Multiple train rides; Multiple train pass/ticket options!

Robert, nice job of laying out your working itinerary in clear detail.

I could get detailed with you right now for the current circumstances, but inevitable schedule changes and policy changes that will likely be initiated by DB and by the local transport authorities - as well as the changes you say you might make for the mid-points - will have their way with anything I put down.

Nearly all your train journeys are doable only by regional train, which means you will likely be using group day passes like those you mention. They'll be bought individually and on the spot.

I'm guessing that the D-land Ticket will still be around in 2024, and it might just be the right thing for you - one ticket, unlimited journeys for all - but there may be changes there which steer you onto the day passes instead. Hard to say right now.

3) and 6) are possible by long-distance train - which means you MIGHT want to pre-purchase one of the non-refundable saver fares for one or both of these journeys. But purchase will be impossible for 7 more months or so. And for #6, the flexibility you might want for that day is a sign that you may want to stick with the regional trains and the day passes anyway. We'll see.

Suggested change for June 23-25:

23: Train to an Upper Middle Rhine Valley town instead of Mainz for 2 nights. The 23rd might not involve any sightseeing after Würzburg. You'll need at least a full day in theUMRV for the 24th. And if there's any chance you'll want time on the 25th in the UMRV, you need the night of the 24th there as well. The Gutenberg is closed on Monday the 24th. On the 25th, you can leave for Mainz at ANY HOUR you wish. The 25th is a Tuesday, museums in Mainz should be open.

Russ -

Thanks for the info - I tried to make sure to include all the particulars as I noticed how often the first posting to a question was "can you provide more detail?" I'm a fast learner... :)

Reviewing my mid portion of the trip....honestly, the only parts we would change probably would be if we determine dropping Bamberg because we were feeling rushed or something like that...but that will most likely be an 'in trip' decision once we are there and going through the motions. Same with Wurzburg.

As for June 23 switch you mention...I was contemplating actually having us stay in Bacharach rather than Mainz, at some locale (staying in the castle hostel there kinda sounded cool...not sure how rustic it would be for my daughters tastes!) and then catching the KD cruise the next morning (6/24), still disembarking at St. Goar and making our way back that day via trains and stopping for sightseeing. Then, on the following morning 6/25 heading off to Mainz for our final day/night.

Aside from the train connection decisions, trying to pick where to go/what to see has been a bit of an adventure, but we are trying to a) see the Rhine/castles b) See Nazi/WWII sites, and b) Some museums...but not a lot because we waaaaay overloaded on that in Italy!

If you don't mind I'm having a few ideas spending time in Munich with teens in June.

Since Munich was the 'capital of the movement', there is much to see from and about the NS period. I have heard that, since you are planning to go to Dachau anyway, this guide offers Dachau and also tours about the NS era in Munich.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187309-d2013770-Reviews-Dark_History_Tours-Munich_Upper_Bavaria_Bavaria.html
The NS Documentation Center is also an important museum: https://www.nsdoku.de/en/

In my eyes quite interesting for teens could be:
- Segway Tour
- Olympic Park (drive up to the olympic tower, book an olympia stadium tour, climb on the roof of the olympic stadium) https://www.munich.travel/en/topics/excursions/olympic-stadium-rooftop-tour
- BMW World/Museum (close to the Olympic Park)
- Allianz Arena Museum/Tour (proud home of Munich's soccer club FC Bayern - one of Europe's most successful clubs) https://www.munich.travel/en/topics/excursions/look-behind-the-scenes
- English Garden (beer garden at the Chinese tower, Eisbach surfers) https://www.munich.travel/en/pois/sports-leisure/eisbachwelle
It depends on how open you are, but in June there are already nudists between the Monopterus and the Eisbach
- Visit the Werksviertel behind Ostbahnhof https://www.munich.travel/en/topics/urban-districts/futuristic-nesting-ground-with-history-and-lots-of-life-culture-and-creativity
- Visit the Schlachthofviertel https://www.munich.travel/en/topics/urban-districts/hood-love-munich/hood-love-schlachthofviertel-the-charm-of-the-casual
- Take a drink at Alte Utting https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alte_Utting
- Cycle along the Isar River https://www.munich.travel/en/topics/sports-leisure/isar-river-tour-by-bike
- Enjoy a swin in the Isar River https://www.munich.travel/en/pois/sports-leisure/isar
(by the way there was just an articel about in the NewYork Times :-) https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/10/opinion/climate-change-swimming-clean-rivers-heat-waves.html)
- Enjoy a beer garden (this is quintessential Munich). My favorite is the Hofbräukeller at Wiener Platz https://www.munich.travel/en/pois/eat-drink/hofbraeukeller

And please do me a fovor an do not waste time at the Hofbräuhaus :-)

As for June 23 switch you mention...I was contemplating actually
having us stay in Bacharach...

The castle-hostel location makes atop the Rhine cliffs would make for a strenuous climb with luggage - you'd likely be calling a taxi whenever you want to wander into town or take an outing. Bacharach is a pretty town, but I'd suggest booking in nearby St. Goar, or in Boppard instead, towns where you could either begin or end your cruise, towns with ferry boat service for crossing the river, and towns that offer hotels, restaurants, etc. that take good advantage of the Rhine River scenery. In St. Goar, both the Rheinhotel St. Goar and the Hotel Rheinfels (just to the left in this photo) offer river-view accommodations and some rooms with balcony. The Rheinhotel has an apartment with balcony on the floor immediately above the ground-floor restaurant/breakfast room. Both are positioned within steps of the KD cruise dock and are an easy walk to the train station for outings - and views of the river scenery there are unbeatable. Bacharach's accommodations are kept a substantial distance from the river by the railway el and the town wall.

I would also recommend Boppard over Bacharach. Not only is it larger, with more hotel and restaurant options, but the town sits right on the water. I stayed the Bellevue Rheinhotel, and you could literally walk out the hotel entrance and the promenade was right there. It has easy train and boat access to other places in the Rhine Valley as well.

About 6/23:

I'd give a serious look at riding the long-distance trains between Nuremberg and the Rhine. Your saver fare tickets won't be flexible, but you could schedule a STOPOVER in Würzburg. I'd also consider cruising to your Rhine town on this day instead of using the train the whole way and backtracking later on for the cruise... this is really the nicest way to view the Rhine Gorge for the first time, and it leaves you lots of time for exploring the area on the 24th. Here's a sample schedule for Sun 6/23 using this year's schedules, just to give you an idea of what the day might look like...

• Lv Nuremberg 8:00 > ar. W'burg 8:52, drop bags in lockers

• See Residenz? etc.... over 3.5 hours

• Lv W'burg 12:24, ar. Bingen 15:00, walk to riverfront... meal, drinks, take in the scenery, buy K-D cruise tickets

• Board 16:30 cruise to St. Goar (this particular boat, unlike the others, continues to BOPPARD, just in case you end up booking there.)

If the long-distance rail trip for Nuremberg to Bingen is booked well in advance, you'll probably find fares at €30 each or less.

@ Mingon - Thank you for the links for ideas/plans in Munich for our family! Very appreciated.

@Russ - I like the option you threw out there regarding showing up and taking the cruise down river the same day! Didn't even think of that one...and really, it makes sense from a travel 'flow' standpoint. Now to decide on Boppard/St.Goar/other as a accomodation base. Then we can spend our time 6/24 exploring out and about the area via trains, walking, hiking, etc.

The 16:30 boat from Bingen is the Goethe paddlewheel steamer, which has been doing the Rhine for more than 100 years. Its schedule has been largely static in recent decades except during Covid; I'd expect the same schedule next June as you see today. K-D has a dedicated page for this ship:

https://www.k-d.com/en/charter-service/charter-request/charter-contact-thank-you/the-fleet/rms-goethe