My wife and I will be traveling to germany for a two week vacation in July. BBI has always been a source of great information and once again I am asking for advice.
Out trip is for twelve days. We land in Frankfurt and immediately take a train to Heidelberg, where our daughter is staying and working for the summer. We will spend four days in Heidelberg. We have day trips planned for Strasbourg, France and Speyer, Germany. Rothenburg seems like an interesting city to visit but difficult to get to- 3 transfers and 3 1/2 hours minimum in train time. Thoughts on Rothrnburg would be appreciated.
Following our four days in Heidelberg, we are off to Munich on a Tuesday. We have a day planned to visit Neuschwanstein Castle and the area on Friday and off to Salzburg, Austria for the day on Saturday. We will visit the Dachau concentration camp just outside of Munich on Sunday.
I am hoping for restaurant and beer hall recommendations, places off the beaten path, and any other day trips that are worthwhile.
Thank you in advance. BBI suggestions are always solid and always appreciated.
Augustiner Helles is (IMO) the best beer in the world so be sure to have plenty. In July, construction on the Oktoberfest tents at the Theresienwiese should be underway, so it's worth a stroll around that area to check those out. I also am a big fan of the Augustiner Klosterwirt for a meal... very traditional.
Enjoy and be sure to leave lots of extra time for security and baggage check at airports in Europe as there have been staffing problems and industrial actions causing headaches this summer.
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Augustiner Helles is (IMO) the best beer in the world so be sure to have plenty. In July, construction on the Oktoberfest tents at the Theresienwiese should be underway, so it's worth a stroll around that area to check those out. I also am a big fan of the Augustiner Klosterwirt for a meal... very traditional.
Enjoy and be sure to leave lots of extra time for security and baggage check at airports in Europe as there have been staffing problems and industrial actions causing headaches this summer.
Thank you. Exactly what I was hoping for....good advice.
You won't be terribly far from Stuttgart, where you can do the Mercedes museum.
For beer gardens, Summer is the perfect time for them. Find anyplace that looks good and pull up to a table. Each town has their special brewery they serve beer for, so I'd recommend just trying different places. We loved Munich. Probably my favorite city in Germany. Dachau was very depressing. We went on a cold, windy November day and it made it look just as stark and bitter as it likely was.
When you're at Neuschwanstein, see both castles there and get there early as busloads of tours will pack the place. Make sure to hit a couple of the small towns nearby too. Will look much like many think Germany to be.
I'd recommend going to Ulm for a day trip too. The Church there (Munster) is very gothic and a must see. Same with Koln. Lots of great architecture to see, including the big Cathedral. Ulm will be an easy train ride, Koln is a bit out of the way as it is North of Frankfurt.
Nuremberg is a nice day trip too.
If Berlin is in your plans, set aside 3 days to see the city. Lots to do there.
I've spent a lot of time in Germany and have seen a lot of cool towns. Email me if you have any specific questions and I can help
Just wanted to wish you a safe trip and to tell you to have a GREAT time.
The Neuschwanstein Castle requires reservations now. We didn't know this and it was sold out on the weekend and I wasn't able to go, luckily we looked it up before driving all the way there.
Sounds like you have a good plan. I went to the Black Forest and had some German Black Forest Cake. Baden-Baden is a high end spa town with natural thermal bath if you are into that kind of thing. Have to go to a spa to enjoy them though, so I didn't actually see them, as I was on a work trip and with co-workers. Nice little town though either way.
Schönbuch Brewery was great, located near Stuttgart, they may have other locations. The pork knuckle was picture worthy. https://www.braumanufaktur.com/
Probably not what you are going for, but the locals pointed us to this Jamaican Jerk Shack that was amazing... https://www.facebook.com/Patricks.Stop/ again in Stuttgart. Couldn't eat German food the whole time there, that gets old quick.
Heidelberg is awesome, just walk around and pick a place that speaks to you, can't go wrong.
Oh yeah, the Italian food is amazing...it doesn't stop at the border if you know what I mean.
Water cost almost as much as beer...seriously.
In Munich find time to go to the Dallmayr deli, I would go back to Munich just to go to this deli.
For the castle, if you want to do a tour inside, make sure you buy tickets in advance, they sell out days if not weeks prior.
This restaurant is one of my happy places. Get some pretzels with the house made mustards. Get multiple Aventinus. I love going for it all and getting the steak frites. I promise you will be glad for it. Worth every penny, and you won't get Aventinus any fresher than there. THE BEST.
Heidelberg is great. Take the short cruise on the Neckar River for a different view of the castle.
Strasbourg is a must.
Can’t comment on Speyer, but I would do a day trip to Baden-Baden (the casino tour in the am and then 4 hrs in the Caracalla spa) and a day trip to Mainz ... the old town, the Cathedral and the Gutenberg Museum.
Rothenburg is too far and Stuttgart is too big to do justice.
In Munich ... fully agree Augustiner Helles is the best beer. A ‘Radler’ (Helles mixed with lemonade) is a popular choice with the ladies. You can get a great, authentic, local meal in any of the many Augustiner branded restaurants. Paulaner is a popular second choice ... the Hofbrauhaus is for tourists only. The subways are clean, safe, cheap and very easy to use, but you can walk to most of the best attractions. Be careful of Pickpockets in Marienplatz ... at times, it can feel like Times Square. Do not miss the ‘Eisbachwelle’, a year round river surfing spot at the tip of the English Gardens, which is the Munich version of Central Park. Munich also has the best pretzels and wursts.
When you go to Neuschwanstein, be sure to visit the adjacent summer toboggan run, and Hohenschwangau Castle, many consider it a better tour
Salzburg is a must stop ...Schnitzel and Strudel. if you have an extra day, Berchestgarten and Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest is well worth it.
Lastly, eat as many meals as you can outside. People watch and take it all in.
Just wanted to wish you a safe trip and to tell you to have a GREAT time.
Thank you sir. I appreiate that.
I am thankful for the beer advice and I will try to drink as many as I can in the short time I am there.
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Reminds me of the alpine slide at Action Park back in the 1970s.
Just some other options to consider outside of the suggestions here.
Might want to tour the BMW plant in Munich if that interests you.
Dachau is a must (you know that). Easy to get to by public transportation.
Salzberg is one of my favorite places. The Obersalzberg documentation museum at the base of Eagle's Nest would normally be a must. Unfortunately it's closed while they prepare to open a new building. If you plan on a trip to Eagle's Nest check the weather. Tendency to get lost in the clouds, therefore no views. Early in the day might be best time.