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Erlangen-Nuremberg then travel to Poland

My son has a 3 month internship at the university in Erlangen and as part of a longer trip will be visiting him. I have been looking for pensions, so happy to take any recommendations but Erlangen is not so much an area that draws American tourists it seems. As my son will be working, I plan on day trips around the area to Nuremberg, Munich, etc -- I will have RS Germany for the major sites, but would happy to get any suggestions for other things to see/do. Bamberg worthwhile? Also, maybe Dresden.

Need to get to Krakow from Nurenberg. At least using DB website train is not looking like the way to go. Probably bus, but I am not sure how to find the bus routes so could use some help on how to find bus schedules or what are the main bus routes. Alternately, might go to Poznan, Warsaw or Wroclaw first depending on the transportation. Just need to crack the code on best transport to get their. DB wants me to train up to Berlin and buses from there, but that is going very north, just to come back south for Krakow. Get to Prague and bus from there? Just need the bus equivalent of bahn.com (which clearly is not something that exists). Thanks for any ideas.

Posted by
2393 posts

We enjoyed Bamberg years ago worth a stop for sure. You did not say what time of year or how long you will be there.

Check here for the various methods of getting to Krakow

Nuremberg to Krakow is a long travel day. Going via Prague is about 12 hrs a s well and you go by bus from Nuremberg to Prague (hate buses) but the following route is available depending on your travel day. The trip will be 12 to 13 hours no matter which route you take. You can split it up with a stopover in Prague, Berlin or Vienna.

Nürnberg Hbf 8:30 12:31 2 ICE, EC, EIC, R

Krakow Glowny 21:01

Station/Stop Time Platform Products Further information

Nürnberg Hbf dep 08:30 13 ICE 21 Intercity-Express Direction: Wien Hbf Bordrestaurant

Wien Hbf arr 13:09 11A-C

Transfer time 1:00 h

Wien Hbf dep 14:09 10C-E EC 102 EIC 102 Eurocity Direction: Warszawa Wschodnia
Subject to compulsory reservation (Bohumin -->Katowice), Bordrestaurant
Runs as EC 102 up to Zebrzydowice, then as EIC 102

Katowice arr 18:35

Transfer time 23 min.

Katowice dep 18:58 R 43310
R 43311 Regionalzug Direction: Krakow Glowny
Number of bicycles conveyed limited , 2nd class only
Runs as R 43310 up to Jaworzno Szczakowa, then as R 43311

Krakow Glowny arr 21:01

Posted by
12040 posts

Dresden isn't particularly close. If you wanted to see it on the way to points further east, that would make sense. But it's much too far for a daytrip.

Yes, Bamberg is worth a visit, for all the reasons you have probably already read.

I would consider Coburg as a daytrip. The town is nice enough, but the main attraction is the castle, Veste Coburg, which in my opinion, is the best castle in Germany.

Regensburg also makes a worthwhile daytrip.

Also, realize that Rick Steves' books don't provide great geographic summaries, more like clusters of highlights. If you will be in this region for any length of time, you will quickly exhaust his recommendations, and get tempted by distant destinations when there probably is another good substitute (not mentioned in the book) closer. So, make sure you supplement your research with other guidebooks.

Posted by
63 posts

It would be worthwhile checking out airlines. Nuernberg (German spelling) has a nice airport and some of the European or German airlines may have very reasonable flights to Krakow.

Posted by
1528 posts

There are a number of pleasant places for day trips near Erlangen/Nürnberg without long train rides.

Bayreuth: We had a nice day in Bayeuth, famous for Wagner and Opera. There is a palace with a beautiful garden in addition to the famous opera house.

Kulmbach: Another castle town. We walked up to castle but if I had it to do over I would take the shuttle bus from near the train station.

Würzburg. It has the Baroque Archbishops Residenz in town and his castle (Festung Marienberg) on the hill across the river and above the town. You can get there by crossing the famous Mainbrücke (bridge).

We spent 2 days in Erlangen visiting friends during Advent 2013. It is a very pleasant town. We stayed at the Rokokohaus Hotel. It was nice enough but no bargain.

https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Other-1/Erlangen/