Independent Travel in Europe
Tips and resources for independent travellers
Slideshow of photographs taken over the span of several trips to our featured destination - Germany.
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Map of Germany - CIA World Factbook
It is in Bavaria that you are most likely to see traditional German clothing such as lederhosen, dirndls, embroidered blouses, and Alpine hats worn either as leisure clothing or at festive events such as parades and music festivals/concerts. We also saw no shortage of huge, practically meal-size pretzels as well as tall beer steins in Munich, located in southern Bavaria. A stroll through the Englischer Garten, a large public park in the centre of Munich, is worth it not only for opportunities to see interesting structures, but to also experience the outdoor beer garden. Here we not only saw beer steins of all sizes and giant pretzels, but also a few lederhosen and Bavarian hats.
We visited Germany several years ago and divided our time between southern and central Germany. Our itinerary included destinations in Bavaria, the Mosel/Rhine region and the Black Forest. All three of these locations have much to offer and also provide easy access to cross border destinations. From these locations we were able to take day trips to Austria, Luxembourg, France and Switzerland. We stayed in holiday apartments except for our stay in Munich, where we stayed in a hostel for our first night and an inn for our last overnight in Germany.
Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany
The Passion Play is performed in Oberammergau every ten years, during the first year of each decade.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, on Germany's Romantic Road.
Bad Hindelang, Bavaria, Germany
Itineraries - Suggestions
One week - Fly to Munich and stay overnight. Either drive or take the train to Garmisch and also visit Ettal. Travel to southwest Bavaria for an overnight stay to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, near Fussen - plan on a few hours for the visit. Spend a day in Mittenwald, and then head towards Konigsee and Berchtesgarden for a two days. Travel back to Munich for an overnight.
OR Munich - Garmisch/Ettal - Bad Hindelang (3 nights with possible day trips to Lindau, Neuschwanstein Castle) - Nuremberg - Munich.
OR - Arrive in Berlin (2 nights), Nuremberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Neuschwanstein Castle, Munich.
Two weeks - Munich - Garmisch/Ettal - Bad Hindelang (4 nights) - Mittenwald - Konigsee/Berchtesgarden (2 nights), Nuremberg area (3 nights - day trips to Bamberg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Munich.
Three weeks - Munich - Garmish/Ettal - Bad Hindelang (4 nights) - Mittenwald - Konigsee/Berchtesgarden (2 nights), Nuremberg area (4 nights - day trips to Bamberg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Mosel/Rhine area (3 nights - day trips to Trier & Saarburg), Black Forest (4 nights) - back to Munich.
OR Start in Frankfurt and divide your time between southern and central Germany.
OR Start in either Frankfurt or Berlin and divide your time between central and northern Germany.
Englischer Garten, Munich, Germany
Free activities in Munich
Stroll through Englischer Garten, which contains a Chinese pagoda, a Japanese tea house and a Greek temple.
Visit Marienplatz, the largest public square in Munich and enjoy the Glockenspiel show at 11:00 am or noon.
Visit Viktualienmarkt, Munich's largest outdoor marketplace
Museums owned by the city of Munich are free on Sundays.
For free in Berlin
Visit the East Side Gallery in Berlin, which is built on part of the Berlin Wall.
Free activities in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Walk along the historic wall and enjoy a different perspective of Germany's best preserved medieval town.
Stroll through Castle Garden.
Visit the Town Square.
Walk to the medieval Double Bridge.
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Rothenburg ob der Tauber is Germany's best preserved medieval town.
Planning a Trip to Germany - Tips and Suggestions
Spend time reading about the history of Germany, even just a general overview will greatly enhance your travel experience.
It would take several trips to Germany or a very long stay to even attempt to see most of what Germany has to offer. Be realistic about what you'd like to see given the number of days that you'll be in Germany.
If at all possible, spend time in both urban and rural areas. Visit Berlin and/or Munich, but linger in a few villages, too! Try to see both mountainous and lakeside areas. The Bavarian Alps are breathtakingly beautiful and Lake Constance (Bodensee) is definitely worth visiting.
There are a number of scenic routes in Germany and a trip to Germany could easily be planned around any one of them or by combining a few. The follow are just a few of many designated scenic routes.
The Romantic Road is a scenic route through Bavaria and takes you from Würzburg in the Franken wine-growing region to Fussen in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. Fussen is also where you'll find Neuschwanstein Castle, which was designed by King Ludwig II.
The German Fairy Tale Road connects the towns and surrounding countryside that inspired the Grimm brothers fairy tales (Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm), such as Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty. This route takes you from Hanau, near Frankfurt, to Bremen.
The German Castle Road features 70 castles and palaces and takes your from Mannheim in southwestern Germany to Prague in the Czech Republic.
The German Wine Road features vineyards, wine cellars and museums. It starts in Bockenheim in Germany's Rhineland Palatinate region and stretches to the French border.
The German Clock Road is in the Black Forest region and traces the history of the cuckoo clock. You might want to sample some Black Forest cake while you're there!
King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein Castle in the background, near Fussen, Bavaria, Germany.
Learn some basic German vocabulary and phrases and don't be shy to use the German you know. Your efforts will be greatly appreciated!
