EF Ultimate Break // Germany, Italy, Switzerland (and Austria) feat. Oktoberfest: Full Guide
Contents:
1. Packing Essentials
2. Italy
3. Austria
4. Germany
4b. Oktoberfest (festival guide linked)
4c. Liechtenstein
5. Switzerland
6. Schedule & Timing
7. Accommodations List
8. FAQ Section
9. Other EF Guides & Resources
10. Map Points List
This guide is quite detailed, so please utilize this contents section to know if you'd like to skip over a certain section. & enjoy!
Packing Essentials:
First thing's first, carry on or checked luggage?
There are probably a few dozen different ways that you can pack for any trip. I am very set in my ways, but the true key to success is finding exactly what works best for you personally. What works for one person may not work well for another, and that's totally okay.
When going to Europe with EFUB, you're generally able to bring one checked luggage, one carry on, and one personal item. You can double check this info in the KBYG section listed in your account page for your trip. Bag weight will be airline specific. I will always recommend carry on plus personal item only - and I use backpacks over rollers almost exclusively. I'm fully aware that this totally isn't realistic for everyone, so I'll include some other tips as well!
If you're checking a bag, I'd recommend you keep these notes in mind: Always always always bring a change of clothes (or two) in your carry on, as well as any true essentials (think: medications, chargers, your fave undies, etc). I will add that on 6/8 of my group trips, one or more persons have had their luggage lost/delayed. I've heard a lot of horror stories, however my own personal stats would show that it's fairly rare in relation to how many people are actually in each group. Sooo check at your own risk my friends! Be aware as well that you may have to lug your bag up flights on flights of stairs, over cobblestone and uneven ground, etc etc. Although, with EF, this is honestly pretty minimal. You'll take your luggage from the bus to the hotel back to the bus and so on from there. At the locations we stayed specifically, there were elevators at each, but most were very small.
What do I need to bring specific to these countries?
• Adapter: I recommend a good universal adapter wherever possible, and it is indeed possible here. I have one recommended that is a tried and true for me on my Amazon Essentials list, linked below! My husband has the same one, and they have yet to fail us ever!
Additionally, you may want to bring a converter if you're using any higher wattage item, such as a hair straightener or curler. Note that my adapter listed is not a converter.
• Cash: I was genuinely surprised how cash heavy Austria was, and Oktoberfest itself is going to be cash only if you're on a festival date. I never recommend carrying more than about 100 on your person. You can always stop at an ATM if you're getting low on cash. The only exception is maybe your Oktoberfest day if you're a big drinker or big souvenir person. I'll go more into detail on this in my Oktoberfest section below. You will use Euros here in each country until Switzerland, where they use the Swiss-Franc. Pulling out cash in Switzerland was not necessary, in my opinion, we were able to use card at every single place we visited. However, if you use cash as a souvenir, this is your reminder to either visit an ATM or exchange a bit with one of your trip mates!
• Oktoberfest Wear (Lederhosen or Dirndl): This isn't a true necessity, but I wanted to list it early in this guide so that you can start thinking about it! You also don't have to buy *ahead of time* if you'd rather shop locally. In fact, I suggest doing so because it's a fun experience! An important note for my plus size friends: it's a bit harder to find traditional wear in plus sizing. Even online sizing is a bit difficult when I was searching. However, if you can't find a specific dirndl or lederhosen, don't worry too much because there are other ways to put a great fit together! I'll add more detailed suggestions below in my "Oktoberfest" section.
• Outerwear: Overall: layers layers layers! I'd recommend one light waterproof jacket as an outer layer any time of year for this trip (heavy emphasis on waterproof - NOT water "resistant." I learned the hard way that these are not the same). This is honestly a bit of a difficult trip to pack for! To generalize: this trip gets a bit more chilly with each stop. Weather can vary drastically, so I have the weather linked below for each city to view specifics. As always, please google the weather in your desired destination before packing. "Cold" and "hot" are pretty subjective when it comes down to it. I like to search "weather in ________ by month" as a quick way to see average temperatures.
If you're taking this trip in summer - I'd leave it at the light jacket. If you're traveling closer to winter, or if you're not accustomed to cooler climates, I'd recommend a warm sweater and/or a warmer jacket in addition to a waterproof layer.
• Do I need hiking boots? Nope! And no, not even for the alps excursion, in my opinion, but I'll get into that more below. If you love your hiking boots because they're comfy and broken in, absolutely go for it! Most hiking boots do also fit the Oktoberfest vibe, too. This is very much a city trip though, so they won't be necessary for on tour activities.
• General packing: For a ten day trip, I'd recommend packing for the full amount of time that you're there. This should include options for about 9 full outfits (day one is your travel day, so I'm not including what you'll be wearing when you leave). As I mentioned above, there are so many ways that people approach packing. These are the two ways I use most:
Using a capsule wardrobe is packing within the same rough color scheme with items that can be easily exchanged with one another. Mix & Match style, if you will. Be sure to consider patterns and prints when using this packing method as well.
What I've been doing more as of lately is packing for each specific day, along with throwing in an extra outfit or two for good measure. To pack like this, it's necessary to check the weather for each destination as close to departure as you can (especially on a trip like this, where the weather is quite unpredictable). This method is a bit extra and extremely Type A of me, but hey, A is for Alex right?
• Full packing list: I would recommend bringing (minimum) 8-9 outfits (pants/tops combos or dresses/rompers), 9+ pairs of underwear, 9+ socks, toiletries/skincare, prescriptions, over the counter medications (!!!), chargers, adapter, 1-2 jackets depending on time of year, and a trusty reusable water bottle. Of those outfits, most travelers like to wear something nicer for the Welcome Mixer and the Farewell Dinner. "Nice" in this case is totally up to you! Truly, whatever you're comfortable in will be just fine. If this means a full gown, go for it. If this means jeans and a nice top, that's absolutely okay too!
Some non-essential, essentials that you may want to bring along: A book is something that I bring on every trip anywhere in the world! It's pretty much a non-negotiable for me. Similarly, I've heard people bringing a Kindle, Switch, other portable gaming (my husband brought his ancient psp go on this trip). You may also want a neck pillow, AirFly adapter, coin pouch, day pack or crossbody, portable charger, ear plugs, handheld fan, airtag(s), wrinkle release spray, etc. This varies greatly from person to person, but I have all of my personal faves and more listed on my Amazon Essentials list under "Travel Essentials." (purchasing through my link has no extra charge to you, but it can help me out a bit, and I'm super grateful to anyone who uses it!)
For this trip, I also recommend leaving some extra open space for any souvenirs! If you're purchasing Oktoberfest wear in Bavaria, those outfits are quite thick just by themselves. Whether or not you visit during Oktoberfest or buy a traditional outfit, this trip also visits FIVE countries, so that'll add up space very quickly, even if you're a "small souvenir" style person. If you know you LOVE souvenirs, but don't want to check a bag, I'd recommend bringing a foldable/packable duffel or backpack that you can unfold to use during and on the way home.
Wait, what's a DIRNDL? What's LEDERHOSEN?
The first question I see from every traveler is, "Do people really dress up for the festival?" YES. 1000x YES.
Follow up is usually "will I look like a tourist?" or "will I get made fun of?" No. I think the only thing that would single you out is by wearing a Bavarian costume from a Halloween costume store or a very cheap Amazon costume. The most authentic thing you can do is buy from a local shop when you arrive or from a local seller beforehand.
How do you plan for that? A couple options! If you want to buy ahead, I've included a few options to purchase them online via links below. Etsy is another great option to find authentic outfits. These in general... are not super cheap. They're extremely well made, and a lot of pride goes into making them. Another option is to buy on your arrival in Germany (or Austria for this trip also)! Our Tour Director during my first visit took us to a local thrift shop, and we were all able to find something there! It wasn't extremely cheap, but it was cheaper than buying one brand new. My TD on round two also suggested a different vintage shop for us to try out. I highly highly recommend this option! If not a thrift store, there are other big box stores that will sell them there as well.
"Wait, what am I looking for exactly?"
If you choose to wear traditional outfits (yes, it's totally encouraged by everyone!), you're going to look for either a dirndl or lederhosen. A dirndl is a feminine dress, and lederhosen are short or knee-length leather breeches that are worn as traditional garments. Traditionally, dirndls are worn by women and lederhosen by men. Wear what you're comfortable in! I wore a dirndl my first time on this trip, and this time around I wore lederhosen, along with another girl in my group, and even my TD wore them too! She said that she was never interested in dirndls, so lederhosen is her choice each year as well!
Disclaimer: Just want to note that exact times and even experiences will vary so so so much by each trip departure. Please use this as a generic guideline, but be sure to ask your TD any specific questions you may have, and verify any business opening times accordingly!
Venice, Italy:
Welcome to Venice and the start of this adventure!
Our group had arrival times spanning from about 10am until 5pm. If you've been on an EFUB trip before, you may already know, but arrival times are often grouped into sections to bus to the accommodations. We were grouped in the first arrival group. However, due to a slight delay, we ended up bussing in with the second group (our plane literally had to fly *around* a hurricane. I can't even make this shit up you guys). Honestly, it was no big deal, and we were able to meet more travelers this way AND our rooms ended up being ready for check in early! It was a win at the end, so we quick showered, and then met up in the lobby to go explore Venice during our remaining free time before the group Welcome Dinner!
• Ali Baba Pizza & Kebab: We wandered around for a bit before deciding that we should probably eat something to hold us over until dinner. We passed this pizza shop, and it looked delicious, so a few of us got slices to go! They were indeed very good, and there are about a million corner pizza options just like this one. They don't have seating, but it was right beside a canal bridge, so we got to eat it with a view (everywhere here is a view btw).
• Trattoria Ca' Foscari al Canton: Stop by here for a drink! Whether you're feeling a cappuccino or a spritz, they've got you covered! They also have some delicious looking food, but don't fill up too much before your welcome dinner.
• Hostaria Vite Rossa: This is where our welcome dinner took place! It was very small inside, but it was sure popular! We had a great meal with Aperol Spritz, fresh bread, lasagna, and tiramisu. After dinner, we returned to the hostel for a quick chat (usually done at the welcome dinner, but our welcome dinner was mostly just socializing in small groups due to this venue!), and most of us continued getting to know one another at the hostel bar.
• Our first full day in Venice started out with a walking tour! If you're able to choose, having our full Venice day on a Sunday was absolutely wonderful! Mornings can be a bit slower there on Sundays, so that meant that the first half or so of our walking tour was fairly quaint. Additionally, Sundays can often close down many shops throughout parts of Europe, but Venice felt that everything we were looking to do was open as usual. Our walking tour ended at St. Mark's Square, where we then attended a quick glass blowing demonstration. Like - really quick. It was about a five minute demo followed up with 15 minutes of an old guy trying to sell us stuff. There was AC and a free restroom in the place though (upstairs), so it wasn't bad. You can purchase true Venetian glass here as well (of course), so if you want the real stuff, this is the place to do it. They can ship it as well, if you purchase a certain amount. I don't recall those prices, as to be honest, I had checked out already lol. I did buy a Venetian shot glass here, and it was about 40 euros.
• Suso: A famous tourist spot to get gelato. We had walked by one of the locations during our walking tour, and we had about 20 minutes to kill between activities, so we decided to make a gelato run. Run... almost literally. It was a bit further from the square than we had thought. It's known as a pretty touristy spot - but it was probably the best gelato I've ever had, so I'd say the reputation is well deserved.
• TD Offered Excursion - Gondola Ride: Gondola rides are obviously a staple of Venice, but pricing can vary depending a lot on where the ride takes place. If you want cheaper, you'll want to find the lesser known canals. If you want to go past (or under) some of Venice's most famous sights, you can expect to pay more like 80+ euros. This ride was set up by our Tour Director (Serai - she's amazing!), and it was 25 euros per person, with 4-5 people sharing a gondola.
• Libreria Acqua Alta: The famous Venice bookstore! This cozy bookstore offers lots of vintage titles along with unique displays and resident cats! This is a very popular place, so it does get pretty busy and packed. There are a few photo op designated spots inside, and the queues for those can get quite long. If you're a book lover or a cat lover, I think it's totally worth it. I didn't do the "main" photo ops, but I did get a few good shots of the book stairs, the hallways, and one of the kitties! Such a sweet cat, please remember to be kind and gentle, and if they're sleeping -- mostly just let them chill! You'll know if they'd like to be pet :)
• Palazzo Tetta: While in the bookstore area, check out the only building in Venice that has three sides of it all along the water.
• After lunch is when our mini-group split up! Our TD offered a wine tasting + dinner, one that is very commonly offered as an extra during EFUB trips. Those who were attending that started to head back (walking mostly, to bus stop, to hostel - they departed as a group from there via our charter bus). I've heard this excursion is lots of fun, but I personally wanted to save my Italian Wine experience for other areas of Italy in the future. So a few of us departed on our own excursion to visit the island of Burano - a colorful fishing island of Venice. Murano, the glass making island, is also along the way!
• Since this is an in depth guide, I'll recap the shit show that this was:
• First off, I want to make a note that I'm kidding about that. Well, not really, however I had an amazing day despite things not going to plan. I think it's really important to remember -- and this is a good reminder -- that not every aspect or planned activity is going to turn out how you want it to, how you expect, or even happen at all sometimes.
• Spoiler: we did not make it to Burano. Long story short, Venice puts on gondola races ONE DAY per year, and today was that day. The island of Burano shuts down for it entirely. I swear, I can't even make this shit up haha. Unfortunately, the ferry attendants and ticket salespersons did not let us know about any of this (despite perfect English btw), so we spent a long time going ferry to ferry, ending up on the island of Lido, where a kind lady finally let us know what was going on, and that we'd have to return to the main island.
• Despite not making it to Burano, attempting to do so led us to a truly beautiful area of Venice. There were very few people, and to be able to escape the crowds of Venice was truly its own kind of beauty. There were five of us together, so getting to experience this entire day together was bonding, but also beautiful. I'll certainly never forget it, including our final walk back to the bus, when again, Venice was so quiet and lovely.
• Calle Varisco: Venice's narrowest street
• Antico Gatoleto: I didn't get a chance to make it here, but I've heard great things about this Venetian restaurant
• Ponte Chiodo: Historic canal footbridge. Venice's only bridge without handrails. I had this saved, but we actually just stumbled upon it in our journey to Burano!
• Campo della Madonna dell'Orto: This spot itself is a church, but this is the area that I fell in love with in Venice. Use this as a point to get here, and just explore! We also saw so many cats, and you all know how much of a sucker I am for street kitties. My next visit to Venice will consist solely of this neighborhood, and eventually making it to Burano and Murano for real.
• Flying Tiger Copenhagen: Really just a gift shop, however, I found the name a bit funnily ironic haha. It's like it's a sign that my next trip to Copenhagen MUST be lovely, right? (Going on the Denmark, Sweden, Norway tour with EFUB in Spring/Summer 2024)
• The Original Venice Duck: Maybe I was the only one amused by this, but the rubber duckies were so cute!
• After our failed attempt at Burano, we arrived in the ferry around the same spot in which we started our day with our local guide.
• Bridge of Sighs: Quite ironic, this was the first tourist site that we passed by after said failed attempt. The Bridge of Sighs was given its name, I believe, as it was the final sight of Venice prisoners would see as they cross the bridge.
• We didn't really have a plan at this point, but we all wanted a drink and to find a bathroom after this adventure! So, we headed back towards St Mark's Square.
• Caffe Florian: Honestly I don't really recommend this place aside from the "able to say you've been there" aspect. It's the oldest cafe in Venice, and probably most expensive. I don't know, I'm making up the last part. But, it wasn't cheap, and there was also a 6 euro per person live music fee. The band only played three songs while we were there, and spent the rest of the time smoking. We each got either a drink and/or a small snack, and unanimously agreed that sure they were decent, just overpriced! To sit out on their patio after walking all day was quite nice, and it gave our feet a break.
Started heading back to the hostel at this point! It was a decent walk back to the bus, but it was actually quite a nice walk. Over 30k steps in for the day, and all I can say is: don't underestimate 'ol "flat" Venice. The roads may be flat, but going over a bridge every 10 feet sure adds up. I'd like to rename it the stairclimber island, thank you.
Salzburg, Austria:
The Stop of Surprises!!!
Holyyyyy COW. (haha, cow. it's funny because there are so many cow statues too)
Some people don't even realize Salzburg is a stop on this trip. Why it's only called Germany, Italy, Switzerland is unknown to me. From other reviews, Austria so often ends up being the favorite of many on this trip. And honestly for me, it's no different. I talk a lot about the impact of "expectations," and I do think this is another one of those moments personally. I knew I'd love Switzerland on this trip - it's no doubt that Switzerland's beauty is almost unmatched. But I knew that, and I think we all know that Switzerland is incredible. Austria, though... UNDERRATED.
However, before we get to the gem that is Salzburg, we have a pit stop in Innsbruck, Austria.
Innsbruck, Austria Stop Mini Guide:
• TD Optional Excursion -- This was not offered to our group, but I will explain what I know one TD (or more) offers: somewhere along the Austrian border, they offer whitewater rafting. Those who don't wish to go, can simply go to Innsbruck for their break anyway. Now, here's why I'm so glad that it WASN'T even offered to us:
I have no doubt that rafting in a beautiful place like this would be a blast. However, doing so would mean missing out on Innsbruck, and Innsbruck was truly a HIGHLIGHT. Such a gorgeous town, and even the two hours we had there was not near enough time to explore. I'd love to go back as soon as possible.
Even if I chose to go to Innsbruck while rafting was offered, I'm pretty positive that it even being offered would definitely result in the Innsbruck stop being delayed and having less time there. It is for that reason that I'm glad it wasn't even suggested. If you went on this excursion, and loved it so much, I totally get it! I hope you can return to visit Innsbruck though. It's also worth mentioning that this is quite a long travel day, and I really can't imagine being damp or carrying wet clothes with me during this day.
• "THE" Photo Op: Your TD should take you here, I believe all of the EFUB TDs will do so (unless perhaps with the rafting optional? Unsure on that specific). Take your time here and hang out! I could've spent the entire time taking photos of this perfect postcard, but perhaps that's just the photographer in me. A few in our group must've felt pretty similar though, because we all took photos for a while! I've also linked it to this map.
• Try apfelstrudel! Or, any strudel of your choosing. I actually went with cherry because it looked apfel-lutely delicious. We stopped at Strudel Cafe Kroll along our way.
• Be on the lookout for tourist shops selling cute little marmot themed goodies everywhere! So cute. The Alpine Marmot is found in high numbers in mountainous areas of Central and Southern Europe.
• Pro tip: While you're out exploring, Swarovski has free public restrooms down the stairs from their storefront.
Arrive in Salzburg!
• Augustinerbrau: After a stop at our hotel to check in, get settled, and freshen up, our TD offered to walk us out to a great beer hall! It was a little late, so the food stalls had a smaller selection, but it was sooo delicious! If you eat meat, you absolutely have to try the huhnerflugel (chicken wings). Also worth a try, in my opinion, is the knodel - and OF COURSE the bier!
• We closed the place down (it wasn't THAT late - think small town vibes, closing around 10:30 or so) and started heading back towards our hotel. Our TD left a bit earlier than us, but she was so amazing about sending us all exact directions (what bus route to take, where to turn, etc). It was pretty simple to get back though, so don't let this make you nervous in any way. Some of the group called it a night at this point, while others stopped in to the bar next door to our hotel and hung out a bit longer.
• Next up: meet with the group bright and early for your walking tour of Salzburg. You'll see some gorgeous architecture and beauty in this city such as Mirabellgarten, Mozarts Geburtshaus, and the cutest shops and stands along the way!
• Note: I know some people may want to skip walking tours sometimes. Don't. Not because of the tour itself really (although he was great! We got so lucky with local guides!), but because around Oktoberfest they set up for their own local festival. This is *exactly* when I decided I'd really have to come back for Christmas markets in Europe, especially Austria.
> Speaking of, just a quick trip plug that if YOU are interested in Christmas markets already, I'd love to have you join me on my next Christmas in Europe trip. All ages are welcome for this one, and we'll be visiting Budapest, Vienna, and Prague in December 2024. I'll have the itinerary and my interest group all linked at the bottom of this guide.
• EF Optional Excursion: Almost directly after the walking tour, there was a quick break and then our group headed off to the Alpine Slides.
Some info on this: It is a super duper weather dependent excursion. I had assumed this was because of snow, but as it turns out, it's due to snow, rain, basically any kind of moisture and probably high winds (wind might be exaggerating, I don't know). Our TD didn't know for sure if this was going to run for us until the morning of the excursion. The weather, at least in the fall, can vary so much from hour to hour even. Also, bring a jacket to this! I had NEVER heard of a single Oktoberfest date actually getting to do this excursion. So, while my group lucked out, be aware that this is a possibility. (EF would of course refund you - I just know how disappointing it can be when you're really looking forward to something)
• Those not on the excursion had an entire free day.
• Fortress Hohensalzburg: one of *the* main points to see in Salzburg, this was surprisingly a huge blast! And, there were stunning views. It was 14 euros for a basic adult ticket, which includes the railway up. If you wanna go super budget or you have the energy of our buddy Andrew, you can save like 3,20 euros by hiking your ass up there (no railway).
• Inside the fortress, there's also a slightly creepy puppet museum, a gift shop and museum/game area, and much more! We didn't have time for everything, or I should say that we just aimed to see the highlights. If you're able to, you absolutely have to see the view at the very top! It's quite a lot of narrow stairs up, but so worth it! Note: Although I do say narrow, I want to clarify for my plus size friends that no one had any issues in this sense.
• Cafe-Konditorei Furst: dessert stop!!! The creators of the world famous Salzburger Mozartkugel
• Red Bull World: Did you know that Red Bull is from Austria? This is also why you'll be able to buy it at its cheapest in this country. Although, perhaps not at Red Bull World. When you end your walking tour, you'll finish at Kapitelplatz, the square area just down the hill from the fortress. Then, at the very first ICE CREAM shop, that's where we found the cheapest Red Bull. (I'm not saying we're experts, I'm just saying that we had about three per day while in Austria... each. This stand was at the very bottom of the hill, and as we went up the hill towards the fortress, they got progressively more expensive.
• Austrian Antiques: This is a spot we just stumbled upon, and it was kind of hilarious. Some of the items along the outside were like if someone went to a Goodwill in the US, and bought all of the tin metal signs that are either political, sexual, or some weird comedy.
• Christmas in Salzburg: This was a shop suggested to me by a fellow EF friend and ambassador! It was very easy to get to (walking), but was also tucked away a bit.
That's it for Austria for now! Next up, Germany!
If you're interested in other parts of Austria, stay tuned for my upcoming Vienna guide during Christmas Markets!
Munich, Germany:
Prost! You made it to Munich & Oktoberfest!
• Actually, you'll first make a stop for gas somewhere in Germany. I always urge you to try new snacks that you can't get at home! Who knows, maybe you'll find your new favorite candy bar or drink! I did tag the place we went on IG, but I'm sure this will vary and not something I'd worry about at all.
• Once you get into Munich, you'll start straight into your walking tour. And don't worry, the drive over from Salzburg isn't bad at all. (Luggage stays on the bus, so again, no need to worry there either!)
• Along your tour, you'll see sights such as Marienplatz (and get to hear and see the Glockenspiel!), Viktualienmarkt, the original Hofbrauhaus, and more! You will sometimes start out at the BMW Museum. My group did not, as the museum was too busy that morning. My TD mentioned that the museum changed a couple policies, so it's possible this tour may not start out there as often. We began in Old Town at the Nationaltheater in Max-Joseph-Platz.
• Your local city tour will end right in Marienplatz in the center, and then you'll have some free time before heading with the group to check into your hotel.
• Climb the St. Peter church tower: This one is not for those with a fear of heights... or stairs... After you climb up a seemingly endless amount of stairs (actually, there are 306 steps), you'll be rewarded with phenomenal 360 degree views of Munich! Note that the top is caged on all sides, so if your fear of heights is subjective, this one is safe on all accounts. Be sure to be polite and let people pass when possible, the platform is a bit narrow for that, and the stairs even more so. Although the church itself is free to enter, it's a small fee of 5 EUR to climb the tower.
• Immediately reward yourself with a snack! We were starving. We hadn't eaten since the hotel breakfast around 7am, and we went straight to the tower after the walking tour. On my last visit to Germany, it wasn't sunny, like at all (also I went the same exact time of year, just for reference - it's very hit or miss with weather), so a couple of us beelined it over there to get those clear views. This was something I didn't get to do on my last visit.
• Bakery Zöttl GmbH: delicious bakery just across the street from the tower and perfect for any of your needs!
• Rischart Café am Marienplatz: After a quick walk back into Marienplatz, you'll find this amazing cafe. When I tell you this is probably the best pretzel I've ever had... I'm not kidding! There's a huge variety, so pick one that suits you!
• Check out some nearby shops! Max Krug is one a short walk down from Marienplatz that some of our group was able to get steins from. They have a wide selection, including cuckoo clocks and other souvenirs from Germany.
• After all of this, it'll likely be about time to meet back up with your group to check in to the hotel. I'll list my hotels at the end of this guide, but keep in mind that these do change often. Some tours may even do this differently, depending where your stay is located.
• After check in, we had the rest of our night as free time. Now, if you just want more Oktoberfest, you could even head straight to the festival right now! Most of my group decided to head back into the city center to find some Oktoberfest wear for those who hadn't brought it with. We found a super cool vintage clothing shop, recommended by Serai. I do want to note again that it was difficult to find plus size festival wear, at least in this shop. When I went to Oktoberfest with EF in 2016, it was difficult as well. We went to a smaller thrift shop at that time (which I do not recall the name of), and I was also smaller at that time. I found one dirndl that worked nicely, but I didn't have many options. (For reference, I was probably about a size XL/14-16 at the time).
• Picknweight - Vintage Store Kilo: This thrift shop charges mostly by weight of the item (by the kilo). It's all tagged and easy to figure out. They even have scales right out in the shopping area where you choose the correct color tag, and it'll give you a rough estimate of what it'll be up front. Many of the Lederhosen and Dirndls specifically, were priced separately at a set amount. These are also tagged and clearly labeled.
Other shops suggested to me that we did not have time to visit:
• Wirke Dirndl Trachten & Ledermoden GmbH
• Trachten Rausch - Dirndl und Lederhosen
• MOSER Trachten (multiple locations)
• Some other online shops will be linked in my separate Oktoberfest guide
• Kennedy's: Irish pub not too far from city center. Gets packed inside, but they have a large patio area as well. If you haven't, try a Bulmer's Cider from Ireland! So good!
• We ended our night after this, but Munich isn't short on activities. Walk around til you find a club! The one that I went to was post-Oktoberfest, so I couldn't tell you any more info than that. I did find an umbrella there for free, so...
Other Free Time Suggestions:
• Visit Dachau. This is not offered by EFUB on the Oktoberfest itineraries, however, they do offer it on other Germany itineraries. Your TD would most likely be able to help you set up a tour (or direct you towards one anyway) for your own free time, but know that it will take a good half day or more. Dachau was the first Nazi concentration camp during WWII. I have not been here yet, but it's always recommended by travelers as a very solemn, eye-opening historical lesson, and something that everyone should see in their lifetime.
• BMW Museum: While I'm not typically a car person nor a museum girly, I still really enjoyed this museum! It was very interesting and unique, and only 10 EUR to enter.
• Englischer Garten: or, the English Garden, is an expansive urban park where you can do many activities from a leisurely bike ride to drinking more steins at a biergarten.
• Eisbachwelle: Surfing... in Munich?
At the entrance to the English Garden, the waves of Eisbach River attract surfers from around the world. It's known for its consistent waves, and people have been surfing here for over 40 years! Should you wish to surf it yourself, note that it's recommended to have at least a few years of experience surfing, as it's quite difficult and dangerous.
• Beer and Oktoberfest Museum: cool museum nearby Marienplatz to really solidify the whole Oktoberfest experience
• Optional EF Excursion: On non-Oktoberfest itineraries, a bike ride is also offered as an excursion! I can't speak to if it's worth it or not, but Munich is very beautiful and bike friendly. I personally wouldn't do it (as a photographer, I prefer to have my hands free for photos lol), but I know that others have really enjoyed it!
• Tattoo shops: here are some faves I’ve found either with a great reputation or great feedback from other EF travelers 👇🏼
Tattoo Noir Munich
Unlimited Body Art Tattoos & Piercing Studio
Wild at Heart Tattoo München
White Gate Tattoo Studio
Medusa Tattoo & Piercing Studio
Oktoberfest:
Prost! It's the morning of Oktoberfest!
Enjoy your chance to sleep in on this day because if your schedule is like ours, it's just about the only chance to do so. Expect to head into Oktoberfest with your group in the early afternoon. You are also welcome to head into the city center early if you have more exploring you'd like to do. This would actually be a great time to visit the English Garden and such, and I had planned to myself, but most of us were pretty exhausted. The sleep was much needed.
If you're not on an Oktoberfest departure of this trip, enjoy a free day with an optional excursion by EFUB!
Since there are several different Oktoberfest options through EF Ultimate Break, I've made a guide separate for the festival itself. Please check that out here for information on tents, food, areas to go, rides, and much more:
Neuschwanstein Castle:
No Sleeping Beauties Here!
How's the Oktoberfest hangover?
You'd better start your recovery process real quick, because our bus left at 7:05am SHARP. Today's journey will take you from Munich to Switzerland with quite a few stops in between. Grab your motion sickness pills and Liquid IV because it's a long and packed travel day to your next destination.
Your stop at Neuschwanstein Castle will include a shuttle bus up the somewhat massive hill (it's definitely massive if you're nursing a hangover, so...), viewing the castle from Marienbrücke (famous bridge overlook), time to check out the castle a bit closer, followed by some free time in the area. The castle stop on this trip does not include entry inside (the add-on excursion version of this on the shorter Oktoberfest did include entry when I went in 2016). The free time we were given may have possible been enough time for you to purchase your own ticket inside, but I'm not positive on that.
Around the base of the castle, they have a little tourist stand with lots of items and food. They have a special deal for a hot chocolate (or coffee) and a donut for like... 3 Euros? And then you get to keep the souvenir mug along with it.
After seeing the castle, most of us opted to head down the path back towards the main town area and grab some food, drinks, etc...
Some places you may want to stop at in town:
• Ruhebänke: Visit the lake for a nice view
• Bratwurst verkauf: We got curry wurst here! Not the best in the world, but it was super quick and we were short on time at this point
(in all seriousness, if you're not feeling well, this stand also has plain French fries, and those may be the best choice for many)
• Hotel Müller: You'll see signs for the restaurant and hotel, but along the front of it, there's also a small bistro that's the size of a small cafe. I went here way back on my first visit, but I remember it being pretty good! The hotel also has a souvenir shop of their own
• Schloss Bräustüberl Hohenschwangau
• Alpenstuben Souvenirs Shop
For any quick food stops, you'll want to look for the red umbrellas!
Meet back at the bus and be sure to use the restroom at some point!
Liechtenstein:
Another Country? What?
Ya'll... when our bus left at 7:05am this morning, I thought we had NO chance of making it on time. And now, I can see exactly why some groups have only gotten about a 15 minute gas station stop in Liechtenstein. Oktoberfest or no Oktoberfest, if you've done group travel, you know that you're almost always waiting for at least one person.
And we've all been that person, don't get me wrong. But if you want a chance to really see Liechtenstein, at least for a decent lunch break, you might want to encourage your fellow travelers to be on time when departing from Munich on this day. (A bit of bribing with Liquid IV could help, just saying!)
So, maybe you're reading this and you're like... "what the hell is Liechtenstein?" It's a quick stop in a very small country in the alps. Nestled between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein has an area just over 62 square miles (160 sq. km), and is the sixth smallest country in the world (4th smallest in Europe).
I know you're not here for a geography lesson, so here are some of the things we saw, did, or I had saved but didn't quite have time for:
• Liechtenstein Center: Visitor center, has the castle model out front, locally made goods, souvenirs, etc...
• Castel Model: Model replica of Schloss Vaduz
• Ruhende Frau: a beautiful statue in the center area which, in German, translates to "Resting Lady"
• Postmuseum Vaduz: this is free to enter and part of their NationalMuseum collection
• Get your passport stamped: you can do this at a few different places. I can't personally recommend this because getting a stamp from a non-border patrol agent could cause issues in the future (similar to stamps like Machu Picchu). Most people have had tourist stamps for years without issue, while others have been denied entry for having one. All it takes is one border patrol officer having a bad day. You do you though.
• Schloss Vaduz (Vaduz Castle): The castle is not open to the public, however you can get a nice view of it from town, even on a mildly foggy day as we had. The castle is the private residence of the Royal Family.
• Hoi Liechtenstein - Souvenir Boutique: they also have the souvenir stamps available here
• Brasserie Burg: It looked great, but we felt underdressed. So used the downstairs bathroom and left
• Vaduz Citytrain AG: Citytrain must be like a metro right...? Think more like a little sightseeing train in Disneyland. If you've seen my Instagram updates, you've seen this little train. It's quite the cutest thing too. They offer a few different city tours seasonally.
• Balu Bäckerei Konditorei: For a quicker bite to eat, stop at this bakery!
• Thöny AG: Another souvenir shop, there are lots of those here!
• Coop Supermarkt Vaduz Städtlemarkt: I always recommend going to local supermarkets to see what might be different than what you're used to seeing at home. Try something new and grab some snacks for the road!
• Zwei Bar
• Esquire Bar.Bistro
• Bäckerei Amann
• Kathedrale St. Florin: 19th century Neo-Gothic cathedral
• ROYAL INK: Tattoo shop we passed by. I looked at the clock and highly highly debated seeing if they had time for a quick walk in haha. There are actually a surprising number of tattoo shops here, given the population, and they almost all have amazing reviews as well. If you have time, maybe go for it, but be sure to pick an easy, quick flash design.
• Not exactly a place to stop at, but I thought it was interesting to note that we arrived as the town was setting up for their annual country music festival. It's very... Western inspired.
Swiss Alps:
On most trips, you do not stay in Lucerne.
You'll visit Lucerne and stay in Engelberg.
You'll be able to notice things like this with EF when they state Lucerne "& Swiss Alps" or Venice "Region." Key words like this can let you know that you're most likely staying a bit outside of the city center. However, I've personally never come across this as an issue.
In the example of Venice, you stay in mainland Venice. You'll be steps away from public transport, and it's an easy ~10 minute bus ride onto the island of Venice.
For Switzerland, you'll make a stop in Lucerne with a decent amount of time to explore, but then you'll have the rest of your stay in Engelberg. This one is not so much a "quick trip" away from Lucerne, but we had little desire to leave the gorgeous little alpine town as it was. Engelberg is home to your excursion offered up the Swiss Alps, a stop away from the city life that you've had for the past days of the trip, and 360 degree stunning views.
It was already dark when we arrived, and honestly, I think that made waking up to our incredible view in Engelberg that much better.
EDIT: Although I went on this trip extremely recently, it looks like there has been a slight adjustment. The above is all still true, the only difference, according to an EF rep I spoke with, is that you will head back to tour Lucerne on the morning after arriving. On our tour, we did a very quick tour (basically just saw the lion monument) and then had free time.
I'm personally not sure this is the best change to make, however, it would give people an option to stay in Lucerne should they choose to skip the Alps excursion. This excursion is one of the best and most loved excursions that's offered by EF, so I'd definitely recommend against skipping it.
So, back to our Lucerne visit:
Despite the new change to the Lucerne tour, I'm guessing that the total time spent in Lucerne will be about the same (roughly two hours or so). Here are a few places that you should have time to check out, just be sure to mix and match accordingly!
• Löwendenkmal: the lion monument mentioned above. Our TD walked us here and told us about it, but we didn't have too much of a tour outside of that. Perhaps with the change, the TDs will have time for more. *I don't think this is a TD specific thing, as Serai is the most organized TD I've ever had, I just don't think there was more to the "tour" to begin with.
• Walk across Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge)
• We looked for food around Chapel Bridge, but honestly nothing really caught our eye. We were looking for something pretty quick as I'd personally rather see more of the city and area than spend it eating inside one restaurant. There are a ton of options though!
• Highly recommend crossing over from Rathaussteg (the bridge behind it) instead, so that you can get a really good view of Chapel Bridge!
• Stop at Aldi and make yourself a picnic to have near the bridge or lake area!
• Spreuerbrücke: the underrated bridge a bit further up
• Bäckerei Macchi: delicious bakery!
• Royal Donuts Luzern: my friend grabbed one of these while some of us went into other shops!
• Starbucks: If you're a Been There mug collector or just need your Starbies fix, there's one right around the corner from the rest of this area.
• Confiseur Bachmann: so crazy! One of the biggest bakeries/chocolate shops I've ever been into! Lines were just as insane, so don't leave it for the last 3 minutes before you have to meet back at the bus. This was *right* beside our meeting point though.
• Casagrande Souvenirs • Watches Grendel: MASSIVE souvenir shop, that I'm sure gives EF a gratuity to take all of their tours there, but honestly you can't go wrong with having that many options if you're looking for something quick to take home. They also sell Swiss Army knives at this location and personalize them for free. To save time, our TD also offered this service to us on the bus, and she was able to call in (or online, or whatever) and place everyones order, so that they were ready by the time we arrived. Note: to pick up these knives you have to go up to, I believe, floor 5 or so? They'll let you know, but it's worth double checking where to pick them up before waiting in a huge queue.
• Keep exploring! There are so many shops down each street in this area, it's really quite endless!
• Also, it's worth noting that the photo on EF Ultimate Break's website with the incredible view of the church and Lake Lucerne, titled "Lake Lucerne," is not even at a place you visit. To see that spot, would be around a 30 minute drive from where you stop in Lucerne. The closest EF gets to this point is when they previously used Mt. Rigi as one of the options for the Swiss Alps excursion.
Engelberg:
Good evening from Engelberg! You'll arrive to your hotel, and the remainder of your night is free time to do as you please. We stayed at Hotel Terrace, and while I planned to just list accommodations at the bottom of this guide, it's kind of... important to consider in this case. This is the BEST view I've ever had at a hotel through EFUB. They sure didn't let me down. You're, like, halfway up the mountain though.
Before you get worried, no, it's not a hike up to the hotel, but it does take a bit. You'll go through a set of tunnels, yes tunnels, that might make you think you're in The Shining, but I do assure you that it'll all be worth it for this view. You'll take not one, but two elevators up to the hotel.
Again, not everyone will have this hotel stay, but I'm mentioning it here so that you know it's almost a whole journey itself just to go out for drinks, lol. On that note, most of us opted to hang out at the hotel bar. Switzerland isn't cheap, and the hotel bar is no exception, but they did have a local Swiss beer on tap that was almost as cheap as the soda I ordered. On the contrary, they have an interesting marijuana cocktail, and it's around $25.
Final Day:
Our Swiss Alps optional excursion offered by EFUB called for a meetup time of about 9-9:30am. Given this info, maybe you can see why I don't necessarily think this small itinerary change is the most worth it.
This excursion takes place on Mount Titlis, and there are a ton of different things to do once you set off.
First thing's first: what the KBYG Guide from EFUB doesn't tell you, and even some TDs won't tell you, is that the store at the base of the mountain offers cold weather RENTALS. This includes heavier jackets, boots, and even snow pants. Pricing for rentals is in CHF: Jacket/25, Pants/25, Boots/10, which at time of writing is equivalent to about $28 and $11 respectively. These are not necessarily the most plus size friendly, however, everyone in my group who wanted to, was able to get boots and a jacket. The main issue for sizing when we went was the pants sizing. I don't personally think the pants are worth it anyway, so you should be good to go. On a trip like this, I'd like to re-emphasize dressing in layers. Layers are your friend.
INTERSPORT Titlis Talstation is the name of the rental place if your TD isn't as incredible as ours. Throw it into your Apple or Google Maps, and make sure you give yourself enough time to try on rentals before meeting up with the group.
On Mount Titlis, you're pretty much "set free" from the group so to speak. Once you have your ticket and you're past the first gates, it's a free for all to do whatever you'd like that's offered up there. You'll most likely want to take BOTH cable cars up first thing, to see if you can get a good view from the top. Obviously this is pretty weather dependent, but don't fret if you don't get a view at the top. There is so much else to do, and you can also wait a while by doing other activities, and try the top again in case some of the clouds or fog has cleared at all.
Here are some things offered that are included with your ticket:
• Glacier Cave: This was one of the coolest things I've seen, such a fun walk through the cave!
• Cliff Walk: make sure it's clear up top, otherwise... you're not going to get much of a view.
• Ice Flyer: again, a clear view activity
• Grab a bite to eat and check out the shop while you warm up. I wanted a Switzerland beanie so badly, and this is where I found the perfect one!
• Trübsee: This is the lake between the gondolas. This is the start of many many hiking trails, so take your pick! AllTrails will list a ton of options if you're not super familiar with hiking in general.
• Trübseebach Wasserfall: Back down at the lake area, hike to a waterfall! It's an easy, flat hike, and you can see the waterfall in the distance. You don't even have to go the whole way if you don't want to.
• There's even a playground by the lake! There were no kids when we went, but I'm sure this is different in summertime as well.
You're able to do as much or as little as you'd like on the mountain, and then the rest of our day was a free day until the Farewell Dinner later that evening.
Exploring in the town of Engelberg:
• Fondue Stube Alpenclub: Exactly what it says: get your fondue fix here! Be sure to order the right thing. If you're confused, just ask! The staff was super helpful and nice. Some of my group went the night before us and ended up ordering Chinese fondue, which is a broth type of fondue, not cheese fondue like they were expecting. It's also quite a bit more expensive than cheese fondue.
• Roastery Engelberg: If you're craving some really good local coffee, with options more similar to lattes, check out this place. It's a cute little shop, and the tea is good as well!
• Coop Supermarkt Engelberg: I'm telling ya, local supermarkets!!!
• Bäckerei Konditorei Café
• Aaschlucht: I didn't get to check this out, but this looks like a really cool hiking area with lots of bridges, waterfalls, and it's right beside the lake!
• Ski Lodge Engelberg: this is actually where our farewell dinner was, and where other EF groups in the past have ended up staying. The patio area is one of the coolest bar areas I've ever seen. There's literally a hot tub. Sure, this was probably meant for guests, but it's at their bar patio sooo
Schedule & Timing:
Below is our exact schedule, known to the best of my ability to have it all written down on time. Please remember that these schedules vary by time of year, departure, and even by each TD. I know for a fact that the 2nd group on our same date had a few points that varied in time.
Day one // Flights:
Sample flight itinerary (my flights)
LAS > PHL > VCE: arrived in Venice around 11:00am
> arrival was a tad late, our plane flew *around* a hurricane, apparently.
Day two:
6:20 Meetup for Welcome Dinner
Free time: Campo Santo Magherita Sq (more local spot, take bus 2 to the last stop)
Day three:
6:30 breakfast starts
8:00 leave to catch the 8:30 ferry
9-10:30 Walking tour
10:30 Glass blowing demonstration
11:30ish Gondola ride
6:10pm Wine tasting (30 min drive)
Day four:
6:30 breakfast
7:45 bus loaded
1:30ish Innsbruck (2 hours)
6:30 Salzburg hotel check in
45 mins then meet in lobby if going to Augustiner
Day five:
7:00 breakfast
8:50 public bus to walking tour
9:30-11:15 walking tour
10 min break to slides or free time
Rest of day free
Day six:
7:00 breakfast
7:45 bus
2-2.5 hour drive to Munich
Supposed to start at bmw but didn’t
11:00ish Walking tour
~ 2 hour lunch break
Check into hotel together
Free time
Day seven:
6:30-10am breakfast
11am leave from hotel
12-3:30pm Oktoberfest reservation at Schottenhammel tent
Oktoberfest day
Day eight:
6:30 breakfast
7:05 bus
2.5 hours or so: Neuschwanstein Castle (2 hours there)
Next stop: 45 mins in Lichtenstein
Lucerne: 2 hour stop
Engelberg ETA: 8pm
Check in at Hotel Terrace
Free night time
Day nine:
8:00 breakfast with group
9:15 Alps excursion - if renting
9:30 Alps excursion - if not renting
5pm last cable car down the mountain
6pm farewell dinner at Skilodge
Free night
Day ten // Departure Day:
Groups leaving at 3:00, 5:10, 6:45, 8:10am.
For those extending, breakfast 7-8:30 and checked out by 10:30
Accommodations List:
Reminder: This was a standard trip example, "standard" trip styles no longer exist. Hotels and hostels will vary.
View my EFUB trip style guide for more info.
Glimpse of Anda:
A look into Hotel Terrace:
Other hotel room tours over on TikTok: @alexdeanmedia
FAQs:
*will update as I receive new questions*
Q: Did you feel rushed?
A: Honestly, NOPE. I think this was the absolute perfect amount of time spent in each one of these cities, and it made for an incredible balance throughout the entire trip. It’s still a very fast paced trip, but I really think it gives you a good amount of time to get the perfect taste of each city. Enough to decide whether or not you’d like to return again in the future. For example, this trip made me fall in love with Austria! We all knew we’d love Switzerland, but Austria is like the surprisingly cool little brother.
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Map Points:
Places listed below are the exact same as everything I have listed above, in the exact same order. This section is simply to link them so that this is accessible in map form!
Website links should also be automatically available for each store, restaurant, etc... if you click on a specific place and scroll down.
Italy
Austria
Germany
Liechtenstein
Switzerland
Thank you for reading!
Be sure to save this guide to come back to it later!
/// @alexdeanmedia
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