Germany anyone??

My DH and I just reserved tickets to Germany for May 2004! We're flying into Munich and out of Frankfurt.

Can anyone recommend any must sees or general advice? Neither of us have been there before, nor do we speak German. We don't have an itinerary yet or anything, except for the flights.

Thanks in advance!!

Re: Germany anyone??

I can ask my husband. He spent some time living there playing soccer. We went to Austria last year and had a great time there and Salzburg. Also Prague is a reasonable train ride away, I def reccomend a trip there if you have time! It is by far one of my favorite cities in Europe.

But to start get some tour books, I like the Eyewitness Travel Guides, or Frommer's.

Re: Germany anyone??

OOOOH I LOVE GERMANY!!!!

My mom is from Germany and I spent much time there with family...then in HS...and then backpacking...


I have been to many different areas...but it seems like you will be concentrating on the southern area (my favorite, but don't tell my mom that - who is from the North)

don't worry about the language...90% of the people speak English and are dying to practice on you...even when I speak German they want to speak English with me!!!


MUNICH!!! SO MUCH FUN!!!
*Hofbrauhaus...a true beer hall experience...with 1 liter beers (If you get the half liter they will laugh at you) Umpah band and everything...
*Mikes Bike Tours...the best tour group anywhere...they will show you around the city on a liesurely bike ride (not at all strenuous)...they are all native English speakers and are hilarious...do it early so you can see places you want to go back to
*Marienplatz...the main square of town...lots of shopping and the famous glockenspiel...theres also an old church that survived WWII bombing
*across the ISar river is a great science and technology museum that DH might like...all cars, airplanes, boats, rocks, etc...



sidetrips from Munich
*Nueschwanstein - Crazy King Ludvigs castle...this is what Disney's cinderella castle was based on...its just fancinating to look at...(about 40-60 min away)
*Dachau - more on the sad note...but if you would like to visit a concentration camp it is a short train ride from Munich
*Salzburg, Austria...you can rent a car and drive on the autobahn...tons of fun...I was driving 100-110 mph and cars were flying by me like I was standing still - or you can take a train...this is mozarts birthplace and where they filmed the sound of Music...a nice day trip
*Lake Konstance (Bodensee) it is a large lake that borders Austria, Germany and Switzerland...just fantastic lake fun to do...(about 2 hour drive from Munich)
*Ulm...this is the city I went to HS in and it is about 1-2 hour train ride from Munich...theres not much to do....but there is the tallest steeple in all of Europe which is a pretty neat thing to walk up and look around...the city is on the Danube, and I think the source is nearby



I have also been to Dusseldorf, Heidelburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin and Dresden...so please let me know if you have any questions

Re: Germany anyone??

i also recommend in munich touring the 1972 olympic village (if you're into that) and also as a side trip going to the eagle's nest. it's one of hitler's hideouts, but the cool thing is it's on top of a mountain and you get a gorgeous view.

what other cities are you going to? i highly recommend cologne. i spent a semester studying abroad there and it has the most beautiful cathedral.

definitely get some guidebooks. i find fodor's to usually be helpful.

Re: Germany anyone??

really behind...did you do your semester for HS or college?

i did HS...but thought about University of Munich for college, but never did...

I ended up working at Lufthansa though which was a blast...

Re: Germany anyone??

i did mine sophomore year of college. definitely good times, b/c although we weren't old enough to drink in the states we were in germany! but i didn't actually attend a german university. we just took classes in the university facilities.

Re: Germany anyone??

We haven't done any research, so we have no plans outside of our flights. I will pick up one of the guide books you recommended.

I'll have to print these out so when I have a concept of where things are I can refer to them. And I'm so happy to hear most speak English. I was a little nervous about that. I can survive French/Spanish/Italian, but German I don't even know where to start.

My DH was born on a Military base in Augsburg, and remembers a little bit, and has always wanted to go back, so this is our chance.

We tried to get a return flight out of Munich, Switz or Vienna, but they were all booked. Is there another airport that would make better sense to fly out of besides Frankfurt?

Thanks for all the input ladies!

Re: Germany anyone??

Frankfurt is the main hub in Germany, so its not a bad idea...

I know at Lufthansa, they flew from FF, Munich, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Bremen, Berlin and at times Stuttgart

have you tried Zurich (Switzerland)? of course it all depends on the airline you are using...

language is something you don't have to worry about...except the older people...but all Germans since the 1950's take English starting in elementary school...and there is so much English in the language (you can see on TV they will just come out with an English word) My cousin thinks the German language will be dead in 100 years...


keep us updated and we'll give you more info...

when are you going? DH and I are thinking of going in the summer

Re: Germany anyone??

I went about 3 years ago...I absolutely LOVED Munich and cannot wait to go back. I totally second most of yabbo's suggestions:

Hofbrauhaus - for the huge beers, band and locals.
Marienplatz - is just beautiful. The architecture is amazing...the glockinspiel is great.

The Romantic Road is a nice ride - picturesque villages along the way.

Nueschwanstein - was amazing - the ride up to it was breathtaking...nestled in the mountains. The stories behind the crazy King are just as fascinating.

Dachau - was an experience I can't articulate. Everything about the day we spent there, was heavy. The air, the sky, the emotions. It was something that I feel everyone should experience...but I understand those who cannot.

I found this site really helpful when I was planning. Have a great time!!!

Places of interest

Re: Germany anyone??

just wanted to add that when my mom and i went we took the i.c.e train from munich to berlin, it only takes a few hours and it's definitely worth the trip. train travel there is easy, fast and convenient. and no stress about driving rules etc. you can get rail passes in the us that allow for unlimited travel during a certain time (at least you could 8 years ago). they're called eurorail passes i think.

anyway, i recommend berlin b/c there is so much history there and so much to see! you can check out the brandenburg gate, the reichstag (like the capitol building), checkpoint charlie (also has a museum) and if you have a time a short trip to potsdam where hitler, churchill and roosevelt met is pretty cool.

one city i would skip is hamburg. the harbor is beautiful, but there's not much else to see.

Re: Germany anyone??

I loved Germany. It is such a beautiful country. My must see reconmmendation is also Neuchweinstein and going on tour of the other castles there which are spectacular. We also took a day trip to Austria's Salzberg (which is another idea). Also there was thread on this a while back you might get more info from that as well.
You'll have a great time!

Re: Germany anyone??

I loved Berlin as well for its history...but it definitely has a different feel to it...almost somber and sad...there are still buildings bombed out on the western side...but the checkpoint charlie museum is one of the best I have ever seen!


I love Hamburg, but yes there isn't much to do...but my family is nearby...so...I love it...but they are the only reason I go to the north...i love Bavaria too much!!!


as for the train...its very easy...but it is a lot of fun to drive on the autobahn...the rules aren't much different...bu you do have to slow down if you go through a town or go through a tunnel...