We are planning a fall trip (Later Sept. to Early Oct.) to SW Germany, Switzerland and the Alsace region of France. We are thinking of approximately 2 weeks on the ground. Currently we're thinking we would fly into Munich (From Atlanta), spend 4-5 nights there visiting various Munich sites plus Dachau and possible day trip to Salzburg.
We'd then take a train to Zurich, spending 3 nights there after which we would take the train to Freiburg-Breisgau where we would rent a car with plans to stay in or near Colmar, FR for 3 or 4 nights visiting nearby towns, wineries, etc.
We would likely train back to Zurich for a return flight to ATL.
We'd greatly appreciate any ideas, comments or suggestions from the pool of seasoned forum travelers. We've previously spent multiple weeks in Northern Italy, Republic of Ireland and Paris.
Posted by
Chicago
8433 posts
Skip Zurich or do it as a day trip from Luzern. But only if there was something specific you already know you are wanting to do there for 3 days
Search flying back from Strasbourg 30 minutes by train from Colmar so you don't need to go back to Zurich.
Most here will mention what they see as a high price of renting a car in one country and returning it in another.
Posted by
Paradise
7437 posts
I'd spend a few nights not in Zurich but elsewhere in Switzerland seeing the best part of the country - the Bernese Oberland (Alps), which Rick covers well. I'd also spend a few nights in the Alsace, with the balance of your time in SW Germany.
I'd restructure the trip as follows for efficiency...
Fly direct to Paris. Possibly one night there.
Then: Train to Strasbourg (1 hr 45 minutes.) Rent car for your 4 nights of exploring the Alsace. Stay wherever.
Return car in Strasbourg. Take the train across the German border to Gengenbach, Germany and stay there for 4-5 nights. This old walled north of Freiburg has several towers from its old town wall and lots of charm. See this page of photos:
https://www.stadtbild-deutschland.org/forum/index.php?thread/10418-gengenbach-galerie/
And it's a good springboard for train trips to other places. Possible day trips from there by train:
- Baden-Baden day trip
- Heidelberg day trip
- Black Forest Railway day trip (Triberg, Gutach/Black Forest Open Air Museum)
- Freiburg day trip
- Gutach Railway day trip: Haslach, Wolfach, Schiltach, Alpirsbach
(Tripadvisor is a good resource in addition to Rick Steves for gathering info on these places.)
All of these outings (except Heidelberg) by regional train will be free of charge thanks to Gengenbach's participation in the KONUS program:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkgzMXQ7blQ
Then take the train to Lauterbrunnen or thereabouts for a few nights there. Do the Schilthorn... the Jungfraubahn... these are the world's finest mountains.
Last day in Switzerland: travel to a ZRH hotel for your final night and a direct flight to ATL.
I've left out Munich and Dachau intentionally. These would add a lot of ground travel and are not mandatory destinations for one's first visit to Germany; SW Germany, where the old-world lives on in a visible way, will make for a lovely few days and fits very nicely in between the Alsace and Switzerland.
Posted by
North Carolina
26 posts
Christopher:
I like Russ’ plan. But given your trip time of late September early October, were you planning to visit Oktoberfest? Let us know if Munich is a “must see.” I love Munich and return frequently. But I’d never go there during Oktoberfest unless I were actually attending Oktoberfest.
Posted by
Paradise
7437 posts
O'fest... If that is the point of Munich, you should know about the "other Oktoberfest", which is within is striking distance of Gengenbach. Count on the usual Lederhosen, rides, tents and of course beer. Dates are Sept 26 - Oct 12. You do have to enjoy a crowd for fests like this. More than 4.5 million visitors attended this one last year:
Posted by
Niagara, Ontario
1766 posts
Don't know which airline you might use, but if you rent in Freiburg look at flights out of Frankfurt (the drop-off fee will not be extortionate). I'd pop into Staufen for a visit after picking up the car.
Lucerne over Zurich as a base. I've read on this forum that the train ride to Interlaken is spectacular, if that is of any interest.
Re Colmar, it is easier to get in and out of one of the surrounding villages with a car. We stayed in Riquewihr. Kayserberg and Bergheim are also good choices, the latter very pretty yet not very touristy (hardly any shops, a few good restaurants).
Posted by
OP
Birmingham, AL
7 posts
Thanks to all for your informative replies, especially to Russ for the great detail.
We were NOT planning to attend Oktoberfest, however we do plan to visit some beer halls. We'll research some of your suggestions, specifically: Gengenbach, Lucerne and Lauterbrunnen, as well as transport options.
Posted by
Paradise
7437 posts
We were NOT planning to attend Oktoberfest, however we do plan to
visit some beer halls.
Staying in Munich during Oktoberfest normally means exhorbitant room prices.
Freiburg is a pretty good city for this with some nice spots. I was there last summer for a couple hours during a layover on a long train ride - had not been there in many years - and was a little sad that I was alone that day and had so little time, or I'd happily have spent the afternoon in one of these places I had bookmarked with a friend or two.
https://visit.freiburg.de/en/feel-freiburg/freiburg-food-drink/freiburg-beer/breweries
https://tempestinatankard.com/2023/12/28/freiburg-beer-on-the-edge-of-the-black-forest/
I mentioned Alpirsbach previously, which is popular for its monk-operated brewery: