Hauptbahnhof area

I%26#39;ll be arriving at the Berlin Hbf and my hotel is near the Museum fur Naturkunde. Is it OK to walk in this area (i.e. is it safe) and how long will it take me? I%26#39;ll have very little luggage with me.

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800-1000 m

As the Hauptbahnhof is really new, there is no %26quot;classical%26quot; train station quarter around it.

On your route there are in first place museums, courts, ministries and buildings of the Charité (Berlin%26#39;s main hospital).

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Nothing dangerous about it, but it%26#39;s about a 10-15 min. hike down a long straight street. I ride it sometimes on my bicycle.

You%26#39;re staying at the Mercure or the La Vie Joachimshof? If your train continues on to Friedrichstrasse (many trains carry on through the city) or you switch to the S-Bahn in Hauptbahnhof and take it one stop east to Friedrichstrasse, you could then take Tram #12 to very close to your hotel (come out of the station on Friedrichstrasse, turn right and cross the the street to the tram stop, get off at U-Bahn station Zinnowitzer Strasse). Maybe do that if it%26#39;s raining or something.

You can see it here: http://tinyurl.com/cpem4a

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Thank you both for the info. I walked in the end, as the weather was nice and it only took me 12 minutes (I timed it). If it was raining, then the train %26amp; tram combo would work well - thanks for the suggestion :-)

Help: First Time Visitor

On impulse, I bought a plane ticket for a 3-day holiday in Berlin. I also booked my accommodations at Ku Damm 101. This will be my first time in Germany.

I am waiting for the arrival of a travel book that I bought online. In the meantime, can you please help me with the following?

What are the “Must See” attractions that a first time visitor should not miss?

What are the “Must Eat” that I should try?

What are the “Must Buy” items in Berlin or Germany in General?

Is there an area in Berlin where I can buy paintings by local artists (like Montmartre in Paris)?

Any other advice for first time visitor?

Thanks, guys!

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%26quot;Must Sees%26quot; depend on what interests you. The %26quot;Things to Do%26quot; button on the left is a good start.

If by your name, you have an interest in aviation then the Luftwaffe museum and the German Technical museums are good choices. The Pergamon and the museum with the Nefretiti bust are worthwhile to history buffs.

In the evenings I like to wander around Potsdamer Platz, Kurfurstendamm and Oranienburgerstrasse.

%26quot;Must Eats%26quot; include the bratwurst and doner kebab.

%26quot;Must Buys%26quot; for me always include a stein or beer glass.

%26quot;advice for first time visitor?%26quot; Buy a 3 day transport pass and due some research ahead of time. The more you know, the better time you%26#39;ll have. %26quot;Bitte%26quot; (sounds like bit-ta) means %26quot;Please%26quot; and %26quot;Danke%26quot; means %26quot;Thank you%26quot;, use each liberally.

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%26quot;due some research%26quot;

And always proof-read BEFORE you hit the %26quot;submit%26quot; button.

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.

inexpensive but clean place to stay for 3 women in Berlin

Have been through the guide and many places on line. We will be in Berlin the 2nd week in Sept. We%26#39;re looking for a smaller place with character and close to public transportation....any recommendations would help. Thanks.

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Hi Nyjen - this place has come highly recommended to us, we are staying there the last week in May (next month). The website will give you all the details - see www.hotelbregenz-berlin.de

It is costing us (a couple) around 80 Euro a night inc. breakfast and the people who run it seem nice and friendly as well as English-speaking - a big bonus if you don%26#39;t speak German!

As far as I can tell, it is close to most things. Checks out well on Trip Advisor and other review sites. At least it%26#39;s a start! Best of luck then.

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Thank you. I%26#39;ve just sent off an inquiry to them. Please let me know about your stay in May!

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Hi again - we%26#39;ll be returning to Australia mid June so I will TRY to rmember to get back to you - feel free to send me a reminder message if I forget though! Glad you liked the suggestion - only two weeks and days till we leave - YIPPEE!!!

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If you don%26#39;t remember....no problem! Just have a wonderful vacation! And again thanks...I believe we may stay there too!

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We%26#39;re staying at the Hotel Bregenz - we stayed there last year and will be going back again at the end of the month. The TA reviews are true and it really is a great place. It%26#39;s good for public transport and near the Ku%26#39;damm (shopping! :)). It%26#39;s in a quiet residential area with a great Italian restaurant at the end of the road. The Gamradt family are very friendly with good English, the hotel is very clean and it%26#39;s great value.

Obviously my comments are based on my experience last year, but I%26#39;ll be sure to provide an update when I return from my break this time too :)

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Thank you for your encouraging message! It%26#39;s always great to hear from someone who has stayed there. Many thanks!

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just doing some research and we are three women booked to come to berlin in november and we are also considering this accommodation.hope you have a good trip.

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Good luck. One of my roommates found an apartment in Mitti. Have a great trip

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The agon aldea is immaculately clean, there is a u bahn station right next to it and it%26#39;s very reasonable. We booked it through easyjet hotels.

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You could rent an apartment; that usually works out cheaper and gets you a feel for ordinary life in a city.

www.123berlinzimmer.de or www.ferienwohnungen24.de have lots ofc hoices; and here on forum you%26#39;ll find individual recommendations.

Frankfurt to Prague standard fare train tickets

Hello,

We are flying in to Frankfurt on 29th May and then planning on immediately catching a train to Prague. Looking at the www.bahn.de site, it seems the only fares available now are standard fares (about 100 euro per person). I have the following questions:

1. Standard Fares are described as - %26quot;Full flexibility (not a specific-train booking). Exchange and refund free of charge before 1st day of validity, exchange and refund charge of EUR 15 as from 1st day of validity.%26quot;

I am confused by this because standard fare seems to vary from one departure time to another. One in the morning seems to be 92 euros, one in the afternoon is 104 euros. Why would I not buy the 92 euros standard fare and just catch the afternoon departure (if I miss the morning one)?

2. Does standard fare mean that this is the most the ticket will cost? If so, then should I not just buy the tickets when we get to Frankfurt since everything depends on whether our flight is on time?

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Ticket price depends on the route and types of trains involved.

%26gt; Does standard fare mean that this is the most the ticket will cost?

This is the exact price a ticket for a certain connection will cost.

%26gt; If so, then should I not just buy the tickets when we get to Frankfurt since everything depends on whether our flight is on time?

Yes. Same price.

But if you are willing to buy for this trip more than one ticket and accept a slightly longer travel time you can have the trip to Prague for much less.

1. normal ticket Frankfurt Airport to Kahl (first stop in Bavaria)

EUR 6,90 per person

Buy from a ticket machine at Frankfurt Airport.

2. Bavaria-Bohemia Ticket

EUR 33,00 for 2-5 persons traveling together

Covers the part from Kahl to Pilsen/Plzen.

Buy from a ticket machine at Frankfurt Airport.

3. normal ticket Pilsen/Plzen to Prague

CZK 147 (~ EUR 5,20) per person

Buy from the Czech conductor on board of the train. Comes in Furth im Wald on board.

When will you arrive in Frankfurt?

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Thanks for your reply. We are flying in around 10 am on 29th May.

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There are connections you can use with the tickets 1.-3.

Frankfurt Airport dep 11:02

Prague hl.n. arr 21:50

with changes in Frankfurt Hbf, Würzburg, Nuremberg, Furth im Wald and Pilsen/Pilzen

Frankfurt Airport dep 12:02

Prague hl.n. arr 22:50

with changes in Frankfurt Hbf, Würzburg, Nuremberg and Schwandorf

You don%26#39;t have to do anything in Kahl. Just stay seated. Same with the 12:02 connection in Pilsen/Plzen.

Also for the 11:02 connection I would by the ticket from Pilsen/Plzen to Prague from the conductor, as the 13 minutes there is certainly enough to change trains. But probably not to buy a ticket at a station you don%26#39;t know.

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Thank you so much for your help. This is very helpful information.

Garmich or Ruhpolding

We are planning a walking holiday for early July, does anyone have any comments as to the better area to choose, please?

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Garmisch would be my choice. So many things to do within 1 hour..

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Walking options are plenty at both places.

Around Garmisch you have however more public transport options

bahn.de/regional/view/mdb/alle/dbregio/ausfl…

and more other sights of interest

- Zugspitze

- Partnach Gorge (can be included into longer hikes)

- Mittenwald

- Linderhof Castle

- Ettal Abbey

etc.

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Definitely Garmisch. More variety, with the assistance of cable cars, trains, busses. Ruhpolding has one nearby mountain with cable car (Rauschberg). R. is a better place to stay if you have a car to roam within a 30-40km area.

Wieskirche Church

We would like to visit this church. We do not want to drive. We will be in Fussen and the bus takes 1 hour to get there. Our time is limited, we thought about taking a taxi, unless there is another way that only takes the 20 minutes to get there and less expensive. Are the taxis safe? If that is our only option.

Thanks for the help, it is truly appreciated!

Thank You...GoJustin

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Taxis are very safe and clean. looks like you can get the bus from Hohenschwangau to Wieskirche in about 35-45 minutes for 2.10 Euro (?).

www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml

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DB timetable

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

From: Fuessen

To: Wieskirche

Travel time by bus is 36-49 minutes.

http://www.viamichelin.com

estimates 28 minutes by car

Thus the travel time differences are not that big. But the costs will differ a lot.

%26gt; Are the taxis safe?

Yes.

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%26gt; about 35-45 minutes for 2.10 Euro

No. DB timetable talks about a %26quot;DB part%26quot;. Albeit I%26#39;ve no idea what this part should be.

Not really sure if here still the OVG tariff applies.

rvo-bus.de/site/…liniennetz__ovg.pdf

With this distance a single ticket should be EUR 4,80 or EUR 6,10.

Day ticket for the OVG is hover only EUR 6,80.

Family day ticket (2 adults + 0-n children under 15y) is EUR 10,00.

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I%26#39;m a little confused. I read from Steingaden it takes an hour to walk to the church in Weiskirche. The bus stop is called Wieskirche/Steingaden. So is the bus stop close to the church? Or is it a long walk?

Sorry for my confusion, but again, I appreciate all the help I can get to make my arrival at the church as easy as possible. Thanks, GoJustin

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The %26quot;Pilgrimage Church of the Scourged Saviour in the Meadow%26quot; is exactly where the name says. It%26#39;s really one hour to walk from Steingaden. The bus stop Wieskirche, Steingaden is next to the church. Not in the village of Steingaden, but on the soil of the community Steingaden.

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Thank you sooooooooooooooooo much for your help. I was concerned about an hour walk. But with your information, we will take the bus, knowing the church is so close. Sending you a blessing today, because you just gave us one. God bless

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The following website gives you the 2009 concert schedule for the Wieskirche.

http://www.wieskirche.de/konz.htm

Although it is in German, perhaps you can decipher it with the help of a dictionary or a friend. If not, let me know and I%26#39;ll help you.

With that schedule in hand,check the tourist office in Fuessen if they know of special transportation to the concert.

A concert at the Wies is really an unique experience.