Southern Germany Itinerary

Southern and central Germany is criss-crossed by about 50 separate low mountain ranges. The Black Forest is only one of them, albeit the longest , and the highest. The scenery really isn't that different, and they pale in comparison to the majestic Alps.

Oktoberfest generally only affects Munich, although there can be some spill-over into the castles in Füssen.

Hi Jenny,

For me, I'd fly into Frankfurt and out of Munich. Start on the Rhine, maybe include the Mosel, include a Romantic Road town or two and head to either Fuessen/Neuschwanstein area, Garmisch/Mittenwald area and/or the Berchtesgaden/Salzburg area before leaving from Munich. Oktoberfest really only affects Munich. We've been before (we don't stay in Munich area) at the end of Oktoberfest and never even knew it was taking place.

Paul

The Black Forest scenery and villages are exceptionally nice - no, it's not the Alps. But it's an area that has retained some of its old-world cultural practices better than others, it's full of family farms and villages and towns with lots of half-timbered buildings, it's relatively close to the Alps, and it's definitely a more scenic region overall than the route between the Rhine and Munich. With 2 weeks, I see no reason you can't visit the Middle Rhine Valley, the Black Forest, and the Alps. As for Oktoberfest, well, don't go into Munich if you wish to avoid it. It's a very expensive time to be there too.

The Black Forest Railway is one of Germany's most scenic train routes and connects some very handsome places:
Gengenbach
Vogtsbauernhof, rural open-air museum in Gutach
Haslach
Villingen
Route map
Schiltach lies a short distance east of Haslach.
The BF railway trains continue to the southeast toward Lake Constance at the Swiss border. Lindau and Meersburg are just two fine destinations there.
The Appenzell region of Switzerland and the Alps are only a short distance beyond there.

I suggest you read over some of the trip reports at Bavaria Ben's website - the ones that include the Rhine and the Black Forest, like this one does.

I really appreciate your advice and I did not know that Munich was the epicenter of Octoberfest. What a dilemma--but you've provided me with a different perspective. Thank you so much.

Check out some trip reports at Bavaria Ben's excellent website - www.bensbauernhof.com
Lots of good information by a variety of travellers on the areas you are interested in.

All hotels and costs are higher starting in early Sept thru the end of the fest. Still I would fly into Munich and venture out from there. Salzburg, a great little city, is a short train away. Berchtesgarden also very close from there. Can't really go wrong anywhere in Bavaria. Enjoy the planning

Don't for get the Canstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart, which is just a bit smaller than Oktoberfest. Also weekend Srtrassenweinfesten in the Mosel valley.