OK going to Cinque Terra two Octobers ago scared me for life. The tourist were out of control. I've never seen anything like it. And this was OCTOBER. So, that being said next summer would love to rent a car and drive four days or so around the Romantic Road...but the fear of being simply inundated with that kind of tourist experience leaves me anxious. I know in August there are going to be tourists everywhere (I'm one) but CT was absolutely overrun and took away from what would have been a fantastic trip. On the other hand Lake Como a few weeks earlier was delightful. So, what do you think? I'm a teacher so August is my only time..the reason why I was in CT in October was because I had a sabbatical. Not so this year. The other places we are planning on visiting are Copenhagen and Stockholm. Any suggestion would be appreciated. We are a couple..no kids.
Posted by
Honolulu/Seattle, HI/WA, USA
2787 posts
I was in CT again last August and enjoyed the place greatly, tourist and all. If you are going to be traveling in the summer in Europe, like I have done for the last ten years, you can expect to see lots of tourists, especially Americans. I have visited both Copenhagen and Stockholm in the summer and found lots of tourists there also. Good luck and happy travels.
Posted by
Portland
3643 posts
In 2005, we did a house exchange in Copenhagen for 4 weeks, late June to late July. We also visited Stockholm during that time. I don't recall any part of either place being overrun with tourists. Italy, in general, gets much more tourism than Scandinavia; so I wouldn't worry about that part of your trip. I suggest you look back through some of the postings on this site about the "Romantic Road." A number of people have said that there many equally charming but less well-known towns to visit. Haven't been there, myself. Btw, I had the same reaction to the CT as you did.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
What route are you taking from Germany to Stockholm and Copenhagen? I ask because if you're worried about tourist crowds, there are many, MANY substitutes you could take for the Romantic Road towns that wouldn't be nearly as innundated with tour buses as, say, Rothenburg. The Romantic Road is only one of about 100 tourist theme routes that criss-cross Germany, but for some reason, it's the one that gets all the attentino from foreign visitors. Depending on what you had planned, it might fit your trip better to concentrate on central or northern Germany.
Posted by
Paradise
7067 posts
The RR is often an unromantic traffic jam in summer. And yeah - you can easily avoid Bavaria find lots of gorgeous and interesting towns elsewhere, and in northern and central Germany too. For example... these handsome towns aren't far from Hanover: Celle - Hameln - Rinteln - Hildesheim - Goslar A bit further south near Kassel, you'll find Hannoversch Münden with over 700 half-timbered buildings: Hannoversch Münden The "Half-timbered Road" or "Fachwerkstrasse" site is worth your attention: Fachwerkstrasse The "Fairytale" Road or "Märchenstrasse" includes some of the above towns and others as well: Märchenstrasse
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
HA - totally agree. The Romantic Road is ANYTHING by romantic.