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Germany (with a little France/Switz/Austria) - Feedback requested

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We are planning a trip in late November because that is when we can get enough time off work and can also catch the beginning of some Christmas markets toward the end of the trip. We plan to fly into Zurich and out of Munich as those are reasonable fares as well as the only places we can find nonstop flights from our home. We are mostly planning on trains, but are comfortable driving (have driven here before, but not in mountains/winter/windy roads(black forest) and previously drove all over England in a past November). We are also comfortable with short stays and moving around a lot as well as it helps us to determine which areas we want to come back and spend more time in on future trips.

I would love any feedback/suggestions/tips you may have regarding the following plan:

  • Day 1 - fly in to Zurich; overnight stay only
  • Days 2-3 - early morning train to Grindelwald (I want show my partner the Lauterbrunnen Valley, go to the top of the Jungfrau, etc as this is an area she has not visited before)
  • Day 4 - early morning train to Freiburg im Breisgau
  • Day 5 - early morning train to Donaueschingen (Hollentalbahn Railway route)
  • Days 5-6 - train to Strasbourg (arrive around lunch) / possible day trip to Colmar
  • Day 7 - early morning train to Heidelberg; visit the castle
  • Days 8-9 - Drive to Rothenburg ODT; night watchman's tour, walk the wall
  • Day 10 - Drive a portion of Romantic Road to Munich; arrive in Munich in mid-late afternoon
  • Days 11-14 - Munich as well as possible day or overnight trip to Salzburg or Mittenwald via train
  • Day 15 - fly out of Munich

Also, will it be easy enough to deal with luggage storage on all the trains?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Posted by
964 posts

Just a couple notes:

You may want to check the weather before you head up the Jungfrau; if it's clouded you won't see much. And I wouldn't bother with Mittenwald in NOV either. Innsbruck would be a better choice.

Arriving in Strasbourg at lunch time and then planning a trip to Colmar for the next day leaves you less than half a day to see a city that deserves more time.

If you have more than a small roller luggage is going to be a pain getting on and off the trains. Some of the places you're going require you to step up/down to enter the cars, and some of the cars can have narrow doors. Plus you need to be able to lift it overhead to place in the racks. You will also have to make arrangements to store your luggage at the hotel until check in unless you plan to wander the streets with it. Pack lite, but remember it's going to be around 30f for the high in those places at that time of year (with or without snow.)

Posted by
1956 posts

I'm just going to point out the possibility of your trains in Germany being either delayed or cancelled is a good possibility. From your itinerary, it doesn't look like you've factored any time for delays.

Also I would bring as few clothes as possible and ONLY a carryon and personal item-purse/backpack as you getting on and off a train with luggage.

Honestly, I think you should slow down as you won't see a lot of anything except train stations but to each their own.

Posted by
2429 posts

I would skip days 2-3. Good chance in Nov. of not great weather to go up Jungfrau.

Add a day between Freiburg and Strasbourg - perhaps Gengenbach. Add a day to Strasbourg so you can make the trip to Colmar without rushing.

Depending on what you plan for Munich, if you have never been to Salzburg then a day trip or overnight would be great

As long as you can physically handle the luggage ( lifting overhead ) then you will be o.k. My wife’s bag weighed 50 lbs one trip and we did fine.

Posted by
4 posts

Thank you for the feedback. We did a trip similar to this but through Italy and generally reserved train seats in advance. All the trains we used in Italy had luggage racks at the end of the car so we did not have to lift overhead. Is that not the case in Germany?

Also I would have thought German trains would run on time and rarely be cancelled. My past experience was great. Are delays/cancellations something I truly need to be concerned about? (We have dealt with problems on past trips by adjusting our plans on the fly)

Would we be better off driving much of this trip or will that be difficult given weather conditions at this time of the year?

Posted by
32929 posts

German long distance trains have deteriorated considerably. Have a wander around the Germany Forum and look out for train threads. There are lots, many very recent. Go back a few days.

More fun than waiting for answers.....

Posted by
964 posts

Most German rail cars have overhead luggage racks. The ends of the cars are for bikes, and have folding seats.

German trains have been having issues with timeliness. This can be an issue if you don't have flexibility in your trip.

Posted by
4 posts

Thank you for your feedback.

Given all I have now read about train delays and related construction, would we be better off driving much of this trip or will that be difficult given weather conditions at this time of the year?

Posted by
964 posts

It would be better to revise your itinerary than to attempt driving. In fact, if you use the regional trains from Rothenberg you can see most of the Romantic Road to Munich. I highly recommend you buy the Deutschland Pass. You can use that to get to Heidelberg, from Freiberg to Donaueschingen, to RodT (although it's kind a round about way), and in and around Munich. All on the same ticket.

Posted by
32929 posts

seeing the query about driving I am reminded that we are talking about late November. No knowing what the weather or road conditions will be then, but I can guarantee late sunrises (sun, what sun??), overcast days with glare, and early sunsets (sun. what sun???) in late November, and that's if it isn't freezing.

The roads never really dry (that lack of strong sunshine) and headlights and any brightness glare off the wet road in the daytime.

The trains are warm, dry, and comfortable, the rails prevent skidding, and professional drivers get you where you are going. At that time of the year, on roads you are not used to, I think the choice is clear.

(and then add the chance of ice, black ice, or snow on the roads)

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