I have a tendency to way over plan (and underestimate travel times) Our must-see goals for the trip: Munich (Oktoberfest, hopefully), Neuschwanstein, Salzburg. It seems a shame to be in Germany and not see Berlin, but it's so far north...my husband would also really love to hit Vienna (but that's so far east). I had thought about either taking a short flight from Berlin to Vienna (or an overnight train, but that seems kind of expensive) because there's no way I want to be spending 8 hours of one of our precious days on a train between the two (although, we've also both wanted to see Prague, which is midway between, but even I think that's probably too ambitious). Some take away points from other trips- when we spent a week in Dublin earlier this year visiting our daughter at school, we really liked staying in the same hotel, and taking day trips- but Ireland is a lot smaller, and the places we went were easily "do it in a few hours", I'm not sure if that would be applicable to where we want to go. And a few years ago, on our too ambitious trip to Italy, we really enjoyed the relax in a spa day I planned in Tuscany midway through- I know there are good baths/spas in Southern Germany and Austria- any recommendations that would make sense where we were going (Baden-Baden was the first to come up in a search, but it's not on the way to anywhere we were already thinking of going).
Posted by
8248 posts
You are right to be concerned about taking in too much, especially cities that are far from your basic plan.
1) I lived in Germany four years and did the Oktoberfest three times. Hotels book up early in Munich. I lived in Augsburg and too the train down to Munich and walked to the fest grounds. I knew one guy that drank too much and took the wrong train and wound up in Salzburg instead of Munich. The German beer is stronger than the US beer.
2) You should plan on at least there days in Munich and also take in Salzburg, Austria, nearby Berchtesgaden, Germany, as well as Garmish and Fussen Germany. You will need at least three days in Salzburg/Berchtesgaden and three days in Garmisch/Fussen. This will take up 9 days of your two weeks. You could try visiting Vienna or Prague, but consider visiting other nearby places like Nuremberg, Augsburg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Rothenburg is an intact medieval village with walls and a must see in Bavaria. Further, you could take the Romantic Road that runs from Fussen to Rothenburg and see Augsburg (founded over 2000 years ago) and other walled medieval villages on the road.
https://www.romanticroadgermany.com
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1882 posts
You could do Munich/Octoberfest, day trip to Neuschwanstein or spend the evening and then onto Salzburg. Once in Salzburg you are less than a three hour train trip from Vienna. So, you could fly into Munich and out of Vienna and easily enjoy Vienna, which is a great city. I agree, Berlin would be out of your way. Enjoy your planning.
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
8022 posts
Hi, Eleanor. First, I totally understand that desire to fill every minute and every day with new and exciting places. 😊 But I'm glad you realize that it may not be doable. If you've got two weeks, and your must-sees are Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle and Salzburg, here are a few thoughts.
3-4 nights is good for Munich, depending on what you want to see. You can see plenty of the city but you might want to add a few day trips. For example, you can easily do a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich by train. Here is a guide that tells you how - The Man in Seat 61 - day trip to Neuschwanstein by train. This is also a good site for getting acquainted with train travel in Germany. If you are interested in Dachau, that is also an easy day trip from Munich and well worth a visit, imo.
Keep in mind that if you go to Munich during Oktoberfest, you must book your hotels very early. And hotels will be much more expensive compared to the rest of the year. If it were me (and I like beer and festivals), I would consider going outside of Oktoberfest for the first time to really experience Munich and see the sights. You can always go back.
After Munich, you might consider traveling to Salzburg, which is one of my favorite places to visit, and spend 2-3 nights there. It's an easy train ride from Munich, and Salzburg itself is easy to get around using public transportation or walking.
So the above itinerary takes about a week. After that if you really want to go to Berlin, it's definitely doable. From Munich, it's about a 4 hour train ride, but you could stay there for 4-5 nights (or even the rest of the trip) and schedule day trips to places like Potsdam, Dresden or Leipzig. And Berlin itself is large enough that there is an incredible amount of things to see and do.
In fact, when you buy your airline tickets, consider a multi-city booking where you fly into Munich but fly back from Berlin. This usualy is no more expensive and can save you a lot of time, and even money in trains costs.
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
8022 posts
The above itinerary could also be used but substitute Vienna for Berlin if you choose. Again, if you do, I would consider a multi-city airline booking where you fly into Munich and out of Vienna.
I do love Vienna, and there you have the option of day cruises down the Danube (definitely stop at Durnstein) and the city itself, which is just incredible. Either way you can't go wrong with Berlin or Vienna.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6487 posts
I love Vienna, been there multiple times, and its an easy train ride from/to Salzburg. We also found Munich and Salzburg delightful. We did Fussen from Munich on a day trip. I HIGHLY recommend doing both Neuschwanstein, and across the street, Hohenschwangua. Neuschwanstein is lovely from the outside, but there is barely anything interesting on the inside. Hohenschwangua is furnished and the family lived there. You will get much more history and detail and Hohenschwangua.
With two weeks, IMO, you could do Munich with day trips, Salzburg with daytrips and Vienna, especially if you fly into Munich and out of Vienna, or reverse.
Combine Berlin and Prague on another trip.
Posted by
Main Line PA, USA
108 posts
These are 4 of my favorite cities, with Vienna my all time favorite. With two weeks, you can easily visit Berlin-Munich-Salzburg-Vienna. I would fly into Berlin and out from Vienna (or vice versa). If you are able to add a few days, Prague is doable if you go from Berlin.
The train from Munich to Berlin or Berlin to Prague are the longest and will be about 4 hours. What we do is take a 10-11 am train, grab stuff to "picnic" on the train and then get into the city around 2-3pm. This way you also won't be waiting for your room.
Another option, is to break up the trip. You could leave from Munich, stop in Nürnberg, store your bags in a locker in the station, spend some time there, and then continue your journey. You'd probably want to leave Munich earlier but it would break up your trip. On the Berlin-Prague trip you could do the same for Dresden.
I've done variations of this trip many times. I'll actually be in Munich next week and will be training to Nürnberg and Bamberg.
If it was me, I'd do something like this:
Prague 3-4 nights (figure first day is light due to time zone change)
Berlin 3-4 nights (depending on whether you day trip to somewhere like Potsdam or Sachsenhausen)
Munich 4-5 nights (Sounds like you have a lot of things you want to do in Munich! I would day trip to Fussen / Neuschwanstein. If you want a different experience, check out a day trip Chiemsee; we went on our last trip to Munich and loved it!)
Salzburg 1-2 nights (You might want to add a day if you day trip to Hallstadt or the salt mines)
Vienna 3-5 days (So much to see here. You can also take a day trip to Bratislava which is only 1 hr away)
Hope this helps!
Posted by
Northwest Arkansas
680 posts
I have been to Munich multiple times, but never during Oktoberfest. Instead, I went to the Volksfest in Stuttgart earlier this year. Similar, but smaller and, according to the locals, less drunkenness than Munich. It starts and ends about a week later than Oktoberfest. There is also a nice therme, Das Leuze, near the Volksfest grounds (they don't provide or rent towels and you may want a swimsuit for the outside pools).
Regarding the amount of travel time during a trip, I have a somewhat different perspective than many others on this site. I don't need a fabulous dinner every evening and don't really travel for the food. So, I often take trains during evening hours. I still get to my arrival city in time to check-in and then get a late dinner and beer. Depending upon my hotel location in my departure city, I either leave my bag at the hotel or store it at the train station in the morning.
Flying in & out of Frankfurt this past October I did Stuttgart, Vienna, Prague, Pilsen and Bamberg in 2 1/2 weeks. I don't think it was too much train time. Pilsen to Bamberg was a bit of a challenge and took longer than expected due a rail closure for construction.
Posted by
Niagara, Ontario
1678 posts
From someone who does not like changing locations frequently, rents a car, and usually stays in villages or small towns. We take the odd train or bus here and there.
If you are not driving, split your two weeks between Munich and either Salzburg or the Berchtesgaden area (Bad Reichenhall would be my choice): not necessarily equal amounts of time, you choose.
From Munich, within or shortly over an hour: Dachau, Landsberg am Lech, Bad Toelz, Andech Monastery, Tegernsee, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Ulm, Kufstein, boat trips on Ammersee and Starnbergersee. Regensburg, Landshut (been to neither of the latter two towns).
Within two hours or so. Gapa, Ettal Abbey, Oberammergau, Innsbruck, Mittenwald, Fussen (to see your castles).
A four hour direct train ride, mostly through some nice scenery, will take you to Bolzano.
From Salzburg, within an hour or so, the Berchtesgaden area: Berchtesgaden village, Bad Reichenhall, Eagle's Nest, Königssee (gorgeous), Ramsau. Add Chiemsee (a fantastic day out), Hallein salt works (plus not a bad little town), St Gilgen and Wolfgangsee, Werfen Castle and ice caves.
Re spas. Erding, close to Munich, has a good reputation. Ones I've been to in the south are Bad Reichenhall and Bad Worishofen. There is a spa in Golling, just outside of Salzburg: Aqua Salza