For more on Munich, please check out my previous post on the city here .

When:  The Munich’s 2023 Christmas markets vary a bit by location but in general run from November 27^th through January 7, 2024

Quick History

The German Christmas markets are a historic part of the German culture. Dating back to the Middle Ages, Christmas markets have provided access to everything the family would need for the Christmas celebration, whether that be gifts, decorations, or sweets and treats.  Munich’s Advent markets date back to the 14th Century.  I’ve looked up a few sources and there are conflicts as to when the first occurred.  One listed the Nikolaimarkt in 1310, and another cited city council notes from 1320.  Either way, it appears to be safe to say that Munich has hosted the Christmas Markets for over 700 years. 

I caught a Deutsche Welle program that said there are over 3000 markets across Germany.  Munich hosts about a dozen of various sizes across the city. While some are very historic, newer markets have popped up in recent years.

There are more detailed blogs on the Munich markets, but this take is from the perspective of a quick trip traveler, and I hope that it helps those on similar journeys.  

As I want to get the most of a couple of days in the city, I focused on the center of Munich on this trip to make the most of my time and not make it a dash between markets.  There are several within a very easy walk of each other or by public transportation.

Munich Christmas markets in the city center

Christkindlmarkt

Located in the heart of the Altstadt, this sprawling market is obviously the most visited, and crowded. While the main stretch of the market is along Kaufingerstrasse, there are several off-shoots on the side streets, including at the Viktualien Markt and the Markt am St. Peters. Some may list these as separate markets, but there really isn’t much separation.

Karlstor

The Karlstor (Stachus) has a fun two-level stand that sells food, glühwein and other goodies.  The upstairs serves as a seating area that looks out over a good-sized ice-skating rink in the square.

Isartor

Built in 1337, and renovated in the 1970’s, the Isartor is the well-maintained city gate on the east of the Altstadt located near the Isar river.  Nestled in the center of the gate structure is a large bar/stand that offers the holiday drink fuerzangenbowle, as well as a few food stands.  The center of the bar is a large copper vat, with a ring of fire around the top.  The location has a great vibe and attracts a crowd! 

Sendlinger Tor

The Sendlinger Tor is the southern gate to the Altstadt.  The market is small but has a long history, having been held on this site since the 1880’s.

If you do visit this market, don’t forget to visit the remarkably ornate Asamkirche, located a couple hundred meters from the gate.

Pink Christmas

Held on Stephans Platz, a short walk of a couple blocks from the Sendlinger Tor, The Pink Christmas is the market of Munich’s LGBTQ+ community.  First held in 2005, this market offers a different and seriously dynamic take on the holiday.  Stalls offering kitschy, and fun ornaments, tasty treats, and a prosecco bar.  Truly a different experience from the traditional markets and opens later in the day.   

Christmas village in the Kaiserhof of the Residenz

This quaint Christmas village is a nice market for families with small children.  The enchanted forest entertains children with its animatronic displays playing music or telling holiday stories, mesmerizing children.

If you do visit this market, and want to take a break from the weather, a tour of the Residenz is well worth it.

Wittelsbacher Platz

The market on Wittelsbacher Platz is a portal to medieval times with vendors and performers dressed in period garb.   It’s a great place to pick up traditional ornaments, wood carvings, as well as your Christmas broadsword.

For a cool presentation of the Feuerzangenbowle, one of the stands presents a goblet of Glühwein with a sugar cube on a ledge of the cup and pours the rum over the sugar cube and wine.  The sugar cube bubbles as it melts into the wine.  Warning, let the fire go out before drinking…not a friend to those of us with beards and moustaches. 

Munich Christmas markets in AU- Heidhausen

Werksviertel München

This newer market is in the revitalized industrial area just beyond the München-Ost Train station. The renaissance of the Werksviertel kicked off in 1999 but has accelerated since 2017 when the resolution for the development plan was fully approved.

The center is quirky, with several shipping containers repurposed into bars.  There is a stage set up for musical entertainment, plenty of food options between the clubs and restaurants in the area and some food trucks. A skating rink is set up and there is a giant Ferris-wheel.

Note: I didn’t take any pictures as there is a sign on the premises prohibiting video, photographs, or drone usage over the Viertel…I want to share the experience but don’t want to be the old man in litigation.

Weissenberger Platz

This is a smaller market set up around a fountain in the center of the square.  It is a nice smaller market in a quiet suburb near the München-Ost Train station. It can get very crowded in the evening!

Munich Christmas Markets in Schwabing

Münchner Freiheit

Located in a little park across from the Münchner Freiheit station, the Schwabing Christmas market features stands that reflect the artistic nature of this section of Munich.  The market features hand-crafted ornaments and gifts, as well as an art exhibition where more valuable art pieces can be purchased.

Englischer Garten

The Market in the Englischer Garten is in the southern part of the park, surrounding the Chinese Tower. This is a nice family market with some quaint stands.  There is also an ice lane for curling. 

I’ve always enjoyed the beer garden at the Chinese tower.  The park’s setting is lovely and just makes a relaxing venue.

Munich Christmas markets in Ludwig-Vorstadt

Tollwood

If your desire is to have a more modern experience, Tollwood is the place for you.  The Tollwood festival is held on the Theresienweise, which is famous for being the home of the Oktoberfest. This festival features modern lights, shows and an internationally diverse culinary experience.  In addition to a wide variety of stands selling food, drink, and gifts, there are several tents that provide venues for an international food court, a bazar tent housing rows of vendor stalls, a tent for a burlesque like dinner show, a bar tent with live music. 

The Tollwood festival is impressive. The diversity of the stands, entertainment and food options is excellent. If you go, bring your holiday spirit and your patience. The festival is very crowded at peak times.

Munich Christmas Market at the Munich International Airport

Now it’s usual to see holiday decorations in the airport at this time of year. But Munich International appears to go all in. MUC gets into the holiday season with its own Weihnachtsmarkt in the open area between Terminals one and two. 

My flights didn’t coincide with visiting while it was open, but you can see the scale of the market from the pictures below, to include an ice-skating rink and curling lanes.  The market is held in protected courtyard with overhead cover, protecting the festivities from inclement weather.

What to eat and drink at the Munich Christmas Market

There’s plenty of food stands throughout the markets, as well as Munich’s variety of restaurants. Here a few specialites to look out for.

Glühwein (warm mulled wine)

Glühwein can be red, or white, wine based. This warm spiced wine drink is a great way to warm up while you are meandering the market stalls.  While, a great warming concoction, the Old Man is not a big fan. As I can’t personally recommend it on my preference, I can recommend you try it, you may like it.

Feuerzangebowle (Translated, its “fire-tong punch”)

Also known as krambamboli, futures a wine base. Historically, a rum-soaked sugar block was held in heated fire tongs over the wine allowed to melt into it. Today, there are some modern vat solutions that dose the sugar and rum mxture. The sugar-rum caramelizes a bit as it melts, adding a sweeter complexity to the flavor.  Ona personal basis, I kind of liked it. 

Sausages

C’mon, this is Germany.  There are plenty of wurst stands in the markets ranging from three Nüremburg bratwurst in Semmel to the meter long bratwurst,

Stollen

This holiday cake produced during Christmas/advent time in Germany.  Admittedly, it’s not really for eating as you walk around, but there are stands where you can pick up a fresh one to eat in your hotel.

Candied nuts

Pick a nut and you can probably find one roasted and coated in cinnamon and sugar glazing at one of the many stands.  I’m a sucker for candied cashews.

With 3000 markets across Germany, this is a small sample.  That said, Munich is such a great city. Adding the festivities of the holiday season to the mix just makes it a more attractive destination. 

For more pictures and reels from this trip, please check out and follow my social media pages on Instagram and Facebook

I hope this post helps in you planning if you are entertaining a Christmas market visit to Munich.  Until next time!

                                                                                                                                Travel Well! Pursue Experiences.               

                                                                                                                                                O.M.I.A.H.

The post Munich Christmas markets appeared first on O.M.I.A.H. Travelog and Tips.

Before this trip, Montreux wasn’t on my radar for cities to visit.  It is now high on my list to return to for further exploration.

About Montreux

Montreux is in the French speaking region of Switzerland, nestled between the Alps and the shores of Lake Geneva in the Swiss Canton of Vaud.  The city belongs to the Riviera-Pays-d’Enhaut district. The affiliation with the district has led to the area surrounding the city to be referred to as the Montreux Riviera.

Historically, Montreux has been a city for trade and migration dating back to the times of the Roman Empire.  Montreux’s location and climate made it ideal for the growing of grapes, leading to the development of a rich wine making industry. The nearby Lavaux Vinyards have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Today, Montreux is a vibrant city melding its modern vibe with its historical elegance.  Montreux embraces the arts in its city identity, from the rich music scene, including the annual September Music festival and the Montreux Jazz festival every summer, to the sculptures that align the promenade. 

Where to Stay

I stayed at the elegant grand Hotel Eden Palace Du Lac, Rue du Théâtre 11,
1820 Montreux.  This 4-Star hotel is only a 15-minute walk from the train station, located along the shores of Lake Geneva.  Lake view rooms are worth the upgrade, as the view is magnificent.  The lakeside of the hotel is away from the road, so it eliminates street noise.  It is conveniently located to restaurants, the Promenade, and the Casino Barriere Montreux.

Other Hotels

5 Star – Royal Plaza Montreux Avenue Claude Nobs 7, 1820 Montreux, Switzerland

4 Star – Eurotel Montreux Grand Rue 81, 1820 Montreux, Switzerland

3 Star – Villa Toscane Rue du Lac 2/8, 1820 Montreux, Switzerland

City benefits for hotel guests

Guests will be provided a “Montreux Riviera Card” when they check into their hotel.  The taxes collected by the city provide for the card. The card extends the following benefits: Free public transportation (bus/train/funicular), 50% discount on museums, and the Chateau de Chillon, and 20% off boat trips and regional trains (2^nd class) tickets.

What to do:

There is a lot to do in Montreux, but given my short time in the city, I had to prioritize.  I’ll detail my experience and list some others that can highlight a short visit to the city.

The Chateau de Chillon. 

A visit to the Chateau de Chillon was on the top of my list. Sitting on a small island just a short distance from the city, this magnificent fortress is a great place to visit. The full expanse of the fortress, from the dungeons to the bed chambers, is open to visitors.  Visitors can appreciate the history and imagine the daily life in the castle, as well as understand the role it played in times of war and unrest. 

Guided and self-guided tours are available.

As an Army veteran, I appreciated the collection of armaments, handheld weapons, and suits of armor.

Tickets:   The online ticket prices are as follows: Kids between the ages of 6-15 are 7 CHF (Swiss Francs), adults are 13.50 CHF.  A family ticket is 35CHF (2 adults and 2-5 kids between 6-15 years old).  This does not take into consideration the discounted rate with the Montreux Riviera Card.

The Promenade

Everyone appreciates a low (or no) cost activity on vacation.  Taking a stroll along the promenade is a perfect way to appreciate the city.  This Promenade runs along the lake through Montreux to The Chateau. Restaurants, parks, and an array of sculptures line the path.   The Promenade is also a great place for appreciating the sunset.

The line of sculptures is a fantastic open-air museum. Artists leveraged different media to construct their vision. The pieces complemented the view, with many incorporating, or emphasizing, the lake as part of the piece.

The Promenade is also a starting place for experiencing the lake itself.  There are places to rent paddle boats or take a cruise on one of the many sightseeing vessels.  

Other things to do in Montreux.

Casino Barriere Montreux

Casino offers an array of games, restaurants/bars and a free museum dedicated to the rock band Queen. 

Nightlife

There are many jazz bars and clubs around the city to keep your toes tapping to the beat. 

Chaplin’s World

Manor house outside Vevey where Charlie Chaplin spent the last 25 years of his life. A Museum dedicated to Chaplin and his films. Entrance fee is 20 CHF online, 29 CHF at the door.

As I stated at the beginning of this post, Montreux was never high on my list of places to visit, but I can’t wait until I get the opportunity to go back.  There is so much more to see, but the limited time I had on the rail tour was just enough to whet the appetite.

If you want to experience an elegant city full of history and contemporary vibrance, visit Montreux!

                                                                                                                                Travel well!  Pursue experiences.

                                                                                                                                                O.M.I.A.H.

The post Montreux, Switzerland 2023 appeared first on O.M.I.A.H. Travelog and Tips.

There are Grand Tour of Switzerland itineraries for tourists that want to drive the country as well.

Note:  This is a rail tour, and that is its emphasis.  While the itinerary does overnight in iconic cities, some couldn’t be explored due to the schedule.  Traveling in October also impacted city investigation as night fell sooner than in the summer months.

Switzerland formally recognizes four official national languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh.  While you can tell that the Swiss people are immensely proud of being Swiss, there is a noticeably different feel to each region.

I coordinated my travel through the Swiss Travel Centre. Guided tour options are available through other entities. 

Disclosure: I receive no compensation from the Swiss Travel Centre, or any of the rail lines mentioned. I have included links regarding the hotels, per the disclaimer at the top of my post.

Itinerary of the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland

The ticket for the tour is a set itinerary that allows you to travel from your base, or entry point, in Switzerland to Luzern or St Gallen, and then from that endpoint to your point of origin.  I list “Luzern or St Gallen” as you can determine the direction of travel from one of these endpoint cities.

The itinerary does have some specified departure times with reserved seats.  There are also some days where you choose your schedule based on your desires.

The tour includes your hotel stay in each city.  You can default to the selection driven by the tour company or select your desired hotel category (1 – 5 star).  This allows you to personalize your experience, as well as impact on the cost per person.

I’ll share cost considerations, further in this post.

Resources

There are two applications you should plan on using for the tour. 

SBB app

his app lets you see what trains are available for the days when you don’t have a reserved seat.  You pick your origin and destination and select the time you want to depart/arrive. The query will result in 5 options starting with your selected criteria.  You can also choose earlier and later options.

Train Tour app

The train tour app shows you each of the legs of the trip as well as points of interest on that day.  Turn on the location tracker on your phone for the app and it will notify you when you are approaching a point of interest on the train ride. It also allows you to capture virtual stamps for each city.

The Grand Train Ride passport booklet. 

The passport booklet is available at locations in each city, and indicated in the app, i.e., the Tourist office in the Zürich train station.  Like the train tour app, it gives some insight into each destination, and allows you to capture a physical stamp for each town.  It adds a little something to the trip and serves as a neat little souvenir.

Costs

In 2023, my tour was 2,728 CHF.  I did purchase upgrades to 4-star lodging, 1^st class rail, luggage service for 1 bag, and a 2-course meal on the Glacier Express. Taxes were an incremental fee of approximately 75 CHF.

2024 Tickets and lodging

The cost for the train ticket and lodging depends on the experience you want, driven primarily by your lodging choice.  The default offer includes a mix of 3- and 4-star hotels and is priced at 2,871 CHF for April 2024.  The spread runs from 1,214 CHF if you want to stay in 1-Star hotels, up to 4,533 CHF if you want to stay in 5-Star hotels for the trip.  The Travel Company coordinates the hotel, you have the choice of category, but I don’t believe you can select a specific hotel.   You can also upgrade to 1^st class cars for the rail for 205 CHF, otherwise they default to 2^nd class for most lines.

Breakfast is included in hotel fees.

Additional cost and services

City taxes – The city taxes are not included in your hotel fee and must be paid to the hotel.  For my itinerary, the most I paid was 10 CHF, but averaged around 5 CHF.

Meal on the Glacier Express – There is an option to prepay for a 2- or 3-course meal.  The 2-course is 42 CHF, and 49 CHF for the 3-course meal.

Luggage Service – This is an optional service for 160 CHF for 6 transfers of a 25 KG suitcase between hotels, add 160 CHF for each additional suitcase up to 960 CHF 6 bags.  Starting with the first morning the SBB will pick up your suitcase and deliver it to your next hotel by 6PM (7PM in Zermatt).   

Note:  I recommend considering the convenience of the luggage service.  Delivery was spot on for me, and I heard others complain about having to muscle their suitcases along the itinerary.

Half-Fare card – The half fare card is available to tourists to Switzerland.  For 120 CHF, it permits the bearer to have ½ fare on trains, museums, and mountain trains and gondolas.  This pays for itself if you do go on excursions to the mountains, i.e. Mount Pilatus, the Jungfrau, etc.

Itinerary

I chose to start in Luzern.  If you want to know what the other direction looks like, just turn the following upside down.

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Day 1, Zürich-Luzern-Interlaken

Schedule: This day is at your discretion.  You will ride the Swiss rail to Luzern where you transfer to the Luzern-Interlaken Express.  Arrival in Interlaken is at Interlaken-Ost station.

Hotel: The Hey Hotel, Höheweg 7, 3800 Interlaken.  This 4-Star boutique hotel is in the center of the Altstadt, approximately a block from the Interlaken-West train station.  My travels were out of Interlaken Ost, but even that was an easy 15–20-minute walk.

Excursions: Interlaken has many options; I chose to take the train to the Schynige Platte. Plan on taking a minimum of 2 – 3 hours. The Harder Kulm, (2 – 3 hours), are Jungfrau Joch (5 – 8 hours) additional regional rail excursions from Interlaken that are well worth the journey.  For the outdoor lovers there are several hiking trails, and for adrenaline junkies, you can schedule the chance to go paragliding.  There are also opportunities for shopping at the many luxury and souvenir retailers or gambling at the Casino.

For a more detailed summary of Interlaken, check out my blog: here.

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Day 2, Interlaken – Montreux

Schedule: Day two starts with a ride on the GoldenPass Express departing from Interlake-West.  This is a scheduled ride with a reserved seat. My reservation was on the 9:08 AM train, which got me into Montreux at 12:20PM.  There was a later schedule that leaves 2.08 PM, arriving at 5:20PM. 

Hotel: This night, I was at the beautiful grand hotel Eden Palace Du Lac, Rue du Théâtre 11,
1820 Montreux.  This 4-Star hotel is located along the lake.  It is conveniently located to restaurants, the Promenade, and the Casino Barriere Montreux.

Excursions: The Chateau de Chillon.  Stroll along the sculpture lined promenade along the lake through Montreux to The Chateau de Chillon. There are jazz bars and a free museum dedicated to the rock band Queen.  A statue of Freddie Mercury stands along the lake. The Montreux Jazz Festival is held each year, in late-June to mid-July. For wine aficionados, there is the Lauvaux vineyards, which is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Tip! Hotel guests will receive a “Montreux Riviera Card”.  The “Montreux Riviera Card” is a tourist benefit that is financed through the city taxes. The card extends the following benefits: Free public transportation (bus/train/funicular), 50% discount on museums, and the Chateau, and 20% off boat trips and regional trains (2^nd class) tickets.

I will be posting a page on what to do in Montreux in the near future. Be sure to check back.

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Day 3, Montreux – Visp – Zermatt

Schedule: The travel logistics are at your discretion.  You will ride the Swiss rail to Visp where you transfer to the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn.  This narrow-gauge cog railway is the last leg up the valley to the Zermatt station.

Hotel: In Zermatt, I overnighted at the Wellness Hotel Alpenhof.  Matterstrasse 43, 3920 Zermatt.  This hotel is owned and operated by the Julen family.  The Julen’s are a large part of Zermatt’s community, owning a portfolio of restaurants and hotels.  The Alpenhof is a splendid hotel, mixing technology and modern comforts in a building that maintains a rustic feel.   The hotel is an easy 10-minute walk from the station, or you can take one of their shuttles.

Excursions: The Gorner glacier and the Monte Rosa peak.  Matterhorn Paradise.  Rothorn/Sunegga. Plenty of hiking trails.  In Zermatt, there is the Alpine Museum and Zermattlantis.  Zermatt also has a plethora of restaurants, and luxury shops in its quaint downtown.

For a more information Zermatt, check out my blog: here.

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Day 4, Zermatt – St. Moritz

Schedule: Day 4 is a scheduled trip with a reserved seat on the Panoramic Glacier Express.   My reservation was on the 9:52 AM train, which got me into St. Moritz at 5:37PM.  There is also an earlier train the leaves at 8:52 AM, arriving at 4:37PM. 

The late arrival time didn’t permit sightseeing in St. Moritz. However, the train ride really was the focus of the day. The Glacier Express is referred to as the slowest express train in the world.  This 8-hour tour takes you over some amazing landscapes and bridges. For the rail aficionados, the construction of this line is something to appreciate.

Highlights: Landwasser Viaduct (Natural stone bridge measuring 466 feet long and 214 feet high), Disentis Monastery, the Oberalp Pass (6706 feet), The beautiful Rhine Gorge, Chur (Pronounced as “core”, and is Switzerland’s oldest city.

Hotel: In St. Moritz, I was at the Sport & Wellness Hotel San Gian.  Via San Gian 23, 7500 San Moritz.  This 4-Star hotel is in the Bad San Moritz, as opposed to the San Moritz Village, and is a 20-minute walk from the train station. The hotel accommodations are modern and is great for sports enthusiasts.  It is located near Gondolas for hiking and/or skiing.  The hotel doesn’t have a gym but is 50 meters from the Ovavera Spa Center.  This facility well equipped with fitness equipment, pool, etc.   You receive a wristband for access to the spa at check in.

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Day 5, St. Moritz – Tirano, Italy – Lugano

Schedule: Day 5 is a scheduled trip with a reserved seat on the Bernina Express.   My reservation was on the 9:17 AM train to Tirano, Italy.  There is a 3 hour “layover” in Tirano before transferring to a bus coach that finishes the itinerary to Lugano.

The Bernina Express passes some of the most dramatic landscapes of the tour.  Passing mountain peaks covered in glacier floes, Alpine reservoir, rugged terrain above the tree line that transitions back to beautiful forests and lakes as you descend into Italy.

Personal comment: The bus coach is a step down in comfort from the train experience. There was also an accident on the 2-lane road around Lake Como that delayed our arrival. Travelers need to understand that there is a possibility of late arrival in Lugano due to traffic or other incidents.

Hotel: In Lugano, I stayed at the Hotel City Lugano, Via Giuseppi Vagutti 4, 6900 Lugano. This 4-Star hotel is classified as a Garni.  Garni hotels are a class of hotel that operates like a B&B. They are a hotel structure, and serve breakfast, but otherwise don’t have a restaurant on site.   The facilities are very good, and the staff are friendly, engaging, and helpful.

Highlights: Mountain peaks of Diavolezza, Piz Palü, and Piz Bernina. Morteratsch glacier. Lago Bianco, this reservoir marks the watershed between the Black Sea and the Adriatic. Alp Grüm (train stops here allowing for pictures). The Brusio viaduct (360-degree viaduct). 16^th Century Church of the Madonna in Tirano. Lake Como.

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Day 6, Lugano – Flüelen – Luzern

Schedule: Day 4 is a scheduled trip with a reserved seat on the Gotthard Panorama Express.   My reservation was on the 9:18 AM train.  In Flüelen there is the option of a transition from train to boat for the last leg to Luzern.  While you can continue by train, I went onto the paddle-wheel boat “Uri”.  I ultimately arrived in Luzern around quart of 3 in the afternoon.

Hotel: Romantik Hotel Wilden Mann – Bahnhofstrasse 30, 6003 Luzern.  Comfortable accommodation. The most intriguing point of this hotel is its history.  While a hotel since 1860, the Wilden Mann originated over 500 years ago as a bar, then a tavern.  Convenient location to the rail station and the Altstadt.

Highlights: Bellinzona castles (Castlegrande, Montebello, and Sasso Corbaro), The Gotthard Tunnel (This 9.3-mile tunnel took 10 years to build and took the lives of 200 workers.  It opened the pathway for travel and trade through the Alps). Lake Luzern.  In Luzern: Chapel Bridge, Transportation Museum, mountain excursions: Tilus, Pilatus and Rigi.  I went up Mount Pilatus the next morning. 

I will be posting a page on what to do in Luzern in the near future. Be sure to check back.

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland: Day 7, Luzern – St Gallen

Schedule: Day 7 is a trip on the Voralpen Express.  This day’s schedule is on your own timeline. The logistics are dependent on when you want to leave Luzern or arrive in St. Gallen. 

Hotel: Sorrell Hotel City Weissenstein – Davidstrasse 21, 9000 St. Gallen.  The Hotel City Weissenstein is conveniently located to the train station and the Altstadt. The rooms in the hotel are surprisingly large and have a comfortable and modern feel.

Highlights:  In Luzern: Chapel Bridge, Transportation Museum, mountain excursions: Tilus, Pilatus and Rigi.  I used this morning for an excursion to Mount Pilatus.  Lakes Zug and Zurich, Rapperswil, rolling farmlands with alpine backdrops and the occasional castle.  In St Gallen: The Abbey District (UNESCO site), City-Lounge-Red Square, Textile Museum, Art and Culture Museums, and a lovely Altstadt.  The Altstadt has many buildings with ornately decorated box-bay windows.

Schedule: Day 8 This last day of the tour is on your own timeline.  The ticket takes you from St. Gallen to your final destination, i.e. Zurich Airport, by way of Schaffhausen.

Highlights:  Lake Constance, Schaffhausen castle, Rhine Falls (largest waterfalls in Europe).

I hope you found the tips I provided on the Grand Train Tour beneficial, and this post inspired you to investigate taking a train tour across Switzerland.

                                                                                                                                                Travel well! Pursue experiences.

                                                                                                                                                                O.M.I.A.H.

The post Grand Train Tour of Switzerland appeared first on O.M.I.A.H. Travelog and Tips.

Some quick history of Interlaken, Switzerland

The name “Interlaken” is derived from Latin, meaning “between the lakes,” and is aptly attributed to its location between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. 

The first documented settlements in the region date back to the 12^th century.

Interlaken’s reputation as a tourist destination started in the early 19^th century.  Travelers from across Europe were drawn to the amazing scenery of the Berner Oberland and the Jungfrau region.  The Jungfrau region includes the iconic mountain peaks of the Eiger, Mönch, and the Jungfrau. Interlaken is just a short train ride to the picturesque villages of Gimmelwald, Wengen and the breathtaking Lauterbrunnen valley.

With its proximity to the mountains, Interlaken became a hub for adventure tourists pursuing mountaineering, hiking, and skiing.  Today, there are year-round outdoor opportunities, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, skydiving/paragliding, and water sports on lakes Brienz and Thun. Interlaken also offers the opportunity for gambling, and shopping for luxury goods.

The region is also a destination for movie producers, as the Jungfrau region is featured heavily in Bollywood movies, as well as Hollywood films such as Clint Eastwood’s “the Eiger Sanction”, and the James Bond thriller, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”.

Where to Stay in Interlaken, Switzerland

My tour set me up at The Hey Hotel, Höheweg 7, 3800 Interlaken.  This 4-Star boutique hotel is in the center of the Altstadt, approximately a block from the Interlaken West train station.  My arrival was from Interlaken Ost, but even that was an easy 15–20-minute walk.   

The Hey Hotel has its own restaurant, but there are plenty of other options to satisfy you preference of the day within walking distance.

Travel tip:  Finding a laundromat in Switzerland is kind of like playing a game of “Where’s Waldo?”.  There is a laundromat behind The Hey Hotel on Poststrasse.  A wash and dry for a load will run about 20 CHF.  Don’t worry about soap as the dosing is integrated with the washer.  They use environmentally friendly products.

Other options in Interlaken

Victoria Jungfrau Gand Hotel & Spa, Höheweg 41, 3800 Interlaken, Switzerland

5-Star grand resort hotel in the heart of Interlaken.  Beautiful view of the Alps

Hotel Royal St Georges Interlaken MGallery Collection Interlaken Höheweg 139, 3800 Interlaken, Switzerland

4-star superior hotel is located 984 feet from the Harderbahn Funicular Railway

What to do in Interlaken, Switzerland

Explore Interlaken

I hadn’t been to Interlaken before.  Beyond the train stations, that is.  As such, I took the opportunity to explore the town of Interlaken itself.  The main street, Höheweg, is lined with shops, hotels and restaurants.  For the shoppers out there, Interlaken’s shops offer plenty of Swiss souvenirs, including chocolate, Swiss watches, and regional products.

Schynige Platte (Schynige Plateau)

The journey starts with a cog-wheeled train ride from the town of Winderswil.    Winderswil is only a 5-minute train ride from Interlaken Ost. 

The Schynige Platte is approximately an hour train ride from Interlaken Ost.  You switch trains in Winderswil and board the Schynige Platte cogwheel train.  The train(description).  At the top, there is a hotel and restaurant that hosts daily Alphorn presentations.  There is an Alpine Garden filled with plants indigenous to the alps and this altitude. 

If hiking is your thing, there are plenty of paths offering opportunities for breathtaking pictures of the surrounding mountains, the valley below. This is also a starting point, should you want to hike down to Gindlewald.

Fantastically, though it was a bit hazy, I was able to see the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks, as well as look down into the Lauterbrunnen valley.

Cost:

The ticket is 71.20 CHF round trip from Interlaken Ost (October 2023).  The Swiss Half-fare card drops it down to 35.60 CHF.   Plan for 2- 3 hours for this excursion. Longer should you want to enjoy more time on the plateau or take a hike.

Other excursions from Interlaken, Switzerland

Visit Lauterbrunnen and the Jungfraujoch

I have visited the Jungfrau and Lauterbrunnen a couple of times over the past couple of years.  Coupled with the fact that I had limited time due to my itinerary, I didn’t make the trip to the Jungrau this time.  I recommend that if you do go to the Jungfrau, often referred to as the “Top of Europe”, that you go early in the morning.  It will be less crowded, but also give you the best chance for clear skies.  Clouds tend to build at the mountaintops as the day progresses.

The journey itself is an experience.  There are two ways to get to the junction of Kleine Scheidegg from Interlaken Ost.  First is taking the train to Grindelwald, where you will switch to a gondola to get further on the journey.  The second is taking the train to Lauterbrunnen where you will switch to a scenic cog-wheeled train ride that takes you up the mountain past the town of Wengen and through meadows and pristine forests.  From Kleine Scheidegg you complete the trek by ascending THROUGH the Eiger and Mönch mountains.  There are two stops along the path where they have carved windows out on to the Eis Gletscher (Ice Glacier) and one that looks out over the valley.

At the end of the journey is the Jungfraujoch station.  This station is at 11,332 feet (3,454 meters) and is the highest rail station in Europe.  Remember to pack a jacket as this is a world of year-round ice and snow. 

What to do on the Jungfrau

The Jungfrau complex offers several attractions.  There is the Ice Palace, an underground labyrinth carved into the glacier and filled with ice carvings.  There is a Lindt Chocolate shop if you need that sugar kick at the high altitude. You can also visit the highest café in Europe and look out the panoramic windows.  Don’t forget to take the elevator up to the Sphinx observatory for an even higher viewing perspective.  

Cost: 

The ticket is 213.80 CHF round trip from Interlaken Ost (October 2023).  The Swiss Half-fare card drops it down to 141.80 CHF.   Plan for a minimum of 5-1/2 hours, but this can be an all-day trip, depending on how long you spend at the top, and the travel path.  Tickets can be purchased via Viator.

Hike around the Lauterbrunnen valley

The spectacular Lauterbrunnen valley features 72 waterfalls, lush green meadows, and picturesque villages.  The valley is also renowned for being the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien’s middle earth.

Things to do if staying in Interlaken, Switzerland

Interlaken is also a hub for adrenaline junkies. There are opportunities to go skydiving, or paragliding.  Companies offer the ability for inexperienced folks to tandem jump/fly with an instructor over the Interlaken valley.  The brochures look amazing.  Unfortunately, the Old Man in a Hat exceeds the weight limits .  This also gives me an excuse as I also have an aversion to heights

Gambling

While gambling isn’t my thing, Interlaken has a casino located in the heart of town.

Take a cruise on Lake Thun or Brienz

Cruising the lakes provides a picture-perfect opportunity to relax and appreciate the amazing surroundings.  The Swiss Half-Fare card can be leveraged to reduce the cost of the cruise.

Interlaken, Switzerland is a nice little city in the Berner Oberland to visit. Interlaken can also serve as a base camp for multiple experiences in the surrounding areas. 

                                                                                                                                Travel well!  Pursue experiences.

                                                                                                                                                O.M.I.A.H.

The post Interlaken, Switzerland appeared first on O.M.I.A.H. Travelog and Tips.

First, a quick shot of history.

The first settlements in the Glasgow area began popping up in the late 6^th Century.  The Glasgow city charter was first established in the 1170’s. 

In researching this history, I liked the origin of the name. Glasgow’s Gaelic name, Glaschu, means “the green glen”, and the city is colloquially called “Dear Green Place”.

Glasgow is in the lowlands on the western side of Scotland on the shores of the river Clyde.  The river Clyde is a river that opens into the Atlantic, which contributed to Glasgow’s growth as a shipping center.

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, and has its history entrenched in heavy industry and manufacturing.  For the longest time, Glasgow was the leading city in the UK for ship building and the construction of locomotives.  Unfortunately, Glasgow saw a significant decline in these industries post WWII through the 60’s.  With the decline, the Scots quit dredging the Clyde which forced vessels to dock further upstream to the Port of Glasgow, and the village of Greenock.

Present day Glasgow is a city on the uptrend.  With 10 colleges and universities within a 10-mile radius of the city, there is a growing white-collar workforce. 

Places to stay in Glasgow.

My experience was at the Hilton Glasgow – 1 William Street, Glasgow G3 8HT, UK.

This hotel is located on the west end of the city center and right across the street from the Anderston rail station.  The OVO Hydro and SEC are within a mile. 

The Hilton is truly a business-oriented hotel.  The facility is very sleek and modern.  The fitness center and pool are top notch, with fitness class offerings available.   The staff interaction was positive. 

Dining at the hotel is nice.  The Whisky Mist Bar and Kitchen features a diverse menu, Scottish fare, steaks, pizza, etc.  The bar has a great whisky selection. The breakfast offered at the hotel is good with a decent buffet selection.

Other suggestions:

Crowne Plaza Glasgow, an IHG Hotel Congress Rd, North West, Glasgow, G3 8QT, United Kingdom

Set along the River Clyde, the hotel is in walking distance to the Science Center and the OVO H

Carlton George Hotel – 44 West George Street, Glasgow City Centre, Glasgow, G2 1DH, United Kingdom

Located next to Glasgow Queen Street Rail Station and just 50 meters from Buchanan Street’s shops.  There is an airport bus stop right in front of the hotel.

What to do in Glasgow

Hop On – Hop off bus.

With services in 163 cities around the globe, the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tours provide a great way to see, and learn about, the points of interest in a city.  They are a great way for you to prioritize where you want to visit if you have a limited time in a city. The Glasgow tour lasts about 90 minutes.  There are tours with a live guide, or with a recorded script, pointing out the points of interest and giving a history of the city and each section of town. 

Tickets are available as a 1- or 2-day ticket, and can be bought in advance or as you get on the bus. 

NOTE: the ticket is by the day, so if you buy it in the afternoon, it ends at midnight.  The 2-day ticket was only 1 GBP more than the 1-Day.  If you only buy the 1-day but want to leverage the service the next day, you can present your receipt to the driver and pay the 1 GBP for the 2^nd day.  SO, KEEP YOUR RECEIPT!

We leveraged the Hop on, hop off bus to get the lay of the land, and to identify where we wanted to visit in the time we had.

Botanic Gardens.

Everyone wants to find a cost-effective way to entertain themselves on vacation.  The Botanic Gardens are free to visit.  The greenhouses are filled with an extensive collection of beautiful plants, trees, and flowers.  The garden grounds are lovely and well maintained. The gardens are a great place to have a picnic, people watch, or spread out a blanket to read a book and catch some rays (if the weather cooperates).

University of Glasgow.

Not many folks think that visiting a college campus is a great idea on vacation. The University of Glasgow is a novel suggestion if you appreciate architecture.  The historic buildings are worth the stroll around campus. Some have a bit of a Hogwarts-like vibe.

Hunterian Museum

The Hunterian Museum is located on the University campus and was established in 1807. The collection includes Roman artifacts from the Antonine Wall. There is a substantial collection of natural and life science artefacts and scientific instruments used by James Watt, Joseph Lister and Lord Kelvin. 

The life science collection is impressive. This collection featured sample jars containing every possible body part and organ, with some showing the impact of ailments and deformities.  It was fascinating and macabre at the same time. I do recommend that you check it out. That said, I could not bring myself to post any pictures of body part in jars.

Entertainment in Glasgow

Shopping is often a key form of entertainment while on vacation. Buchanan Street is the main avenue for high end shops.  For more moderate shopping options, Sauchiehall street and Argyle Street are your best options.  If you are looking for watches and jewelry, and want an experience, the Argyle Arcade is an interesting stop.  Founded in 1827, the Arcade is located at Princes Square and Buchanan Street. 

OVO Hydro

The OVO Hydro is a concert hall on the west end of town that hosts musical performances across all genres. 

The Finnieston crane is located at the OVO-Hydro complex. This crane is a memorial to Glasgow’s shipping and manufacturing heritage and considered the international symbol of Glasgow.

I have recommended in my other posts to investigate what is going on in the towns you visit.  The impetus for my trip to Glasgow was to attend the Hollywood Vampires concert at the Hydro.  If you are planning a trip, check out what’s going on at the Hydro. You might be lucky to catch a great show.

What else to do:

Pub scene

Simply said, Glasgow has a lot of pubs worth investigating. 

Tennent Caledonian Brewery

Tennents Brewery was established in 1871.  The brewery has several tour options that run from 15 GBP/person up to a VIP experience at 290 GBP/person.  The website also offers an accessible tour for guests that have special mobility needs. 

Purchase tickets at the Tennents Website

Glasgow Cathedral (St. Mungo’s)

Built between 1136 and 1484 AD, the Cathedral is Scotland’s largest place of worship.

Day tours

Whether you want to schedule tours in Glasgow or branch out to historical or geographic sites around Scotland. If you prefer a more adult adventure to discover more about Scotch Whisky, there are distillery tours to satisfy.  

Viator offers a wide selection of tours out of Glasgow.

Getting to Glasgow

Air – Glasgow International Airport is the primary airport supporting the city and has many international flights to and from the US and Europe.

The Airport website indicates that the “Express service 500,” operated by First Glasgow, is the official bus service connecting the airport and the city center.  The trip takes about 15 minutes.

Rail – There are two main train stations in the city, both are in the heart of the city only a few blocks away from each other. Glasgow Central Station serves lines that travel south of the city and into the rest of the UK.  The Queen Street Station serves lines that cover the rest of Scotland to the north and the East-West destinations.

Glasgow has so much more to see than you can squeeze into a single day.  I hope this offers some ideas for you to take advantage of should your travels take you there.

                                                                                                                                Travel well, pursue experiences!

                                                                                                                                                O.M.I.A.H.

The post A day in Glasgow appeared first on O.M.I.A.H. Travelog and Tips.

My blog on Edinburgh provides a list of things to do if you want to stay in the city.

Disclosure, I am a Viator Marketing Affiliate. 

The tour to Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies cost $70.81/person with the taxes.  This tour fee covered the bus transportation across the itinerary with the driver serving as a guide. 

The tour did not cover entrance fees to any of the attractions, meals and/or refreshments, or gratuities.

Loch Lomond Stirling Castle and Kelpies – Loch Lomond

There are two stops at Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. 

The first stop was at Loch Lomond Shores.  This area includes a strip mall, SEA LIFE Loch Lomond, Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Center, and Tree Zone Loch Lomond. 

The tour allocates about 60 minutes at this location.  This gives you an opportunity to have a cursory look around, and a walk along the shores.  Unfortunately, it is not long enough to take advantage of some of the attractions.

The second stop is about 5 minutes away to the village of Balloch.  In the village of Balloch, the tour stops for an hour to allow guests to walk around the village or take a boat cruise on Loch Lomond. 

We took the opportunity to head out on the water.  Sweeney’s Cruise Company operates the cruise onto Loch Lomond.  The boat loads on the shores of the river Leven and heads out on the Loch.  The cruise travels along the southern end of the loch, providing views of some impressive homes that line the shores.  We saw some of the 33 islands in the loch, including Inchmurrin Island.  This island is home to the ruins of Lennox Castle where Robert the Bruce hid as a fugitive before he became King of Scotland.

Tickets for the cruise are:

• Adults: 15.00 GBP
• Youth (13-15) 13.00 GBP
• Children (5-12) 10.00 GBP
• Under 5 are free.

Guests can purchase refreshments onboard.

Loch Lomond Stirling Castle and Kelpies – Lunch

After the Loch Lomond visit, the tour heads out to Stirling Castle with a stop for lunch in Aberfoyle.

Aberfoyle is a small village with several restaurants and shops. 

An interesting attraction is the Scottish Wool Center.  Besides the store, there are some sheep on display and a presentation that you may be lucky enough to catch depending on your time of arrival.

Personal note of awareness. 

The tour allocates an hour allocated for lunch.  If there are several tour buses in town, I would recommend not going to a sit-down restaurant/pub.  The restaurants and pubs are small. The rush of customers can overwhelm the kitchens.

We experienced this and ended up leaving without lunch despite the server assuring us that the kitchen could meet our departure.  Just my recommendation to pick up something quick or wait until you get to Stirling Castle to eat to avoid disappointment and frustration.

Loch Lomond Stirling Castle and Kelpies – Stirling Castle

The tour allocates about two – two-and-a-half hours at the castle.  While you can spend most of the day here, this gives you plenty of time to visit exhibits. If you don’t want to visit the castle, there is a church with an imposing graveyard just down the hill from the parking lot. 

We chose to visit the castle.  Stirling Castle has served an important role in the history of Scotland in general, and in the battle for Scottish Independence in particular.  While the story line in the movie Braveheart took some creative license, and was not the most historically accurate, the battle of Stirling Bridge was a historical event.  The legends of Robert the Bruce, William Wallace, and Rob Roy had a large setting in the surroundings of Stirling.

Guided tours of the castle are available. However, you don’t have to join one to investigate the castle. We explored on our own and had a wonderful experience. 

Visitors have access to all the expected points of interest of a castle structure, such as the Royal Palace, The Great Hall and the kitchens.

As an Army veteran, I appreciated the Regimental Museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The Castle houses a great collection of military memorabilia of the Highlanders.   

Queen Anne Gardens is wonderful to meander through.  It’s not an exceedingly large garden, but it is lovely and well maintained.

  The cost of the tickets is:

• Adults (16-64): 17.50 GBP online.  19.50 GBP walk-up
• Concession for 65+ and unemployed: 14.00 GBP online.  15.60 GBP walk-up
• Youth (7 -15) 10.50 GBP online.  11.70 GBP walk-up
• Under 7 are free

Discounts are also available for families, Scottish Military and other categories. Visitors can buy tickets in advance online. We didn’t have any issue purchasing tickets as a walk up.

 The Website is www.stirlingcastle.scot

The castle operates a gift shop as well as a café. The café has hot and cold selections.  They have a tasty mac and cheese…just sayin’.

Loch Lomond Stirling Castle and Kelpies – The Kelpies

The last stop on the tour is to the Kelpies.  The Kelpies is a giant sculpture of two stainless-steel horse heads that measure 3-meters (98 feet) in height and each weigh 300 Metric tons.  Inspired by Clydesdale draft horses, the Kelpies represent water spirits that inhabit the Scottish lochs and rivers in their physical form.  

The sculpture is in Helix Park in Grangemouth near Falkirk.  Scottish sculptor Andy Scott designed the Kelpies.  The project finished in October 2013 and opened to the public in spring 2014.

Loch Lomond Stirling Castle and the Kelpies – Driver and Bus

This is kind of the table stakes for a tour, but worth mentioning.  The bus was a standard tour bus. It was clean, comfortable and air conditioned.  A bonus feature of the bus is that it had USB ports installed in the chairs.  This is helpful to keep your phone powered up if you are using it for pictures and video recording.

Our Driver, Paul, was excellent.  Besides being knowledgeable of the history of the itinerary, Paul was funny and very personable. 

I also want to give Paul a tip of the hat for being caring and conscientious. One of the passengers had left his walker at our previous stop in Balloch.  As the passengers got off for lunch in Aberfoyle, Paul went back to pick up the walker.  The walker was damaged at the Balloch parking lot. Paul worked with the passenger to make the walker serviceable. Paul also worked with the passenger on the process to make a claim to have it replaced by the tour operator.

This was an enjoyable tour that enabled us to see more of the Scottish Lowlands without the hassle of driving around ourselves. 

Next time you travel to Scotland, check out the day tours, like the Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle, and the Kelpies Tour, that are available on Viator/TripAdvisor.  They offer a nice resource to enhance your vacation.

                                                                                                                                                Travel Well! Pursue experiences.

                                                                                                                                                                O.M.I.A.H.

The post Loch Lomond Stirling Castle and Kelpies appeared first on O.M.I.A.H. Travelog and Tips.

Edinburgh, Scotland in early July is an amazing destination.  Despite the wait a minute weather, “i.e. don’t like the weather, wait a minute, it will change.”,  

Edinburgh stands on the remnants of an extinct volcano that was active approximately 350 million years ago.  Its high point is Arthur’s seat.  Castle rock, where Edinburgh Castle is located, is a crag and tail formation.  A crag and tail formation is created after a glacier runs into a strong piece of rock, like a volcanic plug, and then wears away the softer stone around it.  This creates a hard sheer rock face with a softly descending tail of sediment as the glacier progresses.  I know, that was a bit nerdy.

Edinburgh has a history of human habitation going back 3-4,000 years. The location was originally named “Dhun Eideann”. This means “fortress on the rock”, in the ancient language.  The current name Edinburgh got its form because of those lovely raiding Germanic tribes. The raiders took the Eideann part and added its word for mountain “burgh”, giving us the “Edinburgh” we have today. 

The history of Edinburgh is incredible, with the ebbs and flows of clans, conflict, literature, and innovation. As the seat of UK government in Scotland, there are so many points of interest to attract your attention.

Note: to avoid getting dirty looks, or immediately branded a tourist, don’t pronounce the burgh like you would for Pittsburgh.  The pronunciation is more like “Edin-burruh”. There should be a very soft trill of the tongue on the “r”.  It’s not the exact phonetics, but its close enough to pass in casual conversation.

Best places to stay in Edinburgh?

My recommendation: Courtyard by Mariott Edinburgh, 1-3 Baxter Place

This hotel is away from the hustle of Princes Street, or the Royal Mile but an easy 10 – 15 walk to them. 

The Courtyard is a moderately priced hotel with a well-maintained facility. The staff was great.   Breakfast was awesome with a wide buffet selection, and the opportunity to order some special items, like pancakes and porridge.  In addition to its own restaurant, there are restaurants of almost every cuisine in walking distance.  It is also right next to the Omni, which houses a variety of restaurants and the Edinburgh Street Food venues.      

The hotel is located a short 5-minute walk from shopping at the St. James Quarter.

Princes Street is one of the main streets in Edinburgh, loaded with shops, restaurants, parks and, of course, some historic hotels.

Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian, Princes Street EH1 2AB

5-Star hotel located on north end of Princes Street, literally at the bottom of the hill from the castle and across the street from Princes Street Garden and the Johnny Walker Experience.

Rocco Forte – The Balmoral 1 Princes Street in the old town

5-Star hotel located in the heart of town, and conveniently located next to Waverly train station and 2 blocks from the Royal mile.

Airport hotels

There are several hotels located adjacent to the airport property with shuttle access to the terminals.

DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport – 100 Eastfield Road, Ingliston, EH28 8ll

We stayed at the DoubleTree as I am a Hilton Gold member.  The room was spacious with two queen beds. Some minor knock as there wasn’t any central air, though a fan was provided.  The fitness center has a great selection, including weights, machines and aerobic equipment. The restaurant was very good. Guests from surrounding hotels were coming to the DoubleTree for dinner.

Other hotels in the area

Moxy Edinburgh Airport – 1 Fairview Road, Ingliston, EH28 8AP

Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh Airport – 5 Almond Avenue Ingilston EH12 9DN

What to do in Edinburgh?

Wander the city center.

Everyone wants to find a cost-effective way to entertain themselves on vacation.  Edinburgh offers a wonderful free experience of sightseeing.  We spent a lot of our time wandering the parks and gardens and traversing the streets to appreciate the architecture and monuments.

Princes Garden

Beautiful botanical garden located along Princes Street in old town. I have a small gallery on my Instagram page.

Edinburgh Castle Tour.

Take a tour of the current iteration of Edinburgh Castle.  The tour gives perspective of the habitation of castle rock before the actual establishment of the castle fortification in the 12^th century.  The castle also offers some wonderful pictures of the city, the Firth of Forth and into the North Sea in the distance. 

The walking tour does have some hills but isn’t overly strenuous. There are accommodations available for those with disabilities, but there are some steps and uneven stone.

Get your tickets and schedule a time in advance for your tour.

Tickets | Edinburgh Castle

Holyrood House

Holyrood House is the Scottish palace of Britain’s Royal Family.  I list it here for you to be aware of.  When we were in Edinburgh, King Charles was in residence, so the best we could do was take a picture from beyond the closed gate. 

I tried to get in by telling them I was an Uber Eats driver…they didn’t believe me.   (JOKING!!!)

The Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is the roadway that extends from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood House.  The end of the Mile near the castle is very busy. The area is filled with historic attractions, shops, restaurants, street vendors and entertainers. The Mercat square is a vibrant location directly behind St. Giles Cathedral and serves as a staging point for many of walking tours of the capital. Johnston Terrace, near the castle, is the staging site for the many bus tours to distilleries and other points in Scotland.

Interesting factoid: the Royal Mile is a “Scots Mile” in length. This equates to 1.123 statute miles.

St Giles Cathedral

Also known as the High Kirk of Scotland, this beautiful Church of Scotland cathedral’s construction began in the 14th century.

Merkat Cross

The cross marks the location of the market square. This was where important civic announcements and royal proclamations were made. Even public criminal punishments were held at the Cross.

The Real Mary King’s Close. 

First a quick definition; a “close” is an alley.  These narrow walkways are aligned by multi-story buildings.  Mary King’s Close was closed in the 18th Century, and partially demolished to construct the Royal Exchange building.  The remaining structures were reinforced to accommodate the Exchange Building. 

The remaining structures of The Real Mary King’s Close have developed their own history. Through the years, there have been stories of hauntings in the Close. Its history sets up a great tour!

The tour is a lot of fun and, beyond the spooky stuff, provides some great insight into the living conditions in the 17^th century and how those conditions helped propagate disease. 

The guides portray residents of the Close in historical costume, enhanced by some technological enhancements.

The tour does involve stairs and uneven walkways, so can be challenging for folks that have disabilities. 

Purchase tickets in advance.

The Real Mary King’s Close (realmarykingsclose.com)

Hop On – Hop off bus.

With services in 163 cities around the globe, the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tours provide a great way to see, and learn about, the points of interest in a city.  They are a great way for you to prioritize where you want to visit if you have a limited time in a city. The Edinburgh tours last about an hour.  There are 3 different routes, and you can buy a 24- or 48-hour ticket.   There are tours with a live guide, or with a recorded script. 

Visitors can purchase tickets ahead of time, or as you get on the bus. 

Edinburgh Bus Tours – Best Deals | Hop-On Hop-Off Bus (hop-on-hop-off-bus.com)

Day tours from Edinburgh

Whether you want to schedule tours in Edinburgh or branch out to historical or geographic sites around Scotland, there is a great variety of options. If you prefer a more adult adventure to discover more about Scotch Whisky, there are distillery tours to satisfy your pursuits. 

We took the day tour to Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies.  Our guide Paul was awesome. Beyond his historical knowledge, he was an engaging and humorous tour guide.  

Getting to Edinburgh

Air

Edinburgh International Airport is the primary airport supporting the city and has many international flights from the US and European hubs.

From the airport

To get to the city center from the airport there are several options.  There are buses and light rail that take you into the for about 7 GBP per person.  These take a little over 30 minutes and drop you off near Waverly Station. 

We took a cab (there were four of us) that dropped us at our hotel.  The fee was about 33 GBP with tip for door-to-door service. The operation at the airport for taxi service was pretty slick as well.  Staff at the taxi stop enter your name and destination into their scheduling system, then assign you to an awaiting cab. It took less 2 minutes for us to get to the station, get our stuff in the cab, and be on the road. 

Rail

Edinburgh Waverly Station has connections across the UK.  The station is in the heart of the city.

Getting around Edinburgh is incredibly easy.  The city itself is on relatively flat topography, so walking is convenient.  There are some hills, but nothing severe. There are also the options of taxis and car services, such as Uber.

What to eat in Edinburgh?

Edinburgh’s a great town for foodies, with a diverse offering. There are restaurants in the city to meet any appetite and culinary preference. So rather than giving a list of places to try, I’ll refer you to my blog on the Scottish foods that you have to try. Prioritize these before you start looking for that great pizza place or ramen house.

I hope this gives you a good start if you are looking to take a trip to Edinburgh. There is just so much to see, and so much history to appreciate, and I look forward to my next visit.

Travel Well! Pursue experiences!

O.M.I.A.H.

The post Edinburgh, Scotland 2023  appeared first on O.M.I.A.H. Travelog and Tips.

Before I get into the list, I have to say that Scotland really surprised me with its culinary scene.  It is incredibly diverse.  Pick a cuisine, and I’m sure you can find it.  Food trucks to white tablecloth restaurants, Indian to Ramen.  Pizza, burgers, pub food, the list goes on. 

To the list!

If you are going to make a list of dishes to try in Scotland, you’ve got to start with:

Haggis

Looking up Haggis on the internet, or a cookbook, you will find it described as shredded sheep organs (lungs, kidney, and lungs), oatmeal, spices, fat, and broth boiled in a bag. Historically, this bag was made from the sheep’s stomach.  Despite this less than glamourous description, haggis is pretty tasty.  Scottish chefs are being creative for using haggis across the menu. 

Usually, if haggis is going to be on the menu, it will be in the signature dish of Haggis, neeps, and tatties.  This dish features haggis, turnips, and mashed potatoes.  It’s common to have this presented with a whiskey sauce and is quite good.  For those of you that like taking pictures of your dish at a restaurant, this dish is not the most photogenic.  Get past the appearance. 

But haggis isn’t just for tatties anymore.  We had haggis bon bons as an appetizer.  Haggis coated in a breading and deep fried, with a whiskey sauce to dip in.  Bacon wrapped chicken breast stuffed with haggis.  Again, both dishes were excellent and just an example of the creativity that Scottish chefs showing with diversifying haggis across the menu. 

One thing that I gotta try when I go back. Stopped at a café for a cup of coffee and saw a breakfast menu item of a toasted cheese, egg, and haggis sandwich.

Pies

Scottish pies are awesome.  In my book, the crust is the make or break and they have the crust down pat.  Now the fillings are based on your taste.  I could not bring myself to try a kidney pie, but steak and Guinness pie hit the mark.  Pies can be hot or cold, depending on your taste.  I even saw a macaroni and cheese pie at a deli in Aberfoyle.

Cullen Skink

This was something I was a bit reluctant to try as I am not a big seafood fan.  I have some things I like but am a bit reluctant to try new seafood dishes.  I am happy I took the risk.  Cullen skink is a wonderful soup, made with smoked haddock, potatoes, and onions in a cream soup base.  Now some may say differently, but I really felt this was New England Clam Chowder, substituting the clam with the Haddock. I really enjoyed it, and it warmed the soul on a grey and rainy day in Inverness.  

I doubt if they would take my suggestions seriously, but I think it would be great if we can get some Tabasco Sauce over there and make it a Creole-Cullen Skink.

Sausage rolls

Depending on here you get it, the form can be a long thin burrito, turnover, or empanada, or even looking like a McDonald’s apple pie. Regardless, the results are the same.  These little delicacies are da bomb!  Tasty flaky pastry crust stuffed with a mildly spiced hamburger, or hamburger/pork mix.   

Ok, I’m going to take some creative license in talking about Scottish “dishes” as I want to include a couple of beverages that carry national pride for the folks in Scotland.

IRN BRU

IRN BRU sounds like something you might find in Pittsburgh, but this beverage is 100% Scotland and is the best-selling soft drink in the country, surpassing Coke and Pepsi.  This soft drink has been made proudly in Scotland since 1901, based on a secret recipe.  If you asked me, what does it taste like?  I would answer that it’s kinda of hard to nail down.  To me it has the flavor of a mildly sweet orange soda, with some other flavors mixed in.  My daughter was more definitive in saying that it tasted like bubble gum.  Sounds like it may be like Scottish cilantro, in that it tastes differently dependent upon the individual.

Try it, make your own decision on the taste.

IRN BRU is a globally exported product. There are adjustments to the recipe to meet the standards of the importing country. As such, it may taste differently than what you would find in Scotland.

Whisky

How can you talk about anything that you eat or drink in Scotland without mentioning whisky. 

A person who appreciates a good single malt whisky, understands the complexity in the flavors from the regions and each distillery. An afficianado knows the impact that the barrels have on the Whisky, and the years spent in the loving care of their casks. He, or she, also knows that an angel’s blessing is bestowed with each dram. 

For those who have never tried Scotch whisky, rest assured that there is still hope.

To appreciate the impact that the whisky industry has on the country, According to Visitscotland.com:

“There are over 130 active whisky distilleries spread across Scotland, which are split into five whisky-producing regions; Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland and Speyside.”

Some fun facts from the Scotch Whisky Association.

• In order to be named Scotch Whisky, the product can only be distilled in Scotland.
• There are 53 bottles of Scotch Whisky exported each second. And, if the bottles were lined up end to end, they would wrap around the world 11 times.
• In 2022, Scotch Whisky exports were 6.2 billion GBP, 77% of all Scottish food and drink exports, 26% in these categories of all UK.
• Scotch Whisky industry directly employs 11,000 people in Scotland and supports 82,000 jobs across the UK.   

To truly appreciate a country, you must experience its cuisine.  While there is so much more to sample from Scotland, I hope I’ve given you a list of dishes to try in Scotland to start with.  Until next time, Slainte!

                                                                                                                                Travel Well! Pursue experiences.

                                                                                                                                                O.M.I.A.H.

The post Six dishes to try in Scotland appeared first on O.M.I.A.H. Travelog and Tips.

Some quick info About St. Augustine

St. Augustine is the oldest European settlement in the United States.  The first settlement was established on September 8,1565, by the Spanish Admiral Pedro Menendez de Aviles. 

St. Augustine is located on the on the Atlantic side of the state. The town is 35 miles south of Jacksonville, and about 90 minutes to the northeast of the Orlando area.  St Augustine offers a respite for history lovers. Free from roller coasters, turkey legs, and the crowded mayhem of the theme parks. 

The Town of St. Augustine has changed national ownership six times in its history. The fortress has stood under the Spanish flag twice, the British flag, the Confederate flag, and the US flag twice. It had its final assimilation under the United States in 1862.  This small town of approximately 14,500 has made the most of its history. St. Augustine maintains its’ historical old town, with a mingling of some touristy kitsch. 

Where to Stay in St. Augustine

There are many B&B’s and hotels in the St. Augustine area.  We stayed at the Hilton Historic Bayfront Hotel, located at 32 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine

This Hilton is quite unique.  With only 72 rooms, it is the smallest Hilton in the world.  The Hilton hotel is located on the site of what used to be the Monson Hotel. The hotel ground feature two plaques commemorating Martin Luther King’s presence for protests on the site. These events helped set the wheels in motion for the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Another cool aspect of this hotel is that it doesn’t look like a typical multi-story hotel.  Being only two stories tall, the hotel frontage on Avinida Menedez Street looks like a series of Florida beach houses.

The hotel is conveniently located next to the Historic District and provides easy access to all attractions in the city. The hotel also has a beautiful view of the harbor at its doorstep.  

FYI: If you do breakfast at the Restaurant, Aviles, the Omelets are ample and not for the petite appetite. 

What to do in St Augustine in 2 days

Saint Augustine beaches are close by; however, I am focusing on the Historic district in this post. But to give them note, they are broad, sandy and next to the Atlantic Ocean.

The historic district of St Augustine is flat and very walkable.  If you decide to check out the architecture of the neighborhoods away from the touristic center, do watch your step. There are few, or very narrow, sidewalks in some of the neighborhoods, and the streets can be pitched and uneven.

If you’re into vacation kickback mode, or because it’s 90 degrees and you don’t want to be a bi-pedal sweat machine, there is also the Old Town Trolley Tours for $36.55/day.

Castillo de San Marcos.

This fortification on the shore of the harbor was built during the period of 1672-1695.  While the fort has changed hands 5 times in its history, it was never taken by force.  The Castillo de San Marcos was attacked and besieged several times in its’ history. However, all the changing of flags were the result of treaties addressing Florida as a whole. 

Admission to the Fort is $15 for visitors over the age of 16. Children under 15 are free but must be accompanied by an adult.  The Tickets are valid for 7 days.  The Castillo de San Marcos is operated by the US Parks Service. As such, you can access the fortress without additional charge if you have purchased a Parks Service Annual pass. The Annual pass is also sold on site for $80.  As a US Parks location, the Castillo recognizes other federal passes for free entrance, such as interagency Passes and the military.

The Fountain of Youth

The Fountain of Youth is located approximately 1 mile north of the old town on Magnolia Avenue. The fountain of Youth grounds is more than just a destination to pursue Ponce De Leon’s goal of immortality.  The location offers venues to learn about the history of the area. There is a live blacksmith demonstration, a native Indian village portrayal, and a cannon & cross bow demonstration. The site mangers are also aware of sensitivity to the environment and have included an elevated walkway into the waterway. The path includes markers that provide some insight into the local aquaculture. There is also a flock of Peacock roaming freely around the grounds that you can feed…they like peanuts (go figure).

Admission fees are $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for Senior, kids 6-12 are $9.95, and kids under 5 are free.

Old Town

Historic St. Augustine is about a mile long and 3 blocks wide and lined with bars, restaurants, shops, tourist attractions and historical venues. Some of the latter are kind of melded together.

The historical sites in the district include the oldest wooden schoolhouse in the USA, the colonial quarter, and the majestic Catholic Basilica de St Augustine. The list of museums includes the Lightner Musuem, the shipwreck museum, the medieval torture museum, and Potter’s Wax Museum. “Ripley’s Believe it or Not!” is not far away.

For those that want to get their shopping on, there are many opportunities to drop a dime or two. The shops range from exclusive boutiques to stores offering tourist memorabilia and t-shirts.  Pay attention as some of the street store fronts are actually an entrance to a galley. These extend back quite a way and may host another 10 – 20 shops and restaurants.  

For those that want to get their drink on, there are plenty of bars and the town has decent nightlife.  There is also the City Gates Spirits and St. Augustine distilleries and San Sebastian Winery.

Ghosts and Gravestone tours:

Now, a 450-year-old town is bound to have its stories of haunts. St. Augustine offers a journey through its own history of the macabre.  The tour is entertaining.  It starts out in a creepy antechamber filled with cobwebs, death masks and bookshelves. When the tour is ready, you leave on an equally decorated bus to take the nighttime tour through the town. The host tells stories of murdered widows, executed inmates, and innocents that suffered an accident. These poor souls have all have perished, but their presence is still seen in the town.  You’ll visit graveyards, Potter’s Wax Museum, and the Old Jail.

The 90-minute tour costs $32.59/person.

There are other walking tours and the Jailhouse after midnight if you want to pursue more engagement with the hereafter.

St Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum www.staugustinelighthouse.org

Located about a mile from the old town on Anastasia Island is the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum.  The museum provides a great history of the lighthouse operations and insight into the life of the operators.  Currently, there is also an exhibit covering the shrimp industry.  To paraphrase the old rap song “shrimpin’ ain’t easy”

Of course, the key attraction is the lighthouse.  The climb to the top of the 165-foot tower involves 219 steps up a spiral wrought iron staircase.  This little workout rewards you with a beautiful 360-degree view of the harbor and surrounding beaches.

Where to Eat in St. Augustine

There are plenty of restaurants ranging from white tablecloth to pizza by the slice.  The three I recommend are:

Meehan’s Irish Pub and Seafood House: 20 Avinida Menendez, St. Augustine.

Service was good, the food was great and traditional Irish fare.  The venue was like stepping into a wormhole to bar in Galway, Ireland.   Very popular location so you can expect a wait.  Dining available indoors and out.

Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille: 46 Avinida Menendez, St. Augustine.

Service was good. Offering seafood with a Cajun flair, as well as more typical Cajun dishes like red beans and rice.  Dining available indoors and out.

 Colombia Restaurant: 98 St. George St. St. Augustine FL

Traditional Spanish restaurant that is part chain that dates to 1905.  Restaurant offers an extensive bar menu, tapas and Spanish entrees.  Touts being on the list of “One of Florida’s Top Restaurants” since 1967.

That’s the Old Man’s take on a weekend in St. Augustine, FL. I hope I’ve given you some tips that you can use in planning your next vacation.  Until the next time…

                                                                                                         Travel Well!  Pursue Experiences

                                                                                                                        O.M.I.A.H.

The post Two days in St Augustine, Florida appeared first on O.M.I.A.H. Travelog and Tips.

I crafted this Oktoberfest itinerary last year to take a buddy of mine on a bucket list trip to the Oktoberfest. You can obviously play with the dates to align with events you want to experience at the Oktoberfest, such as the opening day trachten parade and ceremonies. 

For those who don’t know, “Trachten” is the traditional attire including the Dirndl and Lederhosen.

If you want some more detail on these cities, please read the blogs I posted previously on these cities. Links are provided after each section.

We bypassed the allure of driving on the Autobahn and selected the German rail pass, allowing travel on 5 days during a 30-day period. 

Disclaimer: This blog is intended to entertain and inform.  I will mention several restaurants and hotels that were leveraged for this trip.  The opinions presented herein are my own. 

Landing in Frankfurt

Frankfurt has a busy but easy to navigate airport and is the primary gateway to Germany.  The airport train station is in Terminal 1.  The local and S-Bahn trains going into Frankfurt can be accessed directly in the Terminal 1 Building.  For the Long distance and inter-city trains, you will need to go across the street.  Follow the signs for the Fernbahnhof.    

Oktoberfest Itinerary: One Day in Cologne

The first day in Europe can be a challenge for people as they adjust to the time zone difference, Our Oktoberfest itinerary began with a one day stop in Cologne. The train ride from Frankfurt Airport to Cologne Hauptbahnhof was just a little over an hour. 

Cologne is a great metropolitan city with a lot to experience.  But taking the first day of the trip to adjust to the time shift, Cologne provides a great cultural experience in its city center.  So, there is a lot to see without having to trapse all over the place.

Where to stay – We stayed at the Hilton Cologne. The hotel is conveniently located around the block from the Hauptbahnhof and the cathedral square. The hotel is a nice facility. It had a solid offering in the gym of weights and aerobic equipment. There is an onsite restaurant and bar. Room was clean and comfortable.

There is a lot to see with a mile radius from the hotel. You can see quite a bit while taking a leisurely stroll.  Key points of interest include:

Cologne Cathedral. The cathedral’s foundation stone was set in 1248. The construction of this gothic masterpiece lasted 632 years.  It is the 3^rd tallest church in the world.  The architecture of this Cathedral is truly breathtaking.  It is free to enter, but of course, accept donations for its upkeep.

Museum Ludwig

Entrance fee is 11 Euro for adults. The museum’s houses the largest collection of Picassos in Europe, and its collection includes Dali, Warhol and Roy Liechtenstein paintings.

Alter Markt

In the Alter Markt, you can find the Gross St. Martin Church, as well as a wide pedestrian zone lined with restaurants, bars, and tourist attractions.

Just taking a stroll. 

Walking along the river front is a great option to get the blood moving after a long time sitting on a flight and train ride.  There are plenty of restaurants and cafes to stop at as well to watch the ferries and barges move up and down the Rhine.

Food

While there is a wide array of restaurants in the city, I do recommend Früh am Dom. Besides being conveniently located to the Cathedral square, the food is excellent German comfort food and local cuisine.  Früh is also a brewer of Kölsch, the regional style of beer, that I probably spent too much time on in my blog on Cologne.

The link to my blog on Cologne is below:

An Afternoon in Cologne Germany – O.M.I.A.H. Travelog and Tips (omiah-travelogandtips.com)

Oktoberfest itinerary – 3 days in Berlin

The train ride from Cologne to Berlin takes 4 hours.  I highly recommend making a reservation on the Deutsche Bahn website.  It cost about 11 Euro for the entire ride to Berlin.  Well worth the incremental cost to secure a seat.  Otherwise, you risk having to move seats several times during the trip or spending it in the dining car if you are lucky enough to find a seat there. 

Where to stay in Berlin

In Berlin we stayed at the Hilton Berlin on Mohrenstrasse.  It’s a bit of a trek to get there from the Hauptbahnhof, or an easy Uber/taxi ride if you want to spend the cash.   While not a direct train to the Hauptbahnhof, there is an S-Bahn station at its front door and is a great location for branching out into the city.  The hotel is located right across from the Deutscher Dom at the Gendarmenmarkt.   This was a nice facility with a decent gym, conference center and on-site restaurant and bar.  The room was very clean and comfortable. 

Berlin Day 1 –

Gendarmenmarkt

The Gendarmenmarkt is a square in the center of Berlin. It’s name was derived from the “Gens d’armes” regiment. The stables of the regiment were demolished by Friedrich the 2nd.  Today, the large public square is bookended by the Deutscher (German) Dom on one end, and the Französicher (French) Dom on the other, with the Konzerthaus in the middle.  

Reichstag

Seat of German Government, public can go up in the dome rotunda that offers a great view of the city, as well as a look into the main hall of the Reichstag.

Brandenburg Gate – Gate built between 1788 and 1791 on the order of King Frederick William II of Prussia.  The gate marks the beginning go the road from Berlin to Brandenburg. Brandenburg was the capital of the Margraviate of Brandenburg at the time. 

Memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe

The memorial was inaugurated on May 10, 2005.  The memorial took 10 months to construct at a cost of 25 million Euros.  The attached building of information contains the name of ~3 million Jews killed during the holocaust.

Führer’s bunker

The cite of the bunker is located at Hannah-Arendt Strasse and Gertrud-Kolmar Strasse.  There is a marker identifying the entrance to the bunker where Hitler took his life. 

Berlin Day 2

Museum Island

Museum complex built on an island in the river Spree.  Prussian kings ordered the construction of the complex. The construction lasted from 1830 – 1930. In the year 1999, the United Nations listed Berlin’s Museum Island among the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Now, we only visited the Pergamon and Neues Museum, however the full complex consists of the following:

Altes Museum

Built in 1830

Neues Museum

Finished in 1859. Also known as the Egyptian Museum of Berlin.  Key artifact is the bust of Nefertiti.

Altes National Galerie

Finished in 1876 and houses an art gallery featuring 19^th century collection.   

Bode Museum

(Dedicated to Patrick Swayze’s character in Point Break…just kidding).  Opened in 1904, this museum houses a collection of Byzantine art.

Pergamon Museum

Constructed in 1939.  The museum houses many reconstructed buildings.  Two notable items of the collection in this museum are the Pergamon Alter, for which the museum is named, and the Ishtar Altar. And no, the Ishtar altar is where you worship the movie of the same name (The movie was awful).

Humboldt Forum

Located in the Berlin palace it opened in 2020 and houses the Ethnological Museum of Berlin and the Museum of Asian Art 

Berlin Cathedral

Evangelical Cathedral located on the Lustgarten on Museum Island.  Since its establishment, the cathedral has been a house of worship for Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed religions. Today it is a United church.  The cathedral was originally consecrated in the year 1454 as a Roman Catholic church, “St. Erasmus Chapel”.  The Cathedral also serves as a dynastic tomb, holding the royal tomb of the Hohenzollern dynasty.

Alexander Platz

Located in the Mitte section of Berlin. This immense square was named for Alexandar the Great. King Wilhem Fredrick III named it to commemorate the Tsar’s visit to the city.  When separated, this was the gem of the DDR to display this modern sophistication.  Point of interest

TV Tower

368-meter-tall TV tower with restaurant and viewing platform at the 208-meter level.  On a clear day you can see 26 miles away.  Ironically it was built to show the technological sophistication of the east, where religion was tamped down. When the sun hit the windows, the reflection formed a cross.

Urania World Clock – 16-ton clock built in 1969 where the time of 148 major cities can be determined.

Berlin Day 3

Potsdamer Platz

This square has had its ebbs and flows over the decades.  The square was pretty much destroyed during WWII, but saw a rebound during the cold war. This recovery was interrupted by the 1961 uprising in East Germany, which resulted in the wall being built.  This effectively split the square in half and created a no-man’s land between the walls, separating east and west Berlin.  After the wall fell, a significant re-building effort took place. Companies such as Daimler-Benz, Sony and ABB Group invested billions of dollars to reconstruct the square.

Spy Museum

Opened in 2015, this attraction exhibits depicting the stories and tactics of espionage.

Checkpoint Charlie

This is a rather touristy spot, but is emblematic of the cold war, as this was crossing between the east and west.  Checkpoint Charlie has been a Berlin landmark used in many movies set in the cold war era.

Topography of Terror

A permanent exhibition built on the location of the main offices of Gestapo, SS and Reich Security Main Office. 

The Berlin Wall

Wall remnants exist along the Potsdamer Platz as well as brick inlays in the street to show the wall’s location.

Kufürstendamm

Aside from being a shopper’s mecca, the Ku-Damm is the site of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial church. Allied bombings destroyed the church in 1943. The burned-out spire is all that remains of the original church. It stands today next to the church built on the site and consecrated in 1961.

Berlin Zoo

Opened in 1844, it covers 35 hectares (86.5 acres) and is located in the Tiergarten section of Berlin. It’s home for about 1,380 different species and over 20,000 animals.

For more detail on what to do in Berlin, check out my full blog on the city of Berlin.

Oktoberfest Itinerary – 2 Days in Nuremburg

Similar to the trip to Berlin, the train ride to Nuremburg takes about 4 hours. 

Where to stay – There are plenty of hotels near the Nuremburg Hauptbahnhof, but we stayed at the NH Collection Nuremberg City.  It is a nice hotel just a couple of blocks from the train station and the Konigstor gate into the walled Altstadt.

Nuremburg Day 1

Arrive in town. Check into the hotel, then head out to see the cites marking the city’s Nazi era history.

Nazi rally grounds – Location of 6 massive Nazi party rallies between 1933 and 1938.  The Zeppelin Field still stands as a memorial, though the city uses the area for part of their Grand Prix track.

Documentation Center – 6 Euro Admission fee.   Museum dedicated to Nazi propaganda and atrocities.  There is a focus of the activities that particularly occurred in Nuremberg.  When we went in 2022, the Documentation Center was under renovation and a temporary exhibit was in place.

Day 2 –

Old town. The city center is set behind its medieval wall.

Nuremberg castle – 7 Euro Admission fee. This is truly the castle on the hill. The initial structure in this complex was built in the late 13^th century.  Served as an Imperial Castle of the Holy Roman Empire.  The castle was heavily damaged during WWII, and significant portions of the castle had to be rebuilt after the war.

Dürer house – 6 Euro admission fee.  House of Albrecht Dürer, who many consider to be one of Germany’s greatest artists. Dürer worked in multiple media, including metal etchings, wood carvings and on canvas.

Craftsman Courtyard – Located after you pass through the Frauen Tor which is right across from the train station.  This former defensive courtyard is now home to a small complex of shops.  You can actually see craftsmen doing work, i.e. metalsmiths, bakers, doll makers, etc.  

Art bunker – 9.50 Euro.  Tours the underground tunnel where the nazis and citizens of Nuremburg hid art and other treasures to protect them from damage during WWII bombings.

Schöner Brunnen (beautiful fountain) 19-meter high, 14^th century fountain and considered one of Nuremburg’s landmarks located near the town hall on the “historical mile”.

If you want to learn more about the city, please visit my page on Nuremburg

Oktoberfest itinerary – 4 Days in Munich

I’m going to list this section of the suggested Oktoberfest itinerary a bit differently as the primary purpose of an Oktoberfest itinerary is to make sure you attend that small beer themed soiree held on the Theresienwiese.  Instead of listing the day-to-day recommendation of what we did, I’m just going to present options for filling free time.  I do suggest breaking away from the Oktoberfest to see the beautiful city of Munich.

Where to Stay

Munich has a great selection of hotels ranging from 1 – 5 stars. The price for all of them will be at a premium during the Oktoberfest. If you are willing to be further away from the Theresienwiese, you can definitely get more hotel room for your money.

I stayed at the Hilton Munich City that is located in the Haidhausen district, near the Ost-Bahnhof. The hotel has direct access to the S-Bahn station. The direct access made it very easy to go into the city center. There are a number of S-Bahn lines that come through every few minutes to take to the city center.

Museums

Deutsches Museum

Formally named as the “Deutsches Museum von Meisterwerken der Wissenschaften und Technik”, translated as the German Museum of Masterpieces of Science and Technology.  Founded in 1903, the Deutsches Museum houses exhibits founded in technology and engineering.

Pinakothek Complex

Established in the year 1836. The Pinakotek complex consists of three galleries housing art from particular periods.  The entrance fees are 8 – 10 Euro depending on the museum:

Alte Pinakothek

Museum features artists from the 14^th – 18^th century

Neues Pinakothek

This museum houses Nineteenth Century Artists

Pinakothek der Moderne

This museum features a collection of Modern Art

Churches

Frauenkirche

Also called the Münchner Dom, or Munich Cathedral.  The Frauenkirche was consecrated in 1494. Its dual Onion dome towers is the symbol of the city of Munich.   The towers top out at 109 Meters.  The importance of the church as a symbol of Munich resulted in the city passing an ordinance that no building in the town center can exceed 99 Meters.  Thereby assuring that the Frauenkirche will be the tallest building in the Altstadt.

St, Kajatan

This church is also called the Theatiner Kirche. This Catholic church built between 1663 and 1690.  The St Kajetan’s exterior is done in the high Italian baroque style with a rococo façade.   

Asam Kirche

This beautiful church is officially named St. Johann Nepomuk.  The church is located in the Altstadt and was built in 1746. The church is more colloquially named after the Asam brothers who built the church.

St. Peter

Also called Alte Peter, this church is in the center of the Altstadt next to the Viktualen Markt.  Monks lived on this site in the eighth century, prior to the establishment of the city. The first church set on this site was established in 1368. Today, the church is a key structure in the Altstadt skyline. The 306-step climb to the viewing platform provides a lovely view of Munich and the Alps.

POI (Points of Interest, not the fish dish)

Viktualienmarkt – farmers market held daily since 1807.  The Viktualienmarkt beer garden operator rotates the beer served between the 5 Bavarian brewers on a daily basis.

Nymphenberg palace – Baroque palace of the Wittelsbach family constructed between 1164 and 1675.   It’s a nice palace, just a bit out of the way.

Beer gardens

There are many beer gardens throughout Munich. My favorite gardens in the city center are the Chinesicher Turm in the Englisher Garten, the Augustiner Garten on Arnulfstrasse at the Viktualienmarkt

Englischer Garten

The largest city center park in Europe.  Attractions include the aforementioned beer garden, surfing at the river Inn sluice, plenty of trails, Japanese Tea house, Monopteros (Greek style temple on a hill) and on warm sunny days the park is full of sunbathers…clothed and nude.

For more detail, please check out my blog on the city of Munich.

The task of getting back to the Munich Airport is a breeze. Of course, you can take a taxi or uber. But there is an inexpensive express bus route that leaves frequently from the Hauptbahnhof, and the S1 and S8 trains are the rail alternatives.

If you want ideas for day trips out of Munich there are great options such as Salzburg Austria (which you can go to with the German Rail Pass), Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Zugspitze), Neu Schwanstein, Dachau, the Wies Kirche and Oberammergau.

I hope this proposed Oktoberfest itinerary gives you some ideas to supplement your trip to Munich with some great places to visit and make the most of your trip to Germany.

Until next time!

                                                                                                                        Travel well.  Pursue experiences!

                                                                                                                                       O.M.I.A.H.

The post Oktoberfest itinerary appeared first on O.M.I.A.H. Travelog and Tips.