I've been all over the place with where to stay and where to day trip in Germany. I have been to Berlin for 7 days so I wanted a different vibe. Thinking of a town like Regensburg for base camp then day trip to Munich and Nuremburg and possibly further. I hope to have 8 days with my feet on the ground. Thinking with that much time I would use Regensburg as filler in between other places. I can pop in and out of the top places there and wouldn't really dedicate many days just there. Good rail access is important as well as proximity to either Munich, Frankfurt, or Berlin b/c I don't want a ton of connecting flights. (I will fly but hate it) I thought of doing the same thing with Mainz or even Bamberg. I want a Bavarian feel for at least a few day trips, I do like an outdoor adventure, and wouldn't mind hitting a neighboring country, other than that I'm open to suggestions. I'd even do 4 days in one city and 4 in another, possibly working from Frankfurt to Munich or Berlin to Munich. (But then again don't want to waste time bouncing around. AHHHHHHH. This is difficult.) I'm 50 and will travel with gf. We both can walk several miles, like our beer and wine and appreciate everything from a good museum to a centuries old church to street food. I don't want to skimp but don't care to stay at the Ritz or pay $100 each for dinner either.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19092 posts
Regensburg would be an excellent choice for a base in Bavaria, not just for the access to Munich and Nürnberg.
I've not been to Regensburg (except through by train), but I hear it is an interesting place by itself.
You would be just an hour from Passau by ICE, or 1½ hours by regional trains, for which you could use a Bayern-Ticket.
Prague is only 4 hours away by the direct train from Munich that stops in Regensburg.
Zwiesel, in the Bavarian Forest Nat. Park is less than 2 hours away.
Burghausen, with its castle is about 2½ hours away by regional train (Bayern-Ticket) via Landshut and Mühldorf.
You actually would not be that far (about 2½ hrs) from Rothenburg odT.
Since the building of the Neufahrn curve, direct regional trains go hourly from the Munich airport's S-Bahn station to Regensburg in about 1¼ hr.
Posted by
Green Bay
20085 posts
Of course, a city of 150,000 is hardly a small town, but then perhaps I split hairs.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8440 posts
The thing is, I'm not sure what a "Bavarian feel" would feel like. Other than at festivals, its all very cosmo-European to me.
Regensburg. I've only been there once. And the old part of town is certainly pretty, walking along the river, etc. But to me, there's a certain similarity between German cities (its not a town) that make it feel not much different than the old parts of Munich, Nuremburg, etc - cathedral, same chain stores, banks, etc. So if it were me, and you want smaller and Bavarian-ish, I'd head deeper south and at least spend some of those nights in Garmisch, Mittenwald or Berecthesgaden. Closer to Munich would be Augsburg (lots of history).
Now if it really were me, and I had not been there already, I'd rather spend time in the middle Rhine / Mosel area. Lots of interest there including wine. Maybe as far south as Heidelberg (stunning castle overlooking town).
Posted by
OP
Ohio!
18 posts
I guess "small" is relative. And I see the point, other than old town and the other historical attractions it's all just modern life as in suburbia America. A town with no Bed Bath and Beyond? No DQ? I guess the old town is the old town in any city. I have zero interest in seeing suburban Germany as I have zero interest in suburban America. So maybe I look at places/spot I would visit and put a dot right in the middle???
Posted by
Paradise
6637 posts
I want a Bavarian feel for at least a few day trips, I do like an outdoor adventure, and wouldn't mind hitting a neighboring country, other than that I'm open to suggestions.
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/0b/d9/4f/57/gasthof-fraundorfer.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Gasthof_Fraundorfer.jpg
If these images conjure up "Bavaria" for you, then you probably need to follow Stan's tip for Garmisch-Partenkirchen (home of the Fraundorfer Inn and its enjoyable "Bavarian Evening") G-P is 1.25 hrs. by train from Munich's main station, and it's an excellent base for outings by train to Innsbruck AUSTRIA as well as German destinations like Mittenwald and the Zugspitze. Or catch bus 9606 to Kloster Ettal / Oberammergau / Wies Church. See rail routes and bus routes out of G-P at the page below:
https://www.dbregio-shop.de/uploads/files/RTWerdenfels_Streckenkarte.pdf
"We both can walk several miles, like our beer and wine and appreciate everything from a good museum to a centuries old church to street food."
Stan hits back-to-back homers with his Rhine Valley suggestion. You could stay in Mainz but you might as well head to the scenic part of the Rhine if its wine, hiking, castles, and romance that you're after. It's only 4.3 hours from Munich to the Rhine Gorge gateway town of Bingen if you catch the direct afternoon train at around 14:00, slightly longer to the other west-bank Rhine towns (Oberwesel, Bacharach, St. Goar - a very scenic spot, - and Boppard.) All are connected by the same railway, all are peppered with wineries and interesting sights, all offer local walks, and all are within easy distance for visiting by train OR by day cruise boat. You can even hike from town to town along the cliffs above the river - fantastic views - and occasionally you'll find a trailside place for food and refreshments like this one just upstream from St. Goar:
The Oberwesel town wall walk keeps you in town - very nice as well:
Mainz might actually be a good place to spend your final night. There are numerous trains headed to FRA airport around the clock and they get you there in 20-25 minutes.
Posted by
near San Francisco, CA - USA
118 posts
I'm pondering this as wells so thanks for posting. So many choices! it's overwhelming, but the comment about towns starting to look alike is definitely something to consider. Thanks to all those commenting, much appreciated.
Posted by
Noblesville, Indiana, USA
1371 posts
Munich is a good city from which to base IMO. Fun with lots to see and several good day trip options.
Posted by
Germany
1117 posts
Neither Munich nor Regensburg are what I'd call "small towns" unless you are looking at them from a Tokio perspective. But for a base camp, it absolutely makes sense to choose a town that is large enough to function as a hub for day trips. I would choose one with good railroad connections in all directions you plan to travel to. You won't necessarily find that in smaller towns, or you'll end up changing trains all the time.
Posted by
Salt Lake City
1481 posts
Regensburg has become our favorite town in Germany. It is not very small but the old town can be easily crossed on foot in 1/2 hour. It has several restaurants and hotels. We like the Hotel Weidenhof, about 3 blocks from the train station. The Hofbräuhaus in Regensburg serves good Bavarian fare without the hoopla. Kneitinger Brauerei has good food and beer. The sights include a wonderful 900 year old cathedral and several churches from different architectural ages. There are Roman ruins and the Kunstforum Ostdeutsche Galerie, an art gallery with good traveling exhibits and several works by Käthe Kollwitz, one of my favorites. There is plenty to see and do Regensburg between day trips.
Regensburg is in Niederbayern, meaning no mountains.
If you want to visit some less touristy places by train - Landshut, Straubing and Amberg are handy to Regensburg. Landshut has some of the most attractive building facades that I have found in Germany and a castle. It would be a smaller town with good restaurants and hotels.