Office Escape Adventures

Holy Week in Europe: A 14-Day Adventure Through Five Countries

Looking for where to go during Holy Week or Easter? Join me on my third European adventure where I added five new countries to my travel list!

After two previous European trips in 2016 and 2018, followed by pandemic years prioritizing visits to family and friends, I finally got to check more countries off my list in 2025. This time, Germany served as my entry point, followed by adventures through Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and Czechia using a mix of car, bus, and train travel.

In This Post

Visa Application: An Adventure of Its Own

If you’re based in Taiwan: I carefully followed the process outlined at https://taipei.diplo.de/tw-en/service/visa 

The application required an in-person visit, and the visa was delivered to my home within a couple of days (though I had to collect it from the courier’s warehouse since I was out cycling when they attempted delivery).

If you’re based in the Philippines: Follow the process at https://visa.vfsglobal.com/phl/en/deu/ 

Ensure all information is consistent across your cover letter, application form, itinerary, and reservations to avoid having to submit a remonstrance. Here’s how I successfully appealed my Schengen Visa Rejection.

Getting There and Getting Around

  • From Asia to Germany:
    • From Taiwan: Direct flight from Taipei to Munich via EVA AIR
    • From the Philippines: One-stop flights from Manila to Munich via Etihad
  • Munich to Austria: My friend drove us in a rented EV to Salzburg and back
  • Munich to Switzerland: The same friend and EV took us to Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lucerne, and Zurich
  • Switzerland to Germany: ICE train from Zurich to Berlin
  • Germany to Poland: Flixbus from Berlin to Szczecin
  • Germany to Czechia: Flixbus from Berlin to Prague
  • Czechia back to Germany: Flixbus from Prague to Munich

I only purchased a 24-hour transit pass twice while in Berlin, as most of our exploration in every country was done on foot.

Day 0: Freising, Germany

Our friend picked us up from the airport. After lunch, we took a much-needed walk around Freising Altstadt, then bought groceries for the coming days. It’s a lovely town, though it does smell like a farm at times.

Day 1: Salzburg, Austria

Looking at Google Maps, I discovered this city was just a couple of hours’ drive from Munich—and it’s Mozart’s birthplace! We walked 13,000 steps visiting:

  • Fortress Hohensalzburg (requires ticket)
  • Salzburg Cathedral
  • Mozart’s Birthplace (requires ticket)
  • Lunch at Zum Zirkelwirt
  • Mirabell Palace

Days 2-4: Switzerland – An Accidental “Crash Landing On You” Pilgrimage

I knew I wanted to visit Switzerland but wasn’t sure where to go, so Gerald recommended some destinations. The drive was about 4 hours from Freising, though we spent additional time charging the EV along the way.

Iseltwald

We stayed in this charming village on Lake Brienz for two nights. I didn’t realize it was a popular “Crash Landing On You” filming location until I opened Google Maps and saw a marker for “Pier: Crash Landing On You Filming Location.” We visited on our last day and fortunately didn’t encounter long queues at sundown.

Interlaken

Located between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, Interlaken is known as Switzerland’s adventure capital. We didn’t participate in any extreme activities but enjoyed watching paragliders while taking a walk. We also purchased groceries here since Iseltwald has limited shopping options and only one restaurant, which was about to close.

Grindelwald

We took a gondola to Grindelwald First and attempted to hike to Bachalpsee, but realized we weren’t prepared for potential incidents in the snow. Here we found another “Crash Landing On You” photo opportunity.

We stopped at Lauterbrunnen to enjoy the sunshine and view the beautiful Staubbachfall waterfall.

Lucerne

Lucerne has a wonderful medieval atmosphere that I loved! We visited Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), dating from 1333, which is Lucerne’s most famous landmark and considered Europe’s oldest covered bridge. We climbed the wall towers for a better view of the old town before heading to Zurich.

Zurich, by comparison, felt like just another big city.

Day 5: Travel from Zurich to Berlin via ICE Train

My friend initially wanted to drive us from Zurich to Nuremberg, where we could catch the ICE train to Berlin. However, we decided it would be simpler to take the train directly from Zurich. Upon arriving at the Central Station, we discovered that the train was fully booked, and only Class 1 tickets were available. We opted to purchase our tickets in person.

While waiting for our number to be called, a train manager approached us and recommended the SBB mobile app, which allows users to check schedules and purchase tickets. Unfortunately, the sign-up process took some time, and our number was called before we could complete it.

The train schedule was clearly explained, including which train we could take and the fact that we wouldn’t have reserved seats. The train departed Zurich on time, but as we entered Germany, the stops became increasingly delayed. We eventually arrived in Berlin 45 minutes late.

We initially thought there were cars with non-reserved seats, but we were wrong. We didn’t understand why people weren’t taking the seats across from us until we realized the displays on the side of the seats showed the stops where they were reserved. We had to give up our seats and ended up standing for about three hours. At every stop, Gerald quickly checked the seat displays to see if they were reserved, and finally, we found seats!

We didn’t have the energy to figure out how to take the train from Berlin Central Station to our hotel so we just took an Uber. And the first order of business upon arrival: laundry! We stayed at Ibis Styles Treptow, with a cash-operated laundromat just a few hundred meters away. I had to withdraw money from an ATM.

Day 6: Berlin and Holocaust Memories

We reunited with another group of friends for this leg of the journey.

Our 20,000-step day included visits to:

  • The Berlin Wall
  • Brandenburg Gate
  • Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
  • Victory Column
  • Topography of Terror
  • Checkpoint Charlie

Day 7: Potsdam, Germany

Gerald flew back to Munich to catch his flight to Manila. He arrived Sunday at 7 AM, giving him a day to recover before returning to work.

Meanwhile, my friends and I visited Sanssouci Palace, walking 24,000 steps. We accidentally discovered it’s a filming location for the K-drama “Queen of Tears.”

Day 8: Szczecin, Poland

Easter Sunday blessed us with perfect spring weather—not too cold, with a cloudless blue sky. This provided an ideal backdrop for the towering red-brick Gothic architecture. We strolled through the Old Town and along the West Oder River, accumulating 17,000 steps.

Day 9: Travel from Berlin to Czechia

We bid farewell to our friend who had hosted us for several days as we continued to the next leg of our vacation. After a four-hour bus ride, we spent most of the afternoon doing laundry in our Airbnb before heading out for dinner.

Day 10: Prague, Czechia

Often described as Europe’s most beautiful city, I’d have to agree after visiting 14 countries in the region.

We explored the city on a self-guided walking tour, admiring its mix of medieval, Gothic, Baroque, and Art Nouveau architecture:

  • Charles Bridge
  • Prague Castle
  • Hiked to Letná Pond
  • Old Town Square for a lively lunch
  • The Astronomical Clock

After returning to our Airbnb for a nap, we still had energy (and daylight) to visit:

  • Museum of Senses
  • Prague Central Station

All in one day—30,000 steps! I was extremely grateful for my Altra Olympus 5 shoes, which worked perfectly on the cobblestone streets.

Day 11: Czechia to Germany

We took a 5-hour bus from Prague back to Munich for the final leg of our vacation. In Munich, we had dinner and visited a Harry Potter shop, but missed the grocery stores! We were quite dehydrated.

Day 12: Schwangau, Germany and Its Castles

We booked a tour through Klook to visit:

  • Schloss Linderhof (Linderhof Palace)
  • Schloss Neuschwanstein (Neuschwanstein Castle)
  • Schloss Hohenschwangau (Hohenschwangau Castle)

We chose not to purchase tickets to enter the castles so we could explore the surroundings on foot without time constraints. We used tour operator Mentor Reisen.

Day 13: Cycling Along the Isar River, Munich

One friend flew back to Manila to have a full day of recovery before returning to work. Another enjoyed some solo time shopping.

I met up again with my Munich-based friend, and as promised, we went cycling together. We considered renting from Rose Bike shop but ultimately chose Call-a-Bike, a high-quality German version of Obike. We rode 23 km off-road along the Isar River.

We had dinner in Marienplatz that evening.

Day 14: Homeward Bound

I took my EVA Air flight back to Taipei, while my friend flew to Singapore via Singapore Airlines.

What I particularly enjoyed about this trip was traveling with different circles of friends. In fact, there wasn’t a single friend who traveled with me for all 15 days! Being mature travelers, we were comfortable not spending every day together. We respected each other’s interests and need for space.

Bonus Section: Where to Eat

  • Salzburg, Austria: Zum Zirkelwirt
  • Switzerland:
    • Ristorante pizzeria Da Salvi, Grindelwald
    • Rathaus Brauerei, Lucerne
    • Più Sciffbau, Zurich
    • Vanini Swiss Chocolate, Interlaken
  • Szczecin, Poland:
    • Breakfast at KAWAŁEK
    • Lunch at Columbus Restaurant
  • Prague:
    • Kavárna Tobruk (Dinner)
    • Lžička café (Breakfast)
    • Old Town Square (Street food for Lunch)
  • Schwangau: Kainz Restaurant
  • Munich:
    • Bohne & Malz am Stachus
    • Wildmosers Restaurant (across from Marienplatz)

Most days, I only had coffee for breakfast, as I don’t typically eat morning meals. For dinner, we often had fruits, nuts, and cheese purchased from grocery stores. When traveling between countries, we’d pick up bread from local bakeries.

Budget Breakdown

My credit card bill came to 73,000 NTD, excluding flights. I used miles to book my one-way flight and paid 20,000 NTD for the return flight. In total, I spent just under 100,000 NTD! This matches the budget from my previous two European trips—despite noticeable inflation everywhere, I still managed to stay within my financial limits!

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That’s it for now! Stay tuned for more adventures and tips on balancing work and travel!

Until later,

🌹

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