Hey Guys,

I'm taking the girlfriend to Germany for 9 days at the end of August. We are flying into Munich, spending 4 nights, then renting a BMW and driving to Prague, then to Berlin. Flying back to the states from Berlin (with a overnight stay in Amsterdam of course:-). Anyway, I was wondering if any of you that have been have any suggestions for an itinerary for a fellow Porsche/car nut. I plan to take any factory tours I can, but I heard the Porsche one is tough to get, but I still plan to take a ride to Stuttgart for the day. Any suggestions would be helpful! Thanks!

Regards,

Kevin M.
1996 993 C2

 

Hi Kevin,

Arrange any factory tours with a dealer before you leave, or you probably won't get in. At least that is how it is with Porsche and Mercedes. If you can't get a factory tour, the Porsche museum (and the Mercedes, too) are well worth seeing, enjoyable even for non-enthusiasts.

 

Find your way to the 'ring. I don't care how far out of your way you have to drive there.

 

THe Mercedes museum in Stuttgart is excellent and I think would be a great stop even for non-car-nuts.
Its basically the history of the automobile in one place. Well, a huge chunk of it anyhow. The BMW
factory tour is spectacular, and IF you can get into the Mobile Tradition museum, that has got to be
among the best in the world.

There's always the museum at Sinsheim which can maybe seem a bit campy but there is some
really cool stuff in there.

Munich itself is a great city to visit, especially the downtown area - is it Marionplatz ???? I should go
look up my notes. You can take day trips to the Alps - Austria, Herrenchimsee, Zugspitze,
Neuschwanstein, Innsbruck... These are all touristy things to see and do.

If there are tours while you are there, the Alpina shops are a really great way to spend a few hours.

Stay away from the ring unless you're part of a school. You'll suck at driving it at best and at worst
you'll get hurt. Not the conventional wisdom perhaps but there it is. If you just want to go visit its
in the middle of nowhere. But it is hallowed ground and if you're that into it, you'll be thrilled to see
a few feet of the track, which you can in about 4 or 5 places.

Uhhhh lets see, I really liked Heidelberg. Its near the Ring and your sweetie is going to like it a lot
better than she's going to like the Ring. But it's not really on your listed route.

Berlin is spectacular. Lots to see and do.

Have a great time. I love Germany.

Oh ya one last thing. You'll find it really hard to drive in the US after driving there. We as a group
suck so badly at it, it is a sad thing to witness really. So if you don't want to swear at every nut
job that drives near you here for the next few years, do yourself a favor and don't drive in Germany.

OK that wasn't the lat thing. This is the last thing. Take a GPS with euro maps loaded. Its the best
couple hundred bucks you'll spend in your life. Might even save your relationship with your girlfriend.
I can't imagine travelling there without one. Things are just different. Often the signs on the ground
don't look the same as the map for example. The other thing is the signs often say "highway 6 to
schpingeldacker" and you have no idea if Schpingeldacker is east or west so the sign is basically useless
for you.

 

For a trip back in a time machine, Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber.

 

Used to be that very few rental companies would let you take their car to Prague. Maybe it is better since I went in 2004. I used Sixt RentaCar, a German company and they did allow it. Got a boot put on the car in Prague. That was fun!

From Prague, try to get to Chesky Krumlov in the southern part of the country. The original Budweis factory is on the way.

 

Try the motor museum at Amering, about 20kms east of Rosenheim (which is about 50kms south of Munich on the Salzburg autobahn. Out of the way place with some beautiful cut-away Porsches as well as a large collection of early post-war 3 wheelers, BMWs and pre-war Mercs. A good day out in glorious countryside. If you google it I'm sure you will find maps and opening times.
Munich-Stuttgart motorway full of roadworks at present and quite a few serious delays (ask how I know!). Factory visits well worth it but you probably wont get in if you haven't booked it first. If you stay in a Stuttgart town centre hotel (such as the City above the Hauptbahnhof) you will get free travel passes that extend to about 50km radius around town centre and valid for all types of U, S and bus services. Speak Turkish if you want a taxi!
Enjoy

 

Kevin,

Munich is in the heart of Bavarian Country. Incredible sceneries abound. I do not know if you are into vista and hiking etc. or you are a shopper, night life kind of guy. Thus is is harder to make recommendations. We are much more of a country lover than city ourselves.

But we spent 10 days in Europe last fall and had a great time. This thread listed where we were and what we saw.
https://rennlist.com/forums/993-forum/377429-o-t-alpine-road-trip-sorry-but-many-pictures.html

Enjoy.

CP

 

When you got from Munich to Prague ensure that you have a stop over in Regensburg. It will be on your way. The center of Regensburg is from the 11th - 13th century!. When you go from Prague to Berlin choose the rout via Dresden. Right at the border you will pass a region called Saxony Switzerland with the incredible Fortress in Koenigstein. definitely worth a stop and stretching your legs. Berlin is also incredible. Make sure that you will spent the evening / night in Berlin Mitte = Berlin Central. A former part of east Berlin which the best night life these days. A lots of bars, restaurants all different kind. Amsterdam is a complete different sorry. enjoy the coffee shops ;-)

If you need more details PM me. I can give you also some hotel hints as well as what to see along your road trip. Also, enjoy the German beer and on hot days the Radler ;-)

Jack

 

In Munich I enjoyed the Munich Residence, it is an amazing mess of rooms, halls and corridors. Also, the Hofbrauhaus is there also, somewhat touristy, but a great piece of history, and probably the reason the French revolution didn't spread to Bavaria. For less joyful experience Dachau Concentration camp is in the vicinity. On the German/Austrian boarder is the town of Saltzburg. The salt mine there is very cool, and the town is very pretty. Go ahead and buy some salt, it is the best salt in the world.

Germany is great, enjoy.
--Joe

 

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the suggestions, now I will just have to write them all down and map them out! I believe Hertz now allows you to rent cars and drive them to Prague, however you can't take the "Prestige" Collection there. Anyway, I will be planning things out for the next few weeks and will post again when I get a final itinerary! Thanks again!

Kevin M.
1996 993 C2

 

FYI, fee-based parking lots are often unattended but are gate controlled. Be sure to get your "exit token" at the parking kiosk prior to getting stuck at the exit gate... Keep some change on-hand.....

 

I visited the RUF factory in Pfaffenhausen four years ago.
I recommand.

I have to mention that we were with two "old" 964 and that we have been treated as if we were with brand new TT.

We went there without any call and we were very well received by the guy in charge of communication.
It took around 1 hour to visit the factory and the Ferrari/Maserati dealer (Ruf proprietary also) on the other side of the street.

Before leaving, we had to wait... because Alois RUF absolutely wanted to meet us. And for this, he left his meeting with two japanese customers.

And if you're lucky, you will maybe have the opportunity to test one the new models with the test driver.

Vincent

PS: Just verify that it's opened in August

 

Definitely say hi to Alois Ruff when in that area.

As mentioned earlier, consider a GPS with Euro maps to keep oriented. Germany doesn't follow US highway convention with numbers,--Germans are used to following signs to CITY NAMES instead, so know what is along your route to stay on top of things.

Drive south out of Munchen for Berchesgaden and check out the Eagle's Nest, aka der Kehlsteinhaus. Great views. Maybe head to Gmund for the Porsche musuem down there,--far better than the factory's in Zuffenhausen,--for niow. (The new museum is way late,--maybe the end of 2008.).

Keep in mind that despite that area being small (fewer miles) the density of the population slows everything down. Keep that in mind as you try to get to everywhere in a limited amount of time. Remember, no trucks are permitted on the autobahns during Sat and Sun,--eases the transit times. To get somewhere in a hurry,--use the autobahn Sunday morning,--early. Gute Fahrt!

 

I loved my Eurotrip in July - hope yours goes as well. We mostly just stayed on the small backroads in the Dolomites, but not sure your lady would have enjoyed our trip. I posted a few pics when I got back on here.