Help suggest a basic route in Germany starting in Frankfurt

Was there another destination you meant to mention? Munich is repeated in your list. See a sample itinerary with timing ideas at https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/germany/itinerary.

Thank you so much for your response! Add rothenburg and drop the 2nd Munich. [Done]

What I'm really struggling with is the itinerary direction & order. Beginning & ending in Frankfurt, and using 100% Public Transportation, what is the most logical 1st stop, 2nd stop, 3rd etc. ideally we'd like to do a big loop that starts & ends in Frankfurt.

The map on my earlier link shows a circular route, going counter-clockwise, that works even if you skip some parts of it. In your case that would be Frankfuut - Rhine River - Baden-Baden - Munich -Salzburg - Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Frankfurt.

Part of the reason for heading to the Rhine first (e.g., Bacharach) is that it's easy to reach, even after a long international flight. From Frankfurt airport to Bacharach takes one hour by direct, unreserved regional train. You could run the circle in the opposite direction, but Rothenburg takes about 3 hours and two train connections. Of course, the same timing is something to consider if you're trying to connect to your flight home without sleeping in Frankfurt.

I fail to see the attraction of Baden-Baden (I've been there). But then I'm not attracted to gambling casinos. It's spas pale in comparison to some farther into the Black Forest. Otherwise, it's prime attraction seems to be a very glittery shopping street.

I fully agree with Lee's assessment of Baden-Baden. It's a detour from your NW > SE routing that I would omit.

Rick's 3-week tour linked above includes the Mosel River, a Rhine tributary. Be sure to spend at least a day there (Cochem and Burg Eltz are wonderful and possible in one day as a day trip from the Rhine.) If Trier (Mosel town near Luxembourg, more about Roman history than anything else) is in your sights, then you should consider spending 1-2 nights in Trier or Cochem - there's too much to see there without a Mosel base town!

About Rick's suggested base towns: If you stay on the Mosel, don't pick Beilstein, which has no train station. Nearby Cochem is spectacular and convenient for outings by train. On the Rhine, Rick instructs everyone to stay in Bacharach (where you will share tiny Bacharach with a surprising number of your fellow countrymen) but for train outings and a river cruise, St. Goar or Boppard are more conveniently located and will save you time. (Be sure to make Bacharach one of your outings though - VERY nice half-timbered buildings there.) If you're doing a day trip to the Mosel, Boppard is most convenient - do not take its absence from Rick's suggestions to mean that it's a bad place! It's a handsome place with much more to offer than Bacharach:

http://c8.alamy.com/comp/AYYGK6/framework-architecture-in-the-middle-rhine-valley-the-teehaeusje-little-AYYGK6.jpg

http://www.jazclass.aust.com/blog/photos29/blog273.jpg

http://pic.pimg.tw/samlucky5711/1379089584-1923285561.jpg?v=1379089585

Please keep the suggestions coming. Thank you so very much for all of the input. We appreciate it!

I am not a train/bus expert so my suggestions may be impossible if you do not want to rent a car.

Many people love Baden Baden but I do not. If you want a Black Forest town to replace BB you might consider Heidelberg.

I enjoyed a boat trip on the Rhine from Koblenz to Bacharach - scenic with lots of castles. But I preferred the Mosel from a scenery standpoint. Do both rivers if they fit your schedule.

I spent a full day in Nuremberg visiting the Nazi Rally Grounds, Documenation Center and the old town. If it fits your route and you are a WWII buff I would recommend a day in Nuremberg.

I have visited Munich and Salzburg several times and enjoyed both. A day in Salzburg should allow enough time to see the sights. There is a lot to see in Munich that could occupy several days. But allow enough time in Munich to visit Neuschwanstein and Linderhof palaces. You might also want to go to the Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden - spectacular view if the weather cooperates.

To be completely accurate, Heidelberg is actually in the Odenwald mountains, not the Black Forest. But it's indistinguishable from the northern Black Forest.

Count me among those who didn't love Baden-Baden. The spas are a little too old style for my tastes, I'm not into gambling or bling shopping, and I found several other spa towns more attractive.

Thank you all! This is our June planned itinerary. Please critique and suggest:

Bacharach 2 nights
Heidelberg 1 night
Munich 2 nights
Salzburg/Halschtatt 2 nights
Vienna 2 nights
Rothemburg 2 nights

Any festivals or event suggestions?

Again thank you all very much, Glenn & Tonja.

You do not have enough time in Munich or Vienna. Munich is on the way to Salzburg at least. Vienna means 2-3 train hours from Salzburg - and another 2-3 hours to return to Germany on the day you travel to Rothenburg - and how many hours altogether is that trip to Rothenburg? It will take 6-7 hours I imagine. Vienna is a city too far in light of the actual time you have there.

What time does your flight leave Frankfurt? If your final night in Germany is spent in Rothenburg, then on the day of your return flight, you will need to make a train trip of 3+ hours to reach FRA airport. Will you make your flight?

Thanks for your help Russ.

We have an entire extra day to get from Rothemburg back to Frankfurt for an 11 am flight.

We were planning 2 days in Rothemburg, we can change to 1 day and add that day to Munich (or Vienna). Any input?

I travel by car, but maybe Achensee (Pertisau overnight) and the Zillertall for Austria. Gondel up the Rofan (Achensee) and walk to the Dalfazalm. Fantastic on a Alpine clear blue sky day.

http://www.dalfazalm.at/

https://www.achensee.com/tirol/pertisau/

"We were planning 2 days in Rothemburg, we can change to 1 day and add that day to Munich (or Vienna)."

If you are spending a final night in Frankfurt already that's 12 nights in Germany. Subtracting a night from R'burg... that will indeed help if added to, say, vienna.

But then you still have the 6-7-hour train trip to R'burg which is already shortening your time there. And you still have only 2 nights in Munich (less than 2 days' time.) Don't see how you do day trips either.

I think your suggestion + a re-ordering will work better. This should also reduce long journeys on some days - do check out the train trips yourself.

2 nights Bacharach
1 night Rothenburg
2 nights Salzburg/Hallstatt
3 nights Vienna
3 nights Munich
1 night Heidelberg (no need to stay in FRANKFURT the last night since Heidelberg is less than 1 hour from FRA)

Russ, thanks again. That looks like a winner. G & T

For historical cities with lots of interesting sites, you really should include Frankfurt. There is so much to see here, that it is sad that you have left it off of your travel list. Especially since you arrive here and depart here. Tell me your dates of travel and I can tell you what special events are happening. What are your interests? We probably have a museum to match. Plus, we have several medieval churches with the oldest dating back to 850, Coronations, Jewish history, 1st Parliament, Berlin Airlift, Farmers Markets, etc.

These are events in June happening in Frankfurt and surrounding towns.
* 3-4 June Rose Days, Eltville
* 3-6 June Wäldchestag, Frankfurt City Forest
* 4 June Culinaria, Saalburg
* 8 June Altstadt Markt, Idstein
* 9-12 June Fountain Fest, Oberursel
* 10 June Organ Matinee, Frankfurt Kaiserdom, 12:30 - free
* 10 June Night of the Museums, Mainz
* 10-11 June Medieval Fest, Boppard
* 11 June Strawberry Fest, Kronberg
* 15-18 June Rose & Tea Light Fest, Frankfurt Palmengarten
* 16-19 June Strawberry Fest, Eltville
* 23-26 June Johannes Nacht, Mainz
* 24 June SaTOURday, Frankfurt free museum day
* 28 June-7 July Opera Sqare Fest, Frankfurt Alte Oper
* 29 June-3 July Heinerfest, Darmstadt
* 30 June-2 July Hugenotten Market, Friedrichsdorf
* 30 June-3 July Sekt & Biedermeier Fest, Eltville