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Germany, Austria and Switzerland Itinerary Help

Posted by (Florida) on

Hello,

This is my first post to the Rick Steves travel forum. We are a newly retired couple traveling to Germany, Austria and Switzerland for the first time.
I would appreciate any input regarding my current itinerary that is planned for late August.

Also, would like any suggestion on where I can add 3-4 days to the end of the trip. I would be looking for a destination that would be a contrast from the current itinerary.

Day 1. I will arrive in Frankfurt around 11:00 AM from an overnight flight from the US.
Take the train to Wuerzburg (Overnight in Wuerzburg)

Day 2. Walking tour or self-walk Wuerzburg (Overnight in Wuerzburg)
Day 3. Train to Bamberg (Overnight in Wuerzburg)

Day 4. Rent car (SIXT) at Wuerzburg) train station and Drive to Rothenburg - (Overnight in Rothenberg)
Night Watchman tour

Day 5. Drive to Dinkelsbühl - Nördlingen - Augsburg (Overnight in Augsburg)

Day 6. Return car (SIXT) at the Augsburg train station. Take train to Salzburg
(Overnight in Salzburg)

Day 7-9. (Overnights in Salzburg)
Walking tour of Salzburg
Day trip to Hallstatt

Day 10-16. Take train to Jungfrau Region, Switzerland (Overnights in Wengen)
Visit Lauterbrunnen, Murren, Grindelwald, First, Eiger, Schilthorn, Lake Cruise to Thun, Easy hikes

Day 17-20. Take Train to Lucerne (Overnights in Lucerne)
Walking tour or self-walk Lucerne
Day trip to Titlis
Day trip to Bern
Lake Lucerne Cruise

Day 21. Fly Home or add another 3 days (Preferable a contrast from the current Itinerary)

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Posted by
8879 posts

Congratulations on your retirement and welcome to the forum!

I don’t have any suggestions except to wonder just how important adding an extra 3 days is? When I look at the trip you have planned, it is interesting and at the end of 21 days you will have seen and done quite a few things.

If it is important to add days, I would also consider where you would end up flying out of for your return and how that might impact airfare. You are traveling during a busy period and will want to be making flight purchases/reservations soon.

Posted by
7300 posts

If you really want to add a few days AND want a contrast, Lake Como or Lake Maggiore could work! You would then need to fly out of Milan (Malpensa). If you pick Lake Maggiore - Stresa being the most obvious base town - it would make sense to see Lucerne first, then head to the Jungfrau region, from where the trip to Stresa is relatively short.

Posted by
2980 posts

IF you wanted something a little different, maybe start your trip by heading from Frankfurt to either the Rhine or Mosel. Otherwise, your trip has a lot in it already.

Posted by
8966 posts

Regarding your time in Luzern. Be flexible so that you go up the mountain the first opportunity that is a good weather day. That is, good on top the mountain as it could be different down below. They have live webcams, and your hotel may be tracking for you anyway. Usually the first thing in the morning is best.

Posted by
907 posts

Salzburg to Wengen is a really long day - maybe break it up with an intermediate stop (Innsbruck?). And, since you are already in Lucerne consider doing the Gotthard Panorama Express trip from Lucerne to Ticino (via Lake steamer and rail from the south end of the lake to Lugano). You can catch the fast train all the way back to Lucerne on the same day if you don't want to change hotels.

https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/trains-trips/rail-travel-specialtrains/panoramareisen/gotthard-panorama-express.html

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