#Travel | 19 Days in Germany & Austria
Sharing my 19 day itinerary! I did 2 countries & 9 cities in total but aft the trip i realised that I could have squeeze maybe 2 more cities such as Prague as i did have some spare days.
I planned the route as such so that we would be spending Xmas & Boxing day on the slopes. Both days would be totally closed so there’s no point being in a city as we would have absolutely nth to do.
We’re early risers so we start most of our days leaving around 8-830am, we get to skip the crowds & take our time since we wouldn’t need to rush back. Most of our days end around 5pm & we’ll just play by ear to see what’s available to do around.
Notable things I did:
1. Nuremberg Trial Museum
2. Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
3. Neuschwanstein Castle
As a history girlie, the first 2 activities were SO interesting to me, it’s like my textbook irl. I would have also gone to all the other war museums in Berlin but my bf was kinda bored😂 I was also looking out for signs of East & West Berlin while in the city, there are also evidence of war remains & soviet buildings.
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp is one of the more accessible remaining ones, it’s not as famous as Auschwitz in Poland but it still gives you a clear glimpse of how much the ppl suffered. Some buildings are preserved but many of the barracks have been destroyed & everything is a remake. The camp is FREE to enter but you can pay for an audio guide if you want extra information, everything else is already written in english.
You’ll be surprised to find out that the camp is right in the town and not in a secluded area, even back then, there were residents living around the camp.
Castle:
Most people would have taken the shuttle bus from Fussen stn to the base of Neuschwanstein Castle which would only take maybe 10-15mins but we walked instead. The weather was great so why not! Once we reached the base, we hiked up go the view points, it’s an incline hike up so do wear the proper shoes esp in the winter, you don’t wanna slip & roll off the mountain. The hike is about 2km up & the total walking distance we did was around 6km.
Snowboarding:
We chose Stubai Glacier as there are hourly shuttle busses up from Innsbruck. Based on online reviews & stubai glacier’s official website, the ride should be FREE if you’re in winter sports gear or if you show the ski pass HOWEVER we were made to pay on both days from Innsbruck up!! 😩 that’s €4.50 each. I know most people say Japan has better snow but Austrian Alps arent too bad! The first day was super windy so the slopes constantly had fresh powder, the second day was abit icy but nth too bad!
During my trip, I discovered that including a couple more cities like Prague is totally doable with a bit of planning since I had spare days. For those planning winter travel, spending Christmas and Boxing Day on the slopes was a great call; most city activities close, so it’s better to be where the fun happens. If you’re into history like me, the Nuremberg Trial Museum and Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp in Berlin are powerful visits. Sachsenhausen is quite accessible—surprisingly located near town, showing how life coexisted with harrowing past events. For castle lovers, walking up to Neuschwanstein Castle instead of taking the shuttle was refreshing, though prepare for an incline uphill hike—great views await! I learned it’s important to wear proper shoes especially if you visit in winter to avoid slips. Snowboarding at Stubai Glacier was a highlight. Although some say Japanese snow is better, the Austrian Alps provided fresh powder on a windy day and manageable icy slopes the next. Note, the supposed free shuttle from Innsbruck required a small fee, so budget accordingly. This journey taught me the value of early mornings to beat crowds and flexible afternoons to embrace spontaneous local discoveries. If Austria and Germany’s mix of culture, history and adventure appeals to you, consider this itinerary as a solid, inspiring starting point for your travels.
