Train rail journey

Extra-scenic train rides include the Rhine Valley Railway, the Mosel Valley Railway, and the Black Forest Railway. But the sorts of things that interest you beyond scenery would be needed to make more tailored suggestions. What would you like to see/do/experience in Germany? Where would your journey start?

I can start from anywhere. We will be in London and can fly anywhere. I obviously want to stop in cities and explore some major sights, so It won't be all about the train service. My daughter has not seen the major sights of any of Germany, switzerland, Eastern Europe or northern Italy.

I highly recommend Swiss Rail and seeing the beautiful scenery in Switzerland. Look at Glacier Express but stay in Pontresina not St-Moritz.

I see now how the two threads including your other post sort of go together.

But what confuses me is now you are looking for scenic trains in Germany but talking about flying. Are you not considering using the Eurostar train to get to Germany? Is it either/or Germany / Switzerland or is it train through Germany and train in Switzerland?

I'm trying to help but getting confused.

Could you possibly share the whole itinerary as it looks today?

One last question - you say that your daughter has never been to any of this area, by not mentioning yourself can we assume that you have visited Switzerland and Germany before? What did you like and would like to show your daughter, and what didn't you like?

Help us help you.

For folks who haven't found the other thread it is at https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/switzerland/rail-trip-april

I obviously want to stop in cities and explore some major sights...

Your 3 most recently posted threads seem to hint that you want to stick just to Germany and Switzerland, but you don't get much more specific than that. On the thread under "rail travel" as regards Germany, you received this advice:

Having said that, Germany is lovely to visit. You could start with
Munich, and visit some of the quaint towns in Bavaria like Rothenburg
ob der Tauber, Regensburg, and Bamberg, then head for the Middle Rhine
area, which is beautiful and has some lovely towns like Bacharach,
Boppard, St. Goar (and the option of a day cruise on the Rhine).

This was offered for Switzerland:

I’d suggest watching some you tube videos to see what appeals to you.
Here is the RS on some of the Swiss cities:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hplFBrbzvE

So what do you think about these suggestions so far? As Nigel also has indicated, this forum will produce more helpful results for you if you are able to share more specifically your travel preferences... What do you like or dislike about what's been suggested so far? What kinds of things qualify as "major sights" in your eyes? "Cities" is a very big category too...

"I couldn't find and itenuarys on man 61 site."

As you found out, the Man in Seat 61 is all about train travel, not "plug and play" itineraries. If THAT is what you are looking for, here's what Rick Steves offers his paying tour clients over 13 days as a "Best of Germany" tour. Just click on "Itinerary." With 12 days max, you'd surely need to drop a place or two if you do this on your own.

https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/germany/best-germany-tour

Rick also offers time-flexible planning tips for Germany. Maybe you want 7 days in Germany and 4 in Switzerland? Well, here's what he says to do in Germany:

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/germany/itinerary

And here's what he says to do in Switzerland:

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/switzerland/itinerary

I don't personally see a lot of value in following set itineraries planned by others. But if you see it differently, generic itineraries like this to popular destinations and "major sights" are available online from other tour providers as well.

Russ I love your suggestions and recommend them (having used these tools myself to build my itinerary)

The Washington Post has an article - 'The 10 best slow trains through Europe'
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/the-10-best-slow-trains-through-europe/2020/01/30/04c46260-3dfa-11ea-baca-eb7ace0a3455_story.html

It includes one in Germany & one in Switzerland:
The Glacier Express, Switzerland
Marktredwitz to Regensburg, Germany

As for Switzerland, I find the train ride from Chur over the Albula Pass and the Bernina Pass to Tirano more appealing than the Glacier Express, which no longer runs one of it's former most impressive section, the Furka Pass route, but passes under the Furka in a tunnel. The recommendation for Germany leaves me really at a loss. I would rather think of some others, e.g. the Black Forest Railway (Offenburg-Donaueschingen) or the Harzquerbahn cossing through the Harz mountains (Wernigerrode-Nordhausen / Brocken), the Fichtelberg Railway (Cranzahl-Oberwiesenthal / Erzgebirge) or the Karwendel Railway Garmisch-Mittenwald-Innsbruck (the most scenic part is in Tyrol, Austria).

Sla019, The recommendation for Germany was made before we knew that she was more interested in the train trip, rather than the destinations. At least, I’m assuming she is. I don’t think she’s really clarified that.

Here is what I have come up with?
Sunday 10-Apr London Nuernberg 8 hours am train

Monday 11-Apr Nuernberg

Tuesday 12-Apr Nuernberg Munich 1 hour pm train

Wednesday 13-Apr Munich

Thursday 14-Apr Munich Day trip-Dachu

Friday 15-Apr Munich Day trip-Salzberg

Saturday 16-Apr Munich Fussen 2 hours pm train

Sunday 17-Apr Fussen

Monday 18-Apr Fussen Chur 4 hours am train

Tuesday 19-Apr Chur Tiruno 4 hours AM Train Bernia Express

Wednesday 20-Apr Tiruno Venice 5 hours

option Tiruno Milan 2.5 Hours

option Tiruno Bologna 4 hours

option Tiruno Florence 5 hours

Thursday 21-Apr

Friday 22-Apr Fly back to US