Munich or Heidelberg

Might depend upon the time you have - Heidelburg is a very nice town, but can't see more than one day there. Munich has a lot more to offer.

For me it would depend on how long you have. Munich is a large city and I have trouble getting much out of a large city over a short time period. To only hit the high spots, might reward some folks but I find it unsatisfying.

We'll have two nights

We were planning two nights in Strasbourg two in Germany, however we could change to one night in Strasbourg and three in Germany. Thoughts? I have never been to either one.

For that itinerary, Munich is a little too far out of the way. I would go for Heidelberg and the surrounding area.

However, the touristy bits of Munich are in a compact area, so you can see them in two days and get a flavor for the City- beerhalls, Viktuellen market, main Cathedral and shopping precinct. Just wont have time to burrow into their many museums. They also have introductory walking and bus tours

If you've never been to Germany, I wouldn't take the extra travel time to go to Munich. I like Munich a lot, but in some respects it's just another big city. Heidelberg is worth one good day, but there are a lot of quaint little towns in the area. Or you could do two days on the Rhine River (my choice.) Strasbourg is nice; I wouldn't shorten that.

Munich's too far. Just across the border from Strasbourg at the perimeter of the Black Forest, there's an attractive cobblestoned village called Gengenbach, which still has dozens of half-timbered buildings and old walls and towers. From there, it's a simple daytrip by train to Heidelberg or to the High Black Forest villages (Schiltach, Hausach, Gutach, Triberg) which are even closer. Copy the link below to check out accommodations in Gengenbach and other BF towns: www.bensbauernhof.com/accommodationsschwarzwald.html Staying in Gengenbach and other BF towns allows you to use the trains, including the scenic Black Forest Railway, at no charge; hosts issue a "konus" card when you arrive: www.blackforest-tourism.com/konus

So much comes down to personal taste and what you like in travel. I have made 3 trips of two days each to Munich and came away dissatisfied. For me its principal tourist sights were bigger, not better. I think that I would like to get to know its neighborhoods and Englischer Garten but 2 days would not be enough for that. You may love two days in Munich. I did not really enjoy it that much. There are several other towns in Germany where two days would be better spent for me, cities I could get a real feeling for. I have visited Heidelberg on numerous work occasions and think I would enjoy 2 days there.

Strasbourg...A one night town or two?

I absolutely love Strasbourg but one night is probably enough. Not much to do there.

Well, I think we have it. One night in Cologne and one night in Strasbourg.
Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions. It helped tremendously!

Cologne? Really? It has the cathedral and some interesting museums, but it was mostly flattened in the war it wouldn't be my first choice for a look at Germany.

Well... it's a lot closer than Heidelberg & Munich. I'm open to any other suggestions. From what I'm gathering, I won't be able to see much of anything no matter where I choose. Some suggested places were too far by train. Russ, are you suggesting Heidelbergh over Cologne? I'd like to know what you think.

Also, we're leaving in two days and I have nothing booked other than London...

Cologne has some very lovely old neighborhoods, some beautiful parks, great museums, a fun little Alt Stadt. For one day or night, one can have a nice time there. Theatre, concerts, clubs, it is part of what is Germany today. The "entire" city was no more flattened then the entire city of Frankfurt, though that is what many people think. Would one recommend that people not go to London because it was flattened in the war? Not go to the Forum in Rome because it has been reconstructed? No, because it really doesn't matter. There is nothing wrong with reconstruction if it is accurate, using the materials that were there, putting a new roof on, replacing windows. That is what most of the cities in Germany had to do. Sure the city centers might have been more badly hit than the rest, but therefore, most of the neighborhoods are pretty much original. I would recommend visiting Frankfurt, but someone will tell you not to go there either, that there is nothing to see here. That it is only new buildings and not "really" German. Heck, Rick says not to visit Mainz or Heidelberg and IMHO both cities are great places to visit. Look online at the places you would like to visit and don't let people disuade you simply because they themselves haven't found things that interested them or haven't spent much time in those cities. The things that interest me, may not interest you, so you do need to find your own plan to a certain extent.

"Well... it's a lot closer than Heidelberg & Munich." Heidelberg is much closer to Strasbourg than Cologne. I've been to Cologne several times. I certainly didn't intend to offend anyone about Cologne, but it is JUST OK IN MY OPINION and alone not so interesting that it's worth traveling there from Strasbourg. If the Black Forest towns don't appeal, and you have some interest in Heidelberg, I would go there in lieu of Cologne. H'berg's old town has a pleasant old-world feel to it, and the castle is fairly interesting. You might also enjoy a little outing up the Neckar River from there; the towns of Bad Wimpfen and Hirschhorn make good stops (Hirschhorn principally because of the castle-hotel there with an outdoor terrace-restaurant view of the river valley.) http://www.german-castles-road.com/schlosshotel-hirschhorn/index.html

About Cologne, I've been there once and probably wouldn't want to spend more than a day there. The cathedral is spectacular. However, my brother went to Cologne with the idea of moving on to other towns. He had such a good time, that he never left Cologne.

My thought on Cologne was... it cuts my travel time by 2 hours vs. Heidelburg, enabling me to explore more of the city. Perhaps Heidelberg is worth the extra two hours, perhaps not, we'll see. Either way, I'm broadening my horizons.
Thanks again for all the info.

I have been to both and would not return to Cologne again but have been to Heidelberg numerous times. I found it to be charming while Cologne felt much more like a 'big city' although the cathedral was amazing. Loved walking around the Castle in Heidelberg, shopping, eating goulash suppe. Wonderful pedestrian shopping areas...maybe I missed something in Cologne. Love Strousburg as well.

I am not that familiar with Cologne (Köln), having only visited the cathedral. However, Michelin Green Guide, my favorite guide, gives it a top rating of three stars with 13 pages of things to do. I can not believe that it is chopped liver just because I have not bothered to explore it. I like Heidelberg, Mainz and other places along the way if that fits your plans. Still, I bet that you could find plenty to do in Köln with a little research, if that fits your plans a little better.

I'd do Heidelberg and Rothenberg ob der Tauber...but whatever you choose, I'm sure it will be enjoyable.