It’s going to be my two best friends and myself going. This will be the first time I have ever been out of the country. I’m really excited and am trying to think of what I need to do to prepare. Our current plan (this outline was created by my best friend’s wife who was born and raised in Frankfurt) is to arrive in Frankfurt on Thu, Sept 30th. We’ll have Fri, Oct 1st and Sat, Oct 2nd for daytrips. Then we’ll take the train to Munich on Oct 3rd and stay there through the 5th. Then we’ll have time for a daytrip on Wed, Oct 6th. On Thur the 7th, we’ll get on a boat (maybe in Mainz/Bingen - Fr. Glaubitz ?) and go up the river Rhein to Cologne (tons of castles and vineyards along the way I’ve heard). We’ll probably get off in Cologne and get a rental car, we’ll visit the cathedral and drive to Aachen and stay over night. Then we visit Aachen, cathedral, maybe a quick trip to Holland/Belgium on Fri/Sat and head back to Frankfurt mid-Saturday. Return flight is on Sun, Oct 10th. So how does this sound? Is there anything I should know before hand? Any ideas for day trips? Also, I would like to bring over a gift for my best friend’s wife’s mother. She has really helped out in arranging things and I would like to say thanks. Any ideas for gifts?
Can you tell us a little more about your interests?
Since you appear to be interested in history and plan to visit Cologne, I would definitely recommend the Roman-Germanic Museum right next to the cathedral.
sigh /jealous! I love Germany …
When in Nubich, visit the victualmarket…more great stuff in one area…get absolutely fresh weisswurst [before 11 am!] and eat it with fresh hot pretzels and sweet mustard.
Deja vu. I spent nearly all of August just south of Frankfurt and took a day trip to Cologne. The scenery along the Rhein valley is spectacular. I took the IC train which allowed me to relax and enjoy the view but I admit I would have loved to have rented a car for a weekend while I was there. Hoist a maskrug for me and try some of the apfelwein in Frankfurt.
droooool german food and beer drooooool
That is all.
In Frankfurt drink lots of Apfelwein. It’s a gritty city with some nice museums by the river.
In Munich, you can easily hit Fussen (and Mad King Ludwig’s castle) as a daytrip on the train, but since it’s often a 2-hour wait to get in the castle, and you’re only in it for half a hour tops, plan on hiking the mountain-- or finding some friendly hangliders!
I also like Munich’s university, the Rathaus, and the market. Great city for bicycling.
Will Oktoberfest still be going on? Doesn’t matter, really, there’s still lots of beer around!
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In Munich, you can easily hit Fussen (and Mad King Ludwig’s castle) as a daytrip on the train, but since it’s often a 2-hour wait to get in the castle, and you’re only in it for half a hour tops, plan on hiking the mountain-- or finding some friendly hangliders!
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Oh yeah! Füssen! Neuschwanstein! Touristy! But pretty! Oh, so pretty!
(I’m going to stop posting in this thread, because both of the things I’ve said have made me look like an idiot.)
When in Cologne don’t forget the Chocolate Museum. It is located on the river bank , a few minutes walk from the cathedral.
It’s my understanding that it will be one of the last weeks of Oktoberfest. We have the hotel rooms already for the two nights. I think we are just going to try to show up early at the festival and get into the big tents that they have.
I’m interested in visiting some good wine vineyards. I know that there are a lot of them in Germany. Could anyone recommend one that is friendly to tourists? Also my wife said that I have to bring back some really good desert wine. Any suggestions?
If the OP does visit Neuschwanstein, I’d recommend stopping in at neighboring Hohenschwangau (the yellow castle) too. A lot of people skip it because it’s not as famous, but it’s also quite interesting and attractive, and if you’re in the area anyway you might as well.
I loved, loved, loved Munich, and there’s plenty to see and do (and eat and drink!) there.
Pretty good plans for a first time visit…just heard from friends in Berlin the other day and my tip is TAKE A WARM COAT! Seems it just got a little bit more than nippy in the past few days!
Oktoberfest ends on the first Sunday of October, so you will be able to go there and party hearty…you will be amazed at how large those “tents” are! And I would plan with your group how to get back to the hotel individually, just in case you get “lost”…I went with a group of friends, we had, ahem, more than one beer…and on my way to the restroom, suddenly a side door opened and I went flying out of the tent with about 350 people and by the time I could stop, I was at a subway station so I just got on the subway and went back to the hostel. My friends claimed they waited and looked for me for hours (though I think they were not exactly in a panic and enjoying the stay).
This is actually a really good time of year to go - fewer tourists and you might see some really colorful forests on the trips you have planned.
As far as a gift for the German woman, that is a tough one - very few items from here that aren’t there. Unless you can come up with something original from your region, I would opt for a huge floral arrangement from the local German flower shop…Germans love flowers and buy them regularly (just don’t get her red roses!) And you could also spring for cake from the best bakery in their town - another great German tradition is the afternoon coffee and cake.
Viel spass!!!
Thank you for these suggestions. Her daughter (my best friend’s wife) is not helping me at all with ideas for gifts. One question, Why know red roses?
Red roses are for lovers only. It would look a bit inappropriate.
Avoid white lilies as well, especially if she is older than you. Those are traditional funeral flowers.
Everything else should be fine.
Hm, is it common to have floral adrrangements delivered there? I have noticed a couple american florists websites that service some european countries, and I have a good friend in Germany who is having a birthday soon, and I would love to send him a bouquet of assorted flowers [whatever is available from teh local suppliers.] Would that be gauche? or would he appreciate it. [he is single and lives alone, and knowing him he would buy himself a computer magazine long before buying flowers…]
Do it. I think it’s a good idea and he will appreciate it.
=) Ok… wish I could be there to see him when he gets them=)
mrAru had a question, is red roses the gift for just women lovers or for men also? He collects flower language/tradition stuff.
Drink the wine in the Rhine Valley. Even if you don’t like white. Since you’ll be w/ friends you might have enough people for a wine tasting. I would think you could also buy good dessert wine there. Also, when I was there, in the height of tourist season, the cruises all stopped in the mid-afternoon. So, if you want to do that, try to get there in the morning. Are you trying to get from Munich to the Rhine Valley in one day by train? Might not have much time for sightseeing; check the time tables.
Rotenburg (sp?) could be done as a day trip from Frankfurt. Medieval walled city that time forgot, until the tourist trade started in the early 20th century. Beautiful.
Have fun. The first time out of the country is always a great experience.
A good day trip from Munich is to go to see the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s Bavarian hideaway. there is also Chiemsee castle, another expression of Crazy Ludwig’s obsession with King Louis of France. It’s on an island on Lake Chiemsee, not far from Munich and on the road to Salzburg.
I am currently in Frankfurt and have spent close to half of this year in Germany on various business trips. Frankfurt is a business city and is a bit lacking in cultural attractions. The full name of the city if Frankfurt am Main (pronounced “mine”) and one of the local nicknames is Mainhatten, but that’s being generous. If I were you, I’d move up the trip to Munich and spend more time there, as it’s a beautiful city. If you stay in Frankfurt and do day trips, I’d recommend Heidelburg, which is a short train ride away. It has a very old world feel to it and there is a very interesting ruined castle there. For Munich, I’d recommend a bicycle tour. I did one called Mike’s bike tours that was great, but there are several offered there. I believe there are links to these tours on the official Munich city site.
Have fun!
Never been to Germany jealous … but don’t forget to take the opportunity to tear up the Autobahn at 100+ mph. Saw a documentary the other night - very cool. 