Hamburg, Germany Trip

I would listen to Andreas. Northern Germany is a treasure waiting to be explored. I doubt if you will be disappointed by staying in the area. It isn't necessary to run off to Bavaria to see beautiful Germany.

None of those options you listed are viable daytrips... well, maybe you could get a brief, unsatisfying glimpse of Berlin and Amsterdam, but that wouldn't be nearly enough time to explore. To see Paris or Neuschwanstein, you would have to make an overnight trip, as they are simply too far from Hamburg.

There's plenty to see around northern Germany, but because most tourists are drawn to Bavaria and the Rhine, most travel books don't devote as much research to the region. I recommend you find a travel guide at a local bookstore- check it before you buy it to make sure it covers northern Germany (Rick Steves' Germany guide barely even mentions the entire region). The Rough Guide gives the region more attention.

Personally, I particularly liked the understated and underdeveloped charm of some of the coastal areas nearby. Hamburg is a decent enough city, although to be honest, I can't remember much that distinguishes it from many other similar cities.

Edit- I take that last comment back, the waterfront area is quite impressive, especially because only a few large German cities have much a waterfront.

Debra, just because American travel websites only know the Neuschwanstein castle doesn't mean that there aren't millions of sights more worthwhile in Germany. To see an even more stunning castle go to Schwerin. A huge Cinderella-type castle sits on an island in the middle of a lake in old town Schwerin. Visit Lübeck, a gem and finally at least Asian tourists are realizing that that town is so much more worthwhile than those boring Bavarian Alpine towns. Spend time in Hamburg, it IS the most beautiful city in Germany! Visit the Baltic Sea coastal town of Heiligendamm, where one White House type of Urban palace sits next to the other and all are lined up along the board walk down by the beach. It was the setting of the 2007 G8 summit as well. You can day trip to Berlin as it's only just over an hour by bullet train from downtown Hamburg. But both Berlin and Hamburg are Germany's two largest cities and there is soooo much to see...

If you want to use the free beds at your family's house than only day trips will be possible. With that, concentrate your explorations on Northern Germany. There is so much to see! I spent a wonderful weekend in Hamburg and could easily have seen more.

Amsterdam, Paris and the Neuschwanstein Castle are too far for a day trip.

Berlin is feasable for a day trip as mentioned. However, this is a metropolis that deserves more time. You need at lest 2-3 days to scratch the surface.

Rick Steves won't help in this case but you should get yourself a different guide book that does include Northern Germany and you'll see tons of great destinations. And I'm sure your son-in-law can add his secret gems as well.

Thanks for all your replies. I did not state my full thoughts in my original post. What I meant to say by "day trips" was could we see the cities themselves in a day. I was thinking of a day in Berlin, then down to the castle and then over to Paris. With the thoughts of taking a train from place to place with hotels along the way..but only wanting to use 4 days max for the trip. Then I did think that Amsterdam could be a real day trip. But upon reading the replies, that even seems like too much.
For the experienced travelers in Germany... Is there anyway to see Paris or Amsterdam if we cut the castle trip out?

Debra: Tthis train schedule website will help you understand why everyone is telling you the same thing: that day trips to Paris, Amsterdam, and Neuschwanstein Castle, from Hamburg, are not feasible train schedule site. Unfortunately, travel times by train within Europe are a geographic fact of life that can't be compressed or overcome simply with the application of will power.I just now read your most recently reply. You're the only one who can decide how you want to travel. We're volunteers here and can't plan an entire, complicated trip for you--and even if we could, you wouldn't want us to have all the fun, right?:)A suggestion is: To think realistically about the feasibility of the excursions you have in mind, you'll need to spend some serious time at the websites described in this topic, click here to go there Doing that will get you pointed in the right direction. Another thing that may help: this website has a huge amount of helpful information, click around it to find this; and also go here to see how easy it is to search for prior discussions that may help click here to learn how to search our archives.After you spend some time doing your homework and planning your trip, don't hesitate to come back here with specific questions that you can't answer yourself.

Debra, you can do Berlin in a day if you're OK with just getting to see some of the main sights from the outside. Pack light for that day as you'll be doing a lot of walking! You'll arrive at Berlin Hauptbahnhof from where you can walk across the Spree river to the Reichstag building, the famous German parliament building with that roof construction that covers a lot of the guide books. The world famous Brandenburg gate is right next to it so is the Adlon hotel from where Michael Jackson once dangled his kid down a window... Take a cab to the Berlin cathedral (Dom) and walk around Museum island (great old architecture, and new one). Continue walking towards the Telecom tower, locate the red brick townhall building. From there take a cab, underground train or Bus to the KaDeWe department store, visit the food plaza and then walk down KuDamm (the Champs Elysees of Germany). Pass the world famous Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche (ruins) and take an S-Bahn from Bahnhof Zoo back to the Hauptbahnhof from where your ICE bullet train will bring you back home to Hamburg. I don't know why people are so crazy about Paris but I assume Americans just love to be treated in a rude, arrogant manner, pay $20 for a tiny glass of water or soda etc... But check with airberlin.com and easyjet.com for a daytrip to Paris. But again, Lübeck and Schwerin are so much more worthwhile... Here you go: http://www.schwerin.de/?internet_navigation_id=4&internet_inhalt_id=2923

I have re-thought my original post.

Not knowing where things are and what there really is to do...makes it hard. You are correct in serveral things.. the internet does promote the "tourist" places and not much on the northern part of German and the Paris thing... why do we Americans want that? lol I have googled the places mentioned in here and I will be making better choices for my time in Europe. Like I said in the original post..wanted to know if it was realistically possible and the resounding answer was NO. Even if it wasn't the answer I thought I would get, I am glad I got the answer, becasue now I can make good solid choices and quit wasting my time trying to fit everything in.

Debra: Thank you for letting us know that we helped!

You have a great opportunity, most tourist scramble to see the sites and miss the cultural experience of spending time with people who live there.

Let the family suggest places to visit in the area. You will have a better time than traveling too long to see too little of other places. My visit to Hamburg was to visit my wife's cousin. He showed me around. Northern Germany isn't heavily touristed (except maybe Hamburg), in July it will be much more enjoyable than the crowded touristy sites.

One good thing about Germans, if you tell them what you are interested in, they will do a great job of showing it to you. Unlike my Italian friends, left to their guidance I wouldn't have seen anything because "we can always do that tomorrow".

I'll agree with many that have posted here - Northern Germany is a great, unexplored destination for Americans. We hear so much about Barvaria, the Munich area, and even Berlin but no one ever talks about the northern portion. I am lucky enough to go there about once a year about 1.5 hrs north of Hamburg.

One of the best things is that there's no American tourist. You are a true foreigner. Dont worry, for the most post every one speaks English. I would suggest St Peter - Ording (especially Dunen Therme for swimming), Busum - a quaint fishing port on the North Sea, and Husum. Blend in with the locals and have fun. For a bit farther journey, try taking the train to the island of Sylt.