What's the minimum days to see these places ?

That's a lot of ground to cover. I'll try to comment on those places with which I'm most familiar. One caveat is that I like to stay in fewer places for longer periods of time than a lot of people, so I'm going to advocate that you not try to do so much. I like to slow down while "on holiday" and traveling about too much makes things too hectic for my tastes, so keep that in mind when you read this.

The Rhine area is really nice. I love to stay in Bacharach while there. ST. Goar is great to visit, with my favorite castle (Rich Steeves' fav is I believe Burg Eltz, which is further south slighty off of the Mosel River). I like St. Goar's castle because it's in ruins, with some parts still intact, and you can simply wander all around in it. The town is neat, too.
If you like to bike, then the area is great for biking, with a dedicated bike path that runs along the river/train tracks (with a few short parts on the main road). I'd give the area at least three days, maybe four, but that's just me. Definitely take a Rhine cruise, too. If you have a car, you can drive to the Mosel river area, which is very nice, as well, and visit a few towns there.

Munich is worth at least two days, but I'd say four (with a visit to Neuschwanstein castle as a day trip). It's a wonderful city to roam around and explore, with lots to do and see. Neuschwanstein is great, but it was a bit of a letdown inside. If I ever go there again, I'll just stomp around the grounds and admire all the great views.

Frankfurt wasn't that great when I was there (at least 12 or so years ago, though), and Rothenburg is certainly worth a day trip, but I wouldn't stay there for more than one day, as you can walk all about the town and see everything in a day.

I'll let other people comment on the other places.

Hope this helps.

Rhine Rive cruise needs one FULL day (to not be rushed) and one night in St Goar or Bacharach. Same for Rothenberg. Romantic Road best parts are Wurzburg and Rothenberg since you do not plan to drive. Wurzburg needs two full days to do it justice. Munich area 3 full days. Baden Baden one full day and night. Don't overlook Heidelberg. Hope this helps. TC

This German Itinerary page gives you an idea of about the fastest way you can see these areas. These should sync with the "Planning your time" notes at the start of each chapter in Rick's books. With limited time, Frankfurt would not make the cut for most of us, unless you're using that airport.

Regarding doing the first 4 items in 6-7 days, the Black Forest is not likely to fit into that time, even if it's just a one-day drive-through, and it's not a great destination by train. If you're interested in Munich's museums, you could easily spend several days there.

Frankfurt has so much more than what some people on this forum realize. One of Germanys oldest and most important cities and it gets written off with a quick shrug. Center of Jewish culture for centuries, designated site for the election of the Holy Roman Emperor since 1354, and coronation city since 1556, the Karmeliter Cloister has the largest religious wall paintings north of the Alps, it is the site of the first German Parliament, birthplace of Anne Frank, home base for the Berlin Airlift and the currency reforms both the DM and the Euro, has one of the oldest churches in Germany (850AD), and of course wonderful farmers markets downtown and the Klein Markt Halle.

Actually for much of what the OP wants to do they could use Frankfurt as a hub. The Rhine cruise, go over to Büdingen (an hour away by train) rather than Rothenburg, and even Würzburg is an easy train ride away. Rather than Baden-Baden, visit some of the baths in Wiesbaden or Bad Homburg. Then head down to Munich.

Best parts of anyplace are all a personal matter of taste. Please come visit again, Laura. :-)

"Black Forest should be out - you don't have enough time and frankly there isn't much to see."

Written by someone who hasn't really been there. I've spent close to a month in the Northern Black Forest and enjoyed it immensely. Baden-Baden isn't so great, but the interior of the Forest is - quaint little towns, nice, traditional spas, lots of hiking trails.

"Is it possible do the first 4 above within a total of 6 - 7 days ?"

No! No! and No!

I would say that Rothenburg, Munich, King's castle would take five days plus travel time, figure a week.

"Romantic Road?"

I spent five days on the Road, most of the time in the towns. The Road itself is boring, it's the towns. If you are not going to spend 2-3 days, at least, forget it.

Thank you for your replies.
I will follow RS guide. I compared with many others and I find his itinerary suits me well although I don't understand his choice for France and Brussels.
Looks like it's doable with Munich and Castle 3 days, Rhine and Castle 1 day, Rothenberg 1 day, Wurzburg 1 day. Baden Baden or Fussed 1 day if I am on my way to or from Switzerland. If I do fly in or out at Frankfort, I will add in a day.
I may most likely use Eurail and miss Frankfurt.

st,

Regarding the cruise between Bacharach and St. Goar, you can do that in a few hours. If you're staying in Bacharach, the KD cruises dock is an easy walk from the town. The cruise takes longer in one direction than the other, due to the river currents. Was it Rheinfells Castle that you were thinking of?

For the "Mad King Castle" (Neuschwanstein), the easiest solution is to stay in Munich and do that as a day trip. You can either make the time-specific castle reservations on your own, or take an organized tour with a firm such as Radius Tours. Rothenburg ODT is not really a "day trip" from Munich due to the transportation times involved, although it can be done. Better to spend at least one night there.

Thanks Ken,
I believe that is the Castle mentioned in RS guidebook. I don't have it with me now but the name is quite similar.

Rheinfels castle is a ruins, located in St. Goar. To see an intact castle, you have to go to Braubach to the Marksburg castle. Marksburg is the only castle on the Rhein that wasn't destroyed and rebuilt. It has been preserved as it was hundreds of years ago by the German Castle Association. To get to the Marksburg from St. Goar, cross the river on the ferry to St. Goarshausen and take the train 21 minutes to Braubach. (Or if coming down the river from Bacharach, get off at St. Goarshausen.)

BTW, Eurail is not a means of transportation. It is a cooperative effort by most European national railroads to package and market rail passes. In Germany, rail travel is by German Rail (the Bahn).

What is "Fussed"? If you mean Füssen, you already mentioned seeing the "castle" with Munich. That probably means Neuschwanstein, which is just outside Füssen.

st,

If you want to visit Rheinfells Castle, as I recall transportation is provided from St. Goar (you can faintly see the passenger cars hitched on behind this vehicle). It's been a few years since I was there and I'm assuming this method is still being used?

When visiting the Castle, I vaguely remember that it's a good idea to pack along a flashlight / torch as some areas aren't well lit.

Thank you Lee and Ken,
I plan only that castle as RS mentioned only that it if time is limited. I will check out on the others if my schedule can fit in. Yes Fussen is what I meant. I meant using the trains with a Eurail Pass as I travel other places of Europe too.

One more question on the Rhine. Is it worth spending a few more hours to see the best part by both train and boat ? Or is it better to choose one and save those hours to visit other places ?

From Frankfurt, take the train that runs once an hour from track 23/24 at 07:53, 08:53, 09:53, etc. up the right side of the Rhine to Rüdesheim. Get on your ship there and take it to St. Goar. This gives you the best view of all of the castles along the Rhine.

Burg Rhinefels is certainly more than just a "ruin". Sort of like saying the Coliseum is just a ruin. It was the mightiest fortress on the Rhine and for me, far more impressive than the Marksburg. The great hall blows me away every time I walk into it. The towers, the tunnels, the views, are all magnificent. You can see both Burg Rhinefels and the Marksburg if you have the time, which you don't really have. Just take the ferry across the river to St. Goarshausen and continue your journey by train to Braubach.

My two cents:

1. roughly 1 hour for the cruise, a few hours for Marksburg castle and a few hours for Rheinfels ruins. Overall too much for one day.
2. half day in Rothenburg - as a minimum, arrive late afternoon, take the nightwatchman's tour, stay the night, get up early and explore, leave before 10 am.
3. Romantic road - just pick the towns you want to see (for us Dinkelsbuhl, Nordlingen, Rothenburg and Wurzburg) and use the autobahn between. There's really nothing to gain by driving a country road that isn't particularly scenic.
4. Black Forest - never been.
5. Frankfurt - a city that was rebuilt as a modern place. Fussen, nothing there but the castles - stay the night so you can get to the castles before the crowds. Wurzburg, one night and about a whole day to see the sights (my favorite city on the Romantic Road, by far the most to see).

Hi,

Based on your itinerary above I would suggest keeping Frankfurt on it, dropping Baden Baden and maybe Basel too.

Thank you again.

The majority of the old neighborhoods in Frankfurt, built end of the 1800's, beginning 1900 are intact and did not get bombed. These are lovely, residential areas, with lots of parks, trees and beautiful architecture. There is even a neighborhood, Höchst, that is now part of the Half-Timbered route that goes through Germany and here you will find one of the oldest churches in Germany, the Justinus Church, built in 850.

It is a common misconception that Frankfurt was completely flattened in the war. What was bombed was the inner core of the city, but many of the old stone buildings survived and have been restored. The medieval churches especially, like the Kaiserdom, Deutsche Orden, Alte Nikolai, St. Leonhards, and the Karmeliter Cloister. It is well worth a visit, and hopefully, if Brad ever comes this way again, we can meet for coffee and I can show him around.