Germany Road Trip, 23

A 11-day adventure by JHarwood & Hannah Read more

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Trip start
June 7, 2023
Germany Road Trip, 23
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Day 1
Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at 8:42 PM
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 84 m
Germany Köln/Bonn Flughafen 50.880238, 7.11836750°52’49” N 7°7’6” E
Cologne Airport (Köln)
June 7, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
A short flight and a solid vetting from the immigration office w have arrived in Köln to pick up our hire car and drive south on the start of our Bavaria Road Trip!
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Day 2
Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 1:37 PM
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: 807 m
Germany Schloß Lichtenstein 48.406357, 9.2587248°24’23” N 9°15’31” E
Lichtenstein Castle
June 8, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Not the country Lichtenstein, but the castle and town in Germany, the castle was inspired by Wilhelm Hauff's 1826 novel Lichtenstein and was built in 1840–1842. There has been some kind of castle here since 1100. We walked around the courtyard, got lost in the gardens and enjoyed the views over the Echaz valley! Oh and I tested some German with the women to buy our tickets, it went well until she asked me what tickets we actually wanted, “I crumbled at the first sign of trouble” 😂Read more
TravelerAmazing pictures Josh. What a castle that is. Wow.
6/8/23Reply
TravelerStunning!
6/12/23Reply
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Day 2
Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 4:18 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 581 m
Germany Sigmaringen 48.088978, 9.2143748°5’20” N 9°12’52” E
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Sigmaringen Castle!
June 8, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Next stop was Sigmaringen Castle, largely rebuilt in 1893 only the medical towers remain of what was and still is a large imposing building. The Hohenzollern Family are the owners of the castle and many German Emperors and kings of Prussia visited over the years. More recently, in the closing stages of WW2 the castle was briefly the seat of the Vichy French Government after France was liberated by the Allies.

After we walked round the castle we walked around the town had a coffee in a Germany cafe (which included many fancy cakes) and had fun in the tiniest multi-story car park you’ve ever seen!Read more
Traveler That looks good 👍
6/10/23Reply
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Day 2
Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 6:53 PM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 415 m
Germany Lindau Pfarrkirche 47.547608, 9.68872547°32’51” N 9°41’19” E
Final stop Lindau
June 8, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Final stop today (and finally reached Bavaria (the reason for the road trip)) is Lindau, sat on the top end of Lake Constance, Lindau is a town on what the websites called the German Rivera. We ventured on the island just off the small city and found a great pub to try… yes you guessed schnitzel!!! After that we visited another pub to try more Weiss beer, and experience rain with no clouds 😂🍻Read more
TravelerGood biers mate 🍺
6/8/23Reply
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Day 3
Friday, June 9, 2023 at 9:58 AM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 385 m
Germany Lindau Hbf 47.544303, 9.68330547°32’39” N 9°40’60” E
Lindau Old Town
June 9, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Starting this morning we had some pastries and then a coffee and fruit platter at the harder overlooking the ‘Neuer Leuchtturm,’ or the lighthouse and statue of a lion overlooking the Upper Lake Constance.

After that we did the recommended walking tour around Lindau seeing the churches, old city hall, country homes and many other sights that the small island town had to offer.Read more
TravelerLovely pictures of beautiful places!
6/12/23Reply
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Day 3
Friday, June 9, 2023 at 1:28 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 385 m
Germany Lindau 47.547867, 9.69502847°32’52” N 9°41’42” E
Pedelo boat onto Lake Constance
June 9, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
In the afternoon we decided to cool off by hiring a peddle boat and taking it on to the lake and going for a swim, in the background is the Swiss and Austrian Alps!
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Day 3
Friday, June 9, 2023 at 4:59 PM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 431 m
Switzerland Salez 47.244751, 9.51131747°14’41” N 9°30’41” E
Switzerland!
June 9, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Country number three on our trip and it’s a short hop into Switzerland to travel up to Lichtenstein!
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Day 3
Friday, June 9, 2023 at 5:38 PM
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 465 m
Liechtenstein Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein 47.140128, 9.52163347°8’24” N 9°31’18” E
Lichtenstein
June 9, 2023 in Liechtenstein ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Purely for the basis of saying that we’ve been, we ventured south in our road trip to Lichtenstein, knowing that if we didn’t it would be a bigger to come back and visit again!

I can tell you it is rich, clean, hot and busses don’t look before they pull on it into traffic 😂

We visited the Parliament, church and the high street, before positing post cards and heading off on the road again towards Austria 🇦🇹Read more
TravelerLooks like great weather for you both mate.
6/18/23Reply
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Day 3
Friday, June 9, 2023 at 7:23 PM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 1,503 m
Austria Stuben 47.139089, 10.16345847°8’21” N 10°9’48” E
Views on the road (pt. 1)
June 9, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
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Day 4
Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 10:58 AM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 1,161 m
Austria Holzgau 47.264682, 10.34047247°15’53” N 10°20’26” E
Hängebrücke
June 10, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
This morning we started with a short drive to Holzgau to visit the Hängebrücke suspension bridge, waterfalls and nature trails that spread out from the town. We also went because our Air BnB host has recommended the restaurant that was near the end of the trail (post to follow).Read more
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Day 4
Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 1:00 PM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 1,233 m
Austria Holzgau 47.273476, 10.33944247°16’25” N 10°20’22” E
Lunch with a view (Kaiserschmarrn)!
June 10, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
For lunch we visited the highly reconvened cafe Ulta which was towards the end of the trail from Holzgau. The food was great and I don’t think I’ve ever had a meal with a better view before.

I had a traditional dish called ‘Kaiserschmarrn,’ which is like shredded pancakes but FAR better. They tasted more eggs and very sweet with raisins, lingonberry jam, and Apple sauce, topped with icing sugar… diabetes is knocking at my door.Read more
TravelerWow! Amazing view xx
6/11/23Reply
JHarwoodGreat isn’t it! Wasn’t a bad walk from the car park, but was worth it for the food and views. We didn’t know about it, but the air BnB guy told us to go there instead of the “High Line” due to it being less touristy!
6/11/23Reply
TravelerSo gorgeous!
6/12/23Reply
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Day 4
Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 1:59 PM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 1,215 m
Austria Holzgau 47.26993, 10.33987547°16’12” N 10°20’24” E
Waterfalls and Rivers!
June 10, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
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Day 4
Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 4:37 PM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 953 m
Austria Zwieselbach 47.486082, 10.75226847°29’10” N 10°45’8” E
Castle Burg Ehrenberg
June 10, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
The final stop for today was Castle Ehrenberg, it was a world away from our previous stop being very touristy, but it was great to see the views from the top of castle down into Reutte (the town below the castle).

After climbing to the top we came back down and headed into town to get wine, snacks and dinner!Read more
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Day 4
Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 8:01 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 872 m
Austria Reutte-Höfen Airport 47.475113, 10.68747°28’30” N 10°41’13” E
View from the flat!
June 10, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
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Day 5
Sunday, June 11, 2023 at 10:57 AM
☀️ 13 °C
Altitude: 1,905 m
Austria Hahnenkamm 47.478631, 10.64193647°28’43” N 10°38’31” E
Hike up Hahnenkamm
June 11, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
This morning we got the Hahnenkammbahn Höffen up the mountain to 1700 metres, then we hiked up to the first peak of Rundweg Tälerblick and after that to 1938m and the peak of Hahnenkamm.

The views from the top were absolutely breathtaking, you could see so much of the alps, out to Germany and out the other side over Austria.

Obviously after hiking for over 2 hours we’d worked up a thirst so we visited the Alm (an alpine restaurant up a mountain) and had a lovely cold beer.Read more
TravelerAmazing pictures of the view.
6/18/23Reply
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Day 5
Sunday, June 11, 2023 at 3:53 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 854 m
Austria Breitenwang 47.484074, 10.72696247°29’3” N 10°43’37” E
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Alpentherme Ehrenberg
June 11, 2023 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Well not too sure where to start with this one. But we both decided that after hiking all day it would be nice to cool off at the local swimming pool with their indoor and outdoor pools and relax in the sauna.

When we got there we had a walk round and decided to visit the adult only sauna area first. When going into the sauna we had to work through the spa’s restaurant, we noticed a sign that said no bathing costumes and assumed that was for the restaurant so wrapped our towels round us and went straight through. But we walked over further into the sauna area were we spotted about 3 inside saunas, outdoor swimming pool, 3 saunas when you walk outside, sun loungers etc - and EVERYONE NAKED.

After around a few seconds (that felt far longer) of shocked faces we’d seen enough middle aged bits to last a life time. Anyway, we were shocked but had no choice but to embrace it all so we are now nudists - spent three hours getting more and more comfortable ended up swimming in the outdoor pool (completely naked) then lounging about reading our books (had to apply suncream in the nether regions) and topped it all off with a little showing in the 90 degree sauna with dated rock music blaring, chanting and clapping it was an experience, felt weird being dressed again.

Funny really because after all that nakedness I finished the day with a massive curry wurst 😂😂Read more
Traveler😂😂😂
6/11/23Reply
JHarwoodYup still speechless 😶
6/11/23Reply
Traveler 😂
6/11/23Reply
TravelerNakey bathing is goooooooood!
6/12/23Reply
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Day 6
Monday, June 12, 2023 at 10:32 AM
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 929 m
Germany Neuschwanstein Castle 47.558487, 10.75075347°33’31” N 10°45’3” E
Schloss Neuschwanstein
June 12, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Our next stop on our Bavarian / Austrian / Alps tour is Schloss Neuschwanstein, probably the most famous castle in the world, and the inspiration behind many of the Disney castles.

The castle was designed by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Construction began in 1869 but was never completed. The castle was intended to serve as a private residence for the king but he died in 1886.

Today it was a very tourist heavy spot, with many tour buses, old folk and MANY AMERICANS on trips to see the beautiful r castle.Read more
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Day 6
Monday, June 12, 2023 at 11:17 AM
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 822 m
Germany Hohenschwangau Castle 47.554794, 10.73805547°33’17” N 10°44’17” E
Hohenschwangau
June 12, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Just across from Neuschwanstein is Hohenschwangau, it was originally called Schanatein, but Ludwig felt it was not grand enough and had fallen into disrepair, so he created “Neu” (New) Schwanstein in the hills above the castle.

We both found this castle to have far more impressive grounds than Neuschwanstein, and the views of the lake and the alps was beautiful!Read more
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Day 6
Monday, June 12, 2023 at 12:47 PM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 804 m
Germany Füssen 47.569412, 10.70029747°34’10” N 10°42’1” E
Füssen
June 12, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Next stop is a pit stop if Füssen, sadly it was here we came stuck with the German debit card! After we had a walk around the town centre, taking in the sights and enjoying a coffee we came back to the car park to pay, but sadly it was cash or the German EC card (a debit card given out in Germany). Being 10 cents short I dashed down to the car, came back and realised that in that time I’d gone into the next hour, so I was short again and the machine didn’t take notes. Que a frantic run around the town for a shop that would swap €10 for a note and some coins!Read more
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Day 6
Monday, June 12, 2023 at 3:05 PM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 973 m
Germany Roß Kopf 47.459606, 10.98928847°27’35” N 10°59’21” E
Eibsee & Zugspitze
June 12, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Final stop of the day was the best place we have been so far on the trip! A short walk from the car park, was the Eibsee a lake in the foothills of the tallest mountain in Germany Zugspitze at 2,962m high. We had a walk around the lake and found somewhere to sunbathe and even went for a swim.

I can assure it was very cold if you put your legs any lower than half a metre or so, as the sun hadn’t warmed up that part of the lake 😂.

It was also here where we came across our duck friends, as soon as we opened any sort of food they were over like a shot (honestly, I don’t know how they did it) and would toddle over looking for a munch! 😂Read more
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Day 6
Monday, June 12, 2023 at 6:42 PM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 715 m
Germany Maria Himmelfahrt 47.493703, 11.11048947°29’37” N 11°6’38” E
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
June 12, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
We are finishing our alpine tour of Germany and Austria in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, just a short drive from Zugspitze, we spent our time exploring the old town and looking at the amazing view from our hotel (that big mountain is Zugspitze).

We finished the day with an amazing dinner, I had white asparagus, a German delicacy that comes in season from around April and is enjoyed with hollandaise sauce, I can tell you it was AMAZING! Oh and I got hit on by the Bavarian waitress called Erika, Hannah was not impressed!Read more
TravelerWhat a meal. ❤️
6/18/23Reply
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Day 7
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 8:37 AM
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 710 m
Germany Kanker Bach 47.491195, 11.10975347°29’28” N 11°6’35” E
Morning walk!
June 13, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
After briefest we had a short walk around Garmisch-Partenkirchen, before heading for Hannah’s Grandparents in Passau.
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Day 7
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 1:13 PM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 408 m
Germany Landshut Martinskirche 48.534905, 12.15085648°32’6” N 12°9’3” E
Landshut
June 13, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
On the drive to Passau, we stopped in Landshut. It had a huge church spire, and a beautiful high street filled with plenty of Germany eateries, including many “Conditorei,” or a cake shop, filled with many impressive, grand cakes. Which are usually reasonably priced at around 2-3 euros, we went for dark chocolate and lemon. They both tasted AMAZING!! After that it was time to hit the road again!Read more
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Day 8
Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 1:37 PM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 299 m
Germany Vils 48.633785, 13.18707248°38’2” N 13°11’13” E
Vilshofen
June 14, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Today we visited the town closest to Hannah’s grandparents, Vilahofen (translated as farm on the river Vils) is a town situated next to the Danube. We enjoyed a leisurely work around the town and also went to the local “freibad,” or in English an outdoor swimming pool 🏊‍♂️. It was pretty cold as the it wasn’t heated but luckily the sun was nice and hot so as soon as you got out you soon warmed up!Read more
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Day 9
Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 11:45 AM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 349 m
Germany Regensburg Dom 49.019547, 12.097249°1’10” N 12°5’50” E
Regensburg
June 15, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Probably our favourite place so far (and yes we’ve said this a fair few times on this trip). Regensburg is a vibrant university city, which had a stunning old town and plenty of vibrant history.

Following our trusty guide book we visited:

• The cathedral
• The David and Goliath painting which dates from C. 1260
• The coffee shop where Hannah’s friend Steffi once worked (for some reason this was not in the guide book).
• The Stone Bridge (interestingly the architect that built this had no idea about rivers, so the bridge caused tidal changes that prevented ships from passing (only really powerful ships could pass under the bridge, and many had to be towed).Read more
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