We are planning a 12-day trip in late September-early October. We want to experience sites along the Rhine River, as well as spend a few days in Berlin and Munich, including 1 day at Octoberfest. Our thoughts are to drive from Munich to Sankt Goar for 3-4 days, then travel (car or train?) to Berlin for 4-5 days, then travel (car or train?) back to Munich. Does this route make the most sense? Any suggestions for day trips from these areas, or other places we should stop at along the way? Are we better off keeping a car for the entire trip?
Posted by
Maryland
865 posts
We lived in Europe without a car for three years (except for a few rentals).
Munich to St Goar is about 6 hours by train usually through Nuremberg/Frankfurt.
St Goarhausen to Berlin is 6 hours or so again through Frankfurt. There are direct Frankfurt to Berlin trains if you pick the right one.
Berlin to Munich on the new fast train is 4.5 hours.
You won't need the car in the Rhine Valley because of the excellent frequent local trains. It will be around harvest time for Rhine Wine as well.
Driving in European cities is like driving in large US cities (except they have a lot of pedestrian only zones). Unless you want to go away from the city centers beyond the reach of the (also very good) local train/tram networks a car is unnecessary. Or you can pick one up for a day if you really need it.
https://www.bahn.com/en/view/offers/index.shtml
Nuremberg is an interesting possibility for an additional stop on the main train line. If Octoberfest loses its luster then Fussen/Neuschwannstein (2hours by train; beware of the travel times/assigned entry times), or Garmisch-Partenkirchen/Zugspitze (15 hours by train) are possibilities.
Posted by
Columbus, USA
332 posts
If your planes haven't been booked yet, I would suggest flying into Frankfurt, then going to Sankt Goar, Berlin, then fly home from Munich. It will save you some time.
Posted by
Paradise
6638 posts
The Rhine is well served by train, with railways on both sides of the river connecting the small towns. Ferries cross the river here and there between Koblenz and Mainz (no bridges.) St. Goar has a ferry crossing with St. Goarshausen on the opposite side. You'll find a station in St. Goarshausen for the east bank trains. (Pedestrians and cars are both welcome on the ferry but of course the car costs a good bit more.) See this map for details and hiking trail locations as well:
http://www.loreley-info.com/eng/rhein-rhine/walking-hiking.php
I agree with the idea of stopping over in Nuremberg on the way, or perhaps in Würzburg. Both are good places for looking around, just depends on what you want to see. When you book your train tickets from Munich to St. Goar at DB, you can SCHEDULE a stopover for however long you like and still get a cheaper saver fare price (depending on availability for your date and time.)
Once on the Rhine, day passes bought at the station will get you around by train cheaply. Towns are so close that sometimes the day passes are overkill and the basic fare is better.
The only reason you'd need a car for the Rhine would be if you chose not to stay in one of the Rhine towns or outside the towns somewhere - check location to ensure walking distances. St. Goar is very small and makes for easy coming and going. The Rhine castles sit high on the cliffsides - it's a bit strenuous to walk up to Marksburg Castle in Braubach but only about 25-30 minutes from the station, I believe. You could catch a taxi instead if you wished.
https://braubach.welterbe-mittelrhein.de/fileadmin/_processed_/csm_Karte_Braubach_01_e8b083a411.jpg
https://www.marksburg.de/en/circuit/
Posted by
Southeast US
3847 posts
Don't know your exact dates and this may be a little early for you, but St Goar/St Goarshausen will have a wine festival 18-21 Sept that culminates with a big fireworks show over the Rhine on 21 Sept ("Rhein in Flammen").
Posted by
Berlin
2232 posts
We are planning a 12-day trip in late September-early October.
You have chosen the most expensive time for accomodations in Berlin and Munich (events).
Neither in Berlin nor in Munich a car is helpful - especially not in Berlin at last September weekend with marathon. Cool event but really a lot of important streets will be closed for nearly two days. Also between Munich and Berlin the trains are faster than you with a car.
From my point of view either St. Goar or Oktoberfest does not really fit into your plan.
Why St. Goar - or what do you want to see? We have a lot of similar experiences on the way between Munich and Berlin.