Frankfurt to Berlin to Paris

I%26#39;m going to an Alizée concert in Paris on March 28th. Before going there, I plan on flying into Frankfurt, driving up to Berlin, then driving to Paris. I wonder if anyone has reccomendations for things to see along this route. Any tips would be deeply apppreciated!

Thanks

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Driving? What do you want with a car in Berlin or Paris? Better use the trains or fly.

DB timetable

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

From: Frankfurt Airport

To: Berlin

To: Paris

Check with your airline if you can get a Rail%26amp;Fly ticket for the Frankfurt - Berlin trip.

bahn.de/international/…rail_fly.shtml

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I don%26#39;t really want the use of a car in Berlin or Paris. I only plan on being in Berlin for a day and I plan on returning the car as soon as I get to Paris.

I want to use a car so I can stop and see some sights along the way.

I work for an airline so I can not get a combined flight and rail ticket.

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Berlin for a day? You%26#39;ll need 3-4 days to scratch the surface.

With this time frame I would just drive to Paris. Berlin is not only more distant from Frankfurt than Paris, it%26#39;s also in the completely opposite direction. This would at least allow a few short stops en route.

You could follow the Rhine, Moselle Valley. Than from Trier via Metz to Paris.

http://www.welterbe-mittelrheintal.de

With the bigger rental companies drop offs inside Germany are free, international drop offs come with a steep international drop off fee as the rental car has to be driven back to Germany.

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The main goal of this trip, except for seeing Alizée%26#39;s concert, is to go to Berlin. I%26#39;m somewhat of a WW1 and 2 history buff. I%26#39;ve seen the beaches at Normandy, been to Bastogne, Ft Eban-Emael and the Somme area; now I%26#39;d like to see Berlin. Most of the sites I want to see are within a couple of miles of each other, so I think I can get to see most of them in a full day there.

Because I work for an airline, I can get a discounted flight on Lufthansa, but that will only get me as far as Frankfurt. I%26#39;d have to pay full fare the rest of the way. A bus seems like a rather inexpensive option, but I think I%26#39;d prefer a rental car. If you see something you like, you can just pull over.

I love seeing the countryside. Spent a couple of trips driving around France. Absolutely beautiful scenery in many places which I%26#39;m sure will be the same in Germany. Plus driving in a car, you experience things you never would in a bus or train.

Thanks for the tip about the rental car. I%26#39;ll probably plan on returning it at the German border, then taking a bus to Paris.

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%26gt; A bus seems like a rather inexpensive option, but I think I%26#39;d prefer a rental car.

Did I mentioned buses? There is no reason to mention them.

%26gt; If you see something you like, you can just pull over.

%26gt; I love seeing the countryside.

With your time frame and the rather big distance involved you have no chance but to use the autobahns.

You won%26#39;t see there that much. Driving on autobahns in Germany needs 100% concentration on the traffic. And most interesting places are well hidden behind noise protection walls. And you cannot just pull over - this is strictly forbidden on autobahns. And also on other roads not realistic.

My suggestion train to Berlin and night train or budget flight from Paris to Berlin.

http://www.easyjet.com

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I also think that no matter what kind of research you%26#39;ve made (it is true that many sites are close to each other), Berlin is certainly not a city to see in one day.

There are also many interesting WWII and Nazi sites in western Germany, and perhaps you%26#39;d rather see them and save Berlin to another time.

e.g.:

- Frankfurt (ask in the Frankfurt forum what to do there. I can also recommend something like this

insidertour.com/tours.php/…Frankfurt

- Breitenau http://www.gedenkstaette-breitenau.de/

- drive to Wewelsburg

- Cologne

- Hinzert

- Trier

- Luxemburg

- France

Cologne is a very interesting city, and certainly much more appropriate for a day than Berlin.

I also agree that if you do go to Berlin, driving might not be favourable (and inside Berlin - really bad choice).

Budget flights (search www.whichbudget.com ) or train (see www.bahn.de ) are much bettwe choices.

Have fun!

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