franfurt or cologne / decisions decisions

hi there: well i%26#39;m off again, this time to germany, here is my itinerary, i am flying in and out of munich, but will be taking the train to other cities, after my first two nights in munich, from munich i will be taking the train to cologne(i believe it%26#39;s over 4 hrs) that%26#39;s my dilemma, i can either go to cologne or frankfurt, which is a shorter train ride from munich . I am wondering if any of you, think cologne is better than frankfurt or vice versa. thank you antonietta

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%26quot;Better%26quot; in what respect? Any particular reasons why your choice is either Cologne or Frankfurt? What are you expecting to see?

Focusing on nothing but big cities is a - sorry - mistake many overseas visitors to Germany fall for. All larger cities have been reduced to rubble in World War II and rebuilt in more or less ugly post-war style with some reconstructions of historical monuments. To see old-town Germany you have to visit smaller towns.

In case you want a place with authentic historical architecture, there are better destinations around Munich. Allow me to mention Regensburg and Bamberg.

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I would also suggest to stick to Bavaria with such a short time frame. And consequently not just visiting big cities.

Bavarian Alps

http://www.neuschwanstein.de

http://www.mittenwald.de

http://www.berchtesgadener-land.info

Landshut/Regensburg/Bamberg

landshut.de/uploads/media/Landshut_im_Ueberb…

www.historicgermany.com/regensburg.html

http://www.bamberg.info

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Bavaria! Koln is nice but if I am in Munich I would focus on the beautiful towns, lakes, cathederals, mountains, history that is right there within 1 hour.

If I had to go to one or the other though, I would choose Koln over Frankfurt.

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sounds good, that%26#39;s what i will do, i will go to cologne , but still visit munich and the surrounding areas. can anyone suggest the surrounding areas near munich for day trips? thanks

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For day trips from Munich, Abalada has given you a list, and you can add on King Ludwig´s other legacy buildings and lakes, and Dachau if you don´t mind some sobering sadness. That will occupy you at least a week.

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My choice would be Cologne over Frankfurt. Frankfurt is a useful base if you intend to depart from that city. I%26#39;ve never stayed there except the last couple of days of any trip.

%26quot;the surrounding areas near munich for day trips?%26quot;

Earl Steinbicker%26#39;s %26quot;Daytrips Germany%26quot; includes chapters on all the cities and towns mentioned in all the messages above, except for Landshut. He has about 20 trips that can be taken from Munich. Google %26quot;Hastings House%26quot; to get to his publisher%26#39;s website where you can check out a sample daytrip.

If you want to go into the Alps, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Mittenwald are good choices (avoid going on Sundays as too much is closed). For lakes, Chiemsee and Starnbergsee are short trips from Munich. A pleasant medium-sized town is nearby Augsburg. If you like big cathedrals, go a little past Augsburg to Ulm. Salzburg is even an easy rail daytrip from Munich.