Frankfurt, Munich or Hamburg for pre-cruise stop?

[kaymoz]

We're contemplating a stopover en route to our first Viking river cruise in mid-October, with choices of Hamburg, Frankfurt or Munich. 

Any advice?  We enjoy history, geology, art, hiking, and walking tours of historic areas (the older the better).

[CruiserBruce]

Haven't been to Hamburg, but my preference would be Munich. Plus, you will be there during Octoberfest!!

[carlmm]

In terms of art and history, Munich is the city with the most options of museums and still existing buildings. Frankfurt also has a long and important history but not much was left after WW II.

In the surrounding areas of both Munich and Frankfurt you can find mountains for hiking.

[markeb]

6 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Haven't been to Hamburg, but my preference would be Munich. Plus, you will be there during Octoberfest!!

Oktoberfest ends on Oktober 3. It would normally end on Sunday the 2d, but it’s extended when German Unity Day is on the 3rd. 

[markeb]

I’d tend to Munich as well. Tons to do in the city and surrounding area. Lots of history, art, museums, etc., and a very walkable city center. And you’re only an hour or so from the Alps. 
 

Frankfurt has a more industrial feel. Never been to Hamburg. 

[Globaliser]

7 hours ago, markeb said:

Frankfurt has a more industrial feel.

 

I agree that Frankfurt itself is a bit of dump, but one advantage is that it's really easy to get out to surrounding places that are really worth visiting, like Wiesbaden and Heidelberg, or the cathedral cities of Worms and Speyer. There are some famous Chagall windows in a church in Mainz. There are also many attractive places down the Rhine between Mainz and Koblenz, and up the Nahe from Bingen - even though this may duplicate some of the river cruise's itinerary (depending on where it's going), you can't see or visit everything/everywhere from a cruise.

 

Hamburg is a very prosperous city with some interesting history, and much of it looks like it used to - but a very large part of it is post-WW2 reconstruction.

I would suggest avoiding Munich during Oktoberfest (although it sounds like this won't be a problem) unless Oktoberfest is actually the reason for going. Otherwise, though, given the OP's list of interests my top pick from the list would also be Munich.

[markeb]

3 hours ago, Globaliser said:

 

I agree that Frankfurt itself is a bit of dump, but one advantage is that it's really easy to get out to surrounding places that are really worth visiting, like Wiesbaden and Heidelberg, or the cathedral cities of Worms and Speyer. There are some famous Chagall windows in a church in Mainz. There are also many attractive places down the Rhine between Mainz and Koblenz, and up the Nahe from Bingen - even though this may duplicate some of the river cruise's itinerary (depending on where it's going), you can't see or visit everything/everywhere from a cruise.

 

Hamburg is a very prosperous city with some interesting history, and much of it looks like it used to - but a very large part of it is post-WW2 reconstruction.

I would suggest avoiding Munich during Oktoberfest (although it sounds like this won't be a problem) unless Oktoberfest is actually the reason for going. Otherwise, though, given the OP's list of interests my top pick from the list would also be Munich.

 

To me, that's the challenge. There's a lot to do around Frankfurt, but there's a lot to do in Munich. In fairness, there's probably more to do in Frankfurt, but I know Munich much better...

[grayjay]

Where does your river cruise start from? It might influence choices where to go to. And how much time do you have for your stopover? It also depends which airport you'll land coming from the US - probably Frankfurt? Both Hamburg and Munich are easily reachable by plane or train.

All of the cities you mention have lots of sights to see - the weather in mid-October might be better in Munich whereas Hamburg can be very wet and cool at this time - something to take into consideration as well.

So ask away and we'll try to answer your questions!

[Wendy-Europe]

If you are interested in geology - in Munich there is the Bavarian State Collection for Palaeontology and Geology

https://bspg.snsb.de/?lang=en

 

(not so well known like many other museums)

 

I don´t know how many days you have - but there a several geoparks in Bavaria:

https://www.lfu.bayern.de/geologie/geo_parks/index.htm

 

I think Munich is the best option - Munich itself offers many museums and sights, if you havve more time, make a stop at Augsburg (more than 2000 years old, you can visit the Fuggerei

https://www.fugger.de/en/fuggerei

 

Augsburg is a world heritage city:

https://wassersystem-augsburg.de/en

 

And there are several museum:

https://www.augsburg.de/kultur/museen-galerien

Maybe you like the

Schaezlerpalais | Art collections & muesums Augsburg

In 1770, the banqueting hall was ceremonially inaugurated by the Austrian Archduchess Maria Antonia of Habsburg-Lorraine, who also stopped off in Augsburg on her journey to Versailles for the official wedding to the future French King Louis XVI.

 

Or may I suggest a trip to Nördlingen:

https://www.noerdlingen.de/

Which is not so well known , but really nice.

https://www.noerdlingen.de/fileadmin/noerdlingen/prospekte/pdf/Ortsprospekt_Englisch-Franzoesisch_2019.pdf

 

Nördlingen’s townscape is dominated by the almost circular
historic old city which is surrounded by a 2.7-kilometer-long city
wall with accessible parapet walk. The historic old city is so well preserved because of its centuries-long “hibernation” as a result of the dreadful consequences
of the Thirty Years’ War. With the Battle of Nördlingen, 1634 was
a fateful year for the city.
Let yourself be taken back to the time of the wool-cloth weaver,
tanner and dyer. Very few cities in Germany have such an intact
Tanners’ District as found today in Nördlingen.

 

 

 

[caripoo]

MUNICH

[Capt_BJ]

we spent a few day in Hamburg before boarding QM2 an enjoyed the city A BUNCH

 

for us ... Miniature Wonderland alone was worth the trip .... we'd planned to spend a couple of hours and after FIVE pulled ourselves away.

 

It IS amazing .... https://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/

 

But I admit we've never been to F' or M' .......

 

spent a few days in Regensburg . . .

 

 

Edited September 4, 2022 by Capt_BJ