Help with Itinerary - Southern Germany

Glenn, there's a lot to think about here. Starting with 11 nights. You're plan would already require those 1-2 night stays - these places are not that close to each other. Thats about 10 full days, except they're not full if you're driving in a car all day to get to your next destination. Its easy to underestimate the time it takes. Its a long way from Frankfurt to Austria. They have things like traffic jams, and construction zones, just like we do. Even day-tripping eats up a lot of time, in the car, not being immersed in local culture. Some people just love to drive, while others prefer to use the train so as not to deal with a car. The trains go to all those places on your list. So it would help to reduce the number of things you want to see, or increase the number of nights significantly.

If I had eleven nights, I'd pick no more than three places to stay. With your must sees, I 'd say fly to Frankfurt to immediately take train to Freiburg, stay there and see what you can. The you want Alps? Go to Luzern, or Berner Oberland. Then on to Munich and stay there.

Or better, double your time there.

Thanks! Yes, I wasn't clear - do not plan on driving everywhere, Was definitely thinking of train from Frankfurt airport to Freiburg. The day trip to Colmar or Strasbourg would also be train. The car is really for the Alps, as it seems driving would be more fun in the Alps than trains.

I know we will not have time to see everything - but I like to start with ta list of things we would "like" to see, then pare down to things that the schedule will allow - if that makes sense.

Thanks!

Glenn

OK Glenn. I'd recommend Colmar over Strasbourg. Skip Baden-Baden. Basel is nice enough town, but its not in the mountains. You need to go deeper into Switzerland for that. Or over to the Garmisch, (Zugspitze), Berchtesgaden, Salzburg, Innsbruck area.

Have you considered flying into one place and out another (called an open jaw)? For instance, fly in or out of Frankfurt and the same with Munich. You can fly nonstop between the US and Munich via Boston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington DC.
You could stay in Freiburg im Breisgau and take trains to Stasbourg, Colmar, Baden-Baden and Basel (pro. BAH-zel). However, Strasbourg and Colmar require a connection. You’ll experience more out of them if you take separate day trips to each instead of trying to see two places in one day. I would then move on to the Bavarian Alps and sleep in Füssen.
The best way to explore the alps is to take a direct train to Neuschwanstein (10m) and from there you can take a 30 min walk to Hohenschwangau. Another day I would take a direct train to Oberammergau (1h 30m) that’s famous for its passion play that’s performed every ten years. Its first performance was in 1633. It was postponed in 2020 to 2022 and begins May 14. The play is in German but English text is provided. There are two parts, part I is 2 ½ hours followed by a three-hour intermission and part II is 2 ½ hours. There’s also a choir and orchestra.
From Füssen I would take a direct train to Munich (2h) and sleep there at least one night and visit Dachau that requires a 15m direct train ride before flying home. Of course, you can reverse this itinerary as stated above.

Thanks Stan. Been to Baden Baden, but the Girlfriend hasn't. Agree, was planning on either Strasbourg or Colmar - leaning on Colmar as its a bit Closer. Also been to Basil, and agree.

I think the Alps locations will be key to our trip.

Yes, plan on flying into Frankfurt, out of Munich (Didn't want to go to Dachau early in the trip, preferred later).

Glenn

If you rent a car, consider picking it up in Freiburg im Breisgau and driving to Füssen. Instead of visiting the castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangua, drive to Linderhof Palace instead and save Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangua for another time when you don’t have a vehicle.
You can also visit the Zugspitz peak and ride the lift if driving. There’s also Berchtesgaden, which is known as Hitler’s Eagle Nest retreat. Another idea is take a luge ride located near Füssen.

Def want to drive Alps area on way to Munich - so looking at nice
things to do in Alps - either German/Swiss/ Austrian Alps.

What you do in the Alps depends on your individual interests. But I think if the Alps are truly "key" - as you put it - then you'd be wise to forego the German Alps and head into the Swiss Alps. The impressive Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau and Schilthorn peaks huddle together not so far from the Freiburg/Basel area. We really liked the town of Lauterbrunnen but there are other good choices too. Maybe route yourselves to Luzern and Zug after that. Any decent travel guidebook can lay out the sightseeing options in these places.

To drive, you might pick up in Basel, head to the above destinations, then maybe drop the car in Zürich, where you can catch a direct train to Munich (4 hours.) I would try to set aside at least 4 nights for such a visit.

For what it's worth: We visited a Christmas market in Freiburg back in 2019 while basing in Colmar and also enjoyed the village of Staufen. Our drive through the Black Forest was a bit of a letdown scenery wise. Did a day trip to nearby (west of Colmar) wine route towns Eguisheim and Kaysersberg - they were both great. One another trip we stayed in Wengen, Switzerland and loved hiking in the mountains - the alps there are spectacular but you may find similarly beautiful alps in a more efficient path to Munich. We started that trip by driving from Zurich to Vaduz to Hohenschwangau and did not really get into the mountains. Hohenschwangau was a pretty place with it's two fabulous castles. Wish we would have stopped in neighboring Fussen but didn't have the time. Then, on the way to Munich we dropped by the Wieskirche and it was well worth the minor detour. As you know, Munich is fun but Dachau is somber so don't make it the last stop on your trip; however, we were moved by the experience. Hope this helps and enjoy your trip!

Thanks KBK/Russ,

We will likely do opposite, base in Freiburg and day trip to Colmar (save Strasbourg for another trip). We were not planning on driving through Black Forest, as I have heard the same - prefer to spend that time in the Alps. We have been watching a lot of shows over weekend, and my Girlfriend was enchanted by the Lauterbrunnen area - we may have to switch some things around. Settling on Train straight for Frankfurt Airport to Freiburg, and start there (will have to explore Bacharach, etc another time). We would like to go to Berchtesgaden/Eagles Nest as well. Probably will not have much time in Munich area - Although plan on flying out of Munich so certainly last night in area. So much to see, so little time. Perhaps we will have to add a few more nights to the planned trip :-)

Thanks all for your suggestions - greatly appreciate it.

Glenn

Berchtesgaden area and Salzburg are pretty easy to do in two full days/three overnights. Wildcard is cross border requirements into Austria and return to Germany in future COVID times. I drive, but the area has good public bus transportation. I would recommend the Königssee and Nationalpark Berchtesgaden over the Kehlsteinhaus/Eagles Nest. With a car you can drive the Rossfeld Panoramic Road (toll). Be flexable to switch days based on weather. I usually stay in Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden. I like Gasthof Auzinger in Ramsau, but check their opening times. They also have music evenings from time to time. We'll get to Ferienwohnungen Vorderloiplsau one day too. We have taken family directly to the Munich Airport from Ramsau. Without Stau it's about a 2.5 hour drive.
https://www.ramsau.de/webcam-malerwinkel.html
https://www.foto-webcam.eu/webcam/vorderloiplsau/