I am planning a trip for late August/early September 2018 (getting out before Oktoberfest). I'm planning on flying into Prague and out of Munich. I am planning 3 or days in Prague, 4 or 5 days in Berlin and then have a couple of nights to spend somewhere scenic before spending the last few nights in Munich. I have been to Munich before but I have not been to Berlin since the wall came down. I'm trying to decide on a possible base for a couple of nights, maybe Nuremberg? Or do I do Nuremberg as a day trip from Munich and stay elsewhere. I'd like to explore some of the charming towns as a nice contrast to the bigger cities like Berlin. Thinking of possibly visiting Bamberg, Rothenburg, Regensburg...? I plan to use the trains. Thank you for any input. I've also been to Salzburg recently (which I love).
Posted by
Washington DC
27053 posts
Fiddle around with the train schedules on the Deutsche Bahn website to see how long you'd need to travel to get to the small places you'd like to see. If you only have two nights, you may not want to spend 8-1/2 hours on the train, which is what Rothenburg would cost you if you went straight there from Berlin and then on to Munich. (The direct train trip between the two large cities is only 4-1/2 hours.)
I'm a fan of Erfurt, which is a university town with glorious architecture that survived the war. It's right on the rail line between Berlin and Munich. It's well-positioned for day-trips to Weimar (with Buchenwald camp) and Eisenach (important castle with Luther connection, I think).
Bamberg is just beyond Erfurt on that same rail line and would also be a convenient stop; I haven't been there.
Nuremberg wouldn't really increase your travel time, so that's also a good option. Check onward schedules for possible small towns, though; I think other than Bamberg, the places you've highlighted will be farther than you want to go in the time you have available.
I know there are lots of other scenic options in eastern Germany. Our experts on Germany often make recommendations for them.
Posted by
Germany
1117 posts
a couple of nights to spend somewhere scenic
For a scenic place between Berlin and Munich, I'd vote for Dresden and Elbsandsteingebirge. Scenic town + scenic nature.