

Would you be open to doing a Berlin-Rhine trip? That would free up time for smaller villages and give you more time in Berlin (which you really need) and you could visit Saschenhausen near Berlin to see a concentration camp. Then you can save Bavaria/Austria for a future trip NOT during Oktoberfest.

If you're going to insist on doing Munich, Augsburg is one option, another is Nuremberg, which has the Nazi Rally grounds and is a charming and interesting city to explore with some nearby charming villages as well. If you didn't want to skip the castles, Mittenwald might be a base option.