5 days in Germany

For a short time from Frankfurt, I would suggest the Middle Rhine (Bacharach, St. Goar, Braubach: Marksburg), Koblenz). If there is enough time you could include Cochem on the Mosel, maybe Köln.

This area is very easy to get around in by train (I've done it myself); a car wouldn't be necessary. If you spend the last night in Bacharach, you are less than 2 hours from the train station.

Heidelberg is also within a relatively short distance. Its at least worth a daytrip, but if you want to see much of the Rhine valley, it probably isn't an ideal home base.

5 days gives you adequate time to see the Rhine and Mosel valleys in a relaxed fashion. Mainz is good for your last night - stay near one of the stations for the 20-min. train ride to FRA - but Mainz is not a great base for exploring the Rhine/Mosel. I'd settle in either in the village of Cochem, Boppard, or St. Goar for a fairly central base.

The area can be seen by train. St. Goar is very good as a base if you use the trains as you can ferry across the Rhine to St. Goarshausen and use the station there to explore the east bank of the Rhine (Marksburg Castle in Braubach is a must-see.) Burg Eltz is excellent as well - it's a nice 45-min walk from Moselkern station, not a problem unless you have health problems, in which case a car might be best. Y

We toured the Rhine in Fall 2006. We loved Bacharach. Letti's pension was the best. She also got rave reviews from other Rick Steves travelers. Her breakfast is over the top and she will do laundry for you for a charge. Bacharach is a quite, midevil town with a castle. It is a quick train ride up to St.Goar and come back on the boat down the Rhine River. We didn't have time but I also wanted to visit the Mosel River valley.

Leslie, unless your flight out is quite early in morning you do have time to get to the airport from Bacharach, but if you want to stay closer, in Mainz, I should suggest Hotel Königshof (www.hotel-koenigshof-mainz.de). It is reasonably priced and just a few minutes walk across the Bahnhofsplatz from the station where you can get a regional train or S-Bahn into the underground station right across the street from Terminal 1 at FRA.

Rick recommends Pension Lettie in his books, but when I was walking around town I was impressed with Im Malerwinkel (www.im-malerwinkel.de).

Re 5 days in Germany
Thanks to all of you who posted replies. This is an amazing network. Hope to be able to help others when we return!
Leslie

Hi Leslie, if you are driving, then i suggest Bavaria. I had no idea how beautiful it was. We went to the wine region, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg and each was as lovely as the other. There are tours from the main cities once you get there and they walk you around the cities esp Nuremberg. Wurzburg Castle was lovely as well as the town centre. Any one or all the cities are really special. Beautiful buildings, cathederals, etc So depending on which direction you want to head off in, hope you get to the lower Franconian area. Happy travelling.

My wife and I stumbled upon Lindau, Germany on the Bodensee last July. It was paradise on earth. We can't wait to go back. We stayed at Hotel Garni Brugger. The hosts were great and the breakfast was wonderful. This stop was the highlight of our first trip to Europe and we hadn't even heard of it until we happened upon it.

Steve

The Bodensee is beautiful. We have stayed in both Lindau and Friedrichshafen. Lovely places.

I would train to Trier (nice town, extensive Roman ruins)then work my way back toward Frankfurt. After Trier, travel at a comfortable pace (use the cheaper but slower local trains) back up the Mosel (Great river lined with small towns and vineyards, Cochem, Burg Eltz), visit Koln (Cathedral, Roman museum, try Kolsh beer) and maybe Bonn (beautiful small city, Bethoven's birth house), then up the Rhine (small towns and castles, St. Goar to Bacharach river cruise, Rheinfels ruins, Marksburg, stay at Burg Stahleck castle hostel).

As said before finishing in the middle Rhine area will leave only a short train ride back to the airport.

Driving in Germany is easy. This trip is an easy one by train, so a car isn't necessary.

This is just one option. Whatever you pick should make sense geographically. Either head West (this trip), South (Bavaria) or North (Berlin is too far but you could find other options) - don't try to do some of each or you will spend too much time backtracking.