Traveling to Frankfurt

What kind of things are you interested in seeing? There are similar medieval walled towns like Rothenburg that are only an hour outside of Frankfurt. It is quite a good hub making for easy travel with cheap train tickets. The city itself is full of all kinds of museums and lots of Jewish cultural sites.

Towns you might consider visiting: Büdingen, Gelnhausen, Idstein, Marburg, Limburg, Seligenstadt, Bad Homburg, Eltville, Hiedelberg, Mainz, Wiesbaden, Würzburg.
The Rhine is near by and you can easily spend a couple of days here exploring.
Other sites to visit near Frankfurt would be, Eberbach Monastery, Hessen Park Open Air Museum, the Saalburg Roman Fort, Glauburg Celtic World.

Most of the Christmas markets will start on the 27 of Nov. this year but a few will be starting earlier though will not be open on the 26th. Try Rüdesheim or Limburg for those.

"Thinking of going to Rothenburg, Heidelberg, Nuremberg or Munich, etc... need to estimate if overnight stays are needed or day trips would suffice."

If you want to minimize your base towns... Heidelberg could be a day trip from Frankfurt if you intend to stay in Frankfurt. Using the high-speed trains it's about an hour each way, or about 1.5 hours on the regional trains - and some trains are direct in both cases. Otherwise, Frankfurt is a poor base for the towns you have in mind, so you would want to move on... Nuremberg could be used as a base town for Munich (about 1 hr. each way on high-speed trains) if you just need a day there, as well as for Rothenburg. Another worthwhile destination and (easy day trip) from Nuremberg would be Bamberg, a well-preserved old-world city with UNESCO World Heritage status and a formidable beer culture:

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/624
https://en.bamberg.info/sehenswertes/
https://www.europeanbeerguide.net/bambpubs.htm

One more place you overlooked... Between Frankfurt and Nuremberg the tracks pass through the Romantic Road town of Würzburg on the Main River. It's a good place to break up the trip and to visit. Put bags in a locker and see the sights for a few hours - more UNESCO WH stuff here too:

http://www.wuerzburg.de/en/visitors/must-sees/index.html

Here is a suggestion since you want to drive, although you could do all of it by train. First, take the train to Aschaffenburg and rent the car there the next day. After a long flight, some jet lag, lack of sleep, and not being familiar with the road system in and around Frankfurt, driving right off the bat is, in my opinion, a bad idea. Some folks are never bothered by those things, some are driving somewhat impaired and don't realize it, and some are just plain zombies. I lived in Aschaffenburg and Wurzburg and revisited the following on a return trip several there several years ago. In Aschaffenburg there is a lovely castle named Johannesburg (sp?). There is also Pompeiigean (sp?) which is a replica a villa in Pompeii. If you drive the old road (not the autobahn) to between A'burg and W'burg, just south of Haibach which is just south of A'burg is the village of Messpelbrun. It has a fairy tale moated castle that has been in the same family for 5-600 years. In W'burg visit the Prince Bishop's Residence. Be sure to see the Hofkirche on one end of the Residenze. Easy to miss if you are not looking for it. The Marienberg Fortress is ok but if time is tight skip it. The view of it from the town is more impressive that the view of the town from the fortress. From W'burg it is a short drive to Rothenburg, Milltenberg (sp?), and Heidelberg. You should be able to google all of these and see what you think.

Thanks to all of you and your great advice. Am working on the itinerary based on your suggestions as well as waiting on my brother who lives in Switzerland who will join for the weekend we arrive. We will most likely do at least one day trip with him perhaps to Heidelberg. I may come back to ask a few more questions so I hope you will bear with me as this is our first time in Germany though we have been in other European countries before.
Incidentally one of you mentioned about lockers, - are those in the train station? Will the luggage fit?
Thanks again.

"...one of you mentioned about lockers, - are those in the train station? Will the luggage fit?"

Yes in the station. Not all stations have lockers but they're you can count on them in cities like Heidelberg, Nuremberg, Frankfurt, Munich and Würzburg.

Some of the lockers in the Würzbürg station, where I suggested you make a stopover:

http://www.wuerzburg-fotos.de/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/hauptbahnhof_04-2014_04_gr.jpg

Lockers come in different sizes; there's usually a mix of bigger and smaller. They are made for travelers to store travel bags, so whatever you have will probably fit. Don't plan on cramming in bicycles or spare relatives, but sometimes even those will fit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vKEAAkAmAM

Consider visiting the Rhine valley area instead of heading for Rothenburg, Munich, or Nuremberg. I think its much more interesting to visit the towns along the river than those places.

I think I may heed Stan's advice and possibly skip Nuremberg and Munich. Since I have to begin in Frankfurt and end in Frankfurt, what would be the best route to go about the trip so that I don't keep on going back and forth and spend too much time on the road. I will not be driving and also have to worry about luggage. I would like to go to Heidelberg, Bamberg, Wurzburg, Rothenburg, someone mentioned Mainz, Koblenz and any other place anyone may suggest. Not sure what are the other towns in the Rhine Valley. If time permits, I may proceed to Munich. Should I book a hotel in Wurzburg? Is it central enough that I can take the train to any of these other places.
Thank you.

"I would like to go to Heidelberg, Bamberg, Wurzburg, Rothenburg, someone mentioned Mainz, Koblenz and any other place anyone may suggest... what would be the best route to go about the trip so that I don't keep on going back and forth and spend too much time on the road."

OK then... I take it that Frankfurt, Nuremberg and Munich are basically out, the way I read it.

The Rhine: Mainz and Koblenz are on the Rhine, but Koblenz IMHO doesn't have as much to offer as the other places you have mentioned. At this time of year, instead of Koblenz, I would probably target a couple of places north of Mainz and Frankfurt. BRAUBACH (for Marksburg Castle, a true medieval castle that is open for tours year-round) and RÜDESHEIM (which has a terrific Christmas market that opens 11/23.)

You can find Mainz, Rüdesheim, and Braubach - and FRA airport - on this map: http://www.mittelrhein-wein.com/Bilder/rheinlauf-gross.jpg

FRA airport is due east of Mainz, an easy, direct train ride of 25 minutes. So I suggest you make Mainz your first base town stop. From Mainz you can catch a northbound train for a day trip to Braubach and R'heim on one day, and south to Heidelberg on another. (It's possible to stay in the smaller Rhine towns, but most of them are deadsville in winter and a city like Mainz will have stuff to do after dark.)

(About that day trip to Braubach and R'heim: 1.) Take a direct train north from Mainz to Koblenz along the west bank of the Rhine - this is Germany's most scenic railway route, and although it's winter scenery now, you'll see all the towns and castles on the way. 2.) In Koblenz catch a train south to Braubach (10 minutes) along the east bank. Marksburg Castle is open 11-4 for tours. 3.) Catch a southbound train along the east bank of the Rhine to R'heim in the afternoon - you'll take in the river scenery from a different perspective. 4.) After the Christmas market in R'heim a train back to Mainz via Wiesbaden.)

So... maybe book 4-5 nights in Mainz.

"Should I book a hotel in Wurzburg?"

For sure. It's a great town to visit and a great base town for train outings to Bamberg and Rothenburg. You can find Würzburg, Rothenburg and Bamberg on this rail line map: https://www.bahn.de/regio_franken/view/mdb/pv/regio_franken/2013/2013_relaunch/mdb_133350_mainfrankenbahn_liniennetz.pdf

So I suggest you make Würzburg your second base town. With 11 days you could easily fit in a day trip to Nuremberg as well, should you change your mind (it's a worthwhile place and only about 1 hour from W'burg by train.) So... maybe 4-6 nights in Würzburg.

And you will probably want a final night in Frankfurt prior to your flight. I would encourage you to spend at least a half day there as well. OR, you could spend TWO nights at the end in Frankfurt and include a day trip from Frankfurt to Gelnhausen and Büdingen by train (as suggested by Ms. Jo.) Büdingen is an especially handsome old-world town.

Thanks to all of you for such great recommendations. I really appreciate it. Can hardly wait for November to come - so excited!

One more question, since I am not driving. How do we get to the hotel from the train station?
Thanks

Hotel to station: Mainz and Würzburg have inner-city transport but they are not huge cities and you shouldn't have to use it for station access as long as you 1.) book a hotel within easy walking distance of the station and 2.) pack as Rick Steves advises so that your stuff doesn't weigh you down.

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light/packing-smart

Mainz Hotels: consider the Königshof, Intercity, and the B&B Hotel Mainz-Hbf (Hbf = abbreviation for "main station", btw.)

Würzburg Hotels: Both the Hotel Regina and the Barbarosa make for an easy walk.

Hello, I'm now debating whether to buy German Rail Pass here in the US or just buy point to point tickets. Cost wise, based on the number of times I'll have to take the train, the rail pass seems a better option, however, I'm concerned that it may get lost in transit and never arrive in my mailbox - so I'm at a loss as to what to do. If I opt for Sparpreis, when I book the ticket, is it flexible or do I have to go with the specified time selected. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hi,

No need to worry over getting the rail pass on time prior to your departure since you depart on Thanksgiving if you order now, if that is what you end up deciding.

When I order a rail pass from Eurail on-line, I receive the Pass at home exactly one week later from the date I put through the order, and the shipping is free, ie never had to pay for shipping.

No need to worry that the Pass will get lost in transit...never has happened to me. That's even never occurred to me. I ordered the Pass on-line, I expect to receive it.

I am surprised that the Rail Pass is the better option for you cost-wise, since your are not travelling very far. Have you actually done the comparison? You can look up prices for most trips on www.bahn.com (which will show prices for all trips that involve long-distance trains, and for all trips that go beyond one transport association), and ask for the others here.

I am going with point to point train tickets and it looks like I can just buy them at the train station. Just wondering if it’s necessary to buy them in advance. When I buy the train ticket, am I guaranteed a seat or do I have to reserve and pay for a seat? Thank you to all for your great responses.

milesesc: Seats on long-distance trains are not reserved or guaranteed with the purchase of a ticket. Local/regional trains generally do not offer any seat reservations.

You can buy tickets at the station but I would advise you to provide us with some very specific information about your trip as this has all been a very general discussion thus far - and you don't want to pay a ton more than you need to. What nights/dates do you have booked in what towns? What is your exact itinerary at this point? How many adults/children in your party?

If you do get a car, don’t drive into Munich if you go there. We stayed in Dachau and took the train in. Nuremberg is a nice town. If you decide to do the Rhine thing, Berg Eltz in Weirsheim is very nice as was Trier.

You can get discounts if you buy ahead of time. We were going from Munich to Zagreb. We went to the DBinfo, and they helped us find a discount ticket for 3 days later, and then helped us buy it. The discount came when we bought off-peak - we left at 4 PM instead of 5:30, and this got us 1/2 price tickets. Maybe 3 days in advance.

In response to Russ question: my husband and I will be arriving in Frankfurt on 11/24. My brother who lives in Zurich will be joining us for a few days and he will drive us to Mainz, Rothenburg, Würzburg and possibly Bamberg or some other towns along the way. After that we will be on our own so we will need to take the train. We are taking the train from Frankfurt to Munich (RT) and will be there for 3 days. We go back to Frankfurt and do some day trips from there like Heidelberg, Wiesbaden, etc. We fly out of a Frankfurt on 12/4. Thanks to Russ and all who responded.

The number of days you are there isn't clear. Let's just say you're traveling by train on 11/28 to Munich, on 12/1 back to Frankfurt, then doing the 2 day trips on 12/2 and 12/3. And of course you ride the train to FRA on 12/4 as well.

• If you buy at the station it's going to cost €170 - €210 one way for two in 2nd class to Munich. OUCH. It will cost the same coming back on 12/1 so you're already at €340-€410 without the later day trips. This is not a good strategy.

• If you buy a German Rail twin pass online from DB - there's a promotion... a consecutive twin pass, 2nd class (7 days = €318) will cover two persons for unlimited train travel on 7 consecutive days (11/28-12/4.) No reservations are required. Buy online and print the pass at home. With the GRP you can travel at any hour on any day on any German trains you like. BE DELIBERATE AND CAREFUL when you make your purchase - no refunds. (Note: there is a "flexi" non-consecutive pass too, and you could buy one for 5 days of travel, but it has to be mailed, and I would not trust the mail at this point.)

• If you pre-purchase individual tickets you can probably save a little money over the rail pass. But you will need to purchase every trip you make separately online and do so right away to get the good prices; you must schedule your trains at the time of purchase. Then you will need to travel exactly as scheduled on these trips. No refunds if you miss your train. There are still some cheap prices left - looks like you'll find a few tickets at €40/2 persons each way between Frankfurt and Munich on 11/28; on 12/1 the best price is around €100/2 at 7:58, with other morning departure times closer to €150/2. Then you have the other train trips to pre-purchase as well or buy at the station

I think you would be happiest with the 7-day consecutive GRP twin pass. Very easy. Take extra trips if you like during your stay. Travel at any hour that pleases you. Change your destinations on a whim if you like. Pre-purchase only ONE ticket instead of several. You can buy the GRP elsewhere (Raileurope, others) but I think you'll find the best price at DB:

https://www.bahn.com/en/view/offers/passes/german-rail-pass-promotion.shtml?

Be sure to read and understand the procedures for I.D. presentation when you use the pass and for filling out the pass. Before using the pass, you can get help at the Frankfurt train station from desk personnel if you don't understand something.

Thanks Russ. I’ll go for the 7 consecutive days twin pass for €318. You are sure I can print them?

Hi Russ, will I be able to use the rail pass to Dachau? Thanks

The page I gave you indicates that you can print the consecutive pass at home. I've never printed one at home myself, only point-to-point tickets.

The trip to Dachau KZ concentration camp is partially covered by the rail pass; all S-bahn trains are covered, so you can use the S-Bahn train between Munich's main station and "Dachau Bahnhof" (Dachau town station.) From there you need to ride a bus to the camp - takes 7 minutes, pay on the bus. To find a S-bahn + bus schedule, enter "KZ-Gedenkstätte, Dachau" (the concentration camp) as your destination at the DB itinerary search page. You will then see what time your S-bahn train (S-2, direction Petershausen) leaves the main station and arrives at Dachau Bahnhof, as well as the bus connection (probably bus 726.) The bus normally leaves Dachau Bahnhof about 10 minutes after your train arrives there.

HERE is a page with a map of Munich's S-bahn system and other information.

I’m on the DB website trying to purchase the 7 day twin consecutive pass and it’s asking me for: “Name fellow traveler” and passport number. I’m assuming it refers to my companion. Russ mentioned previously that I should be very careful in completing the form and make sure it’s done correctly.
Thanks for your help

One more thing, since it’s consecutive 7 day pass, from 11/26 thru 12/2, does it mean I have to use it everyday or I can use on 12/26 then on 12/29 for example? Thanks again for all your replies

“Name fellow traveler” and passport number. I’m assuming it refers to my companion.

Fellow traveler = your companion.

Passport number: I'm fairly certain that if the online form requests a passport number only ONCE, it's the main traveler's passport (yourself.)

"One more thing, since it’s consecutive 7 day pass, from 11/26 thru 12/2, does it mean I have to use it everyday or I can use on 12/26 then on 12/29 for example?"

A 7-day consecutive pass can be used for all 7 days or only 6 of those days (or fewer.) But if the dates you specify are 11/26-12/2, you CANNOT use your consecutive pass OUTSIDE those dates. "12/26 then on 12/29"???... That's after Christmas - way outside your travel dates and way outside the dates your pass is valid.

If you want to do a day trip from Frankfurt on Dec. 3 (which is outside your stated rail pass dates) you will need an additional ticket for that day - so that day should be a short-distance trip (Wiesbaden and back would be short, cost is €28.30 for a local RMV group day pass on local/regional trains to cover the round trip - buy from a ticket machine in Frankfurt.) Do a more distant day trip (like Heidelberg) using your German Rail pass on 12/2.

Sorry Russ, I got my dates all mixed up. My ticket is for the dates 11/26 thru 12/2 and what I meant to sayis that I will not use the ticket every single day so I’m assuming that’s no problem. For instance, on 11/26 train Frankfurt- Munich & on 11/29 back to Frankfurt. Next day go to Heidelberg, etc. You mentioned another ticket to Weisbaden, will I not be able to use my pass to go to Weisbaden say perhaps on 12/1?
Thanks

My ticket is for the dates 11/26 thru 12/2

Then you can use your GRP for ANY trips on EVERY one of those days or on AS FEW of those days as you like. Skip a day and travel only 6 days; skip 2 days (like the 27th and 28th, as you suggested) and travel only 5 days; skip 3 days and travel only 4 days.

You can of course travel to Wiesbaden on 12/2 with your GRP.

But you will be in the area until 12/4 - maybe you are reserving 12/3 for Frankfurt itself, I don't know - I was only reminding you that IF you wanted to take a day trip somewhere on 12/3, you would need an additional ticket, and a shorter, cheaper day trip (like one to Wiesbaden) would be better than a pricey long-distance day trip.

If you wake up in Frankfurt proper on 12/4 you need a ticket to FRA airport. The cost is €4.80 per person on a RMV one-way ticket. Buy from a Frankfurt station ticket machine. It should look something like this: https://www.rmv.de/linkableblob/Zentral/52958-39356/original/Fahrkartenautomat_neu.jpg