Taste of Bavaria

I think the only ticket you need to buy is the Munich-Stuttgart leg, which you can get for 19.90 EUR vs the 58 EUR ICE Flex price.

Frankfurt-Wuerzburg is either 36 EUR for an ICE Flex price, or 28 EUR for a Regional train that takes 40 minutes longer.

Once in Wuerzburg, there are any number of local ticket options, starting with the 25 EUR Bayern Ticket. Wuerzburg-Nuremberg is a 22.10 Regional fare, but the Bayern Ticket allows her to use the entire Nuremberg transit system until 3 am the next day. Etc for Regensburg and Munich.

Nuremberg-Rothenburg and Bamberg can be done with VGN Tageskarten.

Many thanks Sam. I didn't realise you could get regional passes. That's great help.

Here is the information for Laender Tickets (Regional Day Passes), starting with the Bayern Ticket.
https://www.bahn.com/en/view/offers/regional/regional-day-tickets.shtml
Laender tickets can only be used after 9 am M-F (anytime weekends and holidays) on regional trains (and subways, trams, and buses).

Here is for the VGN (Greater Nuremberg Transit District).
https://www.vgn.de/en/

The VGN Tagesticket Plus is not subject to the 9am restriction, it's valid all day.

Just wondering if you have any suggestions for hotels in the Old town of these areas?

Würzburg, medium priced: Franziskaner (Franziskanerplatz), Sankt Josef and Stadt Mainz (both in the Semmelstrasse), Strauss (Juliuspromenade).

Nürnberg: a. budget: Keiml, Probst (Luitpodstrasse, near the station); Caritas-Pirckheimer-Haus (Königsstrasse, 5 min from the station)
b. medium priced: Victoria (Königsstrasse, opposite the station), Steichele (Knorrstrasse; great inhouse wine tavern), Dürerhof, Agneshof (near the castle),
Motel One, Holiday Inn Express (on the SE edge of the old city, near the station; more chain hotels in that area)
c. upscale: Saxx (at the Main market), Maritime (Frauentorgraben, 5 min. from the station)
d. expensive: Le Méridien (opposite the station)

Hotel Orphée in Regensburg is nice and quaint in the heart of the Altenstadt, but can be pricey. You might adjust the itinerary for Silvester (New Years) in Regensburg too, with people and fireworks along the Donau river. Get your reservations now for Silvester wherever you are to include dinner.

Thanks everyone for your wonderful suggestions. What a great community!

| Way too much hotel hopping.
I agree Lubitsch but my wife is fit and we normally travel with just carry on luggage/backpack.
I thought spending a couple of days in Wurzburg, Nuremburg, and Regesburg would be the towns she likes. Also, she would prefer to be in Nuremburg for NYE (that's why I thought she could do days trips from there to Rothenburg and Bamburg.)

Thanks sla019 for your advice on hotels. I like the look your suggestion on Franziskaner. How would this compare to Hotel Würzburger Hof? Which would be in a more central location?

In Nuremburg, I like the look of of Hotel Victoria. But Iike your suggestion of Le Méridien. From my understanding, they look to be very close, location wise, to each other. What would you suggest out of the two?

| Hotel Orphée in Regensburg is nice and quaint in the heart of the Altenstadt, but can be pricey.
Thanks mchpp. In Regesburg, I originally thought Hotel Goliath am Dom or Hotel Bischofshof am Dom. But your suggestion of Hotel Orphée looks beautiful. The small street is what she'll love. What would you recommend?

Many small streets in the Regensburg Old city all within a 500 meter circle. Kramgasse is too small for cars for instance. The two hotels you mentioned and Hotel Orphée are all within this circle. I have only stayed at the Hotel Orphée. Many cafes/bars and restaurants too for all tastes as Regensburg is a University town and the Old city a UNESCO-World Heritage Site. Some local stuff too like the Regensburg Kneitinger Brauhaus.

I like the look your suggestion on Franziskaner. How would this compare to Hotel Würzburger Hof? Which would be in a more central location?
In Nuremburg, I like the look of of Hotel Victoria. But Iike your suggestion of Le Méridien. From my understanding, they look to be very close, location wise, to each other. What would you suggest out of the two?

Personally, I prefer the Franziskaner over the Würzburger Hof since it is situated in a quiet area while rooms in the WH facing the busy square can be a bit noisy. OTOH, the Würzburger Hof is easily accessed from the station while the Franziskaner is a 15min. walk away.

Hotel Victoria is a normal *** hotel, old but in good shape, while the Méridien is classified as de luxe. The latter sometimes has good offers during "dead" weekends. The Victoria is situated just inside, the M. just outside the medieval city walls (facing the large station square). Location wise the Victoria is certainly nicer.

that's why I thought she could do days trips from there to Rothenburg and Bamburg.

That's very easy and you could even make Nürnberg your hub for all those destinations: Rothenburg and Bamberg are covered by the VGN TagesticketPlus (€19.10 for the family), which, unlike the Bayern Ticket (which you would need for trips from Würzburg), is not subject to the 9am restriction on workdays; moreover, for trips on weekends it is valid Saturday + Sunday (your WE trips on a Bayern ticket would be €62 for two). Würzburg and Regensburg (Bayern Ticket) are in easy reach - 1:11 or 1:04, resp. for the fastest regional trains.

Hotel Goliath in Regensberg is one of the nicest places I've every stayed. I highly recommend it, but I was there in 2012, so double check Trip Advisor to make sure the reviews are still good.