Itinerary Help - Germany/Austria/Venice or Prague

You're planned itinerary might be moving a little too fast for seeing cities with such history, culture and art/music. It's virtually impossible to hit all the cities on your list, and your trip be anything but a blur. I've stayed at Bacharach a couple of times, and love the place to stay for a night. But it's not a destination for me. I have also been to Neuschwanstein/Oberammergau/Fussen and were a little disappointed (after all the hype.) Have you considered flying into Munich and open jaw out of Prague? Munich, Vienna and Prague are must see cities, and they're worthy of 4 days of your time. They're easily accessible via trains. Salzburg is a 2-3 day destination. Hallstadt and the lake are absolutely breathtaking scenery.
If you could limit your trip to these Great Cities, your trip will be very satisfying.

This looks like a very quick trip. The train rides can be long and draining. It is best to move around less and stay longer (at least 2 nights). You don't have any down time. Personally, I would skip Venice and Prague, stay in Garmisch, where you can do a day trip to Fussen, Dachau, and see the sights there (a wonderful Gorge and Mt Zugspitz, which is better from Garmisch than Fussen) Stay an extra day in Hallstatt to relax and enjoy the scenery. You are going to spent too much time moving from point A to point B and less time experiencing the land and people.

thank you for the recommendations

I agree with several of the comments posted in reply here: pretty busy itinerary. As for me, I'd take Prague over Venice. The former is still charming and fun, and worth at least 2 days. Venice is touristy and crowded, and not worth more than a day's visit. Have fun!

Thanks to all for your feedback. Based on this feedback and some more research, we have given up the Rhine valley, added a few days to try to stay more in the bigger cities. We are now thinking of this new itinerary. Please provide your thoughts. Munich - 4 nights Salzburg - 3 nights Vienna - 4 nights Prague - 3 nights Berlin - 4 nights With flying into Munich and out of Berlin, the current airfare savings is about $600. That allowed us to add a few extra days and still pay for the extra train fares. thanks,
David

David if you like beer and want to combine beautiful countryside with it, head down to Andechs and visit the brewery. Check Rick's Germany guidebook, but I believe you take the S8 train from the Munich HbF to Herrsching (?? again, don't hold me to my directions). It's about an hour ride. Then you can walk, bus or taxi up the hill to the monastery and Andechs. Arguably the best beer in Bavaria, and the views from the site are magnificent. Worth a 4-5 hour venture. Prosit!
RL

Thanks, Rich. I will keep that in mind...David

Any thoughts to the days for Prague and Berlin. What city would be better for the night?

Both cities will be good. But otherwise the question is like what is better: bananas or oranges? It looks like you are going to visit both so then you will know for sure.

I think your first trip was better - yes, too rushed, and something needed to go, but you had a decent mix of small and large places. Berlin and Munich are interesting places, but since you've cut the Rhine/Mosel and all you're seeing of Germany are those places that were mostly rubble-ized 70 years ago, then you're passing up Germany's old-world charm altogether, pretty much. Even if you are exiting Munich on daytrips (Herrenchiemsee is one hour away, so this can't be done on a "full day" in Munich, by the way!) your original appetite for 800-year-old castles like Eltz and Marksburg and other old-world places is going to be underfed (H'chiemsee and N'stein are late 19th century palaces.) It's unclear how you are getting around with this new plan. If it were my trip, I'd cut Vienna altogether, but I think you probably have some special interest in the place. I suggest you snag one night from Salzburg and another night from Munich or Vienna to spend two days in the Romantic Road towns of Donauwörth, Harburg, and/or Nördlingen, 3 old-world towns huddled close together on the same train line northwest of Munich. D'wörth is about 1.25 hours from Munich's main station by direct train. Donauwörth: www.donauwoerth.de/html/user_en_TouristInfo+TouristInfo.html Nördlingen Harburg

David, You may need a vacation after reading your itinerary....how old are your children? MRB

My daughter will be 16 and full of energy. She loves to travel and has been to over 18 countries. This trip will add three more to the list.