Hi everyone,
My wife and I will be traveling to Germany at the end of September for 10 days. We were wondering if we should try renting a car or just doing public transportation. Thinking about starting in Frankfurt and going south to Munich then possibly ending up in Berlin if time allows.
We are airline employees so can fly very economically. Any ideas?
Robert
Between those big cities, train is faster, plenty comfortable, and you don't have to find a place to park it when you arrive. The primary benefit of a rental car would be to reach towns that are not served by train or that have inconvenient connections, or rural accommodations, if you have such destinations in your plan. A German Twin Pass is very flexible to use, allowing you to hop on most trains without reservations, versus advance-discount train tickets (described on the same page) that lock you into dates and times.
You probably know that Oktoberfest in Munich will be from Sept. 20-Oct. 5 this year. If it is in your plans, no problem. But if not, I would try to schedule Munich before or after that time period.
If you only plan to visit large cities, trains make the most sense. If you have an ambitious plan of visiting lots of peripheral cities and towns, go with a car.
If you do decide to use a car, I would pick it up as you leave Munich or afterwards. Driving in most German cities isn't difficult, but Munich is a huge exception.
Germany, with 42,000 km of rail, has the most extensive train system in Europe and the second most dense, second to Switzerland by only 1%. Bavaria, has over 1000 stations, so you can go almost anywhere, plus, the rail system is augmented by a robust bus system, including the German Rail subsidiary, Regionalverkehr Oberbayern (RVO) with an extensive network in SE Bavaria.
It helps to know the fare system. Between advance purchase Savings Fare tickets for longer trips on express trains and day passes such as the Bayern-Ticket in Bavaria for shorter trips on regional trains, public transportation can be economical.
I find I can get to anywhere I want to go by using public transportation, including small towns, which make up 85% of my venues.
Sometimes I go to Germany alone, sometimes with someone, but I am always the one who would have to drive. I like sitting in a train or bus, looking at the scenery, reading, writing my journal, whatever, to watching the road. And I usually save hundreds of dollars in the process.
Lee has a rather extreme view.
Just because you can drive anywhere, including central locations in Berlin, Hamburg and München, doesn't mean a car will be the most efficient way to visit these 3 places.
Just because you can get some crappy bus service to several villages, doesn't mean public transportation is the most efficient way to visit those places.
I think a car fits best tours on smaller cities, or those that involve countryside/mountain locations, where public transportation might reach, but is spotty and slow.
If saving money and using my time more effectively is extreme, I'm extreme, and proud of it.
Don't call bus service you have obviously never use "crappy". I've spent hours on buses in Germany, and always found them to be clean, comfortable, and effective.
There are many definitions of efficient, but taking the least amount of time from point A to point B doesn't necessarily define it. Spending less and using my time effectively (being able to spend 4 hours seeing the scenery, sleeping, reading, writing in my journal instead of having to stare at a road for three hours) seems efficient to me.
If all I want to do is drive a car, I can do that anytime at home. I don't have to spend thousands of dollars on airfare and stay awake all night to do it.
Hi everyone,
Thanks to all the replies, you all have been very helpful. I think we're going to go with public transportation...
Robert,
Hello, it seems like you already received plenty of information, but I'll share anyway. I have been living in Germany for over two years now and recently got rid of my car. As it is convenient for short trips to castles and other locations, a short visit to Germany can easily be done without a car. Personally, I think the public transportation system is phenomenal in Germany. Will this be your first time in Germany? First time at Oktoberfest? If interested, you may want to check out Oktoberfest in Stuttgart, many people I know prefer Stuttgart Oktoberfest over Munich. Just an idea, though. Have fun.
@ Robert,
"...possibly ending up in Berlin if time allows." Exactly. If you do get there, going to the outlying villages in the Greater Berlin area by car gives you alot more flexibility and saves time, such as waiting for the bus, etc., should that be in your itinerary.
Seeing these historical villages/towns in Brandenburg like Wünstdorf, Zossen, Neuhardenberg, Seelow (definitely recommend this if you're interested in a battlefield site and the memorial museum dedicated to it), and the greater Potsdam and Babelsberg area, aside from just visiting Sans Soucci, just to name a few here, a car is quicker. I agree with seeing Munich and Frankfurt during the ten days, (I would too), but just imagine if you had the entire 10 days earmarked only for the Berlin area.
Thanks for the Stuttgart recommendation Beacon, I will consider that when we're there.
Robert
