European Delivery - must do's & other recommendations

[///bproden]

For you that have done the ED, what are the must do's while there? Also, any recommendations for hotels, dining, etc?

[BMW F22]

Go over to bimmerfest's euro delivery section. There is a wealth of info there. Short answer to your question is: it depends on what you're looking to do. Reason being that there are a ton of things to see and do. Below is a list of just "some" of the things I would do (or suggest you do) just to give you an idea.

Munich: Residenz or Nymphemburg Palace (pick one), Hofbrauhaus, Englische Garten, Marienplatz (few things to see here), Dachau Concentration Camp which is nearby, etc. Then drive to other cities to visit factories, castles, wineries, etc.

Austria is about 90 mins away and there are a lot of things to see there as well.

It would be helpful if you can tell us how long you plan on being there and what you want to do (more driving with the car or a balance of driving and sightseeing).

[OneRib]

I am going this summer for my first ED and trip to Europe. I am taking my family and we plan on hitting major cities in Germany and Northern Italy. Would I recommend this to everyone? No. If I had been to Europe before or was going by myself or with some buddies who are into cars, my trip would look a lot different.

Really need to know more details about what experience you want before I could say what to do.

[///bproden]

Originally Posted by OneRib

I am going this summer for my first ED and trip to Europe. I am taking my family and we plan on hitting major cities in Germany and Northern Italy. Would I recommend this to everyone? No. If I had been to Europe before or was going by myself or with some buddies who are into cars, my trip would look a lot different.

Really need to know more details about what experience you want before I could say what to do.

Thanks guys for the response. My wife and I will only have about 4-5 days to enjoy it. This is both our first time there.

I'm guessing the first couple days will be picking the car up, car museum, and sightseeing around Munich. The other couple days I was hoping to take a nice mountainous drive. Maybe drive 1/2 way one day with stops along the way and stay the night somewhere midway. Next day finish the drive/sightseeing and possibly end back in Munich.

I'm trying to research as much as I can, but any advice on smaller day trip scenic routes would be great!

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by bproden

Thanks guys for the response. My wife and I will only have about 4-5 days to enjoy it. This is both our first time there.

I'm guessing the first couple days will be picking the car up, car museum, and sightseeing around Munich. The other couple days I was hoping to take a nice mountainous drive. Maybe drive 1/2 way one day with stops along the way and stay the night somewhere midway. Next day finish the drive/sightseeing and possibly end back in Munich.

I'm trying to research as much as I can, but any advice on smaller day trip scenic routes would be great!

Head to fussen, then west through switzerland to zurich via 11 (sustenstrasse) then back to munich.

Alternatively (my preference since i think castles are a snoozer) , head to zurich asap, sightsee & overnight, head southwest to interlaken, south to the furka pass which takes you back east then northeast back to munich. Or rather than go as far south as furka takes sustenstrasse east. Stunning drive and super easy along a lesser traveled route.

For Switzerland and Austria you'll need vests and vignettes. Don't speed. Seriously.

If you want to speed take the autobahn north to baden baden or Hamburg, drive back towards leipzig and then south through the center towns, maybe towards hersbruck area. Crazy goofy towns and fantastic drivers roads.

Some of my sustenstrasse pics from October are in here

[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by bproden

For you that have done the ED, what are the must do's while there? Also, any recommendations for hotels, dining, etc?

"The Castle" and drive the passes in Switzerland... E43 to 19 to 6 then 11.. Furjastrasse Grimselpass, Guttannen, Innerkirchen, Sustentrasse..

Its just EPIC... If I didn't have a co-pilot I would of just stayed out in BFE in Switzerland, Austria, Germany. An avoided the tourist trap areas.

Anything in the Alps is epic.. just epic roads.. breath taking.

Can I go with you? I would also stay at the local B&Bs, great food, great experiences.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by OneRib

I am going this summer for my first ED and trip to Europe. I am taking my family and we plan on hitting major cities in Germany and Northern Italy. Would I recommend this to everyone? No. If I had been to Europe before or was going by myself or with some buddies who are into cars, my trip would look a lot different.

Really need to know more details about what experience you want before I could say what to do.

Need your feedback on Italy. Based on some of the feedback from members who have done ED (Stolen wheels, narrow roads, crazy drivers), I am contemplating removing it altogether from my route.

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Need your feedback on Italy. Based on some of the feedback from members who have done ED (Stolen wheels, narrow roads, crazy drivers), I am contemplating removing it altogether from my route.

I'll have to let you know. I think it will be ok because we will likely take main roads as we are hitting most of the "tourist traps".

I'm actually worried about the driving overall. Want to enjoy the car and the sights, but worried I'll be spending a lot of time figuring my way around, learning the street signs, and avoiding crazy drivers.

Should be back at the end of July, so PM me if I don't write an ED journal post.

[lpphreakx06]

Go to Prague!

[drjoe66]

Get away from some of the main sights. Go to smaller towns in Bavaria, like Wuerzburg, Bayreuth, Bamberg, Aschaffenburg. Drive along the Main, Miltenberg etc.

[M3Fahrer]

Berchtesgaden
Salzburg
Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse (there are some cool places to check along the way to Grossglockner from Salzburg, like Zell am See)

[X2Board]

Originally Posted by lpphreakx06

Go to Prague!

I second that!!

[kinimod]

Susten Pass very early in the morning when there's no cars.

If you miss that your ED is not complete.

It's one of the best roads for spirited driving in the world.

[Doctor///M]

Originally Posted by M3Fahrer

Berchtesgaden
Salzburg
Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse (there are some cool places to check along the way to Grossglockner from Salzburg, like Zell am See)

This. I so wished that the Grossglockner high alpine road was open when I did ED. Next time. Spent a night in Zell am See/ Kaprun too!

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Need your feedback on Italy. Based on some of the feedback from members who have done ED (Stolen wheels, narrow roads, crazy drivers), I am contemplating removing it altogether from my route.

yeah, neither my wife nor I liked any of italy driving - we actually went way out of our way to stay in France rather than go back into Italy.

For context:

* We've been to the EU plenty of times before (20?) incl Italy
* We've driven in lots of countries in rentals, and one previous ED (mostly germany)
* Italy this ED followed a few days in germany / Switzerland

It could be this last thing that jaded us (because the German / Swiss roads are so awesome), but we didn't even like the italian freeways. This is not a ding on Italy at all - Milan was probably our favorite city and previously it's probably Florence.

For any future EDs I'm going to stay in germany/Switzerland/Austria.

If I was going to do Italy on an ED I'd park in Zurich and train it to Milan and elsewhere and rent a car if I wanted to do the lakes or something. I would sleep like a baby with my car in Zurich. Then I'd train back to zurich, pick up the car, and continue the trip.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

yeah, neither my wife nor I liked any of italy driving - we actually went way out of our way to stay in France rather than go back into Italy.

For context:

* We've been to the EU plenty of times before (20?) incl Italy
* We've driven in lots of countries in rentals, and one previous ED (mostly germany)
* Italy this ED followed a few days in germany / Switzerland

It could be this last thing that jaded us (because the German / Swiss roads are so awesome), but we didn't even like the italian freeways. This is not a ding on Italy at all - Milan was probably our favorite city and previously it's probably Florence.

For any future EDs I'm going to stay in germany/Switzerland/Austria.

If I was going to do Italy on an ED I'd park in Zurich and train it to Milan and elsewhere and rent a car if I wanted to do the lakes or something. I would sleep like a baby with my car in Zurich. Then I'd train back to zurich, pick up the car, and continue the trip.

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking of doing the other three countries as well. Is Monaco doable? Not sure if anyone vetured down that way?

[BMW F22]

Anyone mind getting me some authentic lederhosen and I will you back? Lol

[IRNM4N]

Originally Posted by bproden

For you that have done the ED, what are the must do's while there? Also, any recommendations for hotels, dining, etc?

Also depends on when you go as the passes are closed outside of summer months. I am going 4/25 and will unfortunately miss driving them this time. We plan to do Munich for a couple days, drive down to Lake Como through Austria/Swiss then hang around there and finally head down to Nice to drop the car before taking the train to Monaco, etc.

Let us know what you decide to do!

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking of doing the other three countries as well. Is Monaco doable? Not sure if anyone vetured down that way?

Definitely! You don't need to go through Italy to get there and you can take the Route Napoleon if you want.

I'd recommend driving to Nice and parking there. There's a good ramp on the corner of Rue Du Congres and Prom Des Anglais - drive to the lower levels and you can get a single protected spot.

You can then stay in Nice and take the train, bus, or helicopter in to Monaco or you can just stay in Monaco. Don't miss the Prince's car collection!

SuckaGDog added good stuff here

[SuckaGDog]

Originally Posted by IRNM4N

Also depends on when you go as the passes are closed outside of summer months. I am going 4/25 and will unfortunately miss driving them this time. We plan to do Munich for a couple days, drive down to Lake Como through Austria/Swiss then hang around there and finally head down to Nice to drop the car before taking the train to Monaco, etc.

Let us know what you decide to do!

Very good point on the passes. I went last May toward the end of the month and not all the passes were open yet, some still had snow and ice! There are electronic signs down the mountain that tell you which ones are open. There is also a website that is live and up to date with pass information.

Also plan on filling up with fuel before you get near Lake Como the prices on fuel there are higher than outside surrounding area. Enjoy your trip!

[///M///]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Definitely! You don't need to go through Italy to get there and you can take the Route Napoleon if you want.

I'd recommend driving to Nice and parking there. There's a good ramp on the corner of Rue Du Congres and Prom Des Anglais - drive to the lower levels and you can get a single protected spot.

You can then stay in Nice and take the train, bus, or helicopter in to Monaco or you can just stay in Monaco. Don't miss the Prince's car collection!

SuckaGDog added good stuff here

Thank man. You even have the parking spots memorized That's awesome

[funk74]

For those that did ED, is there any paint protection product you used to prevent rock chips? Or are the roads that good?

thanks.