Germany/Poland trip - Is this a good itinerary?

ixoy

I was thinking of taking an 11-day (or so) trip to Germany/Poland based roughly on the following route:

Fly in to Dusseldorf (2 nights)
Train to Koln (2 nights)
Train to Berlin (3 nights)
Train to Krakow (3 nights)
Fly home

I realise the Berlin/Krakow train might be better done by plane but am wondering if this is a good initial plan? I've read mixed things on Dusseldorf here for example, so should I "swap" it for a different city (e.g. Koln-Dresden-Berlin-Krakow)? Am I being too ambitious or not allowing enough time for each city (for those who've journeyed to them before)?

Any advice appreciated.

caspermccormack

I've being to Krakow with a few lads about 2 years ago, great place well worth the trip. The square in the town centre is buzzing after 12 and they have big BBQ's and lots of food stalls, lovely grub(best when locked).
We all when to Auschwitz, if that interest you it is a worth while experence. We had also visited the salt mines, mind blowing that place.

Enjoy your trip.
Casper.

cailinoBAC

Yeah, to be honest I'd only stay the one night in Dusseldorf, or if you're flying in there in the morning I'd probably take the train to Koeln straight away. Kind of tired at the moment and can't think of a swap, but I'm sure others will have some suggestions! I stayed in Dusseldorf for a week with a friend and we pretty much went to different cities all the time. The only thing I remember about Dusseldorf was the hanging railway in the nearby town of Wuppertal.

ixoy

I believe I could fly directly into Cologne and not go near Dusseldorf is it's not worth my time (especially if I can get in a more deserving city).

judas101

Check out Heidelberg if you can.

dolliemix

Leave out Dusseldorf and spend the extra two nights in Berlin - I've just spent two weeks in Berlin and still could have spent more time there!

Dump the 2 nights in Dusseldorf and either add them to Berlin or Krakow [both fantastic cities!] or use one of them for to break the trip by checking out some town in between for the experience.

It might be a bit of crack to drive either.

Berlin is only 175 miles from prague which is what dublin to Cork? so theres another option and then maybe take the overnight train from prague to krakow? And use the extra 2 days to flesh out that itinerary?

Hearvee

Well to start off, I lived in Dusseldorf and while I still love it to bits, there's not a lot there for your average tourist. Go up the tower, wander round the Altstadt, drink some Altbier, and that's about it. Plenty of good pubs though, great place for a pub crawl (add in a couple of tacky bars/irish pubs/local breweries/etc).

If you decide to skip' Dusseldorf you can get a train direct to Koln from Dusseldorf's main airport.

Koln is much more lively, definitely check out the cathedral and the Roman museum next door, then Friesenplatz is probably the best spot to head out (from what I remember).

Was only in Berlin for a weekend, but would have loved a couple of extra days.

And keep plenty of time for Krakow. The Salt mines and Auschwitz are must-sees, and then hang out around the main square in sight of the textile hall.

I'd probably say 3 nights for Koln/Dusseldorf, 4 nights Berlin, 3 nights Krakow according to your plans. Three locations is more than enough, you'll actually get a feel for each of them in that time.

herya

I'd say ditch Dusseldorf in favour of either Berlin/Krakow or adding Wroclaw to your list. Wroclaw is just as enjoyable as Krakow and price wise it's very affordable.

ixoy

Consider Dusseldorf dumped - thanks for all the negative opinions on it

I'm thinking of re-adjusting to:

3 nights in Koln
2 nights in Heidelberg [under 2hrs by train]
4 nights in Berlin
3 nights in Krakow

With regards to Krakow - would the salt mines and Auschwitz take one day each? Or can they be done in one day between both?

Locamon

ixoy wrote: »

Consider Dusseldorf dumped - thanks for all the negative opinions on it

I'm thinking of re-adjusting to:

3 nights in Koln
2 nights in Heidelberg [under 2hrs by train]
4 nights in Berlin
3 nights in Krakow

With regards to Krakow - would the salt mines and Auschwitz take one day each? Or can they be done in one day between both?

You'll need a day each for the salt mines and Auschwitz, bit of a trip by train to Auschwitz. Make sure you go to the old Jewish quarter in Krakow -very impressive as is the city in general.

herya

ixoy wrote: »

With regards to Krakow - would the salt mines and Auschwitz take one day each? Or can they be done in one day between both?

Wieliczka salt mines tour is 3-4 hours underground if I remember well and then you need to get there and back (it's a far out suburb) so depending on how you organise your day you may have a lot of the day left for other sightseeing/going out.

Auschwitz would be a full day.

kenon

Hearvee wrote: »

And keep plenty of time for Krakow. The Salt mines and Auschwitz are must-sees

Would the Salt Mines really be a must see? I found them fairly boring. I was severly hungover though and there is a fair bit of stairs and walking involved.

Auschwitz/Birkenau is undoubtedly a must see.

empirix

+1 on Berlin, nothing in Cologne & DDorf, but Berlin is the shizzle - very big city too,never been to Krakow,to be honest ive had enough of Polish for my lifetime,too many crew cuts about these days!

ixoy

Well Krakow is now struck from the list as I found out I'm going there next year for a wedding so I'll take it in then.

Now I need to maybe work in a new German city into that list - one that isn't Hamburg or Munich as I saw them only a few years ago... Any suggestions? Is Nurmberg worth visiting or Dresden? They'd both be roughly en-route back up from Heidelberg to Berlin.

tech

sounds like a nice trip are you interrailing ?

herya

kenon wrote: »

Would the Salt Mines really be a must see? I found them fairly boring. I was severly hungover though and there is a fair bit of stairs and walking involved.

To me going down all those winding stairs was impressive, the underground cathedral was hugely impressive and going up in those crazy elevators was fun. The rest was rather blah but at the end it was worth it.

I was happy I've taken my jumper as it was freezing down there, maybe 10-15 deg! It was August so some people were freezing in their t-shirts and strappy tops. Take a jacket with you!!

Check out pics if you can't decide
http://www.kopalnia.pl/home.php?action=&id_language=2&

kenon

herya wrote: »

To me going down all those winding stairs was impressive, the underground cathedral was hugely impressive and going up in those crazy elevators was fun. The rest was rather blah but at the end it was worth it.

I forgot about the elevators, worst elevators I've ever been on, which made them entertaining.

The cathedral was excellent.

ixoy

Is Cologne actually worth 3 days (especially if you're not into drinking much)? Or would it be a good idea to throw a day trip to Bonn for example (I've done city day trips before)? Which would have me attempting to squeeze in five cities if I choose Nuremberg or Dresden

I visited Berlin a few years ago and had about 4 nights there but is there much around it that would warrant an extra night? Again not into pubs really so that element wouldn't interest me.

tech wrote: »

sounds like a nice trip are you interrailing ?

Yeah, I always use the trains within a country to visit a few major cities. I'm not one for staying in the same place or sitting around on holidays as I can do that at home. So I spent 11 nights in Spain and saw Madrid, Toledo, Valencia, Montserrat and Barcelona.

ixoy

Right I've decided it will be:

Koln (2-3 nights)
Heidelberg (2-3 nights)
Nuremberg (2-3 nights)
Berlin (4-5)

I just can't now decide how many days to spend in each of the cities above! Given some of each of those days will be travel too. Does Nurmeberg need 2.5 days? Heidelberg seems beautiful but it looks like you could do it all in a day and a half but I could be wrong...

Anyone have any rough ideas of how long would be good? When I go to a place, I've no qualms running around for the whole day and I don't particularly need hours in any old art museums either.

carrotcake

ixoy wrote: »

Right I've decided it will be:

Koln (2-3 nights)
Heidelberg (2-3 nights)
Nuremberg (2-3 nights)
Berlin (4-5)

I just can't now decide how many days to spend in each of the cities above! Given some of each of those days will be travel too. Does Nurmeberg need 2.5 days? Heidelberg seems beautiful but it looks like you could do it all in a day and a half but I could be wrong...

Anyone have any rough ideas of how long would be good? When I go to a place, I've no qualms running around for the whole day and I don't particularly need hours in any old art museums either.

A friend of mine is from a town near Nuremberg, and says that it's not really a nice place. Besides the old Nazi Party rally grounds there doesn't seem to be much. That said, I might go there on Saturday, so I can see it for myself then.

So from what I've heard about Nuremberg I would go to Dresden instead. I lived there for a year, and it's a beautiful city. The trip from Dresden back to Düsseldorf is a long one though, so it might be best to stop off somewhere halfway. I was in Erfurt last weekend, and it was really nice. Have a look into it.

On the other hand you could use Nuremberg as a base to go see Würzburg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Würzburg is really nice, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber is supposed to be even nicer - supposedly one of the most beautiful towns in Germany - but I haven't been there yet.

Heidelberg is small enough. If all you want to see is the castle and the old town then you'll just need a day.

I've been to Cologne twice on day trips, and I can't see it taking more than two nights.

ixoy

carrotcake wrote: »

A friend of mine is from a town near Nuremberg, and says that it's not really a nice place. Besides the old Nazi Party rally grounds there doesn't seem to be much. That said, I might go there on Saturday, so I can see it for myself then.

Please let me know what you think! I was also looking at the Toy Museum there and the Zoo as well as a couple of other places...

On the other hand you could use Nuremberg as a base to go see Würzburg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Würzburg is really nice, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber is supposed to be even nicer - supposedly one of the most beautiful towns in Germany - but I haven't been there yet.

Thanks for that! We were thinking of doing 3 nights in Nuremberg but with one of those days visiting some of the old areas of Franconia. We couldn't find any specific names yesterday and now you've given them. Rothburg looks particularly nice. As we'd arrive in the afternoon in Nuremberg that'd give the city itself 1.5 days and another day for the day trip before we head on once we do this day trip

Heidelberg is small enough. If all you want to see is the castle and the old town then you'll just need a day.

Yeah it looks small enough that you could see the old town and castle on the day of arrival.
What we were thinking of though is doing a good bit of walking in the area - there certainly seems to be a lot of places to wander: is that the case? We'd be looking at 3 nights here with the idea of relaxing in the area and having those leisurely walks - less seeing particular sights but more wandering around and enjoying the scenery.

I've been to Cologne twice on day trips, and I can't see it taking more than two nights.

That's what I figured. We'd get in there on the afternoon and reckon a day and a half would cover it, including a trip on the Rhine. Then on to the rest of the trip.

BTW we're pegging five nights for Berlin - there certainly seems a lot to do there. Are there any good day trips though if we race around the place too quickly?

carrotcake

ixoy wrote: »

Thanks for that! We were thinking of doing 3 nights in Nuremberg but with one of those days visiting some of the old areas of Franconia. We couldn't find any specific names yesterday and now you've given them. Rothburg looks particularly nice. As we'd arrive in the afternoon in Nuremberg that'd give the city itself 1.5 days and another day for the day trip before we head on once we do this day trip

Both Würzburg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber are on Germany's "Romantic Road". If you google it you should find out more about it, and might see some other areas that you'd be interested in.

ixoy wrote: »

Yeah it looks small enough that you could see the old town and castle on the day of arrival.
What we were thinking of though is doing a good bit of walking in the area - there certainly seems to be a lot of places to wander: is that the case? We'd be looking at 3 nights here with the idea of relaxing in the area and having those leisurely walks - less seeing particular sights but more wandering around and enjoying the scenery.

Yeah, you can do a bit of walking around and exploring. Most things are off Hauptstraße, which is really long. Now that I think of it, the funicular railway that goes from the town to the castle also continues on to some other places. That might be worth a look too.

ixoy wrote: »

BTW we're pegging five nights for Berlin - there certainly seems a lot to do there. Are there any good day trips though if we race around the place too quickly?

I haven't been in the area immediately outside Berlin, so I can't really help you out there. Eastern Germany doesn't have a lot to offer in general compared to the west, but maybe look into Potsdam.

ixoy

Well based on your feedback, we've refined it further!

3 nights in Koln - including one full day in Bonn (and given we're travelling in on that day, just 1.5 days in Koln)
2 nights in Heidelberg (go early enough, see town on day one, and go walking day 2)
3 nights in Nuremberg (1.5 days in the city itself, and 1 day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber probably)
5 nights in Berlin

Get to see a good bit in all that!

legendal

ixoy wrote: »

3 nights in Koln - including one full day in Bonn (and given we're travelling in on that day, just 1.5 days in Koln)
2 nights in Heidelberg (go early enough, see town on day one, and go walking day 2)
3 nights in Nuremberg (1.5 days in the city itself, and 1 day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber probably)
5 nights in Berlin

Can I come too? Let us know how it went when you get back, I'd love to do a trip like that next summer so it'd be great to get your thoughts.

spurious

ixoy wrote: »

Well Krakow is now struck from the list as I found out I'm going there next year for a wedding so I'll take it in then.

Now I need to maybe work in a new German city into that list - one that isn't Hamburg or Munich as I saw them only a few years ago... Any suggestions? Is Nurmberg worth visiting or Dresden? They'd both be roughly en-route back up from Heidelberg to Berlin.

Dresden is beautiful - by far my favourite German city - especially since I first visited in 1985 in the old days and so much has changed.
You can always go back another time.

carrotcake

Well I went to Nuremberg, and it is definitely worth seeing. I don't know what my friend was talking about.