Germany-Prague planning help

A few comments. Reutte might be the most perfectly ordinary town ever to be written up in a guidebook. Although there is nothing wrong with it, as such, there are far better places to stay in the region, particularly if your sons want some nightlife. I personally find Fuessen a bit uber-touristy, but it is probably a much more interesting town to stay in.

On day 5, the Black forest region is a little too far away and too large for a satisfying day trip from the Bavarian Alps. Hall would be an easier daytrip than Salzburg, but in this one traveler's opinion (others will surely disagree), Hall is pretty dull. I can only imagine how two college-aged males would react to it!

Although I don't think Prague merits as much time as some other major European cities, only one full day is probably not enough.

Hi Rosanne,

Bacharach is about 90 min or so from Frankfurt airport. Driving to Burg Eltz is doable, depending on when you get into Frankfurt and how you feel after getting to Bacharach. I'd opt for seeing Marksburg castle (on the Rhine) if you want to see a great castle on your first your day. Fantastic, 700 yr old, original castle. Never destroyed.

www.marksburg.de

I have to agree with Tom about Reutte. I think a 20 and 21 yr old would find staying in Fuessen much more interesting.

On your open day 5, how about the cable car to the top of the Zugspitze? You can take the Zugspitze cable car from Ehrwald, Austria, less than an hour drive from Fuessen.

Paul

Rosanne, how exciting to travel as a family, once again. For the most part, I like your itinerary. There's a lot of variety and diversity in the cultures. Just a few notes. For Day 1, once you are settled in at your hotel in Bacharach, I would take the boat to St. Goar, walk up and tour the Rheinfels castle ruins, take the boat back, have dinner, wine and relax. You could also walk up to the castle above Bacharach. Day 2 take your trip to Burg Eltz before heading to Rothenburg--take the Nightwatchman's evening tour. As others have noted, there are other towns beside Fuessen/Reutte to stay in. I prefer to stay in Lermoos, Austria where there are breathtaking views of the Zugspitz. The luge in Biberwier, a few miles from Lermoos, is my 18 yr. old son's favorite for the length and the speed at which he can go. My husband has scars showing how much he enjoyed it! There is a lot of hiking available in the local mountains--the lifts run in the summer taking you up the mountains. Others on this forum have said great things about also staying in Pinswang, Austria. You can check out these towns on their website (www.lermoos.at or www.pinswang.at).

On Day 5, you could stay another day in the area or drive to Munich or Salzburg. Check out Rick's tour books for things to do in each city. Munich--beergarten, Deutsches Museum (science), BMW museum, etc. Salzburg--more beer, castle, churches.

It's a long train ride to Prague--the next day will be busy but doable depending on your interests.

Have fun on your trip making lifetime memories with your sons.

Good destinations, but I have to rain on your itinerary parade a bit. It's too much ground in too little time, especially if you're accustomed to setting up in one place for a while. You have just 3 nights in Berlin and that includes a day with a 5-hr. train ride from Prague, leaving little time for a city that usually requires 4 full days. Driving to Füssen from R'burg takes 2.5 hours minimum, but that includes no time for seeing other towns in the area. Even your first 2 days on the Rhine are rushed; you'll be driving jet-lagged and seeing Burg Eltz on Day 1? It's 2 hours to Eltz and then back to Bacharach requires another hour.

Here's an itin with fewer stops:

Day 1: Don't drive: train from FRA to Rothenburg (or Nuremberg, which has a lovely old town area but is not so touristy and is better than R'burg for your sons if they want to check out a pub, hear some music, or hit a beer hall.)

Day 2-3: Do daytrips. Get a car in Nuremberg or Würzburg if you want to drive, but it's easy and cheap by train on a "Bayern Ticket" daypass, 28 Euros per day per group of 5. Spend a day in Rothenburg. Visit the Residenz palace in Würzburg (also possible on Day 1 on the way to N'berg or R'burg.) W'burg has some nice outdoor pubs along the Main River. Weikersheim has a cool palace too. Go to Bamberg - a wonderfully-preserved city with some cool brewery-pubs and few tourists.

Day 4: train to Prague, days 4-6 there

Day 7: Train to Berlin, days 7-10 there. Catch pm train to the Rhine on Day 10.

Day 10: Train to the Rhine. Leave around 4 pm, arrive by 10pm or so in Koblenz. Days 11 & 12: daytrips. Get a car if you like, but Bacharach, St. Goar, and Eltz are easy and cheap (daypass) by train from Koblenz, the train hub for the area. Or see Bach & SG on Day 11, then move to gorgeous Cochem (near Eltz) for 2 nights. FRA is <2 hrs. from Cochem or Koblenz.

Füssen: not worth the time and distance. Overtouristed. Residenz in W'burg is a good alternative.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! exactly what I wanted. Russ, I really like the itinerary you suggested - didn't know it was feasible to put the big cities in the middle of the trip. Great idea. Thanks!

The Night Watchman tour in Rothenburg is a BIG yes. Also, near Salzburg is the Salt Mine tours. Fun fun and different. You go underground and there are original miners slides and an underground lake with a boat crossing.

The night watchman's tour sounds good, don't think we'll make it into Austria this trip. Looks like we will head to Prague on day 4.

Should we spend one night in Munich? The boys would like to see the BMW museum, has anyone been there?