Help me plan my next trip to Germany?

Question

I'm relatively familiar with Bavaria and I've been to Berlin once before. I'm in the early stages of planning my next trip for May or early June of 2008. I'm in my 30s and I'm not looking for clubs or nightlife. I'm interested in shopping, eating and sightseeing. Right now it looks like we'll be starting our 2 week trip around the Garmisch area and from there I want to head North towards Berlin. I want to end my trip in Munich and I want to also visit Warnemuende, Bremen and Rotheburg odT. Fill in the blanks for me. What else should we see along the way? Rhine River Valley? Black Forrest? Where should we stay in Berlin? I want to see the KaDeWe and go to the Bundestag. What else? Dresden or Leipzig? Should we stop in Postam? Any hotel recommendations under 100 Euro per night? What cool restaurants have you been to? I like the the local german foods (not looking for Italian or Greek in other words).

Answer 1

So you'll be starting in Garmisch and then you want to work your way north toward Berlin and then end the trip in Munich? You'll criss cross the country. I take it you're flying out of Munich I guess. Anyway, if shopping is your thing you should give Frankfurt a try. Fantastic shops and great restaurants. Frankfurt is also the new architectural capital of Germany and offers the starkest contrasts between the new and old Germany. Great museums as well.

Also in Hessen, take a trip along the Weinstrasse. It's kind of like Germany's version of Napa Valley. Basically, it's a two lane state road that winds its way through central Germany's wine country. The idea is to stop in each little town, sample the local wine and food, and move on. It's a great way to spend a day...or two, depending on how much you indulge.

I would also say that Heidelberg is a definite must see! It's a gorgeous town with a very interesting history and a great castle.

Trier is an old Roman town with significant archaeological treasures and Roman ruins.

Bad Homburg in the Taunus mountains north of Frankfurt has excellent spas and thermal springs and is a very relaxing way to spend a day.

Can't think of too much else, but it has been my experience that the most non-typical tourist towns I have visited in Germany have always made for the most memorable vacations. It's a great country, indeed. Enjoy your trip!

Answer 2

I have been to Germany twice and can say it's a lovely country to visit. Your plans cover a wide area...with Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the southern end of Germany and Warnemünde, right up north on the Baltic Sea, not far from Rostock.

Train travel is the best way to travel between town and cities and you may want to purchase a train pass (German Rail Pass) of some kind, which should save you some dollars. However, if travel between towns is short, then a point to point ticket is the best option.

Some of my favourite towns/cities include...

Rothenburg ob der Tauber...there are many hotels/pensions available in this lovely 12th century medieval town. You should be able to find a very good room for less than €100 per night. Highlights are, a walk along the old town wall, a climb up to the top of the town hall tower, and a visit to the criminal museum and city museum.

Heidelberg is lovely...but has limited attractions other than a visit to the castle ruins, a walk across the Old Bridge and maybe a 204 step climb to the top of the cathedral's spire for lovely views over the city. You can also select from a number of Rhine cruises.

Würzburg, with it's huge palace...the Residenz and gardens, and the lovely walk up to Marienburg Fortress for beautiful views over the city.

Bamberg, Lubeck, Hamburg etc etc.

Some other towns or cities to consider (which I would like to see on my next visit) are...

Regensburg and Marburg, for their castles and other attractions.

Potsdam..Sanssouci Park etc

Really, there are so many interesting places to visit, it's hard to mention them all. Only you can know what interests you and what sort of things you would like to see.

I would suggest you get a good book on Germany (Lonely Planet is excellent). It has lots of information about the various cities and attractions, maps...and hotels & restaurants...

Check out some of the links below...and also every city should have it's own website, so just do an online search...

hope you have fun...

Answer 3

Two weeks isn't much for adding any more sights to your itinerary, but I'll try:

- go westward from Garmisch, pass Lake Constance and head to Schaffhausen / Switzerland for the Rhine Waterfall

- Basel / Switzerland

- Freiburg / Black Forest - take a ride on the cablecar to Schauinsland mountain: on clear days you can see as far as to the alps (300 km away), besides a marvelous view on the Rhine Rift with Kaiserstuhl and the Vogesen (Vosges mountains?) in France.

- Strassbourg: see the cathedral

- Rastatt: castles

- Bruchsal: castle

- Speyer: one of the 4 oldest cathedrals; some german emperors are buried there

- HEIDELBERG: Old Bridge and castle - this is a "must see"

- Worms: another of the 4 cathedrals

- Mainz: next old cathedral: maybe visit Wiesbaden and Frankfurt

- Rhine River Cruise down to Cologne passing famous Loreley Rock - the Rhine Valley is an UNESCO world heritage of nature - another "must see"

- Cologne: fourth important cathedral

- Bremen

- Hamburg - the best city in Germany with Germany's most important port: take a Hafenrundfahrt (boat tour); if you like fish eat at the Fischerhaus 2nd level having a good view on River Elbe and the port

- Lübeck: old hanseatic city

- Schwerin: a marvelous castle

- Rostock / Warnemünde

- Berlin

- Potsdam: Sansssouci castle, world heritage! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanssouci

- Dresden

- Nürnberg (Nuremberg)

- Rothenburg ob der Tauber

- Regensburg

- Munich

For some information on the cities my first advice is using http://en.wikipedia.org : just type in the name and you will get also some pictures and many further links.

I'm sure this is far too much for 2 weeks; you will have to set your priorities yourself - or stay longer if possible ;-) You won't regret it!

Answer 4

Ok, there are a few things I may be able to help you with:

- definitely go to Warnemuende, it's gorgeous! We once stayed at the hotel Germania http://www.germania-warnemuende.de/, which is ok, nothing fancy and a tad worn. But it was clean and the location is very good.

- Bremen: excellent idea, lovely city for a stroll. If I were you, I wouldn't plan any big museum-type sightseeing and just walk the streets in the city center taking it all in - there's loads of pretty architecture to see

Potsdam: definitely go - visit Sanssoucis Castel and the gardes, but also the Dutch quarter in the actual town of Potsdam. If you manage to get a good deal for your room, I can recommend the NH Voltaire http://www.nh-hotels.com/nh/de/hotels/de... which is right in the Dutch centre, a very nice place and friendly service.

- Leipzig is pretty, but Dresdenis supposed to be even better (I've never been there)

- In Berlin, take a boat trip on the spree, that's great in summer. Oh, and go to the Mauermuseum at Bernauer Straße, excellent place (and free!).

- And if you do travel along the river Rhine, make sure you visit Cologne. It's a magnificent city steeped in history (Cathedral! Roman remains! Romantic churches!), but also has loads of individual little quarters that are very contemporary and bustling with students and young families and has cafés and small restaurants all over the place. There's a great vegetarian restaurant called Grünlilie (the street is called Weyertal, it's in Köln-Sülz) woth checking out, even if you're not a veggie their food is excellent. Alternatively, there's Tabula Rasa (Hansaring 131), a bit more pricey but not much, and very inventive in its menu as well as its decoration.

Oh, can you tell I'm getting really homesick for Cologne now? Sorry. Anyway, have a great trip!

PS: Just saw Pearl's post and she's right, you should definitely go to Wuppertal, the Schwebebahn (suspension railway) is awesome, and the city has some very pretty architecture in districts like Vohwinkel.

Answer 5

Go to Wuppertal, that's where I'm from. For some reason noone here in the US knows that city but it's the only city where the trains hang upside down. Well, it looks like they hang upside down, but they are hanging on a track and go over a river through the entire city! Pretty cool.

...I miss home! :o(

Answer 6

On your trip do not miss Hamburg!!!!!!! It is three hours away from Berlin (with the car, with the train it's just 2), it is much more beautiful than Berlin and has a large and internationally famous shopping street, the Mönckebergstraße, starting right at the main station.

If you are interested in towns like Rothenburg you can also see Quedlinburg. While you are there take a side trip to Würzburg, it is indeed worth it! And the Rhine valley is a very good Idea!!! If you can, go and see both Dresden and Leipzig, they are both beautiful. Restaurants with typical german food are everywhere.