Planning a summer trip prior to a wedding in northern Germany with our 8 and 11 year old daughters. So far the trip involves flying into Munich, then Salzburg with a stop at Bad Reichenfell, then Ljubliana and Plitvice Lakes, and then we must head north. I would like to do it in two overnight-train segments ending in Hamburg, and during the one day a stop somewhere feasible that the children would like. Looking for mainly route suggestions for the trip to Hamburg, and any child-specific info for Plitvice, accomodations etc. Thanks!
Posted by
San Francisco
14507 posts
Hi, Because this is an extremely long route, I would break it up into two legs... by day, Ljubliana (Laibach) to Munich, spend the night in Munich, then take the CNL night train Munich to Hamburg direct. I've done that route, Hamburg-Munich, nice, no problems. had an armchair seat.
Posted by
OP
Florida
2 posts
Thanks Fred, but hoping to go a different route than back to Munich since that will be the way we came. If it possible to get on a sleeper train in Ljubljana and then have a break the following day somewhere interesting but "do-able" in one day, and then another sleeper train the rest of the way.
Posted by
San Francisco
14507 posts
Hi, Got it...you want to return on a route other than going through Munich since you went there the first time. Munich is the junction point (Knotenpunkt) for trunk lines going into Southeastern Europe. Aside from Munich, I would suggest this, if you don't mind veering to the east a bit. Take the day train Ljubliana (Laibach) to Linz, where you can transfer to an ICE to Hamburg (day), or spend some hours in Linz, then take the EN night train Linz-Hamburg direct. I've done part of that route by day, ie., Linz-Frankfurt. The ICE go to Linz from Vienna, then on to Frankfurt Hbf. I'm all for taking night trains going through Austria and Germany but are you sure you want to do that option back to back. The day route Laibach-Linz is more convenient with a single transfer in Salzburg.
Posted by
Stuttgart, Germany
3049 posts
I would really consider adding a flight for one section of the trip, it's going to be very long if not. Budget airlines fly between Germany and Croatia for extremely cheap prices. Ryanair for example flies out of Zadar, Croatia.