Advises needed to travel by rod in Bavaria/Austria

Your tentative intinerary forms a fairly logical circuit loop, but the Black Forest would involve too much back-tracking. Plus, the scenery there isn't that much different (other than the lack of the Alps) from the rest of your trip.

I would point out, though, that your proposed trip could be accomplished much easier and cheaper by rail than by car. With that said, I'll let the rail gurus on this site take over.

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, train is not an option as I am traveling with elders. But I too was having second thoughts about Black Forest after looking at the map.

Just a suggestion - Innsbruk 1 night, Salzburg 2 nights and Vienna 3 nights- these areas I have been to the others I have not.You'll love Austria

Two years ago, my family and I drove from Munich to Prague to Vienna to Salzburg and back to Munich. We spent 10 days on the trip, 2 days in Munich, 3 days in Prague, 3 days in Vienna, and 2 days in Salzburg/Berchtesgaden. We felt that we could have spent an extra day in Munich, but the time that we spent at the other places seemed just about right to us.

It was easy driving between the cities, but I would strongly recommend taking a GPS unit along. They are especially useful once you get within a city and need to get to your hotel from the Autobahn. You can either rent a GPS unit from the car rental company, or purchase one here in the USA and take it along with you. I have a Garmin nuvi that has European maps loaded in it and it works great.

The drive from Munich to Prague was not very scenic, but the drive from Prague to Vienna, and especially from Vienna to Salzburg, was great. I definitely recommend driving on the two lane road that goes along the Danube between Melk and Vienna (on the way to or from Salzburg). The scenery on this drive is great, and you'll enjoy the trip much better than if you were driving on the autobahn between Vienna and Salzburg. I also recommend that you spend some time visiting the monastery at Melk (i.e., Stift Melk).

I hope that this helps.

Penn

Do your 13 days include your day of arrival and departure into Munich or are those in addition to the 13 days?

Considering you only have 13 days of actual travel, I would make the trip to the castles a day trip from Munich. If you want to go to Prague, I would eliminate Innsbruck. It's beautiful country but not possible if you are going to Prague.

Several years ago, I did the Vienna to Prague leg by train. It's a LONG drive. Check with your rental car company that you can take your car into the Czech Republic--there are still restrictions. This is how I might travel.

Day 1 Munich (time change adjustment!)

Day 2 Munich

Day 3 Munich; day trip to castles

Day 4 Munich to Salzburg

Day 5 Salzburg

Day 6 Salzburg to Vienna (long drive)

Day 7 Vienna

Day 8 Vienna

Day 9 Vienna to Prague (long drive)

Day 10 Prague

Day 11 Prague

Day 12 Prague to Regensburg

Day 13 Regensburg to Munich

Day 14 Fly out of Munich?

This itinerary has 3 full days of driving: Salzburg to Vienna, Vienna to Prague, Prague to Regensburg. Look up the driving route and times on www.mappy.com or google maps.

Have fun making lifetime memories!

No, they don't include arrival and departure.

Because you are travelling by car, you can visit the Salzkammergut lake country while driving from Salzburg to Vienna rather than spending an additional half-day in Salzburg and taking a bus or mini-van tour. For what it is worth, we just returned from Vienna and Salzburg. We found Salzburg an absolute delight and would recommend two full days there. Vienna was nice, but for us simply a pleasant Central European city. Looking back, we would have skipped Vienna, spent a bit more time in Salzburg, and spent time in Munich using it as a base to explore Bavaria. However, I will add that driving by car at a leisurely pace from Salzburg to Vienna sounds appealing.

If this is your first trip I would save Innsbruk and especially the Black Forest for another trip or you will be driving forever instead of seeing what you are going there for. I would do Fussen as a day trip with an early start to get to the castles before the tour buses do. From Munich to Prague if you dont want to stop along the way to see another town is a very doable drive at a relaxed pace. Be sure the rental car can go there and stop right after the border to get your driving sticker for the Czech Republic. Its a stiff on the spot fine if you dont have it. There is a little building where you stop to buy it. The drive to Vienna is a good day also and I fully agree that you should take the slow drive between Vienna and Salzburg visiting the Abbey at Melk along the way. The area around Salzburg is absolutely more beautiful than the Black Forest and Innsbruk even though Innsbruk is very nice. This would be a good plan I think. Day 1-try to land in the morning in Munich,pick up your car and drive into the city with a GPS (or you will spend all day trying to find your way around) settle into hotel,get the layout and enjoy dinner.2- Munich. Day 3-Fussen and castles as a day trip. 4-drive to Prague again GPS in the city is a must but park your car once you get there and use local transportation. 5 and 6- Prague..it is awesome with no WWII damage. 7-drive to Vienna. 8 and 9- Vienna. 10-slow drive to Salzburg settle in and go see the old city at night with the lights. It is awesome. 11-Sazburg. 12-drive into the Salzkammergut for the day and see St Wolfgang,Mondsee and maybe Hallstadt. The elders will love this beautiful sight seeing day and take a good camera. 13-by this time you will know what area you like the most and this day can be spent in Salzburg or go up to Eagles nest area if the elders are up to it or drive back to Munich(2-3 hours) for your last day there before flying out. Picking up your car and dropping it off at Munich airport is easy. Have fun.