Need Agenda Validation and Hotel Recommendations for Germany Trip

Posted by John S on 06/03/24 10:12 PM

I am finalizing plans for a 11-day family trip for 4 to Bavaria/Austria. While Frankfort is our arrival/departure city, I'm trying to firm up the best "home base" locations/hotels to see Munich (3-5 days), Neuschwanstein, Berchtesgaden, and Salzurg (2-4 days). And should I reserve 1-2 days to see Frankfurt (vs spend more time in Munich, Salzburg, or Fussen)? Most likely will try to use rail system between home bases. Travel dates are July 29 - August 10. Thank you in advance!

EDIT: Based on the initial feedback, I'll try to add some more details to request:
Family - Me, my wife, and two kids (20, 16)
Interests - History, sports, hiking, art, food
Initial Sites We Thought Would Be Interesting:
Munich - Marianplatz, Dachau, English Garden, Sabener Strasse, Nymphenburg Palace, The Residenz, Olympic Park, The King's Castles
Salzburg - Mozart History, Sound of Music, Berchtesgaden/Eagle's Nest
Frankfurt - Looking for ideas and if there is reasonable time to meaningfully see/experience anything

Hope that helps!

Posted by Ms. Jo

Frankfurt, Germany

06/04/24 04:18 AM

9222 posts

You don't say what your interests are or what you mean by "family". Those will make a big difference in what we can recommend for you to see or accomodations. Do you like history, museums, medieval churches, Jewish heritage, scenery, castles, markets, Romans, etc?

This is what is happening in Frankfurt and surrounding towns on those dates:
Main Fest, Frankfurt Römerberg and riverbanks – 2-5.08
Oberursel Feyerey (medieval fest) 3-4.08
CSD Fest and parade, Frankfurt– 8-11.08
Bernemer Kerb with parade, Frankfurt Bornheim – 9-18.08
Apfelwein Fest on the Roßmarkt, Frankfurt – 9-18.08
Wiesbaden Rheingauer Wine Fest – 9-18.08

Posted by geovagriffith

06/04/24 11:19 AM

8248 posts

Check out hiking up to the top of the Zugspitze, highest mountain in Germany. Do it from Garmisch.

As for Frankfurt vs. Bavaria, it is not even close, Bavaria wins hands down.

Posted by Kelly’d Rather Be Traveling

Atlanta, GA

06/04/24 11:45 AM

1131 posts

I’m can’t speak to your whole itinerary but we stayed in Fussen 2 weeks ago (at the Best Western - very nice) and it was a great home base for the kings’ castles, Lech Falls, treetop walkway, luge, etc. I highly recommend getting an 845 or 9 AM tour time for Neuschwanstein. This enables you to take the 8 AM bus up there, which is the first bus. This allowed us to have Mary’s Bridge basically to ourselves and get amazing, peaceful pictures before we went down to the castle.

As I understand it, Salzburg is more of a Munich side trip than a Fussen side trip.

We started our trip in Stuttgart (train from Paris). There is a reason that Rick Steves does not include it in his book, it was a pretty dirty feeling big city with lots of traffic. I read his chapter on Frankfurt, and he spent an inordinate amount of time talking about junkies and prostitutes, so he wasn’t really selling me on it, haha! (And yes I’m well aware that RS talks about those topics a lot, just not what I want to see on a family vacation.) Bavaria and Rothenburg were gorgeous, personally I’d stay in south Germany more vs. Frankfurt.

Posted by nixit71

Chicago

06/04/24 02:44 PM

78 posts

Munich - If you're planning to go to Olympic Park, the BMW Museum is right there.

Blockquote I’m can’t speak to your whole itinerary but we stayed in Fussen 2 weeks ago (at the Best Western - very nice).

We're staying at the BW in Fussen too in July. Glad to hear it's good. Didn't look too welcoming from the outside.