I am visiting Germany for work and would like to make the most of my extra time.
Below is my timeline:
12/13 am arriving in Frankfurt...open days until the 15th
12/15 must be in Bensheim for work through the 18th
12/18-21 open to enjoy!
Suggestions have been to take the fast train to Cologne after arriving in Frankfurt on the 13th enjoy that area through the 15th. Work 12/15-18. Then take the train to Switzerland after the 18th through the 21st. I would love any suggestions. Thank you!
How do you like the idea of Christmas Markets? If you do like the idea, I'm sure that Jo and others will chip in with which are the best.
Jo really is your go-to girl for Frankfurt am Main and everything in the vicinity.
Sounds good. a couple of thoughts.
What do you want to see in Switzerland?
Can you fly open jaw into Frankfurt and out of Zurich, or do you need to return to Frankfurt?
Cologne is very nice and I would recommend it.
Either to or from Cologne, consider the "slow" train (IC) that goes along the Rhine through the scenic gorge area. Takes twice as long, but costs less and the scenery beats the view of the median strip of the A-3.
Think about nearby Strasbourg instead of Switzerland since your time is limited.
Ah, I used to live 15 minutes away from Bensheim in Hüttenfeld. God, how I miss that area! Will you have a car?
The Mannheim, Heidelberg, Darmstadt and Frankfurt Christmas Markets will all be going on full swing. I love the city of Heidelberg, but wasn't crazy about their market. Too discontiguous, you don't get that feeling of Weihnachtsmarkt immersion. Mannheim isn't the prettiest city, but I enjoyed their market much more. Frankfurt's is huge and occupies much of the historic Römer section of town. It looked impressive, but I didn't stay very long because my dog was a little overwhelmed by the huge crowd. Darmstadt usually goes all-out for their market, it's well worth your time. The smaller markets, like you would find in towns like Bensheim and nearby Heppenheim and Lorsch are usually open only one weekend, but try to visit one of the smaller markets if you can. Especially if you can go with a group of people you know. The real joy of the markets isn't the merchandise (which is usually rather cheap and the same everywhere), but the outdoor socializing while consuming Glühwein in a scenic atmosphere.
If you'll have a car, definitely take some time to explore the nearby Odenwald and Neckar River Valley. The Odenwald is the forested low mountain region you see immediately to the east of Bensheim... Bensheim sort of sits at the feet of the mountains. There's many scenic towns in the region, the highlights of which are probably Lindenfels (castle ruin on a hill in the middle of town, gives you a spectacular view of the area), Michelstadt (partially walled, it's medieval Rathaus usually features in German travel books that have a lot of pictures), and Erwald. The Neckar River Valley is similar to the more well-known Mittelrhein: scenic towns, and multiple castles as the Neckar River meanders through a steep valley in the Odenwald. The scenic portion runs from Heidelberg upstream to Bad Wimpfen.
Worms is pretty close to Bensheim, but despite it's long history, most of the city dates from after WWII, and isn't that attractive. If you want to see a similar city with an even more impressive Romanesque cathedral and a very pleasant Altstadt, check out nearby Speyer. With a car, the neighboring towns of Heppenheim, Weinheim and Lorsch are worth a quick visit. Don't overlook Bensheim itself, either.
Switzerland isn't as close as it looks on the map. Both driving and by train take several hours, and that only gets you to Basel and the relatively low Swiss Jura mountains. If you're looking for the Swiss Alps, you would have to procede another 45-60 minutes further to even be able to see the Alps on a clear day (which are rare in December), and another hour beyond that to actually reach them. Save Switzerland for when you have more time. The Bavarian Alps are much easier to reach from Bensheim, but still a significant distance if you only have a few days. The closest Alpine resort town is Oderstdorf. I don't know how long it takes by train, but if I timed the drive to avoid Stuttgart's rush hour, I could get there in under three hours.
Rather than head to Cologne after your trans-Atlantic flight, hang around Frankfurt. You can see the market there, including the one in the City Forest by the Goethe Turm or pop over to the one in Mainz, and if you like, there are some smaller ones near by that weekend. The one in Selignestadt is lovely, with a special market inside the Abbey. Marburg or Bad Homburg are also lovely smaller markets.
