We are spending 5 days in Amsterdam and have 3 extra days before we started our RS Best of Germany trip in Hamburg on Sept 13. We will take a train from Amsterdam to Hamburg. Any suggestions on where we should spend a day or two?
It looks like the train has stops in Osnabruck and Bremen.
Thank you. Trish
Posted by
California USA
4103 posts
We’ve been to both and would go back for another visit any time. For a first time visit I think I’d choose the larger, historically significant and architecturally stunning Bremen.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7893 posts
I wouldn't look strictly at the train stops. And it depends on your family interests. Because I am interested in contemporary art, I would go to Documenta 15 in Kassel, but that's not for everyone. Like Kassel, Cologne is out of the way for the trip, but worth two or three days, which I can't quite say about Munster, Hannover, or Bremen, each certainly good for a day and night.
I'd also point out that it's six hours straight to Hamburg, but it's also six hours (but much farther) to Berlin, an extremely rich destination. I imagine that there are excellent non-changeable, non-refundable prices 2-3 months in advance to Berlin, if you want to research them on DB. Just an idea, since you asked.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2029 posts
Lubeck!! While not on the direct train route from Amsterdam to Hamburg, it’s a fantastic German city off the radar for most Americans. Lubeck is a historic Hanseatic League city which is one of the most architecturally-intact cities in Germany. It’s a 50-minute train ride from Hamburg and you can easily spend an entire day there or even base yourself there.
Have a great Trip!
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
6985 posts
Lübeck is a great place to visit, but it is really not between Amsterdam and Hamburg. Between Amsterdam and Hamburg I agree about Bremen is a great option.
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
I suggest Münster, ( or Minden, though not directly en route to Hamburg), even more so since the train stops in Osnabrück.
Posted by
Germany
626 posts
Why not spend the extra days in Hamburg? There is so much to see and do in HH, or you can base there and do day trips to towns like Glückstadt or Lüneburg or even St. Peter-Ording. Or go apple picking in Jork (truly underrated). Take a day trip to Helgoland or Bremen or Lübeck or Schwerin.
From a travel perspective it is much simpler to base in Hamburg than to keep transferring, finding luggage lockers, carrying stuff, etc. and there is no way the RS tour will do Hamburg itself justice, let alone its surroundings. But if you are looking at breaking up the train ride for whatever reason, Bremen would be my recommendation.
You haven't mentioned what your interests are, which might help us help you narrow it down.