West German Road Trip - Car Themed
Discussion
Hey all,
I recently went to Germany and did a full-on car themed week there with 2 mates. So anyone thinking of going I thought I would put a little travel blog together.
Locations:
Munich
Nice clean city, lots of tourist stuff to do and places to eat. Be aware everything is closed on a Sunday. If you stay near the train station it is cheaper but comes across rougher. Stayed here twice and it was good hotel: Boutique Hotel Atrium München.
Here you will find the best of the Motorworlds, BMW World and Museum
Stuttgart
Industrial city which is very clean but after 5pm it basically everything comes to a holt. Saturday seemed busier down by the train station overall very quiet. We stayed in Hampton by Hilton Stuttgart City Centre which was quite noisy as it was right off the motorway. Good breakfast. Would recommend Onkel Otto for a good schnitzel.
Here you will find the worst of the Motorworlds, Porsche Museum and Mercedes-Benz Museum. Tecknik Museum
Cologne
We didn’t stay here, felt quite like Stuttgart.
Here you will find the Cologne Motorworld which has the Michael Schumacher Collection and an amazing Mexican restaurant.
Dusseldorf
Based by the Rhine it had a Benidorm feel to it. Lots of night life but a little grubby. One for the boys not your partner. We stayed at the Leonardo Hotel Düsseldorf City. They are dated but have big beds.
Here you will find Classic Remise and with a drive the Loh Collection
Frankfurt
Was the worst of the cities. Night life died off quickly, felt very Bauhaus and grubby. We stayed at Hampton by Hilton Frankfurt City Centre East which was rubbish. They push a happiness guarantee, but complaints fell on death ears.
Nürburgring
Didn’t stay, just day visit. You can watch racing from vantage points around the track for free. I wouldn’t suggest visiting unless there is something going on. Loads of indoor space to stay dry, loads of food options, museum is good and the go karts are really worth it.
Fly or Drive?
I have driven and I have flown to Munich. The drive is naff. Just fly. We did rent a car but be aware there is a charge for border crossing so we planned to go to the Netherlands and Austria and it would have been a £70 charge for crossing both ways so a £150 week rental would have cost and extra £140. Because they all have trackers they will know if you left and it would have be a £500 fine. When in Munich, take the train to Salzburg and see Redbull’s Hangar 7. Whether or not you like Redbull, still cool.
Places to visit:
Motorworld Munich
Free to enter and gravel parking was 7 euros for the day. Food inside is expensive and on the weekends it can be chaos so try and go mid-week. Here you will find the McLaren service centre and Bugatti showroom as well as a host of others. It is forever changing so if you are ever in town, take a detour.
Full Blog and Photos
BMW Welt & Museum
You could easily do this and Motorworld on the same visit. Easy to get to via the underground. When buying tickets these are in ZONE 1. Welt is free to enter and is a massive showroom. Museum was 16 euros. I have been twice, exhibits barely change and there is always something shut off. I would only visit here once.
Full Blog and Photos
Motorworld Region Stuttgart
Very little here to see. Free to enter and parking does cost. We went in the late evening, so we took our chances and parked in front of a closed business around the back. Make sure you going during a working day otherwise you might find you trip not very worth it. They have the V8 hotels here but you are very far out. Stay centre and drive to it.
Full Blog and Photos
Stuttgart Tecknik Museum
Ran out of time. Really worth the visit though.
Porsche Platz
I visited during covid and was given a guided walking tour of everything including their bunker so visiting a second time as a “normal person” wasn’t the same. Still a great museum and cost 12 euros to get in and 4 euro all day parking. Make sure to mention this when buying the ticket. You also get to keep a Porsche lanyard for free. Loads of exhibits and some great Porsche history.
Full Blog and Photos
Mercedes-Benz Museum
Literally down the road from Porsche. Can easily do both in the same day. It is across 6 stories and has everything from the original belt driven wagons to the full silver arrow line up. Really worth it! Make sure to get a headset as you get a free Mercedes lanyard. Tickets were 16 euros with pay by the hour parking which was quite cheap.
Motorworld Cologne – The Michael Schumacher Private Collection
This Motorworld hosts the Michael Schumacher collection. All free to enter with cheap paid for parking. Much smaller than Munich and Stuttgart but you could spend more time here. A fantastic tribute towards the racing legend. I would highly recommend the Mexican restaurant in the back.
Full Blog and Photos
Classic Remise Dusseldorf
Very similar concept to Motorworld. Free to enter, free to park. When we went, they had loads of cool cars on display including 2 Stirling Moss SLR’s and the full SLR line up. The toilets here are free and they have a restaurant in the middle. If you go late at night they have a light display inside their dome. Actually, quite a romantic setting if going with a partner.
The Loh Collection
Not going to lie, this is a real middle of the sticks sort of place, so you are going out of your way to go here. It is a super amazing collection of cars which is owned by one billionaire who lives locally. You might find cars are on loan from time to time but all the cars here are star exhibits. It is the most expensive at 26 euros but it is worth every penny. You will need the combined ticket to see Ferrari and the curve.
Full Blog and Photos
The Nürburgring
The green hell is an impressive place but plan accordingly. When we went, there was a 6 hour endurance race on which meant there was some life. I have seen it reported that not a lot else happens there otherwise and due to the length of the track you are going to be waiting 6+ minutes for a car to come around. Essentially it is free to get in, but you will need tickets to get to certain areas. The museum there was good and I would recommend the race sim café for nibbles and a coffee. The track side stand had quite cheap little holes in the wall for food. The go karts were a lot of fun and would highly recommend doing them. Also they were cheap.
Total cost:
Hotel the night before
Airport parking
Flights
Rental car / insurance / fuel / parking
Hotels
Food & drink
Museums
And gifts
Came to £1200pp
Well hopefully this helps anyone trying to do something like this. If you want anymore advise, please feel free to post or message me.
I recently went to Germany and did a full-on car themed week there with 2 mates. So anyone thinking of going I thought I would put a little travel blog together.
Locations:
Munich
Nice clean city, lots of tourist stuff to do and places to eat. Be aware everything is closed on a Sunday. If you stay near the train station it is cheaper but comes across rougher. Stayed here twice and it was good hotel: Boutique Hotel Atrium München.
Here you will find the best of the Motorworlds, BMW World and Museum
Stuttgart
Industrial city which is very clean but after 5pm it basically everything comes to a holt. Saturday seemed busier down by the train station overall very quiet. We stayed in Hampton by Hilton Stuttgart City Centre which was quite noisy as it was right off the motorway. Good breakfast. Would recommend Onkel Otto for a good schnitzel.
Here you will find the worst of the Motorworlds, Porsche Museum and Mercedes-Benz Museum. Tecknik Museum
Cologne
We didn’t stay here, felt quite like Stuttgart.
Here you will find the Cologne Motorworld which has the Michael Schumacher Collection and an amazing Mexican restaurant.
Dusseldorf
Based by the Rhine it had a Benidorm feel to it. Lots of night life but a little grubby. One for the boys not your partner. We stayed at the Leonardo Hotel Düsseldorf City. They are dated but have big beds.
Here you will find Classic Remise and with a drive the Loh Collection
Frankfurt
Was the worst of the cities. Night life died off quickly, felt very Bauhaus and grubby. We stayed at Hampton by Hilton Frankfurt City Centre East which was rubbish. They push a happiness guarantee, but complaints fell on death ears.
Nürburgring
Didn’t stay, just day visit. You can watch racing from vantage points around the track for free. I wouldn’t suggest visiting unless there is something going on. Loads of indoor space to stay dry, loads of food options, museum is good and the go karts are really worth it.
Fly or Drive?
I have driven and I have flown to Munich. The drive is naff. Just fly. We did rent a car but be aware there is a charge for border crossing so we planned to go to the Netherlands and Austria and it would have been a £70 charge for crossing both ways so a £150 week rental would have cost and extra £140. Because they all have trackers they will know if you left and it would have be a £500 fine. When in Munich, take the train to Salzburg and see Redbull’s Hangar 7. Whether or not you like Redbull, still cool.
Places to visit:
Motorworld Munich
Free to enter and gravel parking was 7 euros for the day. Food inside is expensive and on the weekends it can be chaos so try and go mid-week. Here you will find the McLaren service centre and Bugatti showroom as well as a host of others. It is forever changing so if you are ever in town, take a detour.
Full Blog and Photos
BMW Welt & Museum
You could easily do this and Motorworld on the same visit. Easy to get to via the underground. When buying tickets these are in ZONE 1. Welt is free to enter and is a massive showroom. Museum was 16 euros. I have been twice, exhibits barely change and there is always something shut off. I would only visit here once.
Full Blog and Photos
Motorworld Region Stuttgart
Very little here to see. Free to enter and parking does cost. We went in the late evening, so we took our chances and parked in front of a closed business around the back. Make sure you going during a working day otherwise you might find you trip not very worth it. They have the V8 hotels here but you are very far out. Stay centre and drive to it.
Full Blog and Photos
Stuttgart Tecknik Museum
Ran out of time. Really worth the visit though.
Porsche Platz
I visited during covid and was given a guided walking tour of everything including their bunker so visiting a second time as a “normal person” wasn’t the same. Still a great museum and cost 12 euros to get in and 4 euro all day parking. Make sure to mention this when buying the ticket. You also get to keep a Porsche lanyard for free. Loads of exhibits and some great Porsche history.
Full Blog and Photos
Mercedes-Benz Museum
Literally down the road from Porsche. Can easily do both in the same day. It is across 6 stories and has everything from the original belt driven wagons to the full silver arrow line up. Really worth it! Make sure to get a headset as you get a free Mercedes lanyard. Tickets were 16 euros with pay by the hour parking which was quite cheap.
Motorworld Cologne – The Michael Schumacher Private Collection
This Motorworld hosts the Michael Schumacher collection. All free to enter with cheap paid for parking. Much smaller than Munich and Stuttgart but you could spend more time here. A fantastic tribute towards the racing legend. I would highly recommend the Mexican restaurant in the back.
Full Blog and Photos
Classic Remise Dusseldorf
Very similar concept to Motorworld. Free to enter, free to park. When we went, they had loads of cool cars on display including 2 Stirling Moss SLR’s and the full SLR line up. The toilets here are free and they have a restaurant in the middle. If you go late at night they have a light display inside their dome. Actually, quite a romantic setting if going with a partner.
The Loh Collection
Not going to lie, this is a real middle of the sticks sort of place, so you are going out of your way to go here. It is a super amazing collection of cars which is owned by one billionaire who lives locally. You might find cars are on loan from time to time but all the cars here are star exhibits. It is the most expensive at 26 euros but it is worth every penny. You will need the combined ticket to see Ferrari and the curve.
Full Blog and Photos
The Nürburgring
The green hell is an impressive place but plan accordingly. When we went, there was a 6 hour endurance race on which meant there was some life. I have seen it reported that not a lot else happens there otherwise and due to the length of the track you are going to be waiting 6+ minutes for a car to come around. Essentially it is free to get in, but you will need tickets to get to certain areas. The museum there was good and I would recommend the race sim café for nibbles and a coffee. The track side stand had quite cheap little holes in the wall for food. The go karts were a lot of fun and would highly recommend doing them. Also they were cheap.
Total cost:
Hotel the night before
Airport parking
Flights
Rental car / insurance / fuel / parking
Hotels
Food & drink
Museums
And gifts
Came to £1200pp
Well hopefully this helps anyone trying to do something like this. If you want anymore advise, please feel free to post or message me.
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