Itinerary for Germany, Austria and Italy

I definitely don't think you need to add nights anywhere, this is a nice and leisurely trip. 3 nights will be plenty fine for Salzburg. It's a lovely city but the main "sights" are easily covered in a day, so 2 1/2 days will be plenty. I wouldn't add any more. As for Vienna, it is bigger and has more to do than Salzburg so 3 nights at least is a good idea. Another could easily be added based on your interest in the excellent art museums, Hapsburg sights/history, and palaces but I wouldn't say it's a must. I haven't been to Wurzburg yet (well, I took the train through it!) but it does sound lovely. I don't think you're lacking for nights in any place in particular, so I wouldn't necessarily skip it. Hopefully others can give better advice. In fact, if you're looking to add time to your trip, you might want to consider only staying in Nurnberg for one night. Rothenburg to Nurnberg is a short drive (90 minutes tops) so if you got an early start, you'd have nearly a full day in Nurnberg, overnight, then spend the morning there before heading to Garmisch. You can easily take in the main sights of Nurnberg in a nearly-full day plus morning. But stay 2 nights if you want to see one of the big museums or tour the parade grounds. Whether you need more time in Garmisch depends on how active you want to be there. If you're just going to do the zugspitze, 1 night would be fine. Add another if you want to spend time hiking. Not saying you should take a night away from Nurnberg, just that it's entirely possible if you wanted more time at Garmisch or somewhere else. I agree that going to Garmisch then Munich where you'll be dropping off the car makes more sense. Is there a particular reason you want a car for this trip at all?

Thought car would give more flexibility and easy to carry luggage as we tour. Also train to places going requires extra travel time with transfers plus schlepping luggage. Long distance trips to Austria and Italy made more sense by train. Thrifty Rental offers 18.50 euros/day and even with considering petro it was worth convenience. Had difficulty getting fare for train for comparison but didn't think 2 could travel by train for less per day. DbBahn gave times but not fare. RailEurope was more expensive than car unless I was doing something wrong.

Ah, you were on RailEurope, which was the mistake - a common one everyone makes, because it comes up in all the basic internet searches and links. The site you want to compare prices for car versus train is bahn.com. You can buy tickets directly there for every leg of your journey that begins or ends in Germany. You an also use the Austrian rail site of the OBB for journeys that begin/end in Austria. It still might make sense for you to use the car - it depends on your finalized itinerary. But Everything in your German trip can be accomplished easily by train as well. Compare prices on bahn.com, and consider the stress of driving compared to relaxing on a train as well when you factor that in. I live here and I still prefer to get around by train when it makes sense. The system in Germany is dense and fantastic and easy to use. But you might still decide a car makes more sense - that's cool too!

Sarah, Thanks so much for your input. I'll check with bahn.com and also OBB before making decision about car rental. Hubby will be driving and he has driven in Milan and Florence before and he doesn't mind driving. Any advice on the Innsbruck stop on way to Venice? Does it make sense to break up long train ride by stopping there for overnight and seeing one more Austrian city? Any other suggestions? Your help is greatly appreciated. Great to talk with someone who has been there.

The car rental business is plagued by a number of shady agencies. Thrifty is a name that comes up often. Just one of many discussion threads at Tripadvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187337-i301-k3745478-Avoid_Dollar_and_Budget_Terstappen_in_Frankfurt_Airport-Frankfurt_Hesse.html I'd advise against all that driving on day one when you might be jetlagged. I would do the German destinations and Salzburg by train. It would likely cost less than 150€ for my wife and me. If you'd like help comparing your train vs. car options, post your travel dates. I think your trip is a little too rushed. On the Rhine, you'll be surrounded by medieval castles, but it sounds like you've allotted no time to even walk inside one of them. Stay there for at least a night. Then on your way to Rothenburg the next day, stop in Würzburg for the Residenz - the station has lockers for your bags while you visit.

I would drop a night from Rothenburg and add it to Garmisch-Partenkirchen so that you have at least two full days there. You can see just about everything in Rotheburg in a few hours. The reason is that presumably you are there to see the Alps and ascend the Zugspitze. Bad weather can scupper those plans, and if you've only allotted one day, there goes your chance. There's enough to do in the immediate vicinity to keep you busy on a day with low visibility.

Do Garmish then Munich. No need to have the car in Munich - why pay for the 3 days? Looks like a great trip.

Thanks to everyone for your advice. Arriving Frankfurt 21 May around 11:00 a.m. and staying first night in Rudesheim am Rhein. Thought we could have slow afternoon easing over jet lag on 21st and ready for Rhein cruise 22nd , then driving to Wurtzburg afternoon of 22nd. Should we stay one more night in Rudesheim? As suggested we could make stop in Wurtzburg on 23rd on way to Ruthenburg but not stay overnight. Is that better plan? We're now staying 2 nights in Garmish area (Bad Kohlgrub) – Should arrive early in day after leaving Nurnberg so tour some places first day, then full day for touring plus another half day before going to Munich. With 2 half days and 1 full day is this possible: Castles Linderhof, Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau and possibly to Fussen, Obermmergau, Abby Ettal, Garmish-Partenkirchen, Zugspitze & Murnau. Is this too ambitious or should we stay another night in area? If so, can stay only one night in Rothenburg as suggested and add a 3rd night in Garmish area. Appreciate info re rental car companies. I'm still evaluating car vs. train. Has anyone had experience with AutoEurope car rental. They quote with and w/o insurance at $25.80/day w/o. Can get schedule for trains on bahn.com and Austrian train but it says fare on board or something like that...maybe I can't order on line from U.S. It makes it difficult to compare. Based on advice, maybe I shouldn't worry about getting tickets ahead of time and should just buy as we go. Thought it was better price to buy ahead of time. Really appreciate everyone sharing experience and knowledge.

Kyle: You've already received a lot of good information. It appears you're trying to see and do just about everything in your path. With $9 gasoline, travel from city to city is best done by rail. When you get into cities, travel by mass transit. I prefer to rent cars when doing day trips out of centralized locations. I used to rent a car in Europe, and drive as far to as many cities as I could go in two weeks. I was making a mistake. I would return home absolutely worn out, and needing another vacation. I would suggest you pick three cities to spend numerous nights in. Many of your German destinations could be seen out of Salzburg as day trips; including Innsbruck. You could catch a train to Vienna for a long weekend. Then, you could take train and bus southwest out of Vienna to Venice for a few days. Then take the train to Florence, where you could rent a car to do day trips out of the Tuscan Hill Country. If you're only going to be in Rome one night, fly out of Pisa and forget going into Rome. Unless you really have a desire to see Garmisch, it's a day trip form Salzburg via Innsbruck. We're staying 3 to 4 nights each in Florence, Tuscan Hill Country, and Rome next month. Day trips will be out of the Hill Country by car to San Gimgnano, Siena, Volterra and Chianti Wineries. There's just so much to see, so much to remember and we want to take life a little slower.