There will be 6 of us (all adults) traveling in November 9-18, 2022. We will be in Basel Switzerland on Nov 9. We’re tentatively planning to go from Basel on the 9th to the Lauterbrunnen area for 2-3 nights. We would then head to Nuremberg. My thoughts are:
3 nights around Nuremberg- sightseeing in Nuremberg, Rothenburg OT, possibly Wurzburg or Bamberg.
2-3 nights in the area of Marksburg. We’d like to see the castles. I know that, sadly, Burg Eltz is closed that time of year but we’re looking at Marksburg castle. I’ve also read that the smaller towns, St. Goar, Boppard, Oberwesel can be sleepy that time of year. I’d thought about Trier too.
Any suggestions are greatly welcomed. We are all in our 60’s- early 70’s but in good shape for walking. Suggestions on fun brew pubs or wineries also welcomed.
We fly out of Frankfurt on the mid-morning of Nov 18th. Thinking maybe to stay in Mainz or Frankfurt on the 17th. Thank you.
Posted by
Paradise
7075 posts
Rhine: a relatively livelier base-town option is Rüdesheim, which puts you in a good position for a short, direct, and scenic train ride to Braubach for your Marksburg Castle visit. Rheinfels Castle in St. Goar (open 10:00 - 15:00 in winter) would also be accessible to you on a second outing - use the train to reach St. Goarshausen and cross the Rhine on the passenger/car ferry (runs all day long between the river banks.) Once in St. Goar, you could also visit Bacharach and Oberwesel quite easily (5-10 minutes by train from St. Goar.)
Nuremberg: Sounds like you'll have just 2 days for Nuremberg area - if you're traveling there from Lauterbrunnen, that will usurp most of your day. I'd shoot for maybe 4 nights there instead of 3 so that you have a day each set aside for Nuremberg, Rothenburg and Bamberg.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9224 posts
The Rhein towns are unbelievably dead in Nov. until the Christmas markets begin. You might want to spend more time in Mainz, Koblenz, or perhaps Rüdesheim, rather than near the Marksburg? There is seriously nothing open there in Nov.
Eltville is not as dead as other towns along the Rhein and you could visit Eberbach Monastery. Staying here might be a good idea too as they have some lovely hotels and great restaurants. They don't seem to die as much as they get traffic from Wiesbaden, Mainz and Frankfurt.
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
8048 posts
I'd shoot for maybe 4 nights there instead of 3 so that you have a day each set aside for Nuremberg, Rothenburg and Bamberg.
I agree with Russ - I stayed in Nuremberg for 4 nights this year, which gave me a day and a half for Nuremberg, a day for Bamberg and one for Regensburg (I had already been to Rothenburg). It was the perfect amount of time. There are a lot of good choices for day trips in that area, and it's hard to cram 2-3 cities into just 2 full days.
Posted by
OP
MT
19 posts
Excellent information! I had been thinking of cutting out the castle area but we were so looking forward to seeing them. However, if the towns are pretty much dead then I think we’d rather do it on another trip when things are open.
If you have good sight suggestions in the Nuremberg and Bamberg, I’d welcome them. We have not been to either location yet. We’re interested in seeing WWII history in Nuremberg. I really like the suggestions of 3-4 nights in Nuremberg.
Thank you for all of your input. It’s greatly helpful.
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
2591 posts
I would consider Mainz rather than one of the Rhine villages. Not that far from the attractions and much more happening there