Germany 2012 Guidebook
Favorite discoveries or tips:
The best investment we made for driving around Germany was the purchase of a detailed road atlas at a local petrol station. The maps we had purchased in the U.S. didn't provide enough minor road detail to get us to some of our small-town destinations expediently.
Marlys in Mahomet, IL USA 01/11/2012
Hotel Floster-Stuble-In the Old Town - Rottenberg, hotel was lovely and we were upgraded to a 2 bedroom for 3 adults. Breakfast was Great and Erika even took my bos to the Post for us. Wonderful, next time we will stay longer than 1 night on December 6, 2011.
Jean Franks in Trevose, PA USA 01/05/2012
The best eating place in Bacharach is not the Rhine Hotel, it is the Park Hotel, not listed in your book, if your looking for class this is the place. owned and Chef Rick and Wife Ellen has the best food in town followed by the Kranenturn My wife and I , we have been in Bacharach so many times we know some people and like this village very much
Richard Schultz in Absarokee, MT USA 11/27/2011
Germany 2011 tips:
Aachen: Your book barely includes a paragraph about this awesome town. Aachen is the new and trendy alternative to Baden Baden (which is reputedly for older folks). It has amazing thermal baths. You MUST check out Carolus Thermen: http://www.carolus-thermen.de/go/bad_aachen/english.html.
If you do include this in your next edition, which I think you should, please advise your readers that you must wear a swimsuit in the "Thermal World" portion (sort of like an upscale adult water park), but may NOT wear a swimsuit in the inside "Sauna World" section. Also, you can't go to "Sauna World" without buying a ticket to "Thermal World," but you can only buy a "Thermal World" ticket without paying the premium for "Sauna World." Another tip: The Meditteraneo restaurant is accessible for free by anybody. The staff says that it's better than the two inside restaurants anyway (you must pay an entrance fee to the spas before you can eat at the other two).
Also, Aachen has a locally renowned Christmas market (Weinnacht Markt or something). This year, it started on Nov. 18th. I was there on opening day, and it was packed. I am surprised that this information was omitted from the Germany 2011 guidebook.
Stacey Oziel in Santa Monica, CA USA 11/25/2011
Tip for Fussen. Fabulous place as base for the area with one exception, there are NO laundromat facilities anywhere near the city. The closest is 40 kilometers away (confirmed twice at TI). So come with clean clothes. Tip for Munich: You can get a week long transit pass, good on U, S, bus and tram, for 12 euros for 2 zones. Heck of a deal if the timing is right (Sunday to Sunday). Tip for Romantic Road drivers. The road signs assume you are going North the South and can be misleading otherwise. Check all signage against a map, don't just follow them. We loved Stauffen, good recomendation as alternative to Freiberg.
Mary Schroeder in Seattle, WA USA 11/11/2011
The self guided walk was great. We did it with two boys 8 and 11 and it allowed for a great orientation and a little exercise. The Nightwatchman's tour was great and entertaining. He doesn't charge for kids.
Great tip with kids .... Eat dinner around 6:45 at Gasthof Goldener Greifen; walk to town square for the 8 pm Meistertrunk Show; and go on the Nightwatchman's tour. The kids will be dead and might sleep all the way to 7:30 the next morning. Plus they and you will enjoy the tour.
Also we went the first week of November and found no crowds and good prices.
Our hotel in Fussen booked the kings castle's tour for us and saved us the wait in the lines.
In Rothenburg Ob der tauter ... Hotel Spitzweg is great for families and Her Hocher is a great host. He genuinely likes to get to know his visitors from around the globe.
If you plan to buy souvenirs, just go to Anneliese Friese in Rothenburg. They have the best prices and service. The Rick Steves guidebook pays for itself with the 10 pct discount. Again, they do the little extras to make you happy.
Brian Gray in Brussels , belgium 11/05/2011
The book I actually had was Rick Steves' Snapshot - Munich, Bavaria & Salzburg. We did almost all that you suggested within this book over two weeks and had a WONDERFUL time.
Kathy & Rick Taylor in Placentia, CA USA 11/03/2011
Gerrmany, 2011, The EurAide office in the Munich train station has moved into the main DB office.
David Poretti in Minneapolis, MN USA 10/28/2011
We stayed at Arcotel John F in Berlin and were very pleased with the room , price and staff. The location was very central.
Helen Kluck in Gloucester, MA USA 10/10/2011
Gil at the St Goar Rhein Hotel (Germany 2011 p 399) made this suggestion to us for a day trip (which we did) and I think it would be a great addition to Rick's book. Catch the first river boat of the day upriver (past all the best sights of the "Romantic" Rhine) and get off at Assmannshausen. Take the chair lift from the center of town up the hill and hike the well marked road/trail about 30 minutes to the Neiderwald Monument. From there, you can take a cable car (or hike) down to Rudesheim. Spend time in town or catch the riverboat downstream, getting off in Bacharach or continuing on back to St Goar. Great views of vineyards and overlooks of the Rhine. Tickets for the whole experience can be bought at the K-D kiosk.
Joseph White in Temple, TX USA 10/01/2011
We went to the "Amphitheater" in Trier, Germany. In Rick's books it is decribed as "unexceptional". However we have been to several Amphiteaters in Rome and Pompeii and this was the only Amphiteater that you would walk under and see what it was like under the floor. It could use a little more information, such as an english guide. Over all I would say it was good if you are into Roman history and want to see the inner workings of an Amphitheater.
Lisa in Nashville, TN USA 09/24/2011
Da Papa Italian restaurant down the street from Hecker's Hotel toward Ku'damm was great. As was La Piazza at the Savignyplatz train stop.
Carole in Edmonton, Canada 09/07/2011
Visiting Hohenschwangau/Neuschwanstein
Steve Atkins in Anaheim , CA USA 08/28/2011
The walking tour of Munich was absolutely fantastic! I enjoyed all of the sights it included and the layout was quite easy to follow.
Sonja in Ann arbor, MI USA 08/21/2011
Hi Mr. Steves, I am 13 years old and my dad and I are in Munich as part of our vacation. We both love reading your books and find your tips and advice extremely helpful. We also like your free audio tour app in which we used in Rome and Venice, and will do so in Paris. We have a tip of our own which you might want to share with your readers for the Deutch Museum. If you are coming to the museum from the old town, when you walk across the bridge we saw a huge, long line for tickets. However, instead of joining that line, we walked into the courtyard by the Museum Entrance and saw two other lines, one almost as long as the first one, and the other fairly short. It turns out that there were three lines to buy tickets and you could join any line. The line inside the courtyard (line #1) saved us at least an hour of waiting in those two other long lines (Lines #2 and #3). The tip is, to walk through the courtyard past the two much longer lines (Lines #2 and #3), and join the short one, which is not visible from the street. The mistake many visitors will make is they will see the long line stretching out onto the street, and will just get in that and wait. I hope that you find this helpful.
Best Regards,
Mike
Mike Edwards in Victoria, BC Canada 08/15/2011
The road from Reutte heading south and west toward Salzburg (I believe it is 179) was BEAUTIFUL -- winding through mountains and beside clear blue lakes. If you are not in a hurry, that is a wonderful drive.
Jean Breeding in Knoxville, TN USA 08/14/2011
Holyfield restaurant in Berlin was very good. On Unter der Linden. Reasonable, very clean, good food. You order at computerized kiosk as you enter, pick up your drinks, sit inside or out, meal delivered to your table. It was fresh and good. Quiet too. Pay as you leave.
Sharon Armann in Phoenix, AZ USA 07/18/2011
OK, this is not Germany, but if you like the Mosel, you will also like the Luxembourg castle village of Vianden. It is right on the German border, 40 miles northwest of Trier and is definitely worth a daytrip or overnight stay. I have pictures of the village, along with some of Trier, posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/37015584@N04/sets/72157626678453303/
Roy in Auburn, AL 07/15/2011
Stay in St. Goar instead of Baccarach to see the rhine. The town was alive, the restaurants better, and you can take the same boat rides.
Art and Debbie Corsano in Atlantic Beach, FL USA 06/27/2011
The Grosser Garten in Dresden. This is a fanstic park with open field, wooded areas, paved and unpaved paths, fountains and, of course, gardens. It even has a miniature train line that you can ride around the Garten in. It is great for having a picnick, strolling around, or letting kids loose to run around.
Dan in Johnstown, NY USA 06/20/2011
Wittenberg, Aachen, and Lubeck (in that order)!
Michael Boerm in Waco, TX USA 06/11/2011
The Hotel St. Annen in Hamburg (www.hotelstannen.de) is a great hotel in a vibrant neighborhood, walking distance to the harbor or the U bahn. St. Pauli district has a range of restaurants and a nightlife (but rooms on the courtyard are very quiet). A good breakfast and a leafy patio in the summer, combined with a helpful and professional staff, make this a great choice.
Marian in Wiesbaden, DE 06/07/2011
Just returned from Berlin. Used your guidebook and very helpful. I bought a year membership for the museums for 40 euros and found that the best deal. Reiterate to get entrance ticket for Pergamon or timed ticket for Neues Museum get it at one of the other less crowded museums so you do not have to stand in line. I really enjoyed the 3.5 hr Reederei boat tour on the Spree. Got to see more of the city with lots of architecture. Starting point is Hallesches Tor but can get on numerous places. Note they only tell you about the very low bridges and how you must stayed seated on upper deck at the beginning of the guided tour so if you get on elsewhere take note. English audio guide with German on the boat speakers.
mary ann henderson in Seattle, WA USA 05/31/2011
I just wanted to comment that I am glad I read the recommendation to shop at Anneliese Friese's shop in Rothenburg. I was there in September. She was excited that I was a Rick Steve's fan and showed me all of the photos that she has of Rick and his family from over the years. She was fun to interact with. Very nice lady.
Joy in Manchester, MO USA 04/25/2011
Hotel Moselkern was an excellent location for a visit to Berg Eltz. The staff speaks very good English; English is not ubiquitous in the Mosel valley. I used “Hotel Moselkern” as a base for bike touring of the north end of the Mosel valley. The hotel staff gave me a brochure that was most useful “Wandern und Radfahren im Moselland”. It is written in German but the maps and pictures make it useable with little or no proficiency of German. If you want to distance yourself from the crowds of Cochem, Moselkern makes an excellent base and the “Hotel Moselkern” is the place to stay. It is possible to arrange in advance for bike rentals by calling the hotel several days in advance. There are several large supermarkets in Treis-Karten; six Km down river. Train service in the valley runs about once per hour. Getting to Burg Eltz is easy and fast with a bike. Ride to the trail (2.5 KM well marked route) lock your bike up and walk 2.5 Km on an easy trail. This trip takes only 30 to 40 minutes each way.
Thomas Thrasher in Bremerton, WA USA 04/14/2011
Suggest reason why not to include the Fairy Tale Road. For example, Mainz and Weisbaden were both mentioned as low-lights, not worth it.
linda in Albuquerque, NM USA 03/10/2011
I was in Berlin for little over a week and bought your Snapshot of Berlin guidebook. One of the coolest things we found was the museum and research center at Topography of Terror, yet your guidebook barely gives mention to the site and definitely does not even hint that there is a museum there!
Eric in Burlington, VT USA 02/21/2011
We visited Germany from 20 Nov to 30 Nov. We had also visited Germany in July, 2008. Both trips were fantastic, especially because of your great guide. In this most recent trip, we had two extra special places for our sleeping accomodations. First was St. Goar and 2 apartments rented by Frau Ilse Kurz. We had our kids and grandkids along, so we needed 2 apartments. They were located on the street right along the Rhine River. We could see the Rhine from the windows in both apartments. The smaller one that my husband and I used was basic with one room as living room, bedroom, and kitchen. All of these were very nice and comfortable, and Frau Kurz had added lots of personal "homey" touches. The bathroom was modern and beautiful--with towels, hairdryer, etc. The other larger apartment across the doorway had two bedrooms, living room, bath, and kitchen. It also was modern yet comfortable with the "homey" touches. Frau Kurz goes to so much trouble to make you feel welcome. She even puts bottles of local wines on the kitchen counter for you to taste. (you pay for them if you use them). She also invited our whole family to her house for "tea" one afternoon. She cooked gooseberry cake for us. We stayed 5 days and made day trips from there to castles, Koln cathedral, etc. It was a wonderful 5 days. The second place we really enjoyed was Fussen. Of course we loved Neuschwanstein, but our accomodations were straight out of a storybook! We stayed at the vacation apartment building (old house) called Mein Lieber Schwan. Herr Blatschacher was an exceptional host. He had thought of our needs ahead of time. We marveled at all the beautiful period pieces of furniture, the amazing walls from a castle on the first floor, and the glass-enclosed dining room where we ate meals and watched the snow falling outside. Everything was so elegant, we almost felt that we should tip-toe around and whisper. We were amazed at our accomodations for such a reasonable price. We would never have found these 2 places if they had not been listed in your guidebook. Also, the fact that you give the email addresses helped greatly. We were able to contact both places months ahead and work our all our arrangements ahead of time. Thank you so much for helping us have a fairy-tale experience and thanks for recommending these two places. They were exceptional!!! Jack and Caroline Meyer cjrmeyer@live.com
Caroline and Jack Meyer in George West, TX USA 01/04/2011
In the section on traveling to Dachau from Munich, it's worth noting that the Muenchen XXL tickets (single or partner) can be used on RE and RB trains in addition to the S-Bahn. These trains are a bit faster as they make no other stops and they can be a better fit to a particular schedule.
Paul Sanschagrin in Fanwood, NJ USA 12/09/2010
Berlin. We knew Berlin was historic, but had no idea how beautiful and pedestrian-friendly it is. Even though we had constant rain for our three-day visit, we really enjoyed it.
Ron in DeWitt, MI USA 10/13/2010
Berlin. We found it a very enjoyable city, even though it rained during our entire three-day stay. We knew it would be historic, but didn't appreciate how beautiful and pedestrian-friendly it is.
Ron in DeWitt, MI USA 10/13/2010
Brauhaus Lemke at Hackescher Markt was terrific. The best brewpub we found in Berlin. Good beer, good atmosphere. Get there early for a beer (or two) before dinner, and you can find comfy seating in fat leather armchairs in the window of the back room. There is also a large green outside patio, tables closed for fall when we were there in late Sept. Best traditional pork-and-potatoes dinner we had in Berlin. Their smoked pork knuckle is unbelievably huge, but so good and melt-off-the-bone tender that it's hard to stop eating it.
http://www.brauhaus-lemke.com/index.php from the website: "open daily from 12:00 until ??? Dircksenstr., S-Bahnbogen 143 in 10178 Berlin-Mitte phone +49 (0)30 - 247 287 27 / fax +49 (0)30 - 247 287 28 info@brauhaus-lemke.de"
Tamara in Seattle, WA USA 10/12/2010
Regional Train ride through Black Forest from Baden-Baden to Konstanz (Lake Constance). Breath-taking beauty through the mountains with picture-post card views of small farms & villages. Take a simple picnic (bread, meat, cheese, local wine) & sit back & enjoy the ride. Go 1st or 2nd Class so you can sit on the upper level of the train...best view. Lake Constance is huge, ringed by the Alps, & the Botanical Gardens on the Isle of Meaneu (sp?) are gorgeous. A great day trip!
Wayne & Colleen Dumas in Lynnwood, WA USA 10/09/2010
We drove in Germany and have some tips. We found Germans friendly and helpful.
henry gerner in wauwatosa, wi USA 10/05/2010
We had a terrific private guide in Berlin, and wanted to let you know about our experience. We ended up spending 2 days with Bernhard Wagner, phone -49-176-64229119 email lukobru@googlemail.com. Bernhard grew up in East Berlin, and studied history. He is personable, organized, and very knowledgeable.
Elizabeth Roth in Palo Alto, CA USA 09/30/2010
Gockelstube Restaurant - Baden Baden - Kreuzstrape 2 One of the BEST meals we had in our 3 week stay in Germany! A local bar where we met nice people, wonderful atmosphere - small but wonderful find!
Sally McDermott in Tierra Verde, FL USA 09/27/2010
1. Rothenburg: If you want to do laundry, either stay at the Goldener Greifen OR do the self service. GG does laundry for guests only but at a reasonable price. The other hotels will hire a service (all the same) that will do your laundry, but at prices that you might as well throw away your clothes and buy new ones. 2. On the Rhein, passenger trains run from Koblenz to either side, so you don't have to stress about which side of the river you are staying on.
Lloyd in Mill Creek, WA USA 09/23/2010
We stopped to see friends in Augsburg, which the guidebook said had nothing really to see, and were amazed at all there was to do.
The most notable is the Fuggerei. The oldest social settlement in the world! It was set up in the 1700's for the poor, and even today the rent for people is less than 1 euro ANNUALLY!!
What a beautiful and inspirational place!
The Zoo, the Botanical Gardens. It was a great city.
Kate Van Dine in Bangor, ME USA 08/24/2010
The book and the phrase book were tremendously useful on our recent trip!! We spent 8 days in Germany visiting some of my husband's family and seeing the sights. His family lives in Asbach-Baumenheim, which is on the Romantic Road. We brought your phrase book as well, and even our cousins used it occasionally to look up english words to say to us. We traveled with my 12 year old stepdaughter and our 4.5 year old daughter, which always makes choosing sights to see a little difficult. I got my 4 year old through the Residenz in Wurzburg because I read to her most of your description before our tour started (and yes, she actually sat good and listened to it!). Then, I could keep her busy during the tour by quietly pointing things out that you had mentioned. This meant that I missed a little of what the tour guide had to say, but I felt your guide had covered enough that I was okay with that. This worked for a few of the castles and churches that we saw too. We weren't able to see all of the things recommended it the book, but what we did see was wonderful! I can't say enough good things about this book as a resource.
Beverly Wiedemann in Bridgewater, NJ USA 08/21/2010
The whole book was fantastic. It was the first time using a Rick Steves book - Anytime I am going to Europe from now on, I am buying his book. The inside tips saved us lots of time, money, and aggravation. Many guidebooks just give the facts and don't give advice - your advice on what to see (and what to skip) made our trip so much better. Thanks so much!
Kathy in Redondo Beach, CA USA 08/18/2010
Marksburn castle DOES have an English language tour daily at 4pm. This was one of the highlights of the Germany portion of our trip
alyca in seattle, wa USA 07/31/2010
Rothenberg: English Conversation Club on Wednesdays! I want to share an accolade about "Herman the German". Last night, my wallet with Credit cards, Drivers License, Insurance cards, etc slipped out of my pocket while I was at the ECC. I didn't miss it until I got back to my hotel about 10:30. Using the telephone number in the guide book, I called the ECC and asked for Herman. I told him that I thought I had lost my wallett at the ECC when I was getting something out of my pocket. (at this point it was only a guess) I was locked in the hotel where I was staying and the ECC club spot didn't reopen until 6 the next afternoon...time for me to be gone and longer than I cared to wait. Herman said he would look for my wallet and bring it to my hotel the next morning. At 9:30 AM this morning a hotel clerk informed m that Herman was here to see me. He returned my wallet, complete with all contents and refused a reward! What a nice guy!
N.C. Sizemore in ocala, FL USA 07/29/2010
The Benedictine Monastery Andechs www.andechs.de Tel o8152/376-167
This Abbey is the holy,grand Mecca of German beer
Dennis Imwalle in Cincinnati, OH USA 07/25/2010
Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Pension Elke was the best! Klaus is the hardest working, friendliest, and most helpful host in all of the places we stayed throughout Germany. You cannot beat the breakfast! The restaurant "Burghermeister" was great. The owner is quite funny and speaks English wonderfully. Don't miss the Night Watchman Tour.
Harry in Irvine, Ca USA 07/17/2010
The Roman museums in Trier and Koeln are beyond compare. The Roman museum in Mainz is quite good but the major objects in the collection are replicas of works I have seen elsewhere (e.g. the bishop's chair from Ravenna). The minor objects are original and the entire museum is very effective as a teaching tool for the neophyte, but for professionals it was literally a case of deja vu
David Madsen in Seattle, WA USA 07/16/2010
This pertains to Germany,France, Italy, Paris and Rome Guidebooks--relative to our touring. I have a love/hate (mostly love)relationship with your guidebooks. While they are a wonderful resource guide--knowledgeable and well written, they are very frustrating to use as a quick reference guide. It would be helpful, in the Index, to bold-print the primary reference to each topic/location. Thank You.
Charles Hays in Milwaukee, WI USA 07/13/2010
Hotel Domstern in Cologne is conveniently located near the train station and cathedral, and it provides a terrific breakfast. Even better than the breakfasts were the friendly, helpful folks at the front desk. Their welcoming attitude left us with a very positive feeling for our time in Cologne.
Shirley in Austin, TX USA 07/05/2010
Due Centogradi (or Bread & Condiments) is an extremely good sandwich restaurant next to Insalata Ricca in Prati. My son pestered us to go back to there incessantly and for good reason. It is four times better than the Oil Shop in Florence. Go!
Nancy Atkinson in Takoma Park, MD USA 07/04/2010
Hofer Der Stadtwirt restaurant in Munich was great for lunch. The best meal we had in Munich. Located just off Marienplatz on the way to Jodlerwirt.
Chuck in Elkridge, MD USA 06/26/2010
Hi Rick, I'm a big fan and always use your guide books when traveling in Europe. Last week I left my Germany book at the hotel in Frankfurt and ended up in Berlin lacking direction. I spotted a walking tour brochure in the hotel lobby and thought I'd try that for orientation. What a good move that was. The tours were fantastic. I say tours because I ended up taking two of them. The guides were brilliant - professional, knowledgeable and funny. Their first tour rooted me in all things Berlin and I even got to meet a few other sole travelers. So good was that I took their specialized Third Reich tour the day after - absolutely fascinating. The company is Insider Tour berlin and they are top class. Those were the best two tours of my life and if I am ever lucky enough to revisit Berlin I will definitely take some more Insider tours. Also the tours cost only euro 12 each, great value. Afterwards I was surprised to see that they do not get a mention in your Germany guidebook which was kindly sent on to me. They have been operational since 1996, give tours also in other languages (including Hebrew!) and are obviously very popular. Surely your faithful followers should be informed about these great tours.
Johann dePoar in Boston, MA USA 06/16/2010
The Kartoffelstuben in Rothenburg was recommended by our hotel manager Martin from the Hotel Hornburg. We went there and it was absolutely delicious.
Vanessa Forbes in Mannheim, Germany 06/16/2010
The Munich Viktualienmarkt and the beirgarten in its center was our favorite discovery. We also found the locals to be very friendly and helpful, more so than in other places in Europe. Also in Munich, the Paulaner brewery biergarten and restaurant was very nice, and had the best food of our trip (this was not in the guidebook). It was easy to get to from the U-Bahn, and was on Kapuzinerstrasse, about 1.5 blocks southeast of the intersection with Lindwurmstrasse.
R Lorber in Westminster, MD USA 06/06/2010
We recently returned from Berlin. We took 2 wonderful walking tours..Brewer's Berlin Tours. The first one was a 4 hour tour right after we got there so it was a perfect intro to the city. No cost but you tip when done. The second was a full day tour to Potsdam, the palaces, parks etc.12 euros. Our guide Terry Brewer was excellent (it was just the three of us in the group!!). He's British and has been giving Berlin tours since 1954. He said to greet Rick Steves from him.
Judy in Alexandria, MN USA 05/20/2010
Forgot to add to previous comments: No website for Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Freising. Email is: osceolam@aol.com
E.Loftin in Foley, AL USA 05/17/2010
Have successfully used your guidebooks for years. Would like to recommend Freising as an excellent overnight location before flying out of Munich. Bus 635 takes you to/from the airport in 15 minutes, every 20 minutes, for 2.40 Euros pp. I also recommend Hotel Bayerischer Hof where we had a comfortable double room (2 beds) and bath for 62 Euros. Breakfast is 6.50 pp extra but an early flight precludes that option. You can pick up something at the Bus/Bahnhof. The hotel is 10 minutes walk, a straight shot down Bahnhofstrasse and turn right at Hauptstrasse. The hotel restaurant is wonderful and very reasonable. Freising is a nice little town and incredibly convenient. Highly recommended.
E. Loftin in Foley, AL USA 05/17/2010
Hi Rick - LOVE your show - I grew up an American kid in The Netherlands, so I always appreciate your approach to blending in with the locals and really discovering the culture, not just "seeing the sights".
This is my first trip back to Europe in 20 years (since moving back to the US for college), so it's my first experience using your guidebooks. My husband and I are in Alsace and the Black Forest for two weeks, using your France 2010 and Germany/Austria 2009.
My suggestion is an addition for your Germany book. We spent an entire day at Schloss Schwetzingen outside Heidelberg: http://www.schloss-schwetzingen.de/en/268239.html You're right about Heidelberg - been there, done that - but we were surprised this Schloss didn't rate a mention in your book. The gardens are immense and spectacular. We wandered all day in the rain because every turn and every nook held a new surprise. The palace itself can be seen only on a guided tour, which was nice. The tour is offered in English only on certain days of the week. We were not there on one of those days... we went on a German tour and were given a written English translation to follow along. That, and what is left of my schoolgirl German vocabulary and some helpful tips from a lovely older woman on the tour made it great. But really, the star of the schloss is the gardens. Admission is quite cheap, too. I sincerely hope you'll check it out and include this gem in your next edition.
Melissa Goosen in Zionsville, IN USA 05/16/2010
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we were given the option of moving from Hotel Alexandria to Hotel Alexander in Berlin. They are run by the same people. We made the move and were VERY pleased with the service and accommodations we received. The location was great as well. We'd love to see you include Hotel Alexander in your hotel selections for Berlin.
Janet Shellenberger in Houston, TX USA 04/11/2010
My wife and I spent three weeks in Germany in October/November 2009 and used your book as a guide and it was most helpful. We toured from Munich/Romantic Road/Wuzberg/Bamburg/Nurenberg/Colgne/Heidelberg/Hamburg/Berlin/Dresden.
I was disappointed you provided no information in respect to Hamburg which my wife and I found to be a vibrant city. We were fortunate to be there on a Sunday and attended the "Fish Market" which was a wonderful experience.
Similarly, you were rather disparaging about Heidelberg and while I agree that Baden Baden is a far better option, Heidelberg was worth the visit. Judging by the number of Americans there when we visited, I respectfully suggest you provide some more informed advice on this location.
I would have to say the visit to Nurenberg was also a little disapponting and did not reach the expections in your guide.
Mike Collins in Madeley WA Australia, WA Australia 01/27/2010
The Museums Ufer Fest in Frankfurt, the last weekend in August each year. This is the best fest I have ever been too. Over 3 million people seem to agree! and it is a great way to see all the museums in one weekend as well as eat fabulous food from around the world and listen to great music from one of the 20 stages set up along the river banks or in the museum gardens.
Jodean in Frankfurt, Germany 01/10/2010
The ThermeErding, Europe's largest indoor water park outside of Munich was a great way to experience local folks and take a break from museums. The family had a blast.
Diana Merrifield in Davidson, NC USA 12/01/2009
Leipzig - especially the Stasi Museum. It was incredibly moving to see what lengths the Stasi went to keep tabs on people. Also Erfurt and Eisenach. Erfurt was an absolute gem - probably our favorite German city we visited.
Rich Sachs in Sequim, WA USA 11/30/2009
I am im Germany right now visiting my brother who has lived her for 30 years. We're American. I thought Germany 2009 would be a book I could carry around and get info from when visiting western Germany. Not so. Steve, I realize some places are too Touristy for you but keep in mind we are tourists and you deleted almost every place I went from your book. Heidelburg, Stuttgart, Ulm, Tubingen,even the surrounding castles, have so much history to offer and you just pretend they don't exist...your book is misleading in its title, should be called, Rick Steve's favorite trip, or something but it sure isn't a comprehensive guide to Germany...I should have bought Frommers....
Molly Jaber in Beaverton, OR USA 11/13/2009
My wife and I had just arrived in Rothenburg and were searching for one of Rick’s recommended hotels when we stumbled upon the Biohotel zum Barren. This turned out to be the best hotel and value by far in our 3week journey across Germany and France.
Much of the hotel is newly renovated and is a member of a growing number of hotels across Europe that support bio friendly operations and organic food and drink in their restaurant and included breakfast.
The following is why I highly recommend this hotel:
The new owner, Marcus Paweletz, and his staff were extremely helpful and friendly. Marcus was very busy with the renovation, but broke away from his tasks several times to personally attend to our needs.
Marcus and his staff spoke perfect English, which was very helpful since my German is very poor.
Our room was very large and beautifully furnished. The bathroom was also very large with double sinks, bidet, and a great tub/shower.
The hotel is very conveniently located about a block off the main town square.
The room, which included a very good all organic breakfast, was 89 Euros per night.
Contact info: Biohotel zum Baren Hofbronnengasse 4-9 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber Tel. +49 9861-93 80 11 info@biohotel-zum-baeren.de www.biohotel-zum-baeren.de
Gordon Turner in Austin, Tx USA 10/14/2009
Neuschwanstein Castle has what they call a "Walker and Wheeler tour on Wednesday afternoons. This allows those using walkers and wheel chairs to see the castle. You make the reservation via E-Mail, as far ahead as possible. The cost is 8 Euro, which covers the person using the walker or wheel chair and a companion. You are permited to drive to the castle, where you pick up and pay for the tickets. This allowed my wife to see the Castle which would have been impossible without the special tour.
For drivers with GPS it would help if the postal codes for the various cities; recommended sights and accomadations were included. In several cases when I typed in the city name, the GPS did not recognize the name, but when I had the postal code it did.
You also need to mention the need for the environmental badge for those driving into the center of most major German cities, it only cost 5 Euro, but the fine in 40 Euro for not having it, if the Hotel Uhland, hadn't mentioned it on their Website, I would have been in trouble with my leased car, which did not have the Badge.
Tom Lammers in Omaha, NE USA 10/10/2009
Alpenhof Ernberg, Ruette Austria now includes WiFi Internet in the rooms at no extra charge. We ate dinner there every night we were in Ruette, and the food was very good!
Dennis Barrett in Austin, TX USA 10/09/2009
We just completed a brief auto tour of Germany - Berlin,Nuernberg,Rothenberg,Baden Baden, Bacharach/Rhine,Frankfurt/M. Your guide book was a great asset to our travel. Having lived and worked for over eight years in Germany as a linguist for US intelligence operations, I was almost cavalier about planning the trip, thinking I knew everything I needed to know. I was surprised by the detail of your guide and the great asset it became to the success of our trip. By chance a friend recommended we use a GPS to assist us in driving. It was a fantastic adjunct to maps in finding locations and routes. We can not recommend the Garmin more highly -- for navigating Berlin city streets it was superb. We recommend auto drivers invest in a chip for Germany from Best Buy or other computer supplier for their GPS use in country. It was a a very important component of a delightful 1500 mile road trip. A further suggestion we would make is to try to secure a diesel rental auto. We had a delightful Peugot diesel crossover -- comfortable,roomy and economical. Dielel fuel, on the average, is E 0.30 - 0.35 less than gasoline. For an extended trip the savings could be significant.
V. Phil Tullar, Ph.D. in Tucson, AZ USA 09/22/2009
Those of you planning a trip to Berlin this year be forewarned that the much-touted transit system is undergoing a meltdown of epic proportions. It started in July when cars were being pulled from service for emergency axle repairs. Last week an astounding 70 percent of the fleet was yanked for a new problem with cracked brake cylinders. Right now there's no S-Bahn service on several lines including the all-important trunkline west from Alexanderplatz to Westkreuz, including stations such as Friedrichtstrasse, Hauptbahnhof, Zoo, etc. The U-Bahn and bus systems are jammed. Go to bvg.de or s-bahn-berlin.de for updates. Good Luck!
Paul Kakazu in Walnut, CA USA 09/16/2009
Die Geschenkidee (gift shop) Claudia Heimes Herrenstratte 13 Cochem, Germany 56812
Carol Galanter in Hamden, Ct USA 09/12/2009
My wife and I just got back from visiting Munich,Salzburg and Berlin.We really found your guidebook very helpful(we also carried another guidebook but ended up using only yours). In Berlin,we discovered a Vegetarian eatery called "Supergood"which is right next to the Melia Hotel on Freidriche Strasse.Its a large place with great ambience and terrific food. Vege Burgers,Vege Sandwiches and Wraps and salads. And inexpensive.
Vijay Goradia in Houston, Tx USA 08/03/2009
In Dresden check with the tourist information office for wifi hotspots. The huge number of sidewalk cafes in this town provide wide variety and reasonable dinner prices. In Berlin the entire Egyptian collection in the Altes museum is closed for relocation to the new museum but the bust of Queen Nefertiti is displayed in the open part of the museum. The dome on the Reichstag building was closed beginning in July for maintenance but you can still go on the roof of the building and get a great view of the city. They do not allow you to walk freely through the building unless you arrange a special group tour in advance.
Chris Peter in El Cajon, CA USA 07/30/2009
We enjoyed visiting cities previously of East Germany. Wittenberg, Leipzig, and Erfurt were all charming and enjoyable cities, and worth visiting again. We were on a tour, otherwise we would have missed seeing them. Please include them in your next edition! "Planning your time" was very helpful for making best use of our free time in Berlin.
S Nuss in Keller, Tx USA 07/27/2009
You can buy the Germany-only railpass from the DB website for a better price than ordering through a US agency - the ordering is in German but a helpful guide is provided with English translation: http://www.bahn.de/international/view/en/prices/intercontinental/german_rail_pass.shtml
Emily S in Berkeley, CA USA 07/21/2009
Garmisch Partenkirchen is a beautiful town especially the Partnach Klamm, with the 360 degrees of waterfalls.
Robert Candelaria in El Paso, TX USA 07/03/2009
Nurnberg. Don't miss the Dokumentation Center. On Friday mornings between 9-10 you may be lucky enough to run into organists practicing in the churches. I ran into 2 on my recent visit-wonderful surprise!
Chere Weiss in Kelso, WA USA 06/29/2009
We stayed at Haus Andrea in Cochem, Germany. The room was simple but very nice and our hostess could not have been nicer. There is one thing that you should know if you are considering staying here. The pension is located on the only street that leads up to a high school. Every morning like clockwork, we could hear the kids from nearby villages as they walked to school from 7:15-7:40, shouting and laughing with each other. (This was late June - school does not end until the beginning of July here.) I would stay here again - but not on a school day!
Robyn Shapiro in Austin, TX USA 06/28/2009
In Berchtesgaden you can now get a Berchtesgaden Pass from your hotel. It cost if I remember correctly 2.40€ per day but it allows you to travel free throughout the region on the bus system.
Also, our Salzburg Card allowed us to ride their city bus to the Berchtesgaden area for free. (The bus stop was around the corner from the McDonalds at the central bus stop across the street from the train station.
Jack Smith in Batesville, IN USA 06/26/2009
My wife and I drove from Berlin to Paris recently, necessitating our own pre-trip internet "tourguide" work between Berlin and the Mosel Valley, not covered in Germany 2009. A noteworthy stay was at the unique Hotel in der Grunen Zittadelle (www.hotel-zitadelle.de) in Magdeburg, home of Otto Von Guericke, the inventor of the vacuum pump in 1650. Also, on the road south of Duderstadt we came upon the Boundary-Land Museum (www.grenzlandmuseum.de --only German) a great museum of the "iron curtain" --the border between East and West Germany that was felled 20 years ago along with the Berlin Wall. Future editions of Rick Steves' Germany might mention these.
Bill and Rhonda Lakatos in San Jose, CA USA 06/10/2009
There is a nice pizzeria in Salzburg on Linzergasse that I discovered in '05 and returned to in '06 and '09. The same gentleman runs the place and it has great street tables to sit in the evening for people watching. I don't remember the name of it at this moment, I took a picture of it but have it on my laptop. It is right next door to a gentleman's club which my buddy and I was wondering in '05 why all these good looking ladies were walking into this building all dressed up. One would have never guessed it to be that from the looks of the place.
Judge Leverich in SALT LAKE CTY, UT USA 06/01/2009
1)The Munich Euraide office connected us to a group tour of Dachau that was led by an extraordinary young man and was a highlight of our 16 day trip. No one advised us, however, that there would be no opportunities to purchase food or water from 10:30-4 and that there would be long periods standing in open areas in the hot sun. Recommend packing water and small energy snack. 2)Burg Laundrette in aldstadt Nurnberg just behind the Frauenkirche-- intersection of Obstmarkt & Bindergasse. Self-serve washers (purchase tokens from attendant)and dryers (one Euro coins). Six washers and two dryers, also used by the attendants who appear to be washing for hotels/restaurants.
Barbara McCauley in Boston, MA USA 05/28/2009
I just wanted to highly recommend the Friese Shop in Rothenburg. I have visited there on two different occasions, and upon seeing my Rick Steves guidebook, they have immediately mentioned that they will give me a 10 percent discount. I did not even have to ask. They are friendly without being too pushy, and their prices are fair. I would highly recommend them.
Andrea in Bamberg, Germany 05/26/2009
Rothenburg, Germany-- Rothenburg has a fabulously funny puppet theatre. It's quirky and a little goofy, but after a week or so on the road, quirky and goofy was just what we needed. They have a "Late Night English Show", which, when we were there, went up at 9:00 pm. It's run by a lovely group of folks, who really put their hearts into puppeteering! I reccommend it to anyone who needs a good laugh and a release from travel-related stress.
Catherine Palazzola in St. Louis , MO USA 05/22/2009
The smartest thing I did on my trip to Germany (just got back May 18, 2009)was to follow Rick's packing list to the letter. My husband, Jim, toted too many items and was most uncomfortable slogging through the airport on his way to our destination and his bags did not fit in the overhead compartments (none of his bags rolled). I, on the other hand, had my great Rick Steves back pack and Rick Steves carry on suitcase (I love it because it's inside sections have a zip up mesh cover as well as the tie down belts interior to them to keep the stuff on both sides of the suitcase separate and secure. We ended up buying an extra suitcase on our way home and that lightened Jim's load significantly. I also used every item I took along (including the copy of my VISA info, although, fortunately, the restaurant where I lost it eventually found my card, I had the info I needed to cancel it easily and that relieved a lot of stress). I'd let people know to bring a larger size antibiotic cream than most "first aid kits" include with their packets. Women with unruly, straggly hair like mine may want to bring a curling iron would be my only addition to the list. I will definitely bring mine next time (the one I purchased in Germany)
I used Rick's videos of Bavaria, his book and a couple others (like Eyewitness & Frommer's) to do my research before I left home. Using the info in the guides (that I had summarized or copied into a 3 ring binder with protective sleeve pages for things like reservation confirmations, maps, tour plans, train info, and some post cards from home (which I left with people and is also a Rick Steve's idea), I could be my own tour guide and see what interested me. I used the protective sheets to stick my receipts and ticket stubs in with the haufbrau haus coasters, museum ticket stubs and other map, menu souvenirs/postcards. It's the Rick Steve's Through the Back Door style of traveling all the way for me. You learn so much my interacting with people in the country you are visiting, being interested in their culture and ideas and in trying to learn language skills. I am much braver about traveling than before I left, to a country w/o English. (Visited Ireland and France before)
Colleen in Eugene, OR USA 05/20/2009
In Staufen, a new accommodation: Hotel Goethe Garni has just opened. At €80 per night for a double, it's a great choice. See www.goethe-hotel-staufen.de. The two young men runnning the hotel are eager to please.
Harry Keller in Marina del Rey, CA USA 05/10/2009
Hello Rick! I am an American living in Friedrichshain (East Berlin). To some tourists this half of the city may be too edgy, but I really think a few things are worth a mention. Specifically Simon-Dach-Strasse, which has hip bars and boutiques and a much better atmosphere than Unter den Linden, before or after dark. In my opinion, this is real Berlin. Also fun is to ride the U-1, it runs above ground and if you ride it toward Warschauer Str. after dark you will see all the clubbers and their wild outfits. Of course you will also see drunks, but they are harmless and can be funny.
Katy Strange in Berlin, Germany 05/07/2009
Alter Keller in Rothenburg ob der Tauber submitted by James Derheim, info@europeanfocus.com
James Derheim in Sarasota, Fl USA 04/24/2009
The best prices we saw for large, Made in Germany cuckoo clocks were at the Munich airport! Clocks that were 1400-1500 euros in Rothenburg were only 900-1100 there.
Gary P in Ramona, CA USA 04/18/2009
Travelling with Rick Steve's guidebook was easy, economical, and secure. We never made reservations, we just used the guide to pick our next destination and called and made arrangements at one of the suggested guest houses and had a safe, fun experience.
Cindy MacWhinney in Bakersfield, CA USA 01/23/2009
Munich, Germany: Lieberkase (meatloaf sandwich) is cheap, local and tasty (+ it can be carried!). Across the street from the Neue Pinakothek, Deeba Pakistanisches Spezialitaten Restaurant is cheap and has good food (they were very pleasant and spoke some English). If you are looking for wifi it is very expensive in Starbucks, but relatively cheap at the San Francisco coffee company.
Berlin, Germany: Café Einstein on Savignyplatz has wifi access. There is a really cool large katamari sculpture about a block east of Checkpoint Charlie that is pretty cool. The Stasi museum (quite a ways down Karl Marx Allee) at the old Stasi headquarters is a must see if you speak German (very little English signage).
Wiesbaden, Germany: The Kaiser Friedrich Therme are excellent!
Dave W. in Seattle, WA USA 01/20/2009
Dear Rick and Crew, My husband and I would love to share with you a place that 'fell' upon quite by accident. We were looking to find a place to stay outside of Trier. Late in the afternoon we rolled into a quaint little village named "Fell." What an amazing place! We stayed at the Gashaus Kasler. The food was absolutely delicious and very resonably priced. Our rooms were very comfortable and affordable. There was also a bar attached to the establishment; lots of people were there having a great time. The place was also immaculate. The owner, Laura Stark, was there running the every aspect of the business. It was very obvious that she was a dedicated hostess. It was one of the highlights of our trip; it made a long day on the road very enjoyable and entertaining. I'm certain that other travelers would love experiencing Fell, Germany. You can reach Laura at: Laura.Stark@web.de or at info@gasthaus-kasler.de Thank you for allowing me to share this with your and other readers.
Carol Kirk in Eau Claire, WI USA 01/04/2009
In Munich, street parking is free from Saturday 11PM until Monday at 8AM. So if you want to use a rental car for just a couple of days to get around Munich's outlying sites (i.e. Dachau, Schloß Nymphenburg - the Bavarian Summer Palace, etc.), doing it during the time when street parking is free can be a major cost-savings and also adds a lot of convenience. Otherwise, the next best thing is to find a parking garage that tends to be costly and could be many blocks away from the hotel. We fell upon this tip when we arrived at Munich in our rental car on a Saturday night. It worked very well for us.
Leanne Roe in Everett, WA USA 01/01/2009
Brandon Walker - brandonw7@mac.com
Brandon Walker in Clovis, CA USA 01/01/2009