Visiting Germany in September

Hey all,

Per the topic title, we'll be flying in and out of Frankfurt, but planning to spend most of the trip elsewhere. So far, our itinerary includes one evening for touristfarhten at the Nurburging, a visit to Neuschwanstein castle, a BMW factory and museum tour, and a day or two visit to Salzburg. We will be in Munich for several days, but missing the start of Oktoberfest by a hair. We also have the opportunity to swing by Stuttgart on the way to Munich.

That said... On our way back, the International Motor Show will be happening on Frankfurt. Has anyone been? Is it friendly for non-industry people? Should I plan to spend a day?

One thing I should point out is my planning is already somewhat automotive heavy and this trip shouldn't be all "me" stuff. My SO isn't really into cars, so I need to make sure she has a good time. Along those lines, is there anything she can do around the 'ring in the evening while I'm turning laps?

Any other must-see things in/around the areas I've mentioned?

Thanks!

I've heard nice things about Schpringtime.

Adenau has a little bit around it, and you can pull on/off the track there (although check about that with your ‘Ring rental company)... but I’m not sure it’s enough to occupy someone even for an evening session.

It’d probably be better to get in to Koblenz or Cologne spend a couple hours there, then check in to some overnight accommodations before you head out and do your ‘Ring laps.  Keep in mind, Bridge2Gantry Dale Lomas recommends trying to budget two days around the ‘Ring in case T/F schedule and/or weather changes.  Not always easy to pull off, but something to pass-along / keep in mind.

I went to the auto show in 2011, and lived in Frankfurt for three years.  I think you could spend 1/2 a day at the show... I’m not sure about a whole day, though.  But, there’s plenty to explore/shop/see in Frankfurt that your SO could get started on, and then catch up and preoccupy the other half of a day. I’ll provide some Frankfurt detail in another post.  (I think I’ve promised details on FRA 3-4 times, and haven’t gotten off my duff, so I’m going to get it done here).

Deutches museum in Munich is cool ,  it has all kinds of things , 

I have been to the Auto Show many times , it's  got 2 or 3 halls with the new cars and another 8-10 halls of parts and tools......many of the halls are 2-3 stories.....

You really cannot see it all in one day if you look at the parts and tools..

Deutches museum is great in forms of both the actual German museum and the Verkehrszentrum which has is about 10 min drive or 45 min walk away.

Neuschwanstein castle is pretty cool and open to walk the grounds day and night. If you're  big on checking off countries visited, just drive on into Austria a few miles away just to say you've been there (didn't have a car but would if we had)

Its a pretty easy drive to France, like to Place-Kleber in Strasbourg.  Its got some cool town square areas and a tall cathedral.  Heidelberg is also on your route; I haven't been but really should check it out next time I go.

I know you're already too auto-heavy, but the Mercedes museum is pretty awesome in Stuttgart.  Porscheplatz is cool too; you can spend just an hour or two and see most of it - but you can easily spend all day at Mercedes.  

Yes, I know it's on your itinerary already ... so I wholeheartedly agree that you must see the Nurburgring Nordschleiffe, preferably on-track if you can arrange it. I did several laps in a company car (business trip to a subsidiary in Wetzlar. I probably would've been fired if they knew what I did with their one-liter Turbo Golf) in the late nineties. It was an unbelievable experience. I don't know if they're still running the Ring Taxi, but that would be fun. Look into it.

I'll be in Germany at the same time and also will be attending the auto show.  Most likely on Monday or Tuesday as I'm heading back home on Wed.

This will be at the end of a 2 week trip starting in London (Southern England), Normandy, France, and then Frankfurt, Germany.

Sinsheim Technik Museum is AMAZING. Cool for car people, cool for history buffs, cool for everyone, really.

https://sinsheim.technik-museum.de/en/

Neuschwanstein is the holy grail of castle tours, but Heidelburg is also very cool, and not out of the way from where you'll be. 

https://www.schloss-heidelberg.de/en/home/

And, of course, this is usually the first place I hit on the way from the airport to the track

http://www.vogelburg.de

I've never been to Germany but thanks to this thread now I want to do it so badly 

In reply to SilverBrick :

Yeah, I hear the canoeing on the Rhine is great!

Cant help about Germany, but I can tell you that you will very much enjoy traveling to Europe in September.  Virtually all of our European vacations have been late Sept, and there are fewer people and cooler weather.  But it's still really nice.

Enjoy the trip!

You should check out Septemberfest

Thanks for the all the suggestions!

Yea, I always try and travel in September after school has started here. Weather is still nice, flights are cheaper, crowds are smaller.

Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to budget a second day at the ring if track conditions are bad. Going to have to hope for the best. 

I may plan to hit up the Auto Show when I return to Frankfurt for the flight home, it sounds worthwhile.

We are going to dip into Austria for a day or two since we'll already be close. My plan is to take trains to get around between the major cities and only use a rental car to get to the 'ring. I've also booked a proper track car for the evening when I'm there.

Vogelburg looks neat -- not a bird person, but still can appreciate them. Bonus, according to their map, they're right next door to a town called "Bad Camberg" :D

Bad Camberg is a nice little town and the train station is a 5-10 minute walk to the old Town center, 

And  if you were there last month , the big vintage VW show was there !

I’ve been to Bad Camberg!  Federal Mogul has (had?) a brake pad plant there.  It was beautiful and I had the best venison tenderloin at a small restaurant down the block from the hotel.

sleepyhead the buffalo said:

In reply to SilverBrick :

Yeah, I hear the canoeing on the Rhine is great!

Have you actually tried it yourself?

Have you tried taking a canoe?

I'd second the suggestion for a day in Cologne, especially near the city center with the cathedral.

I've spent fairly significant amounts of time for work in Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Wolfsburg, and personally prefer Cologne the most. Munich would be my second favorite.

Wow, since this thread is back from the dead I might as well close the loop and mention that I had a great time :)

What does your SO like to do?  I don't want to suggest history and architecture if they are more of a wine tour and shopping kind of person.

I hope SO doesn't expect good wine in Germany.  For as good as their beer is, their wine is absolute horse pee.  My opinion of course.

Heidelberg is a sweet town.  There is a large castle there, but not traditional in the castle sense.  Still really neat.  There are miles of cobblestone streets with neat shops, markets, and things to do.  I once went over for a 3 month tour with a musical group and intentionally missed the tour bus so I could stay in Heidelberg.

Dusseldorf (or is it Rothenburg) is about as close to a preserved medieval town as you can get.  They still have a bugler who walks the town's perimeter walls and bugles out an "all is well" report on his horn.  There are many others that retained the original architecture and things but have allowed more commercialism to filter in.  Towns like Worms, Monschau, Augsburg, and Ulm are other examples of closely-preserved medieval towns.

Munich is one of my faves.  I never got to spend too much time there, but there is some real awesomeness to be discovered there.  I'm a Bavaria nut, so it suits me well.

Is there a good canoe destination in Germany?

I went a decade ago...well, hell, its been 12 years now.

Same time of year, youre going at a great time, it'll not be as hot during the day (or maybe I just got lucky, but that's also what my friend said who was there and in Belgium for a few years).

A few laps on the Ring is a MUST. SO MUCH FUN! And just looking around the parking lot of the place is awesome, so many cool cars and bikes.

Enjoy your trip, Eat as much as possible, the food is SO GOOD. While I loved my 'Car Day' (what I call the day when I rented the car, drove a few hours to Nurburg, 6 laps, then back), what stands out is the food. It just tastes better. Everything is so frest!

Hot dang Im jealous!

After listening to a podcast last week I would like to ride the Schwebebahn in Wuppertal. I don't know if that is near where you will be, but probably. Beyond that I don't know what to do in Germany. I've been hoping to visit there sometime soon, and have been trying to learn German for a couple of years, but it is so difficult.

Also, youre that close to Belgium, go get a waffle!