We have a start (Munich) and finish (Amsterdam) - but what are the best cities to see in between?

Posted by gk2410 on 01/06/14 12:32 AM

We're traveling with another couple to Europe In Early May, landing in Munich early on May 7. We're looking at 4 days in the Munich area with driving trips to Dachau, Berchtesgaden, Garmish / Zugspitz, and Munich itself.

We fly out of Amsterdam on May 20th after spending probably four days in the area, with side trips to area sites and perhaps Antwerp.

We're stuck about the middle, and have discussed Vienna/Bratislava, Budapest, and Prague as possibilities. Travel will be by train, except for the leg to Amsterdam. We are trying to plan as few hotels as possible, but other than that there are few restrictions.

This will probably be our only visit to this part of Europe for a few years so wanted some thoughts on the "must sees".

Posted by Janet

Boise, ID, USA

01/06/14 01:32 AM

2176 posts

I guess it depends on where else you might already have been, but I'm not sure I'd go so far afield. What about the wonderful cities of Dresden and Berlin? Or, even easier, the Alsace (France) area, and Brussels/Bruges?

Posted by David

Huntsville, AL, USA

01/06/14 02:10 AM

8141 posts

GK:

I can appreciate you trying to see as much as possible, however Munich is a great city worthy of 4 days to itself. Remember that the first and last days of your trip are spent getting from and to the airports.

It's assumed that you're also wanting to spend a few days in Amsterdam, another great city before your departure.

Budapest, Prague and Vienna are pretty far from Amsterdam. But Prague is a easy train ride from Munich, and EasyJet.com flies Prague to Amsterdam for very low rates (if tickets are bought ahead of time.)

If you're wanting to tour the countryside around Munich by rental car, I would suggest you make a circle through Garmish, Innsbruck, Salzburg and back into Munich. It's a region of exceptional beauty, and well worth seeing.

Early May is a great travel time, and you should be able to easily book great rooms on the fly if you have a notebook or laptop. I usually make room reservations on Booking.com, the world's largest room reservation system.

Have a great time.

Posted by Lee

Lakewood, Colorado

01/06/14 04:33 AM

19092 posts

You don't need (or want) a car in Munich. Public transportation is cheap and effective. Dachau is a suburb, 40 min from the Hauptbahnhof by S-Bahn and bus. You can do Garmisch-Partenkirchen by train as a day trip (I've done it). You could go to Berchtesgaden as a day trip, but that would not do it justice. I've always spent at least 2 nights there.

There are too many things between Munich and Amsterdam (Rothenburg, Black Forest, Middle Rhine, Mosel, Cologne) to bother to look east. Work your way back to Amsterdam.

Posted by bronwen

maplewood, new jersey, usa

01/21/14 03:54 AM

818 posts

Nuremberg, Bamberg, Heidelberg, Cologne and save a few days for Amsterdam and maybe Delft and Leiden.