Tips for a short break in Germany

[TheBoyBilly]

I've never been to Germany, so with that in mind, can anybody suggest a gentle introduction to this country. I'll probably be flying but could possibly consider the overnight trains. I could hire a bike over there if necessary, but where to go? What to eat? I was thinking (for no particular reason other than it looks nice) of Jena but am pretty open-minded. I don't want to spend loads on accomodation and won't be venturing too far from base, so any suggestions would be most welcome. Is there anywhere I should avoid at all costs?

Bill

 

[vernon]

I was in a similar situation until this summer when I pedalled along the Danube or Donau as it's called there. I spent some time in Ulm and Passau and enjoyed their cathedrals. Passau particularly has a great cathedral with a huge organ which is played daily in a lunch time concert cost all of four euros. I visited a railway museum in Tuttlingen and basically enjoyed the experience of being in a new country. There were very few language problems as most of the germans spoke good English and my extremely basic German comprehension got me through when the Germans could not speak English.

As for food, you can go safe and have Pizza, Burgers and Kebabs though there's plenty of sausage and pork based meals as well as standard restaurant fare. The Konditorei or cake shops have to be visited where you'll discover the pleasures of cheesecake with a filling so deep that you might struggle to finish it. The food prices are very reasonable and the beer and wins is wonderful.

Catch a ferry to Amsterdam, go wild in Amsterdam, catch a night sleeper to Munich to sleep off your excesses and make your way to anywhere on the Danube. I did it in reverse having pedalled trough from Beaune to Passaue.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I rode from bremen to schaffhausen/Basel down the rivers...almost exclusively on the radwegs (cycle paths) which are a superb network (almost like a motorway network only for cyclists only). If you are going to stop in and around the same area though let me suggest the Bodensee (lake contance) in the south. You can fly direct into Freidrichshaffen and explore the lake etc...Meersburg is definatly worth a look. Unteruldignung is a nice place...has a lovely little harbour..and a nice hotel right on the harbour front. There are campsites if you prefer. Food in germany is good...the people are nice, th elanguage is no problem (they all speak english well enough). You can cycle to the rhine falls at schaffhausen...pretty cool place to visit..swim in the fresh water lake. It would make a cool weekend or week destination/mini tour imho..especially in the summer.

 

[TheBoyBilly]

Blimey, I hadn't thought of these places. Fantastic stuff chaps. Keep 'em coming. I'd like to take one of my bikes but not sure how feasible it is ( I don't think I could be doing with the faff of trying to get one on a plane)
Many thanks though, great ideas.

Bill

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I think ryan air (or maybe easy jet) fly to Freidrichshaffen from standstead...jus twrap the bike up in a bike bag , take off the pedals and turn the bars in and load it in th ehold..no problems. Pm me if I can help...I live just round the corner from shoreham..iMHO it's best to take your own bike...although the bike shops in germany are excellent in my experience. Ther eis one just on the way into Friedrichshaffen from ULm direction which was superb in getting me back on the road again.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bo...6GYLC8QOK5JTQAQ&ved=0CFEQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=601

 

[snorri]

Is there anywhere I should avoid at all costs?

It depends what you are looking for, one mans' meat is another mans' poison.
It sounds as if you want to sightee in part of the country rather than cycle tour? I would suggest a visit to Cologne (Koln, I don't do umlauts, sorry). Stay in one of the excellent youth hostels from where you could sightsee or take cycle trip day tours on the Rhine Radweg, the cycle route that runs along the banks of the Rhine.
Berlin is an interesting city too, with opportunities to do day trips out of the city on a bicycle. Or Hamburg with the mighty Elbe flowing through, biggest model railway layout I've ever seen there, always something to see on the waterfront, museum ships, boat trips.
Germany is a welcoming sort of place, I doubt you would have any problems there, just take the usual big city precautions.

 

[vernon]

Blimey, I hadn't thought of these places. Fantastic stuff chaps. Keep 'em coming. I'd like to take one of my bikes but not sure how feasible it is ( I don't think I could be doing with the faff of trying to get one on a plane)
Many thanks though, great ideas.

Bill

Ferry than trains.

I got to Germany by using the European Bike express coach to get me to Beaune then cycles along the Eurovelo Six route to Basel and onto Bodensee before catching a train to Tuttlingen and pedalling along the Danube. Getting back was by train including a sleeper train to Amsterdam then a ferry from Amsterdam to Ijmiuden where I caught a ferry to Newcastle. The journey to and from my tour was as enjoyable as the tour itself. German trains have plenty of cycle accommodation. You have to pay to take your bike on a train but hey, it's less hassle than the UK system.

Have a look at www.seat61.com and explore the rail possibilities.

Next year I am catching a ferry then a train to get to Passau to pick up from where I left off then cycling through Austria and onto Budapest before coming back up the Danube on a hydrofoil as far as Venice then it will be train and ferry back to the UK.

You'll enjoy the Radwegs.

have a search fro the Bikeline books/maps. The Danube route runs to four volumes and an English version exists. Sadly the others are in German but are useable for navigation.

 

[vernon]

Germany is a welcoming sort of place, I doubt you would have any problems there, just take the usual big city precautions.

Condoms?

 

[TheBoyBilly]

Thanks snorri, yes you are right, for my first visit it's more about getting to know the country than cycling around it. I'd like to visit those pretty little multi-coloured towns you associate with old Germany, visit bierkellars (?) and just relax taking in the sights and scenery. I can then plan a proper holiday with my bike for a future date.
Again, many thanks,

Bill

 

[TheBoyBilly]

Thanks Vernon, what were the pies like?

 

[vernon]

Thanks Vernon, what were the pies like?

In France I sampled their best attempt, a pate en croute. It was

Saw no pies in Germany but it was a sausage lover's paradise. Pedalling along the Danube takes you into plenty of multicoloured towns.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

as to what to avoid...well its a matter of opinion...but I'd choose to avoid the bigger cities unless thats your thing. Many german towns have an Altstadt..old town which tends to be th emore picturesque part of town..so head to those maybe. I like Munich, Hamburg...dresden was nic eas well but for different reasons...not very picturesque though.

There are nic eparts in most towns there...recklinghausen has a nice centre...Koln (cologne).

If hill climbing is your thing then perhaps look at the schwartzwald (Black forest) ...the northern bit around Achen is nice...frieburg etc vineyard in summer..skiing in winter...nice views to strasbourg which is worth a trip in itself.

If you like the idea of riding through @typical' german green hills and vallies then the Kinzigtal southern black forest ish is beautiful.

Ther eis so much to see over there....but for a first 'adventure'/weekend tour, with easy airport access...I 'd go back to The bodensee.

 

[snorri]

Condoms?

I could have mentioned the Reeperbahn, FKK etc. but thought that might have been in bad taste . Oh! I've gone and done it now.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

When you go jus tmake sure you wear the right kit..dressing like this is to be avoided..it can get you into all kinds of trouble!



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