We just booked Rick’s Alpine My Way tour which starts in Salzburg and we want to add a bucket-list item on to the beginning of our tour.
I’ve got sentimental reasons for choosing Garmisch but can’t find a lot of information about it from Rick’s sources. He really likes Rothenburg and that info is easy to find. I’m looking for opinions based on your experience comparing Garmisch and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. We’ll probably be flying into Munich and will be taking trains to one of these towns and then a train from that town to Salzburg. Would welcome any advice or recommendations. Thank you.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
9384 posts
I can only really comment on Garmisch, since I haven't been to Rothenburg. I've been to Garmisch twice and would cheerfully go back another time. I find that there are so many things to do in the area. We traveled by train from Munich and it was quite easy. We had a D-ticket which was the same price at that time as the train ticket but gave us unlimited use of public transport in both Munich and Garmisch. It would also get you to Salzburg.
Garmisch has a variety of lodging and restaurants plus an interesting pedestrian area. Nearby are Partnach Gorge, The Zugspitze, The Eibsee, and multiple bike paths, walking paths. The views are breathtaking.
I've spent a total of 10 days there so far and still have barely scratched the surface of what is available to do.
Posted by
Canada
27 posts
Hello,
My family ended up going to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Rothenburg last year and loved both. For some context, we were three nights in Rothenburg, and happened to be there during their summer wine festival, which added to the ambience and enjoyment. For Garmisch, it was just a daytrip from Munich, via car.
If you're already spending time in the Alps with your tour, I'd probably recommend Rothenburg, especially if you do not have a car. I know a lot of people see everything in Rothenburg as a day trip, but we parked our car for three days and had a great time without getting bored (hiked to Toppler castle, Crime and Punishment Museum, perimeter wall walk, Night Watchman tour, waay too much time in the Christmas stores, patio drinks).
Garmisch-Partenkirchen was beautiful and we had a great evening hiding from a rain storm in a fantastic pub off the main streets, but I'm not sure how accessible the sites would be without a car.
Ultimately, I don't think you can go wrong though.
Cheers,
Posted by
Canada
27 posts
If the poster above had no trouble with transportation and seeing Partnach gorge, take some of my opinion with a grain of salt. The gorge was honestly one of our highlights, and we wanted to spend more time in Garmisch-Partenkirchen after our day trip. I'd go with whichever sounds better, and can heartily recommend both.
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
2042 posts
It really depends on what you want to get out of your visit. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is charming, pretty, and touristy. You can easily walk the old part of town, inside the walls, in a day. Seeing everything will take longer, and if you want to see the surrounding area there's a fair bit to see. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a ski town at the foot of the German Alps. It also does a fair bit hosting tourists in the other seasons due to it's proximity to Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau, Ettal, and other sites. If you want to see midevil towns, smaller castles, and middle Bavaria, the RodT is the place. If you want mountains, bigger castles, and an Alpine adventure G-P is a very good base. I'm partial to both.
Posted by
Niagara, Ontario
1792 posts
I'm also partial to both. However, a train ride from Gapa to Salzburg is far more straightforward than one from Rothenburg.
https://www.gapa-tourismus.de/accommodation-garmisch-partenkirchen#/accommodations
Posted by
Austin, TX
113 posts
The Alpine My Way tour already visits the top of Zugspitze from the Austrian side.
Posted by
Paradise
7475 posts
Rothenburg is a small town that requires just a few hours. There are so many things to do in/near G-P that multiple days are a good idea, so these two places are not at all comparable IMHO. Rick's personal preferences in Germany are what fills his pages. Do not expect more - just consult other sources and choose what sounds most interesting to YOU.
If you want MORE mountains than your tour already offers, then G-P makes sense. Besides the Partnach Gorge I'd be sure to visit Mittenwald, a precious little village near the Austrian border and only 20 train minutes from G-P:
Mittenwald day trip guide: https://hastingshouse.typepad.com/hastings_house_us/2007/04/mittenwald_germ.html
G-P attractions: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187302-Activities-oa0-Garmisch_Partenkirchen_Upper_Bavaria_Bavaria.html
Bavarian Evening at the Fraundorfer Inn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD8SvqNDZxE
If instead you want to see a top-tier medieval town with UNESCO World Heritage status, Regensburg is the place. It's located to the NE where the River Danube, the Regen, the Naab, and the Main-Donau Canal meet up. And it's VERY easy to reach from Munich airport. Direct trains run there from MUC take 90 minutes.
Posted by
DC
49 posts
Russ, How long do you recommend in Regensburg?
Posted by
Paradise
7475 posts
A day is plenty. Not sure how much time you're looking to fill before the tour or how you'd work it in, exactly. One possibility... ??
Day 1: arriving by noon or so at MUC? Check into a Freising (10 min from MUC by train) hotel, freshen up, see the town, Weihnstephaner brewery... https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g198549-Activities-oa0-Freising_Upper_Bavaria_Bavaria.html
Day 2: Regional Express train 9:08 - 10:07 to Regensburg after breakfast, return to Freising hotel in pm for night 2. Bayern Ticket covers two for the round trip (€42.) Click link for rail route to Regensburg.
