If you are looking for the perfect place to stay in Germany, consider Munich. Not only is it the capital city of Bavaria but it is perfectly situated for those who want to see more than just the city on their trip. There are countless opportunities for day trips that you can take when you stay in Munich and this post is going over ten of the best. You can access many of them with public transportation so you will be able to visit even if you don’t have a car.
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From fairytale castles to historic sites to cultural landmarks, here are ten of the best day trips from Munich you’ll love.
1. Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle, located in Bavaria, is Europe’s ultimate fairytale castle. It actually inspired Sleeping Beauty’s Castle located in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The castle overlooks the beautiful Hohenschwangau valley, and you’ll want to spend some time taking in the breathtaking panoramic views when you visit.
See the full list of day trips to Neuschwanstein Castle here.
2. Salzburg
Salzburg lies just an hour and a half away from Munich by high-speed train service. You can see sites and artifacts from various periods throughout its history from its Roman founding to the 11th-century fortress of Hohensalzburg, one of the largest in Europe. Salzburg is also famous for being the birthplace of the noted composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Plenty of beautiful alpine scenery and hikes accessible by public transit mean it can be a great destination for the outdoors enthusiast. One thing to keep in mind is that especially among older residents, non-traditional German is more common whether it be Austrian German or a Bavarian dialect. The younger student population is likely to be somewhat comfortable in English.
3. Regensburg
Just over an 80-minute train ride or two hours drive away from Munich is the Bavarian city of Regensburg. This big little city captures a small-town feel while still being the 4th largest city in Bavaria. Take a walk among the buildings which tell the story of this city which started as a humble riverfort at the joining of three rivers. A walk along the 900 year old bridge transports you back into the old world as you walk up to St Peter’s Cathedral. A boat tour is a must to relax and really see the city.
4. Bamberg
With a train station just steps from the city center Bamberg is a very accessible city to take a manageable 2.5-hour train ride to. One of Germany’s most beautiful towns has a downtown area that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site including Europe’s largest old city hall which has to be seen to be believed. It’s uniquely situated in the river and the water flows around it. Near the central cathedral is the New Residence which housed the royal court. The hall of mirrors, marble hall, and possibly most beautiful of all, the Imperial hall make a tour of this building a must. A trip to the green market or a gondola ride through the river caps off a trip to this picturesque town.
5. Hallstatt
A pleasant two and an hour drive east into Austria will take you to the beautiful town of Hallstatt. This charming village is nestled in the foothills of the Alps and borders the beautiful Lake Hallstatt. When you visit you will be able to immerse yourself in a setting that feels like it’s something out of a fairytale. The town is beautiful but there is plenty more to do when you visit. You can head to hiking trails or take the funicular train up to the World Heritage Skybridge which allows you to see unforgettable panoramic views of the area. Hallstatt has historically been known for its salt production, and you can learn about it at the Salzwelten Hallstatt, a museum about the salt process that includes tours, exhibits, and a fun slide in the mines! You can also take a boat ride on a salt lake.
6. Zugspitze
Enjoying an ice-cold beer at the top of the world might seem impossible but if you’re in Munich it’s not! Zugspitze is home to a beer garden on top of a mountain, some 9,700 feet above sea level to be exact. The trip up is exciting enough taking a couple of trains and a cable car to reach the top. This is a longer trip because of recent changes but you can purchase a combination ticket to make the trip as easy as possible. Try to plan your trip on a clear day to make the most of the views on the way up and especially at the top. Keep in mind altitude sickness can affect people differently, especially when alcohol is thrown in the mix.
7. Swarovski Crystal Worlds
Swarovski Crystal World is a beautiful place that has to be seen to be believed. It’s located just under three hours away from Munich by bus, or you can opt to take a scenic train ride to the excursion. You’ll want to arrive as early as you can because this attraction is large. It’s part gallery and part wonderland with over 15 unique feature rooms displaying work by multiple different artists. A man-made garden is sure to stun in the sunshine. This excursion is also kid-friendly: there is a small hedge maze and whimsical carousel, as well as a playground.
8. Nuremberg
For an excursion filled with history, head to the town of Nuremberg. You can visit an imperial castle and the Old Town area. During the Middle Ages the town was an important economic hub. Nuremberg is the second largest city in Bavaria after Munich so you can also enjoy many of the comforts and amenities that come with any major city as well. But Nuremberg isn’t just any city, especially for those who are interested in great food. Bratwurst and gingerbread are two famous foods that originated here.
You can find more day trips and tours in Nuremberg here.
9. Linderhof Palace
King Ludwig II is known for constructing Neuschwanstein Castle but he didn’t stop at one ornate castle – he built three! One of the others is Linderhof Palace. It is the smallest but displays luxury and wealth throughout. Drawing inspiration from Versailles, Linderhof Palace features an elaborate Hall of Mirrors that King Ludwig spent many nights in. He often slept during the day and worked by candlelight in the hall, the light reflecting off of the mirrors creating a stunning effect.
10. Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a beautiful medieval German town in northern Bavaria that is defined with cobblestone pathways and half-timbered structures. Many original structures have been carefully preserved so you can see some authentic architecture when you visit. . The cobblestone lanes of its old town are lined with half-timbered houses. You can also spend your time visiting enjoying the stunning panoramic views that are visible from the Town Hall tower.
More Day Trips from Munich
Here are some other amazing day trips from Munich you might like.
Munich Travel & Planning Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Munich. Also, find the list of the best hotels in Munich to stay in. First time in Munich and not sure where to stay? Here are our top three favorite hotels (in the city center) in Munich you might like:
Need more inspiration? Check out our blog post: Where to Stay in Munich which we listed Munich’s best areas and neighborhoods you can stay in and visit during your stay.
Want to add more things to your Munich itinerary and day trips? You can find top attractions and things to do in Munich in addition to what is already mentioned above here.
Video Guide: 10 Best Day Trips from Munich
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Travel Resources for Planning a Trip to Munich and Day Trips from Munich
To make planning your trip to Munich and day trips from Munich easier, we included some of our recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in each destination during your trip.
Flights:
Agoda: Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.
CheapOAir: You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!
Kiwi.com: What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “Nomad” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.
JetRadar: You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.
Hotels:
Agoda: Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.
Hotellook: They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.
Transportations:
Airport Transfers: KiwiTaxi, Viator
Train: Trainline or RailEurope
Bus: Flixbus: Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.
Car Rentals: AutoEurope, EconomyBookings, or GetTransfer (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)
Bike Rental: BikesBooking (Bikes & scooter rentals)
Transportation Comparison: Omio (search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)
Tours & Activities:
TakeWalks (WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.
Tiqets: Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.
Musement: They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.
GetYourGuide: A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities
Viator: The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.
Need help planning a trip to Munich?
Want to plan a trip to Munich and other European destinations but don’t know where to begin? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!
At MultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries such as a trip to Munich with day trips outside Munich are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize your multi-city vacations at the best price.
Don’t want to start from scratch and need some trip inspiration? Check out our marketplace for customizable pre-designed packages available right now for many amazing destinations.
To learn more about how our process of trip planning works in detail, please see our “How It Works” page or check out our video on “How to Plan a Multi-City Trip to Europe in 5 Easy Steps” here.
Have questions for us? Schedule a FREE Call with us here or contact one of the travel experts/destination specialists at [email protected], call/text us at (888)223-2316 today.
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