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Itinerary Help - Baden-Baden to Berlin

Posted by on

(I did read all the posts under the Topic of Prague to Berlin and found some great suggestions.)

We are traveling in Europe this summer and plan to spend about two weeks in Germany in early August. We are bringing our two boys, so activities are planned more around them enjoying the country than us hitting every site. We fly in to Stuttgart and will spend one night there. We will also visit the Mercedes and Porsche museums. Then we will drive to Baden-Baden, spend two nights and tour the small village where my Great, Great Grandparents grew up and see area castles. We have then next nine nights unplanned. We end up in Berlin for several days before our trip ends.

Any advice about where to go between Baden-Baden and Berlin? Our thoughts are to go to Munich and spend four days there, visiting Dachau, castles and other sites. Then drive to Prague for 3 nights. (I know, not Germany.) Then to either Dresden or Leipzig for one night. Then to Berlin. We are driving.

I know that we will be traveling during the height of the busy tourist season, so things will be crowded. This trip to Germany falls at the end of three months of travel, so we are trying to avoid spending one night here and one night there. But I think it would be worthwhile to go to the Nurnberg area and see Rothenberg and the castles in the area.

Any advice is welcome and very much appreciated.

Posted by
6625 posts

"We are bringing our two boys, so activities are planned more around them... Then we will drive to Baden-Baden, spend two nights and tour the small village where my Great, Great Grandparents grew up and see area castles."

You may have selected Baden-Baden because Rick Steves gives it a lot of page space. But B-B may very well not be the best option for your family. It is not representative of the Black Forest region. It is mostly about pricey health spas, casinos and high-end shopping. I really don't get it at all as a venue for younger folks.

I wonder where this village is. Presumably it's somewhere in or near the Black Forest, which does offer plenty of sightseeing options. If you name the village, you might find some suggestions for other towns, activities, sights, and specific castles that might be better suited to your family. It would also be helpful to have the boys' ages and maybe some of their interests. This information would also be helpful in getting suggestions for the other regions, like northern Bavaria, that you have in mind.

Posted by
13 posts

Thanks for your reply Russ. The boys are aged 10 and 12. The village is Helmsheim, southeast of Buschal. We had planned to spend the one full day that we have in Baden-Baden going to Helmsheim and seeing the area.

Thank you very much!
Carol

Posted by
8889 posts

The Black Forest offers walks, lakes, forests, castles and hills. Baden-Baden is like a mini Monte Carlo, not for 10-12 year olds.
You may not wish to know this but, ... Germany's largest theme park is nearby: www.europapark.de

Posted by
6625 posts

"...southeast of Buschal..."
Prabably Bruchsal.

Speyer is the same size as Baden-Baden (which is over an hour away) with more to offer and closer to Helmsheim. It might fit the bill.
Speyer and its attractions
The Speyer Cathedral is a Unesco World Heritage site and known as a very fine example of Romanesque:
Cathedral
Speyer's Technology Museum:
Technik-Museum
Speyer has a nice Old Town.
Burg Guttenberg in Gundelsheim is in the Neckar River Valley region to the northeast of Helmsheim. Besides the castle, the raptor show would probably be of interest:
Burg Guttenberg
Schwetzingen Palace is northeast of Speyer:
Schwetzingen Palace

Posted by
13 posts

Thank you Russ and Chris! I'm already looking into changes based on your suggestions.

Posted by
12040 posts

Add my voice to the growing list here who thinks your boys couldn't possibly be more bored if you decide to take them to Baden-Baden. And I would also point out... Baden-Baden is one of dozens of spa resort towns spread throughout Germany (but the only one Mr. Steves mentions). If your kids like shopping for overpriced hand bags, designer clothes and jewelry, they'll love Baden-Baden. If not...don't bother. Instead, if you want the German thermal treatment experience with plenty of stuff for kids, consider Thermen und Badeweld Sinsheim, (Sinsheim also has a good kid-friendly tech museum) or Crystal Palm Beach near Nuremberg. You didn't mention Munich or Berlin, but if your trip takes you by either, don't miss the fabulous Therme Erding near Munich or Tropical Islands, buried deep in the Spreewald near Berlin.

The tech museum mentioned by Russ in Speyer (a beautiful town, btw), is also very kid friendly.

"I know that we will be traveling during the height of the busy tourist season, so things will be crowded" With the exception of perhaps the famous castles at Schwangau or maybe Rothenburg odT, Germany doesn't really have a lot of attractions that feel "crowded" in the summer, unlike, let's say, some of the popular museums in Paris or Rome. Maybe Europa Park might also feel really busy.

PS- Go to Rothenburg if it lies along your path of travel. If not... don't bother. Kind of like Baden-Baden isn't as unique as advertised, neither is Rothenburg. Except for perhaps all the souvenir shops.

PPS... oops, you did mention Berlin.

Posted by
4798 posts

Carol, If you are close by anyway, Rothenberg will be ok, but do not go out of your way to go there. Same for Heidelberg. TC

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