Forward Planning: Southern Germany & South Tyrol holiday
November 18, 2015 2:09 PM Subscribe
What shouldn't we miss around the Romantic Road area of Germany and South Tyrol region of Italy?
We plan to do a week in each, starting roughly from midsummer. We are thinking of staying in 2-3 places along the romantic road, with day trips away from them, and then in one place in South Tyrol, again with possible day trips. probably flying in to Frankfurt, definitely finishing up at Neuschwanstein on the German leg. Nothing pre-set on the Italy leg.
We enjoy old towns, markets, local craft goods, hearty food, half decent walks (both able to do a good half day without problems), maybe some electric biking if available. We would love recommendations for safe lakes for swimming. Interesting sites and novel suggestions for places of interest welcome.
Suggestions for places to stay would be welcome, guide price of €80-100 per night. Suggestions for finding an apartment that would make a good base in Italy especially welcome.
We plan to do a week in each, starting roughly from midsummer. We are thinking of staying in 2-3 places along the romantic road, with day trips away from them, and then in one place in South Tyrol, again with possible day trips. probably flying in to Frankfurt, definitely finishing up at Neuschwanstein on the German leg. Nothing pre-set on the Italy leg.
We enjoy old towns, markets, local craft goods, hearty food, half decent walks (both able to do a good half day without problems), maybe some electric biking if available. We would love recommendations for safe lakes for swimming. Interesting sites and novel suggestions for places of interest welcome.
Suggestions for places to stay would be welcome, guide price of €80-100 per night. Suggestions for finding an apartment that would make a good base in Italy especially welcome.
This sounds like a fun trip! Are you set on the Romantic Road or are you open to other German cities and towns as well? How about Austria and Switzerland, too?
I really like Frankfurt and it's a good start for the Romantic Road and the biggest air hub but rather large and industrial, which may not be what you're looking for. Hopefully, someone else can give you more specific answers to your questions about the Romantic Road but maybe these other suggestions will be of interest, too.
Bamberg in Franconia has exactly what you're looking for: it's a popular international tourist destination but not quite as touristy as Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Nuremberg is about an hour south so those two places combine nicely; Würzburg is about an hour to the east. If you stay in Bamberg and like beer, you may like this Pension above a Rauchbier brewery. (It's all in German but GoogleTranslate could help if necessary; it's simple but very homey and authentic.)
I have always enjoyed Basel and Konstanz is sweet, too. These places are all kind of far apart when it comes to trains but might appeal to you.
If you like nature, you can't go wrong with alpine lakes! You'll be set if you go to Füssen, although I'd consider flying into Munich as well. Munich is a great big city with a small-town feel. I loved the Staffelsee, which is definitely OK for swimming. I recently toured the art museum in Murnau and took the boat to this delicious restaurant.
posted by smorgasbord at 8:41 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
I really like Frankfurt and it's a good start for the Romantic Road and the biggest air hub but rather large and industrial, which may not be what you're looking for. Hopefully, someone else can give you more specific answers to your questions about the Romantic Road but maybe these other suggestions will be of interest, too.
Bamberg in Franconia has exactly what you're looking for: it's a popular international tourist destination but not quite as touristy as Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Nuremberg is about an hour south so those two places combine nicely; Würzburg is about an hour to the east. If you stay in Bamberg and like beer, you may like this Pension above a Rauchbier brewery. (It's all in German but GoogleTranslate could help if necessary; it's simple but very homey and authentic.)
I have always enjoyed Basel and Konstanz is sweet, too. These places are all kind of far apart when it comes to trains but might appeal to you.
If you like nature, you can't go wrong with alpine lakes! You'll be set if you go to Füssen, although I'd consider flying into Munich as well. Munich is a great big city with a small-town feel. I loved the Staffelsee, which is definitely OK for swimming. I recently toured the art museum in Murnau and took the boat to this delicious restaurant.
posted by smorgasbord at 8:41 PM on November 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Understand that Italians (and other Europeans) also go on holiday, and in August especially things may be fully booked. Especially as the mountains are cool and the country swelters! The Dolomites are gorgeous, have fun!
posted by Flashduck at 9:06 PM on November 18, 2015
posted by Flashduck at 9:06 PM on November 18, 2015
Response by poster: Holiday will be in late June/July so hopefully everything won't be abandoned.
Focus is on the areas mentioned, we have done a few alpine holidays recently and seen a fair amount of Austria and some Switzerland, plus we don't want to have to do too much travel beyond the locality.
the longest sommerrodelbahn in Europe
Ideas like this are very welcome, we will totally do this if we can fit it in. We were gutted last year to miss a shorter one of these in Lienz, after we didn't see it until we'd walked down from the hill where it started and didn't have the time to get back up before it shut.
posted by biffa at 1:07 AM on November 19, 2015
Focus is on the areas mentioned, we have done a few alpine holidays recently and seen a fair amount of Austria and some Switzerland, plus we don't want to have to do too much travel beyond the locality.
the longest sommerrodelbahn in Europe
Ideas like this are very welcome, we will totally do this if we can fit it in. We were gutted last year to miss a shorter one of these in Lienz, after we didn't see it until we'd walked down from the hill where it started and didn't have the time to get back up before it shut.
posted by biffa at 1:07 AM on November 19, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
On the way, it would be a shame to miss the longest sommerrodelbahn in Europe.
posted by humboldt32 at 8:01 PM on November 18, 2015