am planning a trip to Germany and Denmark over two weeks period in spring 2020, pondering should i do Germany then Denmark? or Denmark then Germany?
For Germany am looking at Frankfurt, then take the Rhine Valley route then to Denmark. Can someone please share their experience for such route? What other places can be covered for one week in Germany? And what mode of transport is recommended as i will be travelling with wife and a one year old baby.
It probably doesn't make any difference which way you go as long as you book your flight into one end of the trip and out the other end. Frankfurt is an easy entry point for Europe from the US. I have never done the US to Denmark route.
Although one can fly, I far prefer a train. One can get up and walk around (buy a coffee; change a baby maybe).
The Rhine Valley is a lot of fun, and easily accessible from Frankfurt (only an hour to two hours away) by train depending on which end you want to start at, Koblenz at the north or Bingen at the south. I personally love Bacharach but others prefer St Goar further north. That would be the easy first 3 or 4 days scenic, mostly short trips on trains or Rhine ferries. https://www.kdrhine.com.
You will want to do the GoogleMap geography lesson in cooperation with the www.bahn.de (Deutsche Bahn) website to pick intermediate stop(s) between the Rhine and Denmark (or the other way around depending on what you decide). It is about six hours by train from Frankfurt to Flensburg on the Danish border with a train change in Hamburg (4 hours Frankfurt to Hamburg). Then plot your strategy for Denmark touring.
Hamburg is great city with lots of new and old things to do. Or you could stop somewhere on the loop Frankfurt-Leipzig-Berlin-Hamburg (two nights in each of two places) over your second four days ending up heading into Denmark from Hamburg on day 8/9. For myself, I would go Frankfurt to Berlin (4 hours direct train) and Berlin to Hamburg (2 hours). Then enjoy two of the great German cities.
I suggest buying a RS Germany guidebook now, and watch the half dozen RS travel shows on Germany/Denmark from Youtube to get an idea what most interests you and your wife. Wine? Country life? City adventures? etc.
Congratulations on bringing up baby right. i.e. All German children of that age have figured out how to teethe on pieces of big soft pretzels and if a piece is lost you have another foot of pretzel to hand over piece by piece.
I think the order plays a role - depending on date of travel.
If you want to stop over in Hamburg ou shall be aware of the annual port anniversary. Huge party with old ships - book hotel very early if you want to attend.
Furthermore the spring is significantly later in northern Germany and Denmark - even compared to Berlin which is later than mid Rhine valley. In the North at right time of spring you will find beautiful yellow flowering canola fields. Therefore I would start in the south.
Close to your route you will find the Harz mountains with beautiful old towns Goslar and Quedlinburg.
Questions:
Tip: Germany has a lot of different scenic routes (overview map).
Thanks NickB,
the idea of visiting Rhine Valley came from watching the RS video, i was totally awed by the sight of it just on the video!
Think am spoilt for choices given there are so many scenic routes! But not sure if i have taken the train route, is it still worth going for the cruise?
Dear MarkK,
For Denmark the plan as of now is visiting a friend in the town of Aabenraa. Initially the idea is to enter Frankfurt, do a Rhine Valley detour for a week, then all the way up Denmark.
And the group will consist of myself, my wife and my daughter of one year old.
Would you recommend taking a train or taking a car?
And thanks for the Hamburg Port Anniversary. Whoah that looks amazing! This definitely will go to the top of my list.
Take a car. Nobody is chasing you and you can drive smoothly. For the kids you might want to stop at fun park Heidepark Soltau (opens mid of May).
Harz mountains I mentioned already.
Port anniversary in Hamburg is May 8-10 2020. Also a nice city for a stop.
From Hamburg on it is the A7 to Flensburg. On the way I recommend a stop at Haithabu Viking village and museum close to Schleswig. If you like history and a little bit of local background visit Gottorf Castle with the exhibition about the Danish history of that region.
Real good German countryside bakery Drews you will find in Büdelsdorf, worth a stop. People from over 50 km distance drive there to buy this bread for special occasions.
Not far from Åbenrå are Denmark's oldest town Ribe and North Sea island Rømø, famous for its beaches you can drive on. Good for a day trip. And I am afraid that you will be too close to Billund that a Legoland visit becomes mandatory with the kids :-)
On they way back you might visit Seal Station Friedrichskoog on German North Sea shore. Normally they get the first young seals of the season mid of May. The ferry in Glücksstadt can take you over river Elbe into Altes Land, a well.known apple and fruits area close to Hamburg - but I guess too early for their famous apples. Not far from there you will find the entry to German fairy tale route.
Are you planning on going all the way back down to Frankfurt am Main for the flight home? Or do you want to fly out of Hamburg or Copenhagen, or ???
Hi nigel. Looking to fly out of Hamburg for now. Not sure whether it is worth taking the Copenhagen route though
As a father to a one year old, I think there are some key issues you need to consider when travelling with a kid that age. Transport wise having a car will give you some freedom when sight seeing, but for the long hauls, I would recommend the train. I know all kids are different, but based on our experience, trains are by far the best option for longer trips with a kid that has just learned to walk. Our son really doesn't like to sit in a car seat for more than 20 minutes, but you daughter might be different when she reaches that age. However the train just gives you more options to sit and read, walk around, change the kid etc.
The Rhine area between Bingen and Koblenz can actually be seen by train and boat without problem, but it's up to you how you prefer to travel and you could rent a car for a few days if you prefer.
for the area around Aabenraa a car will be a better asset (Aabenraa doesn't even have a train station, you will need to get off at Rødekro and get a bus from there). Haithabu (Hedeby), Ribe, The Wadden Sea and Rømø are all great choices, but if you have any particular interests, let us know. Otherwise I'm sure you friend there can recommend stuff to do and see.
Getting between the two places I would train.
Do note than when travelling on Intercity trains in Denmark, you need to make a 'seat' reservation for your stroller if it can't be folded and brought on as hand luggage. You can only reserve by calling the Danish Railways (www.dsb.dk) on this number +45 70 13 14 15. and a you ned to collect the reservation in one of the machines on the train station. Reservations are not needed on regional trains. I don't know how it works on German trains.
Another thing to consider is that you will be travelling on your kids terms, so you might want to lower your expectations on how much you will be able to see and do. Personally I would put more emphasis on lodging, since I might have to spend more time in our hotel/apartment than I would when travelling without the baby. My suggestion is to find a hotel/apartment in a nice location, preferably with a kitchen and a balcony our a view, so you will actually enjoy being there and don't feel stuck if the little ones decides to take a long nap.
Colin, if you decide the car for some of the journey, will you bring your own carseat, rent one, or buy one? Worth considering because all European ones have to comply with the ISOFix attachment points found on all modern European cars.
Thanks Morten for your expeditious response, very much grateful for the advice cause it does make a difference when travelling with young child. And thanks for the tips on the reserving "seat" on intercity train in Denmark. If i were taking a car, i would have to get a car seat dont i? the rental of such car seat is quite scary to say the least.
Hi Nigel, yes the baby seat is what is bugging me because if travel by car then i would either have to rent one (which is expensive and the condition may not be as good), or buy one in Germany or bring one into Europe. Do you reckon it is better off to buy a new one off the shelf in Germany.
You’re welcome. Regarding the car seat, we have both rented one and had our own with us. The one we rented with a rental car was fine and it wasnt too expensive compared to the total re tal cost. It was certainly cheaper than a buying a new one. But I think you need to figure out how many days and where you will need to rent a car first. Also figure out uf you will need to take taxi somewhere, because then you might need your own seat. If you plan on buying one in Germany, you will need to know where to buy it and spend time to buy it.
Close to FRA airport there is a special baby shop.
And to be honest I would not rent the car at FRA airport because there are surcharges for rents at airports and large train stations of approximately 10-20%.
I don't know how it works on German trains.
It's simple: you don't have to do anything.
Thanks guys. Any car rental company in Germany/Denmark is recommended? There isn't any toll charges for crossing German/Danish border correct? Anything else i should be aware when it comes to taking car rental? Other than car seat, excessive charges for picking up from airport/train station?
No tolls at the border. In fact you will hardly notice it when you cross it. The only toll road in Denmark is the Storebælt (great Belt) Bridge between the islands of Fyn and Sjælland (or Funen and Zealand in english).
