I am in the beginning stages of trip planning. 3 couples will be traveling next summer in early June for approximately 2 weeks. After spending quite a bit of time on this site, these are the areas I think I would like to include: Munich, Rothenburg, Fussen, Lake Constance, Berchtesgaden, Garmish-Partenkirchen , Salzburg, Hallstat, Vienna. I am wide open to suggestions! Any thing I am missing or should skip? I know this is too much for 2 weeks but it is a wish list starting point. Also, which legs are best by train or car. Any help would be appreciated.
Posted by
Paradise
7072 posts
That's a lot of places indeed. All your destinations are served by train; except for Hallstatt and Vienna, they're also served by the Bayern Ticket, a daypass for 2-5 at 29€/day; it covers trains and connecting buses. You'd want to get one Bayern Ticket and one Bayern Ticket single if you're all traveling together on travel days - 50€ for your group per day for mostly unlimited travel. Some resources for you: http://www.munich-touristinfo.de/Bavaria-Ticket.htm The "Einfach Raus" ticket - Austria's answer to the Bayern ticket - may be useful there: http://www.oebb.at/en/Tickets/Groups/Einfach-Raus-Ticket/index.jsp Rail lines in Bavaria: http://www.bahnland-bayern.de/content-startseite/streckennetzplan-pdf I'm not a fan of of the overtouristed Neuschwanstein tour, but Füssen is a nice enough place for other reasons. See some real castles in Salzburg (and Hohenwerfen castle and falconry show in nearby Werfen, a 30-min. train ride from Salzburg): http://www.salzburg-burgen.at/en/
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
As for the Einfach-Raus-Ticket, it's valid for 2-5 travelers. Due to some defect in the Austrian mind, not only do they not have a less expensive version for a single person, like the Bayern-Ticket has, a single person can't even use it. So "divide" your group into 4 people with one ticket and 2 people with the other (if a conductor asks). The Einfach-Raus-Ticket costs €28 (for 2-5 people). Much as I like Lindau, on Lake Konstanz, I would skip it. It's just too out of the way. Berchtesgaden is very near Salzburg; if you see one, see the other. Likewise, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Füssen are close, although the best way between them is by bus. I guess I would also delete Vienna because of the distance. If you decide to do it, go from Salzburg, which is on the way.