What would you do in January near-ish Regensubrg?

From Regensberg, follow the Danube to Vienna.

Regensberg > Passau > Linz > Melk > Vienna

Salzburg and Munich are options as well.

Interesting idea. What to do there in freezing January however? Maybe I should hop over to the Austria forum and ask about Vienna and Salzburg....

Vienna
http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/vienna-a-w-vie.htm

Salzburg
http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/salzburg-a-s-salz.htm

Melk
http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/melk-a-n-melk.htm

Linz
http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/linz-a-o-linz.htm

Yes, January will be particularly cold, but not as bitter as in the mountains.
Austria has some great museums and churches. Schonbrunn and Belevedere Palace in Vienna are must sees.

Hi,

If he wants to stay in Germany, I would suggest visiting Regensburg, Ingolstadt, Munich, and Passau. Choose among these.

I wouldn't put either of these in Germany's Top 10 attractions, but because you're going to be nearby in Regensburg anyway, you may as well give them a look.

Just outside of the city overlooking the Danube, Wahalla serves as a sort of "Germanic Hall of Fame". It features busts of famous individuals from throughout Germanic history... I say "Germanic" because it includes many people that we might otherwise describe as "Dutch" or "Flemish".

Overlooking nearby Kelheim (and also the Danube), you can visit the Befreiungshalle, which commemorates the ultimate victory of the international coalition against Napoleon. The building itself is kind of impressive, although there really isn't anything to learn about history here. It just consists of a series of identical statues and various repeating design motifs.

However, if you want to experience German spa culture, the single best place to do this is about an hour south of Regensburg in Erding, the giant Therme Erding complex.

I think Landshut is one of Germany's most under-rated cities, and it's an easy daytrip from Regensburg. Passau didn't quite wow me to the degree I expected it would, but it still makes a very worthwhile daytrip.

Thanks so much everyone! We will do some thinking about these options.

I love to travel in the winter, but I generally stick to larger cities because if the weather turns stormy there is much to do inside. My first choice would be Berlin.

You can get to some interesting, nearby cities by train. I'd recommend Nuremberg, Munich, Landshut and even Pilzen and Prague for an overnight trip. If you are not skiers I too would recommend sticking to cities where there are plenty of indoor things to do.

@ ckroman....If you do go to Kelheim and trek all the way up the Befreiungshalle (I saw it in 1992) to see memorial dedicated to the Allied victory over Napoleon from 1813-1815, keep in mind the history you do take away is an example of presenting one-sided history. Those engagements and battles where the Allies imposed a defeat on Napoleon himself or his subordinates are listed and their dates, such as Leipzig, the Katzbach, Laon, and of course, Waterloo, which in German historiography is called "Belle Alliance" Where the Allies (Russians, Austrians, Prussians) suffered a battlefield defeat, those events are rather conveniently omitted, such as Ligny, Dresden, Bautzen, Montmirail, etc.