German cities

Munich

Germany is proud of Berlin, augmented since the wall came down 20 years ago. And Munich is especially popular with Rick Steves and travelers here. Where you go depends on what you are looking for: historic, rebuilt, small in a rural setting? Perhaps you could provide additional info on what you are looking for?

I like to get a feel for place that I have visited. Two days is not enough time for me to get to know a large city. We try to plan two days for small to moderate towns like Regensburg or Würzburg. Bamberg is a favored choice of a lot of folks. Each of these towns have history, culture and sights that would easily fill two days. Two days in a large city is drive-by tourism for us. It might be different for you.

A logical question would be where are you crossing Germany to and from?

Either Munich (although that's not really enough time for Munich) or Rothenberg. Small, but really amazing, and definitely a 2 day stop. If you like old towns (Rothenberg is one of the oldest) and Christmas stores and some great views and history, this is the place to stay. I recommend reviewing Rick's Germany guidebook for restaurant recommendations. We stayed at a place called Hotel Spitzweig (I don't think it's a Rick's recommendation but it was wonderful and the owner was so friendly and the breakfast was incredible and the rooms were large. We were sorry we didn't stay longer!) An absolute must: The night watchman tour, 8pm.

I believe you mean Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The correct name is especially important traveling by train. There are a couple Rothenbergs in Germany.

Ernie, My question is the same as Tom. It would help to know a bit about your travel route, and also something about what you're interested in seeing in Germany?

Munich, but depending on your route, Tübingen near Stuttgart, also Würzburg, Radebau, Torgau, Nürnberg, Heidelberg.... there are so many !

I would do Rothenberg as a first choice for the reasons that the previous poster gave. It was a good 2 day stop and the nightwatchmans tour was great. Second choice is Munich although 2 days is not enough esp with all the really good day trips that are close. If you go to Munich for 2 days however it will get you hooked on the area so you can start planning all the good stuff you will see when you go back cuz I guarantee you that when you see Bavaria and the Salzburg area of Austria you will go back.

The must-see cities because of their global historical meaning are Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich. Rothenburg is not a city, it's a small town that we turned into a kind of theme park to attract American and Japanese tourists.

Obviously a great deal depends on which part of Germany you are crossing. I agree with what Andreas has to say about the cities within germany that are of global importance both in a medieval sense and of course a modern one and which should be on a traveller's itinery for a first visit to a country. I am especially fond of Munich although of course you will get a flavour of Bavarian culture which is very different to the culture in Hamburg or Cologne and certainly no one city could be considered 'typically' German. However I love Rothenburg ob der Tauber and I would recommend anyone make a detour to include it in a tour of Germany if only to give an impression of life here during medieval times. There are other wonderful towns of course which have not had the time and money invested in them to the extent of Rothenburg o d T which are well worth a visit such as Dinkelsbuhl which is not far south of Rothenburg o d T. I would like to add though that I do not have a problem with investments in places like Rot.o.d.T finding it preferable to allowing historical sites to fall into decay.