Travel Timo: 2014

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Travelling in Berchtesgaden - City and National Park

Berchtesgaden National Park is truly beautiful place to take little trip for 5-7 days. Berchtesgaden National Park is also very well organized by all means. Here is my little tips for Berchtesgaden National Park.

Berchtesgaden National Park

How to get to Berchtesgaden

Nearest international Airport is in Munich, use it if possible.

From Munich Airport to main train station of Munich - München Hauptbahnhof

I would suggest Lufthansa Airport Bus - it's direct connect and very easy, check the time tables and fares from Lufthansa airport bus web page.

NOTE: will probably take 45min - 90min from landing to get luggage and be ready to jump into airport bus - depends are you coming from, inside schengen area or not. Inside schengen area - there is no security checks - but if you are coming from outside the schengen area - you have to check in into Germany - show your passport and check possible VISA and other things that take time.

From Munich main train station to Berchtesgaden

Use train, you can check and even book the schedule of train to Berchtesgaden from Deutsche Bahn web page.

- If you book a ticket from Munich to Berchtesgaden - using Deutsche Bahn web page, just print the ticket in your home and you are ready to jump into train without any check-in in the train station - just make sure it's a correct train.... But if you are not sure when you will get to train station, you can use ticker vending machine at train station or buy ticket from the ticket office.

You need to change one (1) time, you can do it in either:
- Freilassing train station, it's small train station. Easy to change here - railway tracks 2 and 3 are in same railway platform. If your ticket is from Munich to Berchtesgaden - same ticket will work - and it is paid ticket - in both trains, just make sure that trains are correct one.
- Salzburg, you can take "local" bus #840 from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden, it will cost additional 4.70euros (pay to bus driver). Salzburg bus station is next to Salzburg main train station. Bus from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden takes about 45minutes.

NOTE: If you book your train ticket from home, and you use VISA/MasterCard pay the bill- make sure you have that VISA/MasterCard card or any ID card with you to make sure - it's really you - they might ask it during the checking the ticket.
- You can also buy a ticket from train station.

Berchtesgaden City

Berchtesgaden city is located about 5km from lake Königssee and Berchtesgaden national park, but it's still worthy to keep hotel near train station because public transport works quite well, and it's free with "Berchtesgaden visitor card".


City of Berchtesgaden	Schlossplatz

You can get Berchtesgaden Visitor card from your hotel for 5euros deposit, and remember return your Visitor card when you checkout the hotel - so you get your 5 euros deposit back. (Some hotels may give the visitor card for free, but you still need to return it on checkout).
- Berchtesgaden visitor card allows you to travel freely with public transport

NOTE: If you have to walk from train station to center of city... shortest route is:

Walk outside to train station
See McDonald's restaurant (and tourist info)
Near those is gate and stairs up
Walk stairs up
Then walk on bridge over train platforms to city.

It's quite uphill walking, but it's still shortest and best way to go up to center of city direction. Walking path on google maps is "Bahnhofweg".

Important Bus numbers in Berchtesgaden

#841 or #842 to Jennerbahn and Königssee - beautiful lake in the National Park
#838 to Documentation Centre (to get Eagle's nest - Kehlsteinhaus)
#846 to Ramsau
#840 to Salzburg

Links to bus timetables

Bus line time tables are in German language only, here is short instructions:

Go to RVO-Bus Fahrpläne (timetable) web page, choose "Region" as Berchtesgaden and then any bus number to "Liniensuche", such as 841.
Press button "Suchen"
Choose search result's bus number
On bus line's page, choose: "PDF herunterladen" to view and print full timetable for current bus line.

Berchtesgaden National Park

Berchtesgaden national park is mountainous area, but it have various terrain in different parts of the national park.

Hiking trails

Hiking trails from around Berchtesgaden are awesome, I highly recommend it.

All hiking trails are well marked with different levels and estimate time to there. But consider - If you are slow walker and the sign shows "1 hour to königssee" - it may mean 1h 30min for you.

Trail sign can also show the walking path ID number - it's useful if you have a proper map with walking path numbers.

Example sign - this sign is from
Berchtesgaden National Park

Difficult levels:

Full black color circle - Dangerous trail - to me - requires some experience.
Red color circle - Difficult trail, it doesn't mean dangerous, but can mean just difficult walking. For example: There are just big rocks that are annoying to walk or unmarked track, or narrow path that have wire to help you when walking, or small (1-2m little climbing) - to me - anyone that have normal condition can do it alone as long you are not scared too much high places in mountains - older and very young people might have difficulties with this.
Blue color circle - Easy trail - but wheelchair users cannot not pass this.
Black border & Yellow Center - Very easy, even wheelchair users can do it.

Jenner - mountain top

Jenner mountain top have lovely views to Königssee and down to Berchtesgaden National Park.

Bus lines #841 and #842 gets you to Jennerbahn - cable car to mountain Jenner.

You can walk to top of Jenner and down for free... or use Jennerbahn Cable Car.

Cost of the Jennerbahn for adults:

21.40 euros to top of mountain and back to down
16.40 euros to top of mountain (and then you have to walk back to down)

There is one possible stop in the cable car, you can leave the cable car in half way if you want. But if you don't want to leave in half way - just stay in the cable car to full way to top.


Mountains near Jenner	Walking path to down

View my walking route from Jenner to Königssee on alltrails

Obersee - beautiful little lake and waterfall

Obersee

Bus lines #841 and #842 gets you to near Königssee, then you can take a ferry to Salet.

See timetables and prices of ferry in Königssee.

From Salet you can walk to Obersee and waterfalls.

View my walking route in Salet - Obersee - Waterfalls on alltrails.

Obersee is really beautiful place to visit and even wheelchair users can go western side of the lake. Walking to eastern side of the obersee and waterfalls is easy, but wheelchair users cannot make it.

Eiskapelle


Untracked walking path	Eiskapelle

Bus lines #841 and #842 gets you to near Königssee, then you can take a ferry to St. Bartholomew.

See timetables and prices of ferry in Königssee.

From St. Bartholomew you can walk to Eiskapelle.

View my from St. Bartholomew to Eiskapelle on alltrails.

First 1.6km (about one mile) is quite walking to uphill, but then it gets easier. Walking path itself is in good condition, except last 15 minutes is untracked walking path with big rocks. untracked walking path marked as "red" but it's not dangerous at all, but bit annoying to walk.

NOTE: Do not enter into Eiskapelle cave, it's dangerous. it may collapse anytime.

Eagle's nest (Kehlsteinhaus)

Des Kehlsteinhaus - Eagle's nest

Bus lines #838 and goes to Dokumentation Obersalzberg.

From Dokumentation Obersalzberg - you can take a paid bus to elevator of Kehlsteinhaus and elevator ride to up to Kehlsteinhaus or you can walk up to yourself for free,

Kehlsteinhaus is public restaurant nowadays - anyone can go there by walking itself.

If you decide to take paid bus and elevator ride back to Dokumentation Obersalzberg - you have to decide when you will come back to bus station at near elevator.

Web page of Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's nest) in English.

During my visit, the bus and elevator cost:

14.60euros with visitor card - 16.10 without visitor card to up - and need to walk down by yourself.
If you want bus and elevator up and down, it's about 22euros.

NOTE: If you decide to walk up (or down) to Kehlsteinhaus, you must walk on walking paths, not bus route to up.

View my walking route from Kehlsteinhaus to Dokumentation Obersalzberg on alltrails.

NOTE: On Dokumentation Obersalzberg - there is great things to visit such as Hitler's bunkers.

Wimbachklamn


Wimbachklamn walking path	River at Wimbachklamn

Bus lines #846 from Berchtesgaden train station takes to Wimbachklamn (and to Ramsau). Remember stop from bus at Wimbachbrücke.

View my hiking route at wimbachklamn on alltrails.

NOTE: Try not miss Wimbachklamn Gorge - it's in quite early of Wimbachklamn walking path and cost few euros (adult).

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Traveling in Füssen and Schwangau

Füssen and especiality Schwangau are perfect places to stay for 4-5 days in Germany. It covers lovely walking places for couple days and famous Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein castles.

Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein Castles from Alpsee

Difference between Füssen and Schwangau

Füssen:

Füssen is town with population around 15.000
Füssen have a train station
All main public transport is related to Füssen
Hohes Schloss Füssen is localed in Füssen - it's ok castle, nothing fancy, ok to visit
Füssen have tiny town centre - it's also ok.

Schwangau:

Schwangau is municipality population around 3.100.
Schwangau have all those cool places, as tegelberg mountain top, tegelberg cable car to mountain top, nice day hiking route(s) and famous Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein castles.
Schwangau is located next to Füssen - Tegelberg and castles are perhaps 10km far away from Füssen train station.

It's still good to book hotel in Füssen rather than Schwangau:

Train station is in Füssen - you will save a lot hassle if your hotel is near train station
City tax of Füssen (now 2.20e/night) in hotels gives you free Füssen card - Füssen card gives you free public transport in Füssen area - including Schwangau - NOTE: you have to return that Füssen card to hotel when you checkout the hotel.

Public transport

Public transport - local bus - goes to Schwangau once in hour usually. Bus #78 (and #73) go to Schwangau.

Timetables search:

Allgaeu web page - in German - Check: "Fahrplanheft" to view all timetables on region
You can also search time tables from RVO Bus web page (in German) - set "region" as Füssen and "liniensuche" as 78 for example and you get timetable information by search - click the line 78 from search results and then look at "PDF herunterladen" to get proper timetable.
You should also get proper timetable book from hotel as well.

How to get to Füssen

Nearest international Airport is in Munich, use it if possible.

From Munich Airport to main train station of Munich - München Hauptbahnhof

I would suggest Lufthansa Airport Bus - it's direct connect and very easy, check the time tables and fares from Lufthansa airport bus web page.

NOTE: will probably take 45min - 90min from landing to get luggages and be ready to jump into airport bus - depends are you coming from, inside EU or not. Inside EU - there is no security checks - but if you are coming from outside the EU - you have to check in into Germany - show your passport and check possible VISA and other things that take time.

From Munich main train station to Füssen

Use train, you can check and even book the schedule of train to Füssen from Deutsche Bahn web page.
- If you book a ticket from Deutsche Bahn web page, just print the ticket in your home and you are ready to jump into train without any check-in in the train station - just make sure it's a correct train.
NOTE: If you book from home, and you use VISA/Mastercard pay the bill- make sure you have that VISA/Mastercard card or any ID card with you to make sure - it's really you - they might ask it during the checking the ticket.
- You can also buy a ticket from train station.

City of Füssen

Füssen have tiny city centre and nice small castle with tiny castle museum (cost only 4 euros), but overall - I noted - Füssen was just place to have a hotel for me.


Street of Füssen	Hohes Schloss Füssen

Schwangau

Schwangau is tiny municipality with all cool things ....

Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein Castles

Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein castles are wonderful to view from outside, but little disappointing inside.


Neuschwanstein Castle	Hohenschwangau Castle

The art wise both wise inside is good, but there is few things I don't like:

Only guided tours - I never liked guided tours, and probably never will. I want to spend some own time to look things that are interesting to me, but in guided tours this is not possible. There is always too many people in the same room and then you never see stuff so much as you would see it by yourself.
Tight schedule on guided tours, basically, you buy a ticket for guided tour, and guide is on certain time, for example, Hohenschwangau castle at 9:30, and Neuschwanstein castle at 11:55. First you go to first castle gate - wait for your tour to begin, take a tour, then go to another castle gate and wait for your tour to begin....

To me, going inside castle is only worthy in raining days. If you have sunny days around, it's much nicer to walk around by yourself and enjoy the lovely nature at alpsee, or tegelberg or other places.

Museum of the Bavarian Kings

There is nothing much to say about the museum - probably worst museum I ever visited, just few things I don't like:

Too much text - I rather read a book
Not much items to show

Taking photos is not allowed - not a problem - there was nothing to photograph anyways.

Tegelberg

Tegelberg is mountain top near castles, it is 1,881m height and you can use tegelberg bahn (cable car) to get on the mountain top - and you can also come back with cable car or walking. I highly recommend this.


Walking paths from Tegelberg	Landscape from tegelberg bahn

Hiking trails

Hiking trails from Tegelberg to down are just awesome, I highly recommend it too.

All hiking trails are well marked with different levels and estimate time to down. But consider - If you are slow walker and the sign shows "1 hour to hohenschwangau" - it may mean 1h 30min for you.

Trail sign can also show the walking path ID number - it's useful if you have a proper map with walking path numbers.

Difficult levels:

Example sign - this sign is from
Berchtesgaden National Park
(Not Schwangau) - but signs are
similar in Schwangau

Full black color circle - Dangerous trail - to me - requires some experience.
Red color circle - Difficult trail, it doesn't mean dangerous, but can mean just difficult walking. For example: There are just big rocks that are annoying to walk or unmarked track, or narrow path that have wire to help you when walking, or small (1-2m little climbing) - to me - anyone that have normal condition can do it alone as long you are not scared too much high places in mountains - older and very young people might have difficulties with this.
Blue color circle - Easy trail - but wheelchair users cannot not pass this.
Black border & Yellow Circle - Very easy, even wheelchair users can do it.

I did do two tracks from Tegelberg to down:

Short track

2-3 hours - Directly from Tegelberg to down Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles - marked as red circle (difficult) - there was only two tiny difficult places:

One 1.5-2m climbing down - without wire - not problems for me, I just had to think a bit - because it was easy to take hold from rocks and ground.
One perhaps 10-20m long and very narrow path - that on another side had deep straight downfall, and another side of the path had straight up wall with wire to hold - should not be a problem - as long you don't scare high places too much.

View my short route from Tegelberg to Marienbrucke

On short track - there is some areas that you don't see much - because there is a lot forest around the walking path but when there is no forest - the sights to castles and Alpsee are awesome at some places and cliffs are deeper.


Walking path in short track	Landscape in short track

Longer track

3-4 hours to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles. Marked as blue circle - Easy path - nothing dangerous nor difficult. Very cool track. Superior sights to mountains - I highly recommend this track.

View my longer hiking route - Tegelberg to Marienbrucke

Some pictures from longer route:


Field near Tegelberg	Landscape from near Tegelberg

Lake Alpsee

Lake Alpsee is beautiful lake near castles - there is also easy walking path around it - the walking path is nice, and from opposite direction you can see lovely views the castles.


Both castles and Alpsee	Lake Alpsee

Pöllatschlucht

During my visit, Pöllatschlutch was closed - but if it's not - try not miss it. It's quite cool gorge by pictures.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Traveling to Heidelberg

Heidelberg is one of the rare German cities that were not bombarded in world war II - therefor it have a nice small city center with old looking buildings.

How to get from Frankfurt Airport to Heidelberg

If you fly to Germany - nearest international airport is in the Frankfurt - from Frankfurt airport you have a two choices:

Take a train from Airport to Heidelberg - you have to change at least once - most likely in Mannheim. Check the time schedule from Deutsche Bahn Web site.
Take a direct shuttle bus from Airport to Heidelberg - you can check the schedule from Lufthansa Airport shuttle web page. - if you are flying Lufthansa - you will get few euros discount.

Heidelberg Card

Heidelberg Card is useful - it gives you:

Map of the Wabe "125"
- Click to enlarge -

Free Public Transport in Great Heidelberg Area (Wabe "125") - includes City's VRN metro buses, trams, authorized trains (Deutche Bahn: 2nd class seats on RE, RB, and S-Bahn trains)
One free funicular transport to Molkenkur (via Castle) and back
One free entering into Castle
Discounts for some tours, restaurants, museums and (few) shopping places.

You can buy Heidelberg card from Tourist information at center of city or train station - or from some hotels.

Heidelberg card is available for 1, 2, 3, or 4 days.

City of Heidelberg

Old town

Old town is very nice - small - but nice.

There is only one thing I didn't like:

- Some old buildings had modern logos (as H&M) that didn't fit in the old architecture - it did kinda ruin the old nice building - but this was not too big problem in very center of the old town.

Heidelberg Castle

You cannot miss Heidelberg castle, it's well visible, and well worthy to visit inside.

Note: Heidelberg Card already include Funicular to Castle and Ticket to Heidelberg Castle for once.

Hills near Heidelberg

There is two hills near Heidelberg
- Behind the Castle is funicular to Königstuhl - nothing special in Königstuhl - You can get to Königstuhl via funicular (cost), walking or bus #39 (free with Heidelberg Card).

Funicular to Königstuhl

Königstuhl have also little restaurant with nice view to Heidelberg.

Across the river - there is Heiligenberg - much nicer hill than Königstuhl. Heilinberg have:

Heidelberger Thingstätte
Ruins of the Michaelskloster - Monastery of St. Michael (only open at Sundays),
Ruins of Heiligenbergturm
If you dare to climb up (or down), you might also see Bismarcksäule and nice little resting place.

NOTE: - Summer time only - Bus #38 to goes top of the hill only at Sundays (and public holidays) - other days - you have to walk up by yourself.

Heidelberger Thingstätte

Tiefburg - that smaller castle in Heidelberg

Tiefburg is located at north side of the river - it's nice, but very tiny castle, nothing much to see inside - but quite worthy to see if you have a time or you are around there.

Neuburg Abbey - not very impressive place to visit

Neuburg Abbey

Bus #34 can take you to Neuburg Abbey - but to me - there was nothing much to see, so I would suggest you to to skip this place and go to....

... Neckarsteinach

Neckarsteinach is 15min train travel far away and outside the Heidelberg Area - so you cannot use Heidelberg Card to travel there - but it cost only about 5e to travel to Neckarsteinach via train.

In Neckarsteinach - there is few small castles - and two very nice little castle ruins. - You must do little walk from train station of Neckarteinach to ruins of Hinterburg and Burg Schadeck - both castle ruins are free to go inside.


Hinterburg	Burg Schadeck

Neckarsteinach is also very peaceful place to visit for one day from Heidelberg.

Events in Heidelberg

Heidelberg Castle Illumination and Fireworks

Heidelberg Castle Illumination and Fireworks is held every 2nd Saturday of the June, July and September. If you are not near the city - do not miss it - the fireworks are always awesome.

Best location to watch the fireworks are on opposite river bank of the castle.

The fireworks begin around 22:00 (10pm) on local time.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Train travel in Austria

Travelling with train is easy and comfortable in Austria.

Train station of the Bad Ischl, Austria

Luggage with the train

You can take to train all luggages you can carry. Just find the rack for the luggage and that will do.

In modern railjet trains, luggage rack is in the middle of the 2nd class train.

Buying the ticket

If you know your departure and destination, you can just buy and print the ticket from ÖBB Route planner web site already.
Train stations have also red colored ticket vending machine that you can buy a ticket - vending machine also handle english language.
You can also buy ticket from the ticket counter - note, very small train stations as Hallstatt train station have no ticket cashier but they have a vending machine.
Or using a mobile ticket using android or iOS phones.

Example ticket

I bought and printed the ticket from ÖBB Route planner web site and it looks like this:

Valid train ticket - printed in home - ready to jump into train - click for enlarge

Other notes:

Nobody does seat reservation in Austrian train, nobody, just sit where ever you can find empty seat.

If you can - take a railjet train, railjet is the most modern, fast and comfortable trains in Austria - Railjet trains are moving in every main route.

If you are travelling only in Austria with train, one ticket can have multiple persons "ERWASCHSENE(R)" and only the ticket buyer must provide the ID of himself to train inspector (if they ask ID). But when you are moving to another country with train - you can order multiple person train ticket - and it will ask each person name for train ticket - each person will get own ticket and every person must provide their ID to train inspector.

Boarding into train without the ticket

If - for some reason - you are unable to get a ticket for train - for example - small train station's only vending machine doesn't work. You can still board into train - but you must purchase ticket immediately after the boarding eather at the ticket machine on the train (at one end of the train) or by seeking out the train crew to purchase ticket as soon as you are able to. If you do not pay immediately, the charge is increased by an administration fee of 30 euros. If you do not contact to train crew, an inspection fee is 70euros.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Leopold Museum in Vienna

Leopold Museum in Vienna have and a lot old paintings museum in MuseumsQuartier - Vienna.

At the Monestery Fountain (Friedrich Gauermann)

If you like these kind paintings, Leopold Museum is worthy to visit for you.


Mother with Children returning home (Ferdinand Georg Waldmuller)	The Conscript's Farewell (Ferdinand Georg Waldmuller)	Young Italian shepherd with Dog (Anton Romako)

There is also few rooms of Asian paintings and few sculptures.


Statue in the Leopold Museum	Chinese - Garden and Garden pavilions from Suzhou (Coloured woodcut on Chinese Paper by anonymous)	Two cormorants (Silk, washi, ink and color painting by Komai Genk)

MuseumsQuartier sells tickets to Mumok and Leopold Museum together with cheaper price. This Leopold Museum is generally much better than Mumok - skip the Mumok if you don't have a time and choose only to go Leopold Museum.