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The 25 best day trips from Munich, Germany

Winter or summer: a massive list of the most popular day trips from munich as ranked by a local..

Munich is an amazing city. I should know, I live here. Architecture, art, tradition, food, beer – there is virtually nothing my hometown cannot offer (check my list of the 50 best things to do in Munich ). But that is not the only reason Bavaria’s capital is often ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world. There is also a sheer endless mass of tourist attractions in the close vicinity . Here is my list of the 20 best day trips from Munich.

 The easiest way to reach most of the places on this list is by car or guided tour. You’ll find the average time to reach them in parenthesis. As Bavaria has a very good public transport system , there is (almost) no location you cannot reach via train or bus in southern Germany. In some cases, it will take longer, though. I usually take the train.

Note: I earn a small commission for purchases made through links in this article

1. Day trip to Neuschwanstein castle (1h 50min)

The probably most popular reason to leave Munich is Schloss Neuschwanstein , near Füssen. The picture-perfect castle inspired Walt Disney for the Sleeping beauty castle  and countless generations of photographers. The most stunning part: It’s even more spectacular from within than from without. Construction started in 1869 as a private mansion for King Ludwig II but it never got finished due to his untimely death and the astronomical costs.

Plan some extra time to visit the adjacent castle Hohenschwangau. It’s a bit older, but nevertheless quite charming. As Neuschwanstein is pure fantasy, Hohenschwangau will also give you the unique opportunity to see a real castle of the Bavarian Kings.

How to get there: It’s a bit more complicated to get there by public transport, so I recommend a tour.

Recommended tour: This is the tour I booked on my last trip to Neuschwanstein

Related blog post: How to get from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle

Note: If you plan a visit definitely pre-book your tickets on the official website, especially during the summer months.

2. Regensburg (1h 30min)

Regensburg is another well preserved medieval town worth a visit listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . The capital of Upper Palatinate (“Oberpfaltz”) was founded in 179 AD under the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and started to flourish after the Stone Bridge across the Danube opened up the international trade routes between Europe and Venice.

Truly a remarkable city with fascinating architecture and lots of history! So, put a Regensburg day trip from Munich on your bucket list, eh?

Related blog post: You can read my detailed Regensburg travel guide here .

Recommended tour: Here is a lovely direct guided tour from Munich .

How to get there: There are direct trains from the central station every hour. It only takes 90 minutes.

3. Nuremberg (1h)

Nuremberg is a medieval town of epic proportions and quite a spectacular old town. It has also quite a sinister Nazi-past, so it makes for the perfect day trip from Munich. If you are visiting Germany in winter, then the famous Christmas market in Nuremberg will be a more than welcome diversion.

I personally love the Germanic National Museum (one of the best museums in Germany), and the Toy Museum is also quite special. Above all, walking through the historic old town will be a treat. The Hangman’s Bridge is half-timbered medieval perfection if you ask me! Although most of it was destroyed during World War II, you should reserve some time to walk along the historic city wall and of course, the medieval Kaiserburg (emperor’s castle) abutting the old town.

Related blog post: Here is my travel guide to Nuremberg

How to get there: Take the train from the central station. If you take the expensive high-speed train, it only takes 60 minutes. The direct regional train is about 2 hours.

4. Würzburg (2h)

Another UNESCO World Heritage site you shouldn’t miss can be found in Würzburg. The drive might be quite long, but the Würzburg Residenz is worth it. The vast castle complex is especially famous for its stunning Baroque style interiors, and the world’s largest fresco created by none other than Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.

Related blog post: Read my Würzburg guide here

How to get there: The highspeed train takes 2 hours from Munich central station to Würzburg. The fastest regional connection is 3 hours 15 minutes, so not sure if that is feasible.

Note: If you just want to see the castle, I’d recommend visiting on route to another city in Germany like Frankfurt, Cologne or Berlin.

5. Bamberg (1h 40 min)

Looking for more UNESCO World Heritage sites? Then Bamberg might just be the perfect place for you. The medieval old town of the city is world-famous and beyond pretty. It’s not that close to Munich, but the highspeed train (ICE) will get you there in no time to make it feasible. I’ve done it plenty of times.

Related blog post: Here’s my Bamberg travel guide .

Recommended tour: Definitely consider booking a private brewery and walking tour ! You’ll thank me later.

How to get there: Again, the easiest way to get to Bamberg from Munich is by train. There is a direct train every hour (and a couple of slower trains in between).

6. Salzburg (1h 30min)

Not all that far away from the Königsee, hides another wonderful day trip option from Munich: Salzburg. Often coined the town where Mozart was born, has much more to offer than just music. The fourth-largest city in Austria is renowned for its impressive Baroque architecture and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Related blog posts: Click here for my detailed Salzburg travel guide )

Recommended tours: You can book a day trip from Munich here . Definitely also consider doing the authentic Sound of Music tour !

How to get there: A RailJet Express leaves every hour from Munich central station and only takes 90 minutes! You’ll have to walk a bit from Salzburg central station to the old town (quite scenic) or take the regional bus.

7. Altötting (1h 20min)

The small town of Altötting is a true insider tip. It is here, almost all Bavarian Kings had had their hearts buried, it is here Germany’s oldest and most important shrine to Mary can be found. And it is here all past three Popes came to pray in front of the black Madonna . It is a quiet place, a place for contemplation, but nevertheless stunning. Doubly so, as almost no international tourists come here.

Related blog post: Read my full Altötting guide here

How to get there: There are no direct trains from Munich central station. You will first have to catch one to Mühldorf and then change to the Regional Train to Altötting. It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes one way.

8. Zugspitze (2h 25min)

Looking for an adventure? They how about climbing Germany’s highest mountain ? But fear not, for those short on time or too lazy to hike, three cables cars run all the way up those 2.962 meters (9.718 ft). The panorama of the Bavarian Alps from the top is truly spectacular.

There is a big skiing resort at the Zugspitze, so it is also a perfect winter getaway. If you are looking for further things to do between December and March, check out my guide to the best things to do in Munich in winter .

Recommended tour: Here is a comfortable direct tour from Munich .

How to get there: It is a bit more complicated to get to the Zugspitze. First, you have to catch a train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, they leave every hour. Then you have to take the Regional bus to the Eibsee Cable Car and from there you can buy your tickets to go all the way to the top.

9. Blaubeuren (1h 40min)

In 2017 the UNESCO inscribed Blaubeuren and the nearby prehistoric cave dwellings as a World Heritage site . Even before, the medieval town was famous for the Blautopf, a natural spring of the deepest blue. Such a scenic setting.

There really is no way around visiting this amazing town near Ulm. Why? Well, in the URMU museum in Blaubeuren you get the chance to see the oldest human figurine ever found ( The Venus of Hohle Fels ; 42.500 years old) and the oldest human music instrument (The Geierknochenflöte ; same age).

Related blog post: Read how to visit Blaubeuren on a day trip from Munich here .

How to get there from Munich: It takes about 90 minutes to get to Blaubeuren by train, but you will have to catch a connecting train in Ulm. If you start your day early, you could even do a tour of Ulm for 2 hours (see below).

10. Innsbruck (1h 45 min)

Innsbruck is another lovely Austrian town, you really should visit. Fear not, as Austria is in the EU, crossing the border is utterly hassle-free. Innsbruck is the capital of Tyrol and famous for its mountains, its old town , ski-resorts, and excellent cuisine.

It also happens to be the birthplace of the Swarovski crystals and there is a Swarovski Theme park quite close to the city worth visiting. Actually, I’d say Innsbruck is one of the best weekend trips from Munich, as there is so much to be explored in Tyrol that one day is probably not enough.

Related blog post: Read my detailed Innsbruch guide here

How to get to Innsbruck : There is a direct train from the central station every two hours. So, try to catch this one, as the alternatives take considerably longer.

11. Breitachklamm (2h 10min)

In the most southern part of Germany hides another Gem you will find in very few tourist guides. For some reason, the region called Allgäu is not all that popular among tourists. Berchtesgaden is closer, but traffic jams are frequent and its often a bit crowded. The Breitachklamm is the deepest rocky gorge in Central Europe and you really have to see. It’s a wonderful day trip from Munich in winter or summer.

How to get there: This one is a bit tricky. I actually recommend you to go there by car as taking public transport is difficult and slow. First, you have to catch a train to Fischen. And then you need to take bus 44 which will take you directly to the gorge (3 hours+ one way); With the car, you can make it in less than 2 hours.

12. Burghausen (2h)

Burghausen is home to the longest castle complex in the world . The medieval fair tale castle stretches for more than one kilometer along a high mountain ridge. Burghausen Castle was founded in 1025 AD and has quite a history to tell. You won’t need a full day to explore the complex, though. As both Salzburg and Altöttingen are quite close, you could possibly combine them.

How to get there: Take the train to Mühldorf from the central station and then catch the connecting train to Burghausen.

13. Königsee (2 hours)

Few spots in Bavaria, if any, are more beautiful than the Köngisee (Lake of the Kings). Located in the scenic area of Berchtesgaden, the lake and its picturesque church Saint Bartholomäus have been a tourist’s favorite for more than 200 years .

While you are in the area, definitely make sure to drop by at the famous Eagle’s Nest (or Kehlsteinhaus , how it is properly called). It was erected during the third Reich-era for special diplomatic receptions and was visited by Adolf Hitler many times. These days, it’s just a beautiful restaurant in a stunning setting.

Recommended tour: You can book an organized group tour here , which will be way easier than public transport

How to get there: I recommend you to book a tour or take the car. As an alternative, you could take the train to Salzburg and then catch Bus 841 to Schönau. From there, you can walk to the lake (1 kilometer)

14. Dachau Concentration Camp (40min)

Germany is a proud nation with a very long history and many accomplishments. We invented the computer, the car, the electro engine, planes, television, we reformed Christianity and so much more. But we also committed atrocities beyond imaginations.

The Nazi regime and Hitler are a stain we will never get rid off and one we should never forget either. Visiting one of the concentration camps, where hundreds of thousands of Jews and political enemies were killed under the most inhuman conditions might not be the most cheerful day trip from Munich, but it will leave a profound mark on your itinerary.

Recommended tour: This experience really calls for a guide, you can book it here .

How to get there: Take the suburban train S2 to Dachau. From here, you can catch bus 726 which will stop right in front of the memorial.

15. Rothenburg ob der Tauber (2h 30min)

I was somewhat reluctant to put Rothenburg ob der Tauber on this list of the best day trips from Munich. It’s quite far away. At the same time, the romantic medieval old town has always been a tourist’s favorite. If you start your day early, I’m sure you will enjoy your stroll through what once has been one of the Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire. Rothenburg is part of the world-famous Romantic Road.

Recommended tour: If you don’t want to navigate public transport and would like a guide, this is a tour I can really recommend .

How to get there: Rothenburg is actually not that close to Munich and you will have change trains 3 (!) times. First, you have to get to Nürnberg, then catch the train to Ansbach, from Ansbach to Steinach, and from Steinach to Rothenburg. As you don’t have a lot of time to reach the other tracks, a tour is probably better for first-timers.

16. Linderhof palace (1h 15min)

Linderhof is another beautiful residence of King Ludwig II you have to see. It’s perhaps the most private, most intimate place he commissioned and thus the most intriguing. It is also the only of his castles and palaces that got finished during his lifetime.

The small villa and it’s surrounding park was never meant to be an official place, but rather some kind of Hermitage for a man who was more constantly longing for the lost glory of past ages.

Related blog post: You can find a list of the top castles near Munich here .

Recommended tour: This is the tour I booked on my last trip . It is the fastest and best way to see the castle (& Neuschwanstein castle)

How to get there: Linderhof castle is located in the middle of nowhere and there are no easy direct connections by public transport. Book a tour or rent a car. As an alternative, you can take the train to Oberau, then catch the bus 9606 to Ettal and then another bus (9622) to the castle. It will take roughly 2 hours 30 minutes if you don’t miss any connections. The bus service can be a bit unreliable.

Note: Do drop by at the fantastic Ettal monastery which is only a 20-minute drive away.

17. Bayreuth (2h)

There are many UNESCO World Heritage sites in Bavaria, but in my opinion, Bayreuth beats them all. The Margravial Opera House is out of this world. Then there is the Eremitage and quite a host of other wonderful Baroque style buildings you won’t be able to see anywhere else. Bayreuth is one of my favorite day trips from Munich!

Related blog post: Check out my full Bayreuth travel guide here .

How to get there: The only feasible way to visit Bayreuth from Munich is taking the highspeed train to Nuremberg and then catch a connecting regional train to Bayreuth. Then, you will only need 2 hours to get there. Regional trains might take close to 4 hours.

18. Museum Buchheim (1h)

One of my personal favorite places to visit near Munich is the Museum Buchheim – or Buchheim Museum of Imagination. Buchheim was a German author and art collector. The museum is home to one of the finest collection of expressionist art and a beautiful starting point to explore idyllic lake Starnberg.

Note: Kloster Andechs is quite close. So why not combine the two for an extra special day trip

How to get there: There are direct trains to the city of Kochel from central station Munich (RB 59653), but you will have to get out in Bernried and then you can walk the rest (1 kilometer). There is a bus, but it basically makes no sense, as you will have to walk almost half the way to get to the next bus station.

19. Augsburg (30 min)

Augsburg is the third oldest city in Germany (founded in 15 BC!!) and played a major role in our history. There are magnificent buildings from the very earlier medieval times (like the Cathedral, founded in the 9th century), beautiful Renaissance architecture and the oldest social housing estate in the world (the Fuggerei ).  It’s also home to one of the very few Synagogues to survive the pogrom during WWII.

Related blog post: Read my Augsburg guide here .

How to get there: It’s quite easy to get from Munich to Augsburg. There are direct trains every 15 minutes. The highspeed train will only take 30 minutes, while the cheaper regional train takes 45 minutes to get there.

20. Ulm (1h 15min)

Ulm should be on any list of cities near Munich to visit. It’s not only the birthplace of Albert Einstein but also home to the tallest steeple in the world (161m / 520ft). The long and winding climb up the Ulm Minster is a truly unforgettable experience – both in terms of the pain your legs will experience and the amazing view in grants over the old town. I especially liked walking through the old fishermen’s quarter with its many half-timbered houses and narrow cobblestone streets.

How to get there: There are direct trains from Munich central station to Ulm every hour.

21. Wieskirche (2h 20 min)

Close to the alps, there is a region known as the Paffenwinkel (the ‘shavelings quarter’). The people in this part of Bavaria have always been very religious and value their ancient traditions a lot. There is a sheer endless mass of outstandingly beautiful churches you can explore, but the Church of the Wies is probably the crowning achievement .

Right in the middle of nowhere, you’ll find a UNESCO World Heritage site of such beauty, it’s hard to comprehend. The small rococo church is famous for its awe-inspiring frescos . It also is an important pilgrimage site and weirdly enough not very popular among international tourists. This is entirely weird, as the most visited attraction in Germany (Neuschwanstein castle) is only 10 kilometers away.

Blogpost with more details: Here is my Wieskirche guide .

Available guided tours: I could only find this combined tour , which also visits Neuschwanstein castle.

How to get there from Munich: You have to take the train to Füssen and then there is a tourist bus right to the entrance. You could also rent a car and visit all the highlights in the area in one day.

22. Herrenchiemsee Palace (1 hour 30 minutes)

Visiting the fantastic Lake Chiemsee is one of my favorite tours from Munich. In summer, it’s a good place to escape the heat of the city, but most tourists want to visit the wonderful Herrenchiemsee Palace no matter the season. The Bavarian King Ludwig II visited Versaille in France and was so inspired by all that splendor that he too wanted a piece of it.

That’s why he commissioned the wonderful Herrenchiemsee Palace on a picturesque island on Lake Chiemsee. I love strolling through the park and just enjoying the beautiful scenery. There’s another island close by, the so-called Fraueninsel, which you should also check out. There are an ancient church and some lovely restaurants where you can eat fresh fish!

Recommended tour: Here is a wonderful direct tour to Herrenchiemsee .

How to get there: Probably the easiest way to get there is catching a train to the city Prien am Chiemsee, walk down to the harbor (or take the bus) and then take the ferry to one of the islands.

23. Kloster Weltenburg (1h 30 min)

There are many smaller and bigger monasteries near Munich. Ottobeuren, Ettal or Andechs instantly come to my mind. But probably none is as beautiful as the Weltenburg monastery. Being founded in 617 AD, it is also the oldest monastery in Bavaria .

To me, the setting makes Weltenburg so special. The view from the other side of the Danube is nothing short of spectacular . You should definitely combine your trip with a visit to the Hall of Liberation in Kehlheim, which is quite a beautiful neoclassical memorial.

How to get there: The only feasible way to get there is by renting a car. You’ll get there in about 90 minutes. Otherwise, you have to catch a train to Ingolstadt and then navigate the public bus network, which will be a bit frustrating and will take around 3 and a half hours.

24. Oberammergau (1h 45 min)

Air paintings are very popular in the rural areas of Bavaria. Often, you will find huge murals adorning the facades of private houses – most of them with a religious background. Sadly, it is slowly vanishing art. The town of Oberammergau is the exception. Virtually every house is painted one way or another .

Oberammergau is world-famous for its woodcarvers and it could be the perfect opportunity to buy a wonderful sculpture. There is one more thing you should know: Every 10 years the citizens are performing a Passion Play . It is recognized by the UNESCO and draws hundreds of thousands of tourists. And here is the good news: The next performance is scheduled to be in 2020. You can get your tickets here .

How to get there: Many tours to Neuschwanstein stop there, but you can also get there by public transport. Take the regional train to Murnau and then change into the train to Oberammergau. Takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes one way.

25. Fürstenfeld Abbey (25 minutes)

Just outside of Munich’s city gates, you will find a baroque masterpiece : The Fürstenfeld Abbey. Founded in 1258 AD by the Bavarian dukes, the huge monastic ensemble is often compared with the El Escorial in Madrid.

Related blog post: My Fürstenfeld Abbey guide

How to get there: Take the suburban train S4 to Geltendorf from the central station and get out at Fürstenfeldbruck

26. Therme Erding (1 hour)

Wondering what to do in Munich on a rainy & cold day? Well, you should know that you’ll find the largest thermal bath in Europe in Erding on the outskirts of Munich ( here is the official website ).

It is truly huge and separated into three main areas: The waterpark with plenty of slides for the kids, the wellness and swimming area, and the spa & sauna area for adults only.

How to get there: Suburban train S2 will get you to Altenerding in about 40 minutes. From here you have to catch bus number 550 directly to the thermal bath.

[Bonus] The best day trips for Kids: Legoland + Wildpark Poing

Searching for the best day trip from Munich with kids ? Then Legoland is what you are looking for. The Lego theme park is a wonderful mixture of rides and theme worlds built from Lego bricks. While young adults might still enjoy Legoland, it’s probably more suitable for ages 4-14.  Here is the link to the official website. 

Another wonderful place to visit with kids is the Wildpark Poing. It’s not so much a zoo and more like a safari park where a huge emphasis lies on species-appropriate husbandry . To give you a good impression: The housing of the bear is 30,000m² large. For adults and kids, I think this is the best way to experience the local wildlife in a sustainable way.  Here is a link to the official website .

Other day tours from Munich

Believe it or not, but calling this list finished would be a lie. There are many, many more beautiful day trips from Munich. I really didn’t mention Kehlheim, the Walhalla, Kempten and it’s Roman fort, nor Schwaz and its medieval silver mine. Even Erfurt in Thuringia is a possibility!

You also have to remember, that the Alps are only an hour’s drive away and there are so many beautiful hiking trails it would warrant another article (or two!). The surrounding area is also home to a couple of outstanding churches (like the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wieskirche).

Once it starts snowing, things change dramatically as well. A list of the best day trips from Munich in winter would definitely have to include all the amazing skiing resorts in Germany and across the Austrian border. Garmisch, Kitzbühl, Schladming, Stubai, and Ischgl instantly come to my mind. And let’s not forget the fabulous Christmas markets.

To tell you the truth: I have been living in Bavaria all my life and hardly a month passed where I did not explore something new. Ever since the Roman time new and outstanding architecture has been added, while the landscape has been developed by the local farmers since eons before. Certainly, there have been a couple of wars in between, but the remains still more than you could possibly explore in one lifetime.

Looking for more Munich inspiration? Here are some of my other articles:

• The 5 best hotels in Munich’s old town
• One day in Munich – What to see when time is short
• A self-guided Art Nouveau walking tour through Munich
• My Ultimate Oktoberfest Survival Guide

Anyway, I’ll conclude my list here. Hope you liked it. If you got any questions, feel free to drop me a comment below. And don’t forget to pin this to your Pinterest board.

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Amazing post – thank you!

Visiting in late June, you’ve made me excited to be there and sorry we can’t stay longer already! I wanted to plan a special day while we’re there for my partners bday … we’re outdoor people and foodies. If you have any suggestions that would be much appreciated! Either way thanks for all the terrific info :) Karen Detroit, MI

thank you! I’m sure you will have a blast of a time. As for food suggestions – try to go to a beer garden at least once! :)

Such a great list! I’ve been to Munich and other parts of Bavaria several times (I used to live in Freiburg and now I live in Berlin) but there are still so many places to visit. I really like Nuremberg and Bamberg, haven’t been to Regensburg yet. And there are definitely more castles I need to see!

We’ve visited Wurzburg – it was very interesting, but the trip to Neuschwanstein was a bit questionable because of the amount of tourists, we have decided to choose the daytrip to Prague, it’s not that far from Munich.

Great post and thanks for the tips! Will be visiting Munich in Dec – will definitely check out some of these sights. Thanks again!

This is a fantastic post about the best day trips from Munich. There are so many places I would like to see and you gave it to one article so it would be easy to choose some and just go – as soon as travelling is possible again I would definitely use your post for picking the best trip!

Thank you again for this post and I wish you all the best!

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10 of the best day trips from Munich: nature, culture, and fairy-tale castles

May 18, 2024 • 11 min read

From the lakeside beauty of Berchtesgadan to stunning Bavarian castles, here are the best day trips from Munich © Cavan Images / Getty Images

If the residents of Munich look pleased with their lot, it’s little wonder. Not only is this cosmopolitan city a fantastic place to live, it also serves as a great base for exploring the nearby mountains and lakes, as well as other cities and countries. When you've had your fill of art collections, parks and rollicking beer halls, head a little farther afield for new cultural thrills and outdoor adventures.

Within an hour or so of the Bavarian capital, you hit the Alps, where hiking trails and cable cars scale cloud-shredding peaks and winter snowfall entices skiers. Alternatively, you can explore the history-rich cities of Augsburg or Ulm, or one of "Mad" King Ludwig’s palaces. Austria is also within easy reach, with glorious Salzburg just a short train ride away. Here are ten of the best day trips from Munich.

1. Enjoy the natural beauty of Chiemsee, the region's largest lake

Travel time: 1 hour

This looking-glass lake offers heaven-on-earth mountain views – on warm summer days, it’s tempting to just hang out at the lakeside lido beaches, rent a boat or paddle along the shores, but there are some sights here too. 

The big cultural deal on the lake is the riotously romantic and unashamedly opulent Schloss Herrenchiemsee , which Ludwig II ambitiously modeled on Versailles back in 1878. The lavishly frescoed, gilded and chandelier-lit Grosse Spiegelgalerie is longer than its Versailles counterpart at 98m (321ft) and elicits a chorus of "wows" from visitors.

How to get to Chiemsee from Munich: Prien am Chiemsee – the easiest access point – is an hour’s drive southeast of Munich via the A8. Trains depart frequently from Munich’s Hauptbahnhof, making the journey in an hour. To reach the palace, take the ferry from Prien-Stock to Herreninsel (it’s a 20-minute walk through pretty gardens from there). 

2. Have a fun day out with the kids at Wildpark Poing 

Travel time: 30 minutes 

Founded in 1959, this wildlife park is home to deer, racoons, wolves and wild boar, as well as a family of brown bears. A circular trail passes through the enclosures, from dense forest to open meadows, with several residents also sharing the footpath. Be sure to bring a few 50 cent coins to chuck into the animal-feed vending machines dotted across the park. 

If visiting with kids, leave ample time to explore the huge play area about halfway round. There are rope courses, steep slides, water fountains, pirate ships and areas suitable for toddlers, as well as picnic tables dotted throughout – don’t be surprised if a peacock struts past as you’re enjoying your lunch.  

How to reach Wildpark Poing from Munich: Public transport options are limited here, unless you are happy to walk around 2km (1.2 miles) from the nearest S-Bahn station (Poing). It takes about 30 minutes to drive there.  

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3. Stroll around Augsburg, one of Germany's oldest cities

Travel time: 30 minutes/1 hour (train/car)

If you fancy a breather from Munich but crave more culture and churches, Augsburg hits the mark. History is writ large across one of Germany’s oldest cities, founded by the stepchildren of Emperor Augustus (hence the name) some 2000 years ago, and made great and glorious by the medieval textile trade.

A city of spires and pretty gables, Augsburg is real eye candy on the  Romantic Road , which meanders from the vineyards of Würzburg to the foothills of the Alps. The city’s Old Town revolves around the Rathausplatz , with its fountain honoring the Roman emperor and its 17th-century, twin onion dome-spired Rathaus, topped with an almost 4m-tall (13ft) pinecone (the city’s emblem). Note: much of the building is closed for renovation until 2026. 

Factor in a trip to the alley-woven Fuggerei , too, Augsburg’s Catholic welfare settlement, where the rent remains frozen at 1 Rhenish guilder (€0.88) per year. You can also book tickets ahead for the Augsburger Puppenkiste , one of the world’s most fabled puppet theaters, that brings fairy tales to life. 

How to get to Augsburg from Munich: Augsburg is an hour’s drive northwest of Munich via the A8 motorway. There are also frequent fast trains (ICE, EC) departing from the Hauptbahnhof. The journey takes roughly 30 minutes.

4. See Schloss Neuschwanstein, an inspiration to Walt Disney 

Travel time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Part of the fun is getting your tongue in a twist pronouncing the name of this whimsically turreted 19th-century castle, with its beautiful backdrop of forests and the Alps. King Ludwig II loved to give free rein to his fertile imagination and nowhere more so than here in Schloss Neuschwanstein . Kids’ bedtime story stuff, the Schloss even inspired Walt Disney and made an appearance in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang .

With its interior bearing the hallmark of a stage designer (as opposed to an architect), the castle is more exuberant folly than fortress, with its gaudy grotto, Byzantine-style Thronsaal (Throne Room) and Sängersaal (Minstrels’ Hall) dancing with frescoes from Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser . In 2024, one of the most extensive restoration projects in the castle’s history will be completed, which included work to several rooms.

Allow time for the short walk to Marienbrücke, a bridge straddling the sheer-sided, waterfall-laced Pöllat Gorge, with knockout views of the castle perched high on its wooded crag.

How to get to Schloss Neuschwanstein from Munich: Get an early start to visit the castle from Munich in a day. The castle is a highly scenic one-and-three-quarter hour drive to the southwest. Or take the train to Füssen, from where it is an eight-minute bus ride to the castle.

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5. Eat well by the shores of Lake Tegernsee 

Travel time: One hour  

Almost directly to the south of Munich, Tegernsee is a popular day trip for locals. You’ll find boat trips, water sports, and a public sauna overlooking the water here, as well as some top spots to eat and drink. 

Stop at the lakeside brewery (full name: Herzoglich Bayerisches Brauhaus Tegernsee ) for refreshing beers, warm hospitality and classic dishes, not to mention plenty of people in traditional clothing – felt hats with feathers included. Alternatively, for something a little more contemporary, try the stylish dining space at recently opened hotel blyb ; the kitchen is run by the team behind Munich’s Michelin-starred restaurant Mural . 

How to reach Tegernsee from Munich: Hourly trains to Tegernsee depart from the main station. Alternatively, you can get there by car via the A8, but beware of traffic when the weather is fine. 

6. Learn about the Dachau concentration camp

The KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau was the Nazis’ first concentration camp, built by Heinrich Himmler to house political prisoners in March 1933. The sobering statistics show that more than 200,000 people were imprisoned here and at least 41,500 were killed. It is now a stark, hard-hitting memorial and poignant reminder of the atrocities of the Third Reich.

You’ll need at least a full morning or afternoon to fully absorb the exhibits (note that children may find them too disturbing). Harrowing displays include original photos of the camp, its guards and prisoners. 

The visitors center is a logical starting point, with its tour-booking desk where you can pick up an audio guide. English tours depart at 11am and 1pm daily, and tickets should be purchased at least 30 minutes in advance. Note: Groups need to book well in advance. 

How to get to Dachau from Munich: Dachau is a half-hour (30km/19 mile) drive north of Munich via the A99. Follow the signs to KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau. Alternatively, there are very frequent regional trains (11 minutes) or S-Bahn trains (21 minutes) from Munich Hauptbahnhof. Change for bus 726 (direction Saubachsiedlung) to reach the site. 

7. Head up to the mountains around Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Propelling you into the Bavarian Alps proper, this double-barreled resort snuggles up close to the Austrian border. Garmisch and Partenkirchen are actually two towns (twinned for the 1936 Winter Olympics), the latter being the most appealing of the two, with its pastel-daubed old-world charm. 

Surrounding this hub, you’ll find mountainscapes that make your heart sing, whether you're schussing down slopes or hiking high in Alpine meadows. First up should be a ride up to Zugspitze , Germany’s highest mountain at 2962m (9718ft) above sea level. A cable car departs from nearby Eibsee and provides arresting views into four countries (Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Germany). 

For more action, ramble through the 700m-long (2296ft) Partnachklamm gorge , with its steep sides, wild waterfalls, and roaring rapids. It’s about a 30-minute walk to the entrance from the parking lot at the Olympia Skistadion in Partenkirchen.  

How to get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen from Munich: Garmisch-Partenkirchen is an hour’s drive south of Munich on the A95. You can also hop on one of the hourly trains from the Hauptbahnhof; the journey takes around an hour and a half. From Garmisch a cogwheel train chugs to Eibsee and the cable car. 

Discover Germany on these 6 incredible hikes

8. It's easy to spend more than a day in Berchtesgaden

Travel time: 2 hours

While doable as a day trip, the alpine dream that is Berchtesgaden is better savored on a long-weekend detour from Munich. Landscape-wise, it’s astounding, with jewel-colored lakes and rugged limestone mountains, among them the Watzmann (2713m/8900ft), Germany’s second-highest peak.

The Königssee , a fjord-like lake of dazzling jade green cradled by rocky mountain walls, is the scenic icing on the proverbial cake. Much of the area is protected by the Berchtesgaden National Park , a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve crisscrossed by some of Germany’s most exhilarating hiking trails. Away from the trails, the area has a more sinister aspect – the mountaintop  Eagle’s Nest , a lodge built for Hitler on his 50th birthday, is a major dark-tourism destination. Despite its origins, the precipitous road to the top and the Alpine views rarely fail to impress.

If you have more time, you can cross over the border into Austria from here and head up to Salzburg – it’s only half an hour north by car. 

How to get to Berchtesgaden from Munich: Berchtesgaden is roughly a two-hour drive southeast of Munich via the A8. The journey takes longer by train, with regional lines departing from Ostbahnhof. 

9. Visit the Franz Marc Museum to learn more about German expressionist artists 

Travel time: 1 hour, 30 minutes 

One of Munich’s top art galleries, the Lenbachhaus has an extensive collection of works from the ground-breaking German expressionist group Der Blaue Reiter (the Blue Rider) formed in the city in 1911. More of their works can be found in a number of museums located in the nearby alpine foothills, a landscape which inspired their work.

Franz Marc spent childhood holidays and much of his creative life in and around the attractive village of Kochel am See, and it is here, above the lake, that you’ll find a museum with his name. The turn-of-the-century villa with a modern extensive is home to a large number pieces from artists such as Paul Klee and August Macke, as well as a diverse selection of drawings, watercolors, and sculptures from Marc himself. Don’t miss the views from the observation room on the second floor. 

How to get to the Franz Marc Museum from Munich: Regional trains from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Kochel depart roughly every hour and take around 60 minutes. You can walk to the museum from the station or hop on the 9608 bus – there’s one an hour. 

10. Explore unique sights in the city of Ulm

Travel time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Under-the-radar Ulm deserves to be better feted, not least because this historic juggernaut of a city, the birthplace of physicist Albert Einstein, has sights you won’t see anywhere else: from the world’s most crooked house (as listed in the Guinness World Records) to the world’s oldest zoomorphic sculpture (aged 30,000 years). 

Top billing naturally goes to the colossal Münster – and the world’s tallest cathedral steeple –  lording above the Marktplatz , which took almost 500 years to build from when the first stone was laid in 1377. From here, dive into the warren of lanes leading to the Fischerviertel , the old fishers’ and tanners’ quarter, where half-timbered houses huddle along the channels of the Blau River, a tributary of the Danube. 

If you’re on an Einstein mission, you won’t want to miss the rocket-snail fountain  depicting the wild-haired genius, or the memorial marking the spot where he was born in 1879.

How to get to Ulm from Munich: Ulm is roughly an hour-and-a-half drive to the west of Munich via the A8 motorway. There are twice hourly trains (1¼ hours).

This article was first published Feb 24, 2021 and updated May 18, 2024.

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Home » Travel Guides » Germany » 15 Best Day Trips from Munich

15 Best Day Trips from Munich

Whether it’s hearty Bavarian food and beer you’re looking for, or jaw-dropping vistas from the top of The Alps, the various regions around Munich, Bavaria’s largest city, are a wealth of endless possibilities for any and all types of traveller.

From castles and palaces more magical and mysterious than the last, to beautiful natural escapes that are within easy reaching distance, finding the perfect Munich day trip couldn’t be easier.

Between the country’s highly reputable transport system and the ease of hiring a car in Europe, you’ll have no problem in arriving at the ideal excursion and enjoying all it has to offer within the space of a day.

To get you started, here are the best day trips from Munich :

1. Neuschwanstein Castle

Arguably the most iconic castle in Europe, if not the world, this pastel-coloured masterpiece with its complex of sprawling turrets, battlements, towers and spires is a true testament to the concept of a fairytale castle.

So much so, that it was actually used for the inspiration behind Walt Disney’s famous castles in the various Disneyland parks.

Less than two hours away from Munich, you’ll be transported to a realm of princes and princesses in a magnificent structure that is just as lavish on the inside as on the out.

You can expect a luxurious Throne Room and indulgent decorations inspired by romantic literature and opera.

This is without mentioning of course, the stunning views of the Alps that can be enjoyed from one of the many towers.

2. Linderhof Palace

The mind behind Neuschwanstein Castle, namely King Ludwig II – happened to also have another favourite spot.

Linderhof Palace, tucked away in the alpine woods near the mountains where Neuschwanstein sits, is an elegantly furnished palace built with the intention of being the king’s hunting lodge in the late 19th Century.

Like so many of the royal establishments of the era, Linderhof is supremely luxurious, containing rich wall hangings, immaculately carved fountains and beautiful gardens.

Make sure you don’t miss the Hall of Mirrors, the Tapestry Chambers and the famous Venus Grotto.

It’s worth noting that you can find some tours that combine Linderhof Palace with Neuschwanstein Castle in the space of a single day.

3. Herrenchiemsee

Built on an island that happens to be situated in the middle of Bavaria’s largest lake (a worthy tour in itself), the royal complex of Herrenchiemsee is only around 60km from Munich and truly is a sight to behold.

Partially finished but no less impressive, the palace grounds contain highlights such as the State Staircase, the Great Hall of Mirrors and King Ludwig’s Small Apartment.

The gardens are bedecked with fountains and sculptures of exceptional calibre and you can expect not one, but two museums to be found on the estate.

The King Ludwig II Museum and the Augustinian Monastery are both filled to the brim with artefacts from the King’s life and pieces of priceless furniture.

4. Salzburg

Make your way to the Austrian border and hop over to one of Europe’s most loved countries where you’ll find the impossibly picturesque city of Salzburg, surrounded by alpine snow peaks and complete with Baroque-style castles and romantic neighbourhoods.

Most famously known for being the birthplace of the immortalised composer Mozart, Salzburg is a hotbed of attractions concerning the late musician.

With it’s pretty winding roads, beautiful Old Town and scenic natural backdrop, it’s easy to see why the city was the setting of Mozart’s The Sound of Music.

Make sure you set time aside to visit Salzburg’s cathedral and the wonderful St Peter’s Abbey.

5. Nuremberg

One of the oldest cities in Bavaria, the ancient settlement of Nuremberg has been the site of many pivotal artistic and cultural events since the 14th and 15th Centuries and still holds a lot of the evidence there today.

So much importance has been attributed to the arts here that almost all of the beautiful Gothic buildings and various churches have been painstakingly restored after bombing from World War II. Discover a sense of deep history walking along the preserve walls of the city and explore the castle in the city center that offers excellent views from its vantage point on top of a hill.

6. Ingolstadt

Perfect for wandering around on foot due to it’s pedestrian-friendly layout, with wide walkways and boulevards, the old town of Ingolstadt is a veritable maze of historic buildings each more beautiful than the last.

Encircled by the preserved ruins of medieval battlements and fortifications, you’ll find highlights such as the Rathausplatz, the monumental Herzogsschloss and the Kreuztor.

Amongst the many wonders you’ll find scattered around the town, be sure to make time for the Minister of Our Lady Church, that contains the jaw-droppingly beautiful and largest stained glass window in Bavaria that was installed in 1527.

7. The Schleissheim Palace Complex

Containing not one, not two, but three magnificent palaces, the 18th Century-built Schleissheim Palace and Park is a convenient 20km away from the center of Munich, meaning its gorgeous attractions are within easy reaching distance either by public transport or by car.

The Neues Schloss is the grandest of the palaces with pavilions linking the huge sections of building and interior that is guaranteed to dazzle visitors with its subtle combinations of different styles including Baroque, Italian and Rococo.

Standout highlights include the Entrance Hall and the Grand Staircase Hall.

The other highlight every bit as impressive as the palaces is the Schleissheim Park which is a Baroque garden that has survived since 1720.

One of the most striking townscapes in Europe belongs to the skyline of Passau, a combination of Italian-style buildings and houses reminiscent of Venice overlooking the banks of the beautiful River Danube.

Located on the Austrian border, the town is perfect for those looking for a riverside getaway.

Passau’s old town is perfectly laid out to give the impression of always being close to the water’s edge, with cobbled lanes leading down from the hill to the river at regular intervals.

Be sure to visit the Cathedral of St Stephen and the pedestrianized shopping street Ludwigstrasse, where you’ll find all manner of Austrian and Bavarian goods and treats.

9. Rothenburg

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of Europe’s most impeccably well-preserved towns and without a doubt one of the most picturesque towns in the world.

Street after street are lined with pastel-coloured, fairytale timbered buildings and store fronts and no shortage of fine churches.

A popular stop on the famous route through various towns known as the Romantic Road, Rothenburg attracts visitors from all over the world to amble through its postcard perfect streets.

10. Berchtesgaden and Eagle’s Nest

Perched on a vantage point-like spot that is surrounded by the striking beauty of the Berchtesgaden National Park, the town of the same name is frequently visited by travellers in search of the perfect 360 degree view of the Alps.

The town boasts an impressively old palace dating back to the 1100’s and the Wittelsbach dynasty.

Also of great popularity to tourists is the infamous Eagle’s Nest, a hideaway built into the mountain for Hitler, standing at an astonishing 1834 meters.

A perfect mix of Alpine scenery and fascinating history, the town of Berchtesgaden is best visited on a tour with a professional guide and ease of transport from Munich.

11. Mount Eckbauer

A nationwide favourite place for snowsports, Mount Eckbauer is the home of the astronomically large Olympic ski jump that is still used today.

Best viewed from the thrilling gondolas of the Eckbauerbahn, its been in use since the Winter Olympics of 1936. With unbeatable views of the snowy Alps, you can even bring a toboggan with you to descend one of the public slopes instead of taking the return gondola.

Also wonderfully appropriate for the location is the hearty Berggasthof where you can fill up on beer and traditional, deliciously authentic Bavarian food.

12. Chiemsee

Easily reachable in under two hours from Munich on public transport, you’ll find Chiemsee, the largest lake in Bavaria.

Its serene waters, backdropped by mountains make for excellent photo opportunities on both sunny and overcast days.

One of the main attractions of the lake is the Prienavera centre, a custom complex built specifically for exercise and relaxation and boasting both indoor and outdoor pools with panoramic views of the lake and unique lakeside saunas.

If all the relaxation works up an appetite, then enjoy a meal at one of the many waterside restaurants before returning to the city.

13. Walchensee

For more alpine lake magic, head about an hour away from Munich to the depths of Walchensee Lake, one of the deepest in Germany.

With a host of activities available, it’s impossible not to stay entertained when visiting, whether you surf, sail dive or fish in Walchensee’s waters.

To get a real perspective of the depth of the lake, you can venture up into the mountains the surround it and peer down into the clear water.

Once you’re up in the mountains you can also enjoy a number of hiking trails, including the beautiful pine tree-lined Mittenwald.

14. Partnach Gorge

Declared as a natural monument owing to its stunning aesthetic beauty, the Partnach Gorge offers an immersive adventure into the middle of the gorge along winding walkways that take you down cliff side paths and through waterfalls.

Make sure you wear clothes that you’re prepared to get a little wet!

15. Regensburg

Less than 2 hours away from Munich is a world famous, UNESCO listed World Heritage Site that sits on the banks of the River Danube.

A truly remarkable city with roots dating back to 179 AD, the riverside city flourished from the regular trade routes established after the Stone Age and as a result is home to some fascinating history and beautiful architecture.

15 Best Day Trips from Munich:

• Neuschwanstein Castle
• Linderhof Palace
• Herrenchiemsee
• The Schleissheim Palace Complex
• Berchtesgaden and Eagle's Nest
• Mount Eckbauer
• Partnach Gorge

15 of the best day trips from Munich by train

Bavaria’s capital is certainly amazing, but it’s the sheer amount of day trips from Munich that make it such a great place to visit. The mountains are just an hour away, there are three large lakes just as close, with amazing UNESCO World Heritage sites, ancient castles, and medieval towns all around.Even if you spent every weekend of the year exploring Munich’s vicinity, you’d still not see it all.

Our guest writer, Norman from Années de Pèlerinage, has compiled this list of the best day trips from Munich and you can visit most of them by train in 2 hours or less. There are so many things to do in Munich, but you do not want to miss seeing something of the surrounding region of Bavaria. You could easily stay a full week or more and explore the whole southern part of Germany from beautiful Munich!

You may also enjoy: 20 fabulous things to do in Munich, Germany

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Table of Contents

1. Neuschwanstein Castle

Schloss Neuschwanstein is the most visited tourist attraction in Bavaria. This is the picture book castle that inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle and featured in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Yes, it might be crowded (1.4 million tourists per year!), but it is also beautiful beyond imagination.

This fairy tale castle was built by King Ludwig II and here are three top tips to plan your visit. First, you have to reserve your Neuschwanstein castle tickets in advance . And secondly, you have to walk quite a bit to get to King Ludwig’s castle (or take a horse carriage). And lastly, there is a second castle called Hohenschwangau right next to it, so bring some extra time to see them both.

• If you prefer to have all arrangements taken care of, check out this tour from Munich: Neuschwanstein castle small group day tour from Munich
• Looking for a hotel nearby? We recommend the comfortable and reasonably priced Hotel Waldmann or look at other hotels in nearby Schwangau
• More info: Schloss Neuschwanstein website | Driving time from Munich around 2 hours then park in the village of Hohenschwangau | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Füssen around 2 hours 45 mins, then the bus to Neuschwanstein

You may also enjoy: 3 days in Munich – our itinerary of cool things to see and do

Stay at the Hotel Waldmann in Schwangau

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Bamberg in Germany is one big UNESCO World Heritage site. If you are looking for a beautiful medieval old town, then this is possibly the best day trip from Munich for you. There are direct trains every hour from the central station and it’s easy to spend a whole day there.

Apart from the famous half-timbered town hall, there is a fantastic palace, quite a couple of small museums, and outstanding churches and monasteries to be explored. Bamberg is also renowned for its many artisanal beer breweries, so that’s definitely one of your best chances to sample an important aspect of Bavarian culture.

• While you’re in Bamberg, we recommend this Bamberg 2-hour guided walking tour to see the old town and main sights of Bamberg.
• Looking for a hotel in Bamberg? We recommend Am Blumenhaus Hotel Bamberg or look at other hotels in Bamberg .
• More info: Bamberg tourism website | Driving time from Munich around 2 hrs 20 mins | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Bamberg around 1 hr 45 mins. There is a high speed ICE train link Berlin – Nuremberg – Munich that stops at Bamberg.

Stay at the Am Blumenhaus Hotel Bamberg

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3. Regensburg

Regensburg once guarded an important bridge across the River Maine. Even today, you can cross the architectonic marvel from the 12th century into the fantastic medieval old town. Regensburg dates to the Roman times and you can still see the old city gates. Just one of many reasons why it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site today.

You should reserve 3 hours to see the equally famous Walhalla memorial on the outskirts of Regensburg. The neoclassical temple was built to house sculptures of famous German artists, inventors, and politicians. You get to enjoy a fantastic view of the whole river valley from the top, so don’t miss it!

• While you’re in Regensburg, why not book this Regensburg sightseeing train tour , to discover the city highlights with an informative audio-guide?
• Looking for a hotel in Regensburg? We recommend Hotel Luis Stadl or look at other hotels in Regensburg .
• More info: Regensburg tourism website | Driving time from Munich around 1 hr 30 mins | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Regensburg around 1 hr 30 mins.

You may also enjoy: Food in Munich – where and what to eat in Munich

Stay at the Hotel Luis Stadl in Regensburg

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4. Salzburg in Austria

The beautiful town of Salzburg might be across the Austrian border, but if you are a fan of the movie The Sound of Music then visiting this city is a no-brainer. It only takes 90 minutes by train. There are special tours to the most important film locations – check out the Original Sound of Music tour . But you should also be aware that Salzburg is home to one of the biggest medieval fortresses in Europe.

Read more: Munich outdoors – where to go cycling, surfing and wild swimming

The famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, and you can still visit his birth house. You’ll find it in the amazing old town (which is another UNESCO World Heritage site). On top of all the baroque splendour, there are many ancient mines and caves in the vicinity. So, why not visit the World of the Ice Giants as well?

• Check out this tour with train travel from Munich and a guided walking tour in Salzburg: Salzburg sightseeing day trip from Munich by rail
• Looking for a hotel in Salzburg? We recommend the Boutique Hotel Auersperg or look at other hotels in Salzburg .
• More info: Salzburg tourism website | Driving time from Munich around 2 hours | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Salzburg around 2 hours.

Stay at the Boutique Hotel Auersperg in Salzburg

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5. Nuremberg

Nuremberg is the capital of the Franconia region in Germany. The city hosted the important Nuremberg trials at the end of World War II and is famous for its beautiful Nuremberg Christmas market right in the medieval old town.

There is a beautiful fortress you can visit, but I personally love the Germanic National Museum the most. Inside, you will find beautiful artworks from all ages, and some outstanding highlights like the oldest pocket watch or the oldest globe in the world. There are also endless masterpieces by artists like Lucas Cranach and Albrecht Dürer.

• If you prefer to visit as part of a tour, we recommend: Nuremberg day trip from Munich by train including train ticket and guided tour of the city.
• Looking for a hotel in Nuremberg? We recommend the Melter Hotel & Apartments or look at other hotels in Nuremberg .
• More info: Nuremberg tourism website | Driving time from Munich around 2 hours | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Nuremberg around 1 hour.

Stay at the Melter Hotel & Apartments in Nuremberg

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6. Würzburg

Before 1805, Bavaria was split into many smaller duchies. Some of them were ruled by powerful prince-bishops, and Würzburg was the grandest of them all. As a testament to his sheer absolute power, Prince-Bishop Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn built a magnificent Residence palace in the first half of the 18th century. The most elaborated stucco works and frescoes adorn every inch of the Baroque masterpiece.

The Würzburg Residence was heavily bombed in the last months of World War II, just like the rest of the old town. But the local craftsmen rebuilt the palace (luckily all the interiors survived) and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site you cannot miss.

• While you’re in Würzburg, we recommend booking this Würzburg sightseeing train tour , to discover the highlights of the old city with an informative audio-guide.
• Looking for a hotel in Würzburg? We recommend the Hotel Würzburger Hof or look at other hotels in Würzburg .
• More info: Würzburg tourism website | Driving time from Munich around 3 hours | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Würzburg around 2 hours.

Stay at the Hotel Würzburger Hof in Würzburg

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7. Bayreuth

The quaint little town of Bayreuth would not appear on any tourist map save for the outstanding projects Margravine Wilhelmine started during her reign (or rather that of her husband). Missing the splendor of the Prussian court, she commissioned a new palace, a hunting palace (the fabled Hermitage) and a new Bayreuth opera house.

This Margravial Opera House is the single most intact Baroque court theater in the world and words cannot describe the beauty of it. There is so much detail, you’d probably need days to experience it all. This is another UNESCO World Heritage site you can easily visit on a day trip from Munich.

• More info: Bayreuth tourism website | Driving time from Munich around 2.5 hours | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Bayreuth around 2.5 hours.
• Looking for a hotel in Bayreuth? We recommend the Hotel Goldener Anker or look at other hotels in Bayreuth .

Stay at the Hotel Goldener Anker in Bayreuth

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8. Augsburg

And talking about the UNESCO, there is one last site you should be aware of which is only 40 minutes away from Munich: Augsburg. The city has a history of 2,000 years and more. For centuries upon centuries, the famous silversmiths supplied the European aristocracy with priceless artworks.

Augsburg is also famous for its waterworks. Ever since the 14th century, the citizens of the free city used the power of the River Lech to supply the old town with the tap water, an unrivaled luxury in the late medieval ages. The system is still in use today and it is quite a marvel to look at!

• More info: Augsburg tourism website | Driving time from Munich around 1 hour | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Augsburg around 30 mins.
• Looking for a hotel in Augsburg? We recommend Hotel Maximilian’s or look at other hotels in Augsburg .

Stay at Hotel Maximilian’s in Augsburg

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Did you know that the highest church tower in the world is located in Germany? Ulm is only 90 minutes away from Munich and here you can marvel at neo gothic the Ulmer Münster church which is 162 meters high! And the best part: You can climb that mighty tower and enjoy a magnificent view of the whole old town and beyond. There is, however, no elevator, so you do have to climb those 738 steps all by yourself.

• More info: Ulm tourism website | Driving time from Munich around 2 hours | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Ulm around 1 hr 30 mins.
• Looking for a hotel in Ulm? We recommend the Boutique Hotel am Rathaus-Reblaus or look at other hotels in Ulm .

Stay at the Boutique Hotel am Rathaus-Reblaus in Ulm

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10. Altötting

Altötting is quite the insider tip. The town is the most important pilgrimage site in Bavaria and three popes have visited it. Over the three days of Pentecost 30,000 people converge on the town for a candle-lit procession around the town square. I’m not sure, why more international tourists don’t come here, but the place is special! Almost all Bavarian kings have had their hearts buried in the famous chapel of the Black Madonna in the centre of Altötting.

• Read More: A pilgrimage to see the Black Madonna at Altötting
• More info: Altötting tourism website | Driving time from Munich around 1 hr 15 mins | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Altötting around 1 hr 30 mins.
• Looking for a hotel in Altötting? We recommend the Hotel Zur Post or look at other hotels in Altötting .

Stay at Hotel Zur Post in Altötting

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11. Burghausen

Another wonderful day tour from Munich is Burghausen. You can combine visiting Altötting and Burghausen, as the two cities are only a 15-minute drive from each other. Here, you will find the longest medieval castle in Europe. The castle of Burghausen is 1,050 meters long, can you believe it?

• More info: Burghausen tourism website | Driving time from Munich around 1 hr 15 mins | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Burghausen around 2 hours.
• Looking for a hotel in Burghausen? We recommend the Hotel Garni Lindacher Hof or look at other hotels in Burghausen .

Stay at Hotel Garni Lindacher Hof in Berghausen

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12. Innsbruck

Innsbruck is one of the oldest towns in Austria and has been continuously settled for more than 3,000 years. Today, the city with a population of 132,000 thousand is famous for its picturesque old town (especially the famous golden roof) and the beautiful mountains surrounding it. You could also visit the famous Swarovski World.

• While you’re visiting Innsbruck, we recommend taking this Innsbruck customized private tour with a local to learn about the fascinating history of the city.
• Looking for a hotel in Innsbruck? We recommend the Hotel Innsbruck or look at other hotels in Innsbruck .
• More info: Innsbruck tourism website | Driving time from Munich around 2 hours | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Innsbruck around 2 hrs 45 mins.

Stay at the Hotel Innsbruck in Innsbruck

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13. Dachau Concentration Camp

One of the darkest chapters of our history happened during the reign of the Nazis. Millions of Jews and other political prisoners were killed in so-called concentration camps. Instead of the most horrible furnaces, you will find important memorials in these sites. Dachau was one of them, and even though it will be a bit grizzly, I still urge you to visit. We cannot undo the past but we can learn from it so it never happens again.

• If you prefer to have all the arrangements taken care of, check out this tour: Dachau Memorial Site half day tour from Munich
• Looking for a hotel near Dachau? We recommend staying in Munich at Hotel Cortiina or you can explore other hotels in Munich .
• More info: Dachau concentration camp memorial site | Driving time from Munich 30-40 mins | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) around 30 mins. Take the S2 train direction Dachau / Petershausen then the bus 726 from Dachau station to the Memorial Site.

Stay at the Cortiina Hotel in Munich

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14. Rothenburg ob der Tauber

I’m sure you have seen a picture of Rothenburg ob der Tauber before. The enchanting medieval old town is extremely famous. It’s certainly not the only one, but for many the most popular stop on Germany’s romantic road. It takes around 3 hours 30 minutes to get there from Munich by train, so it will be a rather long day. I still think it is worth it!

• We also recommend this tour from Munich: Romantic Road, Rothenburg and Harburg day tour from Munich
• Looking for a hotel in Rothenburg? We recommend the Tilman Riemenschneider or look at other hotels in Rothenburg .
• More info: Rothenburg ob der Tauber tourism website | Driving time from Munich around 2 hrs 45 mins | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Rothenburg ob der Tauber around 3 hrs 30 mins.

Stay at the Tilman Riemenschneider in Rothenburg

Search for other hotels in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

15. Linderhof Palace

The famous Bavarian king Ludwig II didn’t just build Neuschwanstein castle. In fact, building castle, palaces, and hunting lodges was basically all he did during his reign. The most intimate palace (and the only one that got finished during his lifetime), was Linderhof Palace. It’s a true gem – not especially large, but very intimate and beautiful with a very lovely park.

• Check out this tour from Munich that includes Linderhof Palace: Day trip to Neuschwanstein and Linderhof castles from Munich
• Looking for a hotel near Linderhof Palace? We recommend staying in nearby Oberammergau at Hotel Maxmilian or look at other hotels in Oberammergau .
• More info: Linderhof Palace website | Driving time from Munich around 1 hr 30 mins | Train from Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Linderhof Palace around 2 hrs 40 mins.

You may also enjoy: Tips for seeing the Oberammergau Passion Play

Stay at Hotel Maximilian in nearby Oberammergau

Search for other hotels in Oberammergau

Tips for train travel from Munich

15 day trips already sound like a lot, but in fact, we could list another 50. In this case, we’ve tried to focus on places that are easily accessible by train from Munich central station, because you can take advantage of the Bayern-Ticket or Bavaria Ticket . For 26 euros, you get unlimited rides on the regional train for one day, while each additional group member will have to pay an extra 8 euros.

This is a great bargain and one you really should make use of (especially as buses and the subway in Munich and regional cities are covered by the ticket as well). Just make sure to sign your ticket (otherwise it’s not valid). Regional trains are a bit slower, and there is no bistro on board, so you should bring a little snack and some drinks on your day trips.

As for checking your connections, the website of the German Railway service works like a charm and here you can plan your trip and even buy your tickets.

You should also bring some cash because credit cards are NOT widely accepted in the rural areas of Germany, and ATMs might be a bit harder to find.

So this is our guide to the best day trips from Munich. I hope we were able to provide you with some solid inspiration and ultimately helped you planning your Germany itinerary.

Map of day trips from Munich

Click to view the map of day trips from Munich

About the author

Norman Schwarze has visited more than 50 countries and looks back on over 30 years of travel experience. When he is not reclining in the pool of a fantastic luxury hotel or exploring one of the most remote corners of this planet, you will find him writing about his experience on his blog, Années de Pèlerinage .

You can also connect with him on Twitter , Instagram or Facebook .

3 days in Munich – our itinerary of cool things to see and do

More articles about Munich

Food in Munich – where and what to eat in Munich

50 Best things to do in Munich from Années de Pèlerinage

Plan your trip

Need a guidebook for Munich? We recommend the DK Eyewitness Top 10 Munich guide

Fly into Munich airport where there is a station to take you directly into the city centre.

If you are looking for a guidebook for your visit to Germany, we recommend the DK Eyewitness Top 10 Munich or the DK Eyewitness Munich & The Bavarian Alps .

Need a guidebook for Munich? We recommend the DK Eyewitness Munich & The Bavarian Alps guide

If you prefer to have all the arrangements taken care of, check out these day tours from Munich to some of the places we’ve mentioned.

Photo credits: Neuschwanstein castle by derwiki | Neuschwanstein castle featured photo by iankelsall1 | Hohenschwangau castle by Pixaline | Salzburg by Makalu | Nuremberg Hangman’s Bridge by Bluefish_Japan | Nuremberg in Germany by bboellinger on Pixabay | Würzburg Photo Tama66 | Augsburg in Germany Photo thfr on Pixabay | Ulm by f ietzfotos | Burghausen by Duernsteiner | Innsbruck by Lichtenfels | Dachau by ho visto nina volaire | Rothenburg ob der Tauber by Maxmann and Maxmann | Linderhof by Frenchy3000 | Dachau watchtower by Alexas_fotos | Photos of Bamberg, Regensburg, Margravial Opera House, Christmas market in Nuremberg, Augsburg City Hall, Altötting in Germany, Burghausen castle by Annees de Pelerinage

This article is a guest post* by Norman of Années de Pèlerinage travel blog.

* More info on my policies page

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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Friday 29th of September 2023

Taking day trips by train from Munich makes so much sense. Ticket packages include attractive discounts this year as Germany promotes this environmentally positive means of exploration. It’s a great way to travel within Munich after a few liters at Oktoberfest, too. Pack light for Europe and find fashion advice for any age on Travel Fashion Girl.

Martin @ Uganda gorilla trekking

Thursday 10th of September 2020

Germany looks beautiful, it is time to tour this part of the world

Naveen Saini

Saturday 20th of June 2020

Hi, I have heard a lot about Munich. After reading the and pictures displayed in your article make me very curious to travel such beautiful places.

Alanna Koritzke

Thursday 18th of June 2020

Gosh, Germany is just so picturesque! I love it! Can’t wait to visit one day!!

Heather Cowper

Friday 19th of June 2020

@Alanna Definitely the land of picturesque castles and charming villages!

Tuesday 9th of June 2020

The well-known Neuschwanstein is one of the best castles in this world, I visited Germany many times but sadly I don't see it.

thanks for the detailed info about it I really appreciate your effort.

17 Best Day Trips from Munich in 2024

Written By: The Planet D

Updated On: June 11, 2024

Munich is the Bavarian capital (technically an unofficial capital) and an absolute cultural hotspot. The city’s history is next to none, with harrowing tales of World War II and the catastrophic rise of the Nazi Party. However, there are more lighthearted  things to do in Munich , like attending the world-famous annual Oktoberfest or visiting the famous old town hall. Munich is easily one of the most famous cities in Germany and an absolute pocket rocket for activities and attractions – so why on Earth would you want to book day trips from Munich?

As exciting and diverse as the city center, Munich is set amidst stunning scenery you’ll absolutely adore experiencing on day trips. And with its train station and excellent public transport system, it would be a crime to refrain from indulging in a day trip or two. With loads of car rentals, you can easily organize a romantic road trip too, and there are some of  Germany’s best castles  within two hours of the city center.

Table of Contents

Top Day Trips From Munich

When you visit Munich, you definitely need to allocate a day or two to day tripping your way around its surrounding areas. Day trips from Munich are essential, even if you just want to better understand the city. Here are our top recommendations for Munich day trips – from Dachau Concentration Camp to Eagle’s Nest.

Planning Your Trip To Munich Right Now?

Below are some of the top day trip tours from Munich. Don’t forget to plan ahead when  visiting Germany!

Top Day Trip Activities and Tours from Munich:

• From Munich: Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Castle Full-Day Trip (Most Popular Day Trip from Munich)
• Full Day Tour to Germany’s Highest Peak: Zugspitze (Our Favorite Day Trip)
• From Munich: Dachau Memorial Site Half-Day Trip (Likely to Sell Out)
• From Munich: Salzburg Day Trip by Train (Best Deal)

The best way to get around Bavaria from Munich is by rental car. You can compare prices here. If you don’t want to drive, we have included day tours from Munich at most of the destinations listed.

For transfers from the airport to downtown Munich, book this Private Transfer to take the hassle out of finding a taxi when landing. Your driver will have your name plate waiting for you upon arrival.

1. Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is a fairytale castle and an esteemed UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you think you don’t recognize the name, you’ll recognize its picture. The stunning castle sits amidst the snow-capped Bavarian Alps and is featured in the cult classic film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The bright white walls and turrets (dramatic enough to make Walt Disney jealous) cut a beautiful picture against the mountainous backdrop. And, not even considering its history, it’s no wonder that Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the world’s most famous castles.

This Full Day Trip takes you on a guided tour from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle and then you will continue on to Linderhof, Hohenschwangau, and Oberammergau giving a good highlight tour of Bavaria’s top attractions.

Neuschwanstein Castle was built by King Ludwig II as a bolt-hole after his – rather embarrassing – loss in the Anglo-Prussian war, and many say that he used it as a sort of imaginary kingdom. King Ludwig II met a twisted end, declared insane by the government and eventually found in a suicide-suspected-assassinations alongside his psychiatrist.

You can discover more about Neuschwanstein Castle and King Ludwig II on a guided tour of the attraction. It is two hours away from Munich by car, which is the best way of reaching the castle besides a guided tour. Between the castle’s beauty and Ludwig’s complex story, it is easily one of the best Munich day trips. The Premium tour includes skip the line tickets to Neuschwanstein and Linderhoff

2. Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site is one of the most tragic stories and dark day trips from Munich. Dachau was one of the main concentration camps used by the Nazi Party in World War II, and it was a Nazi party rally grounds as well as a jail (and often death sentence) for political prisoners. To learn more about the World War II history around Munich, it is one of the main ‘attractions’ in the area. While you don’t get an official tour guide, visitors get an audio guide leading them through the concentration camp complex and a series of exhibits. You’ll learn about those who lost their lives and get an incredibly sad but insightful education on the rise and fall of the Nazi’s power.

You can book a guided tour to Dachau with a professional guide, trained and authorized by the Memorial site. They will organize travel arrangements and give you a comprehensive tour of the memorial site.

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site is less than one hour from Munich city center. You can drive there in 30 minutes, but we’d suggest catching the 20-minute train to Dachau before catching the 10 minutes bus to the camp. Or you can take a guided excursion . As far as day trips from Munich go, it is the easiest option. The memorial site is also the most educational in World War II history.

3. Zugspitze Cable Car

Zugspitze cable car is one of the top day trips from Munich. Zugspitze is 2,962 meters above sea level and is the highest mountain in Germany. As Germany’s highest peak, it attracts tons of visitors wanting to enjoy the stunning views and tick it off their bucket lists. The best thing is that you can ride the cable car to the top.

You can book a guided full day tour to Zugzpitze from Munich to ride the cable car up Germany’s highest peak. Enjoy the breathtaking views before you descend on the historic cogwheel train.

The Zugspitze cable car is a little expensive (nearly $90). However, the 10-minute journey is ridiculously scenic and holds a world record for the ‘longest free span in a cable car.’ Really, $90 is quite reasonable, considering you’ll be getting a round-trip tour to the top of Germany’s highest mountain. And Zugspitze cable car is one of the most exciting Munich day trips. You can view the borders of four countries from the summit – Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. There’s a summit station, too, with restaurants and an indoor viewing area.

The best way to reach the base of the Zugspitz cable car is by driving, and you can reach this attraction in less than two hours by car. You also go through some beautiful areas, skirting the edge of Ettaler Forst and Murnauer Moos.

4. Linderhof Palace

King Ludwig II was not short of beautiful castles; we can tell you that for free. Linderhof Castle is just another of his magnificent builds and one of the top Munich day trips. The 19th-century palace is the ultimate picture of grandeur. If Neuschwanstein Castle was a fairytale image, Linderhof Palace is a royal image. The stately castle has a beautiful expanse of gardens and water features.

Book the ultimate Royal Fairytale Castle Tour with skip-the-line tickets to Linderhof Castle and Neuschwanstein that includes guided tours and leisure time to explore some of Bavaria’s best highlights.

And visitors can take guided tours around the grounds between April and October. Need help to choose between the two of Ludwig’s castles? In an ideal world, choose both. But what differentiates them is size; Linderhof Palace is much more intimate and thoroughly furnished inside. Whereas Neuschwanstein Castle is better known for its dramatic backdrop and locale.

Linderhof Palace is best reached by car or organized excursion. By car, it is just a 1.5-hour journey. While by public transport it takes over 2.5 hours. Consider booking a guided tour, including transportation, for this one if you need a driving license.

5. Take a River Altmühl Boat Tour

The River Altmühl lies between Nuremberg and Munich. When you think of rivers near Munich, your mind probably jumps to the Danube – no shame in that – which, while beautiful with stunning views, is one of the busiest places to take a boat tour or cruise. Regarding avoiding crowds, the River Altmühl is the better option. It has an idyllic setting looping between little towns and villages. To experience the German countryside from the water, the River Altmühl is one of the area’s best-hidden gems.

You can hire a kayak or canoe. Or book a more traditional guided tour on a small boat with other tourists. Zimmern to Solnhofen is a popular boat tour route on the Altmühl. Still, canoe and kayak rentals dotted all along the river. An Altmühl boat tour is one of the top day trip choices and well worth wiggling into your Munich itinerary, especially since Solhofen is just 1 hour and 40 minutes by car from Munich’s city center.

Vaduz is one of the most unusual Munich day trips – best for those with a driving license and a firm sense of adventure. Why not venture into Liechtenstein to add another country to your passport while you have the chance? Vaduz is Liechtenstein’s capital and is located along the Swiss border. You’ll get a different insight into the scenery and landscape. The drive takes you nearly 3 hours southwest of Munich (no small undertaking, so we’d suggest having drivers rotate driving shifts) and past Obersee Lake. If you fancy a halfway stopping point, Memmingen is a beautiful town with brightly painted buildings and plenty of aesthetic, traditional cafes.

In Vaduz itself, there is the beautiful Vaduz Castle, Old Rhine Bridge, and Werdenberg Castle. Vaduz is an ideal spot to museum-hop and sightsee historic castles and prior royal residences. For history buffs with a taste for road trips, there’s nowhere better than day-tripping from Munich. We had to suggest it as a further afield, lesser-known day trip option. Especially as it is so good for beating the crowds.

While in Liechtenstein, take this 35-minute train journey for panoramic views of the mountains and the Old Town of Vaduz.

7. Eagle’s Nest

The infamous Eagle’s Nest is one of the eeriest day trips from Munich. Eagle’s Nest is a former military base on a mountain summit that is reachable to visitors by elevator – or hiking if you are courageous. The whole thing is rather scenic and has beautiful views over the surrounding landscape. However, the real kicker is that this base belonged personally to Adolf Hitler.

The dictator received Eagle’s Nest as a 50th birthday present and used it as a bolt-hole to escape the public eye and significant cities. While he never got to use it as frequently as intended, it was, by design, a place for Hitler to privately enjoy.

Eagle’s Nest is a place for dark tourism and serious history enthusiasts. Most people visit because of the historical insight into the war and the personal element to the site – Hitler is a terrifying figure, and people grapple with the sense of him actually being a ‘real’ person. Eagle’s Nest is eerie evidence of Hitler’s everyday activities.

This day trip is best accessed by car, which takes just under 2 hours and passes the nature reserve of Mundung der Tiroler Achen. Public transport is a nightmare, taking 3 hours n multiple bus lines. If you can’t drive, book a guided tour from Munich.

8. Stuttgart

If you fancy a train ride with breathtaking scenery, consider Stuttgart. Stuttgart is Germany’s car-obsessed 6th largest city, famously home to car factories including Mercedes-Benz and Porsche vehicles. Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have headquarters and museums in Stuttgart – so for any petrolheads, it is a fabulous city to visit. These two big-name museums have some of the best tours for car enthusiasts.

The train station in Stuttgart is smack bang in the city center, so it’s a breeze to get to Munich. The direct train leaves from Munchen Hauptbahnhof and takes 2 hours and 17 minutes on average, passing just three stops before reaching Stuttgart. High-speed trains are the best when taking Munich day trips, and despite being a slightly longer journey, this public transport is one of the easiest and most relaxing ways of going on a day trip. Bring a good book and enjoy the countryside views.

9. Beer Halls and Brewery Tours

Local beer is a huge selling point when visiting Munich, so having some beer-themed day trips from Munich also makes sense. Once you’ve exhausted (or opted out of) the busy beer halls and breweries around the city center, set your sights further and consider going to breweries and venues on the outskirts of Munich. These spots are much quieter – meaning fewer crowds and a more authentic beer culture. These outskirt venues often offer the best tours and a much more intimate experience.

You could choose CREW Republic (40 minutes away on public transportation) or Hops Hacker GmbH & Co (30 minutes away on public transportation). There are tons of lesser-visited beer halls and breweries, so just be prepared to travel further afield and watch the quality of your experience triple.

10. Ingolstadt

Ingolstadt is known for Audi cars and its medieval old town. Strange combination, right? But it makes for a fascinating day out. A 14th-century gate marks the entrance to the old medieval town where Ingolstadt would have been one of Germany’s best small towns. You can easily explore this region on foot as everything is within walking distance. Ingolstadt remains one of the best tours for early German history. Skipping centuries entirely, visiting the Audi Forum – a massive museum with an impressive vintage car collection is worth visiting. The city is varied as you travel through its ages and is a brilliant destination on a day out from Munich.

Ingolstadt is best reached by train – a nice touch for sure in making this day trip from Munich one of the most sustainable options. It takes just 40 minutes from Munich on a direct line.

11. Rothenburg ob der Tauber

If you walk past travel stores in Munich, you’ll see pictures of Rothenburg ob der Tauber plastered everywhere. It is one of the most classic day trips from Munich, whisking away camera-happy visitors to a cobbled German town around 3 hours from Munich by car or shuttle. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is famed for its medieval architecture, including the ‘money shot’ of a curved street taking a sharp bend with traditional houses lining the road. The half-timbered houses and dull-painted buildings are beautiful, and it’s easy to see how tourism has become rife here.

This private tour from Munich takes you along the Romantic Road in a comfortable van. The 10-hour tour can be customized and takes you through the Bavarian countryside to Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is definitely a busy tourist destination. Don’t be under any illusions that you’ll be jostling elbows with other tourists when snapping photos. Be prepared to buy into the cheesiness of it all – even a little bit. However, it is one of the most aesthetic spots to visit when day-tripping from Munich. We’d suggest splashing out on a day tour for this trip, as reaching Rothenburg ob der Tauber by train is challenging, requiring multiple train changes and taking over 3 hours.

12. Partnach Gorge

If you want hiking trails, nowhere itches the spot like Partnach Gorge. The bright blue water is a brilliant light color – almost baby blue – and runs like a crystal against the dark gray rocks. Visitors hike alongside the water through narrow gorges and under waterfalls, protected by the cliffs above. It is easily the most scenic place to head and enjoy hiking trails on a day out from Munich. And walking along the narrow railed paths carved out of the gorge’s cliffside is exhilarating. There isn’t a hike like it in this area of Germany.

Partnach Gorge is a horrible place to try and reach by public transport, demanding multiple buses and schedule juggling at stops. Instead, we’d suggest hiring a car and driving, since it takes an hour and 20 minutes to reach by car from Munich.

13. Schleissheim Palace Complex

A 17th-century palace immediately conjures visions of total grandeur. And with elaborate gardens, Prussian art exhibits, and manicured architecture, it’s evidence that first impressions count. Schleissheim Palace Complex is grand through and through. You can easily spend half a day walking past water fountains and admiring the original artwork. Past visitors have even gone as far as to compare it to being in Alice and Wonderland. Its grandeur gives it a serious wow factor and makes it as popular as it is. The fact that you can spend an entire day here is also positive, and the mixture of indoor and outdoor activities is perfect for a warm day.

Schleissheim Palace Complex is located just north of Munich – around 40 minutes away by public transport and 30 minutes by car. It is one of the closest day trips attractions to the city and one of its most beautiful. For a unique experience, book an evening concert at Schleissheim Palace performed by members of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra.

14. Nuremberg

Nuremberg is Bavaria’s second-largest city, only just smaller than Munich. Sadly, the Second World War destroyed much of its original architecture. However, much of it has been restored over later years, so you can still see elements of medieval architecture and historical buildings. You can also trace a lot of the history of the world wars in Nuremberg, including the trials after WWII. Memorium Nuremberg Trials was where the Nazi party and associates were tried and convicted as war criminals. The museum is set above the original court and has many exhibits and information on enacting justice. Nuremberg is a hub of history and culture – whether dark or lighthearted. If you fancy another ‘large city experience’, spending a few hours outside of Munich is a brilliant way.

We have a complete guide on  things to do in Nuremberg ; check it out for more inspiration. It’s also worth noting that Nuremberg is easier to reach by train than by car, taking only an hour instead of 2 hours by car.

Book a private tour of Nuremberg from Munich. The full-day tour is led by a 5-star private guide to see all the highlights and best attractions of Nuremberg. Sights include Imperial Castle Kaiserburg, Frauenkirche, St. Laurence, and St. Sebald, and more. Plus, return tickets between Munich to Nuremberg.

15. Augsburg

Augsburg is a beautiful city. It takes the phrase historical center to the next level with its ultra-traditional medieval city center, complete with city walls. And some parts even date back to the Middle Ages; Augsburg is the oldest city in Germany. If you are into history or architecture, this is your day trip. There are medieval guild buildings, cathedrals, and abbeys to visit. It feels like Augsburg has an ancient building or story at every corner.

Ready for the real winner? Augsburg is only 30 minutes away from Munich by train. You ride two stops on a direct train line, reaching the city in what feels like no time at all. We love the smaller-city atmosphere that Augsburg offers; it has so much history to give people.

While in Augsburg book this scenic flight that includes soaring over the likes of Neuschwanstein Castle, Munich, and Bavaria’s stunning mountains, lakes, and forests.

16. Lake Chiemsee

Lake Chiemsee is a beautiful day trip, and if it is a hot day in Munich, consider this your best option. With natural beaches skimming along the lake’s shoreline, it’s no mystery why this is one of the most popular swimming spots outside of Munich. Swimming is the most tempting option on a hot day but doesn’t rule out boating too.

There are three islands on the lake, one of which houses a Benedictine nunnery. It’s great fun to explore by boat. So book a time slot, rent a boat, and let loose on the water. Lake Chiemsee is really fun-orientated, which makes it stand out from other more sightseeing or history-focused attractions.

Lake Chiemsee is a very popular day trip from Munich. Depending on the whereabouts of the shoreline you plan to visit, it takes you around an hour to get to the lake from Munich – by train or car. It is frequently visited by those living in the city. It is a dream to organize as a day trip, which is completely easy logistically.

One of the main attractions at Chiemsee is Herrenchiemsee Palace. This day tour from Munich takes you on a boat ride along the lake to the Benedictine convent on Fraueninsel and the Palace built by ing Ludwig II.

17. Salzburg – Austria

Salzburg is an easy sell; we won’t lie. This is ten times more so if you love classical music, as the city was home to Mozart. The Old City has stunning medieval town buildings and houses, strongly influencing later baroque architecture too. In the Old City, you’ll find Mozart’s birthplace – now converted into a museum documenting his life. Aside from the Mozart museum, Salzburg is home to the imposing Hohensalzburg Castle.

It is also located in Austria along the German / Austrian border, meaning you see an entirely different side to this area of Germany. So while Mozart draws people in, there are plenty of other attractions to enjoy. Book a private day tour to Salzburg with your own private 5-star guide to immerse in the filming locations of ‘The Sound of Music’, see the Old Town and Fortress Hohensalzburg, visit the fabulous Mirabell Gardens and more.

Getting to Salzburg by public transport is a mission – taking multiple trains and buses in a 1.5-2-hour journey. Driving is much easier, taking 1 hour and 45 minutes and passing Lake Chiemsee and other cute little towns to stop at.

Day Trips From Munich: FAQs

Munich day trips are popular for many reasons, as you can see. The best thing is that for many of the day trips we’ve featured, you can just hop on an easy train ride – making a day trip from Munich non-reliant on a driver’s license and much more sustainable.

Now that you are feeling inspired, what else is there to quickly cover before you head out day tripping? These are our top FAQs to prep you for your day trips from Munich.

What is a good day trip from Munich?

Dachau Concentration Camp is a harrowing day trip from Munich if you want an insight into World War II and Nazi Party history. While Neuschwanstein Castle is perfect for those wanting the fairytale ‘German castle’ experience.

Is Salzburg worth a day trip from Munich?

Yes, Salzburg is a brilliant day trip from Munich because of its links to Mozart and ridiculously cultural history. Salzburg is also beautiful, and the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is an engaging and visually striking day trip.

What other cities are near Munich?

Augsburg, Nuremberg, and Salzburg are all within a 2-hour radius of Munich. Larger cities in Northern Germany, like Frankfurt, are within a 5-6 hour radius by public transport or car.

How many days are enough to see Munich?

We suggest 4 days when visiting Munich. The city itself can be appreciated in 2-3 days. However, allowing a 4-day itinerary means that you can incorporate a day trip to somewhere like Neuschwanstein Castle, the Bavarian Alps, or Linderhof Palace.

To Conclude

Out of all the German cities you could visit, pat yourself on the back for choosing Munich, because it is just so rich in the way of day trips. Day trips from Munich are a brilliant way to expand your understanding of German history and Munich. And all of these Munich day trip options will complement your visit perfectly. You’ll have a fantastic time, whether you choose a picturesque town like Ingolstadt or a ride up the cable car, or take a guided tour of Linderhof Palace.

Don’t stop at Munich either; if you get a chance, explore more of  Germany’s beautiful cities  and fascinating historical attractions. You could plan a  romantic road trip  over a few days or weeks. Or check out our guide on the  best places to visit when heading to Berlin . Enjoy your visit.

Plan Your Next Trip to Germany With These Resources

• 37 Of The Best Things To Do In Munich, Germany
• 17 Best Castles In Germany To Visit
• The Best Places To Visit In Berlin, Germany
• 21 Beautiful Cities In Germany For Travelers
• 20 Of The Best Things To Do In Bavaria

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Book Your Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner. We have used them for years and have found that they have the best flight deals.

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor.

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Safety Wing - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Book Your Activities: Looking for walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more? Then we recommend Get Your Guide.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

You May Also Like

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About The Planet D

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine , the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

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4 thoughts on “17 Best Day Trips from Munich in 2024”

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24 Best Day Trips from Munich

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Need a break from Munich or want to explore Bavaria? Read our complete guide to the best day trips from Munich .

Munich is a springboard for some of Germany’s most interesting sights. Maximize your stay in Munich by hitting one of these exciting nearby spots.

Pick your favorite destination and have fun 🙂

1 – Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is a 19th-century Romanesque Revival palace built on a hill located above the village of Hohenschwangau in southwest Bavaria, Germany. Former house of Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, Neuschwanstein Castle is well-known for its appearance, its various towers, its gatehouse, its unique interior rooms and for the charming landscape surrounding it. Get ready to witness an exceptional visual show!

There are a lot of travel websites organizing tours from Munich to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle. Make sure to compare all the deals available before booking as you will often find generous discounts.

• Neuschwanstein Castle day trips from Munich

2 – Linderhof Palace

Linderhof Palace is the smallest of the three palaces built under the reign of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It is located in southwest Bavaria. Linderhof Palace notably counts with a splendid park with luxuriant gardens, as well as unique interior rooms such as the Hall of Mirrors, the tapestry chambers and the dining room. It would be a pity to miss such an architectural gem!

• Linderhof Palace day trips from Munich

3 – Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a well-preserved medieval old town located in Bavaria. It is well-known for its museums (notably the Christmas Museum, that counts with more than 30,000 traditional German Christmas decorations), and its town hall (it allows tourists to have a scenic view of the city). Moreover, Rothenburg served as a film location for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Parts 1 and 2. Don’t forget your wizard’s outfit before coming to the town!

Compare all the offers and pick the tour that fits best your travel needs.

• Rothenburg day trips from Munich

4 – Schönau am Königssee

Schönau am Königssee is a city located in Bavaria. It is bordered by the Königssee, Germany’s third deepest lake. Due to their charming setting, the lake and its surrounding parklands are top-rated attractions among tourists and hikers. St. Bartholomew’s Church is one of the unmissable places to visit around the city.

5 – Salzburg

Salzburg is the capital of the State of Salzburg, in Austria. This city is internationally known for being Mozart’s birthplace and for the Baroque architecture of its historical centre, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Salzburg counts with well-known monuments like the Salzburg Cathedral, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mozart’s birthplace, Mirabell Palace, the Schloss Leopoldskron (a rococo palace) or the Hellbrunn district. Visiting Salzburg will awake the composer’s soul that lies in you!

• Salzburg day trips from Munich

6 – Dachau concentration camp

Opened in 1933 and active until 1945, Dachau was the first Nazi concentration camp ever built. Today, the camp features a memorial and counts with various sections open to the public such as the crematorium, the gas chambers, the barracks, the courtyard or the maintenance building. This place is an essential piece of the History of World War II!

There are a lot of guided tours available from Munich. Compare all the deals before booking.

• Dachau concentration camp day trips from Munich

7 – Innsbruck

Innsbruck is the capital of the Tyrol region, in western Austria. Innsbruck also has an international status because the city hosted the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics. Innsbruck’s most famous monuments include the Cathedral of St. James, the Golden Roof (symbol of the town) and the Ambras Castle (situated in the hills above the city). Innsbruck is a charming place for a day trip from Munich, so don’t wait any longer and cross the border now!

8 – Regensburg

Regensburg is part of the top travel attractions in Germany. Located in Bavaria, this town is known worldwide for its medieval centre, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014. The medieval centre counts with attractions like the Dom (Regensburg Gothic Cathedral), the Regensburg Sausage Kitchen (one of the oldest continuously open public restaurant in the world: it opened in 1146!), the Stone Bridge or the St. Emmeram’s Abbey. Visiting Regensburg will take you back to the Middle Ages!

9 – Nuremberg

Nuremberg is the second-largest city of the region of Bavaria, after Munich. It is a charming city with some monuments from Middle Ages, like the Imperial Castle and the St. Lorenz church. It also counts with 54 different museums dedicated to science and technology, arts and culture, history, etc. Moreover, culinary tourists can taste the Lebkuchen (a gingerbread-like traditional German baked Christmas treat), Nuremberg sausages and local beer. Make sure to come to Nuremberg on an empty stomach!

• Nuremberg day trips from Munich

10 – Zugspitze

The Zugspitze is the highest mountain in Germany (2,962 metres). It is located on the border with Austria. The mountain’s ski resort, the Zugspitzplatt, is also the highest in Germany, as well as a popular skiing and snowboarding destination. Various hiking and climbing trails allow people to reach the summit on their own, and the views from the peak are astonishing. The clean mountain air is the best way to unwind!

11 – Würzburg

Würzburg is a city located on the Main river, in northern Bavaria. It is mainly known for its Residence, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. The Würzburg Residence notably counts with a grand staircase, a court chapel, imperial apartments, white and imperial halls, and almost 400 rooms. The Residence also owns a great square and verdant court gardens.

12 – Herrenchiemsee Palace

The Herrenchiemsee Palace is located on the largest island in the Chiemsee lake, in southern Bavaria. Built for King Ludwig II of Bavaria, the palace was never completed, due to the King’s death. Several rooms and areas of the Herrenchiemsee Palace are inspired by the Palace of Versailles, notably its “Hall of Mirrors”, its “State Staircase”, and its formal gardens. It’s a charming place to visit for a day trip!

• Herrenchiemsee Palace day trips from Munich

13 – Burghausen

Burghausen is a German city located near the Austrian border, in Upper Bavaria. It is mainly known for its castle, Burghausen Castle, which is the longest of the world (1,051 metres). Another main attraction of the city is the Old Town, that notably includes the church St. Jakob, the Neo-classical townhall and the 16th-century former Government building. The city is a medieval masterpiece!

14 – Harburg

Harburg is a city located in Bavaria that counts with one of the most impressive remaining medieval castles of the country. Michael Jackson himself visited the castle, and called it “the castle of my dreams”. Another point of interest of the city is its Jewish cemetery. There is no better place to follow in the footsteps of the King of Pop!

Check the guided tours available from Munich and learn more about this fantastic city.

• Harburg day trips from Munich

15 – Walchensee

The Walchensee (or Lake Walchen) is one of the broadest and deepest (192,3 metres) alpine lakes in Germany. It is located in Bavaria. The Herzogstand mountain (1,731 metres) is situated nearby and offers the visitors a charming view of the lake and its surrounding landscape. Windsurfing, sailing, scuba-diving and hiking fans are always satisfied when they come to the lake, as it offers them tons of different activities to make them plenty enjoy their day!

16 – Oberammergau

Oberammergau is a city located in Bavaria. It is well-known for its numerous woodcarver shops and woodcarving works of art, its frescoes and its passion play. First played in 1634, Oberammergau Passion Play is performed every ten years at the end of each decade and consists of a staging of Jesus’ passion. Oberammergau is a charming and typical Upper Bavarian town!

• Oberammergau day trips from Munich

17 – Legoland

Legoland Deutschland Resort is an amusement park located in Günzburg, in Bavaria, that is dedicated to the Lego toys. There are 11 different themed areas: Miniland, Lego City, Little Asia, Knight’s Kingdom, Imagination, Pharaoh’s Land, Adventure Land, Pirate Land, Lego X-treme and Ninjago World. Legoland counts with various roller coasters, aquatic attractions and a Sea Life Centre with tons of activities related to the aquatic world.

• Legoland Deutschland tickets

18 – Vaduz

Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein. The city is located almost 250 kilometres away from Munich. Even if only 5,600 inhabitants live in Vaduz, the town counts with a well-developped tourism industry, as worldwide tourists regularly visit monuments like the Parliament building, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Cathedral of St. Florin or the surroundings of the Vaduz Castle. Vaduz may be small by its size, but is amazing thanks to its rich natural and cultural heritage!

19 – Stuttgart

Stuttgart is the capital of the State of Baden-Württemberg, in Germany. Some major attractions of the city include the Schloßplatz (Stuttgart’s centre largest square), the New Palace, the TV Tower (it offers a fantastic view of the whole city), Wilhelma Zoological-Botanical Garden, the Castle Solitude and the Old Castle. Stuttgart also counts with the headquarters of the companies Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, each one owning a dedicated museum in the city.

20 – Skywalk Allgäu

Skywalk Allgäu is a tourist attraction located in the forest near the city of Scheidegg, in Bavaria. Situated 40 metres above the forest floor, it consists of a treetop trail that allows hikers to have a stunning view over the Alps and the region around of the Lake Constance. It is also the perfect spot for stunning sunset pictures.

21 – Augsburg

Augsburg is the third-largest city of the State of Bavaria, after Munich and Nuremberg. Some major attractions of the town include the Fuggerei (world’s oldest social housing complex still in use), Augsburg Zoo (it counts with more than 1,600 animals), the Roman Catholic-style Cathedral of Augsburg, and the Town Hall and its 70-metre-tall tower. Augsburg is a picturesque city that will easily keep you busy for a day!

22 – Bavaria Filmstadt

Bavaria Filmstadt is a theme park located in the film production company called “Bavaria Film”, in Grünwald, 12 kilometres southwest of Munich. It offers guided visits of the film studios, as well as interactive experiences about the films shot in the studios (notably the famous “The NeverEnding Story”), and the screening of a 4D movie. Thanks to Bavaria Filmstadt, you’ll discover if you have the qualifications to become a Hollywood star!

23 – Hohenzollern Castle

Hohenzollern Castle is a German Gothic-Revival style castle located in the State of Baden-Württemberg, 260 kilometres away from Munich. Visited by more than 300,000 tourists each year, Hohenzollern Castle is the former residence of the German Emperor Wilhem II. It is mostly known for its military architecture, palatial buildings, chapels and its gardens. You’ll get a stunning look at the isolated peak of Hohenzollern as the mountain rises over the countryside, crowned by this mind-blowing 19th-century castle at its top!

24 – Lichtenstein Castle

Just like Hohenzollern Castle, Lichtenstein Castle is a German Gothic-Revival style castle located in the State of Baden-Württemberg, 215 kilometres away from Munich. Inspired by the novel “Lichtenstein” by Wilhelm Hauff, it is also described as the “fairy tale castle of Württemberg”. If you want to dream and feel like being in a fairy tale, you now know where to go!

Hope you enjoyed our recommendations of day trips from Munich. Don’t hesitate to comment below if you have some questions or other cool places nearby Munich to recommend.

17 Top-Rated Day Trips from Munich

Written by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers Updated May 3, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

While there's certainly no shortage of attractions for tourists in Munich, there are also plenty of great things to see and do in the area around Bavaria's largest city. Finding dazzling palaces and castles, charming old villages, and mountain vistas is as easy as jumping in a car, using the region's excellent public transport system, or joining a guided tour.

Along with the castles and palaces close to Munich, such as Herrenchiemsee or Schleissheim Palace, it is easy to reach historic Nuremberg and the beautiful half-timbered towns to the north along the Romantic Road. The Bavarian Alps are within easy reach, as are both Salzburg and Innsbruck, in Austria.

Less famous perhaps, but delightful to visit are Bavarian towns like Freising and Ingolstadt, and Passau on the Danube River. You'll find plenty of places to visit and things to do in this list of the best day trips from Munich.

1. Neuschwanstein

2. linderhof palace, 3. herrenchiemsee, 4. dachau concentration camp memorial site, 5. nuremberg (nürnberg), 6. berchtesgaden and eagle's nest, 7. romantic road and rothenburg, 8. salzburg, austria, 9. passau and the danube, 10. garmisch-partenkirchen and zugspitze, 11. murnau am staffelsee, 12. the schleissheim palace complex, 13. the cathedral of st. mary and st. korbinian, 14. regensburg, 15. the old town of ingolstadt, 16. oberstdorf, 17. innsbruck and swarovski crystal worlds, map of day trips from munich.

Possibly the most recognized castle in the world — it was the inspiration for Walt Disney's famous theme park castles — Neuschwanstein is a neo-Romanesque fantasy built by Ludwig II of Bavaria in the late 19th century. It fulfills every romantic dream of a castle, with its tall spires and turrets, battlements, and stone walls that rise dramatically on a rocky crag above the lake.

The castle is just as fantastic inside, lavishly decorated in themes from opera and romantic literature. Guided tours of the sumptuous interior include the Throne Room, the Singers' Hall, and some of the country's most spectacular views of the Bavarian Alps, which rise behind it. As you can imagine, this fairy-tale castle is very popular with families with young children.

You can easily combine a visit here with King Ludwig's equally fantastic hunting Lodge, Linderhof (see below), on the 10.5-hour Royal Castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Day Tour from Munich , which also includes a shopping stop in the pretty Bavarian village of Oberammergau.

Address: Neuschwansteinstraße 20, Schwangau

Southwest of Munich near Ettal and the Austrian border, Linderhof Palace was King Ludwig II's favorite, set like a glittering jewel box among wooded hills. Built as a hunting lodge in Rococo style in 1878, its halls and rooms are elegantly furnished.

Highlights of a tour include the Hall of Mirrors, used by the king as a reading room; the Eastern and Western Tapestry Chambers, with their rich wall hangings; the Audience Chamber, used as a study; the King's Bedchamber; and the Dining Room, famous as the place where Ludwig would dine alone and "talk" to imagined guests such as Louis XV.

Explore the park to discover elaborate fountains and features like the Formal and Landscape Gardens; the Moorish Pavilion; and the wonderful Venus Grotto, Ludwig's man-made version of Capri's famous Blue Grotto. (Entrance to the palace and grotto is by guided tour only.)

The Royal Castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Day Tour from Munich combines the two most famous of Ludwig's palaces.

Address: Linderhof 12, 82488 Ettal

On the island of Herreninsel on the Chiemsee, Bavaria's largest lake, about 60 kilometers southeast of Munich, the stunning palace complex of Herrenchiemsee was started in 1878 by King Ludwig II. He planned it to rival Versailles, but it remained unfinished after he drowned at age 40.

The highlights are the lovely State Staircase, the State Bedroom, and the Great Hall of Mirrors, as well as Ludwig's sumptuous Rococo-style Small Apartment. Important artifacts related to Ludwig's life are included in the ten rooms of the King Ludwig II Museum , including furniture once housed in the Munich Residenz .

The gardens include sculptures and exquisite fountains, one of them a copy of the Bassin de Latone in Versailles. Also on the island is a former Augustinian Monastery , now a museum. You can reach the island by boat from Prien or Stock. You can only visit the palace interior by a guided tour, available in English.

Address: 83209 Herrenchiemsee

About 17 kilometers northwest of Munich, the town of Dachau is famous for its 18th-century Schloss, and infamous as the location of the notorious Dachau concentration camp , where some 41,000 people died during Nazi rule.

Now a memorial site with the reconstructed barracks and cells, KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau also houses a museum with artifacts and documents from this dark period in Germany's history. English language tours are available daily at 11am and 1pm, with additional Saturday and Sunday tours at 12:15 from July through September.

Or you can join the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site Tour from Munich by Train to tour the exhibitions and memorials with a guide, who interprets the site with historical details.

Address: Pater-Roth-Str. 2a, D-85221 Dachau

The ancient city of Nuremberg has been an important center for arts and culture since the Middle Ages and has preserved most of the old walls that have encircled it since the 14th and 15th centuries. You can walk along these and explore its gates and towers, as well as the hilltop castle that overlooks the old city center.

Here, you'll find Gothic churches and other buildings that have been carefully restored from damage during World War II bombing. Nuremberg was the site of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, where Hitler held his propaganda rallies, and you can visit the documentation center for information on the Third Reich and Nazi activities here.

On a 10-hour Nuremberg Day Trip from Munich , you can tour the major sites in the city with a professional guide and have free time to explore further on your own, traveling to Nuremberg and back by train.

Among the most popular Bavarian Alps vacation spots, the attractive town of Berchtesgaden is surrounded by mountains. These rise so steeply from the shores of the nearby Königssee, that its scenery is often described as fjord-like. The entire area is part of the Berchtesgaden National Park.

In the town itself, the main attraction is the palace of the Wittelsbach dynasty, formerly a property of the Augustinians and dating from the 1100s. It is now a museum of art, weaponry, furniture, and fine porcelain.

But the main goal of most tourists in Berchtesgaden is the Eagle's Nest, the mountain refuge built by Hitler on Mt. Kehlstein. It is accessed by a 6.5-kilometer private road built for Hitler and by a brass-fitted elevator to the 1,834-meter summit. Along with Hitler's lodge, where you can see original features, such as a mantelpiece presented to Hitler by Mussolini, the summit provides spectacular views of the Bavarian Alps.

The 10.5-hour Berchtesgaden and Eagle's Nest Day Tour from Munich is a good way to visit this historic site with a professional guide and savor the Alpine scenery from an air-conditioned coach.

The Romantic Road connects a string of postcard-perfect towns in the provinces of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Along the route are the three medieval walled towns of Rothenburg ob der Tauber , Dinkelsbühl, and Nördlingen, as well as Harburg, with its impressive hilltop castle, one of the oldest in Germany.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe, its walls and towers rising dramatically on the steep banks of the River Tauber. Its center is filled with half-timbered houses and fine churches, plus a 13th-century town hall.

The 10.5-hour Romantic Road, Rothenburg, and Harburg Day Tour from Munich follows this picturesque route by coach through Bavaria's mountains and forests, stopping at Harburg Castle before arriving in beautifully preserved Rothenburg. There is time to see the top attractions; have lunch; and browse in Käthe Wohlfahrt's Christmas Village, the famous year-round Christmas shop, just off the Market Square.

A riverside setting surrounded by snow-capped mountains, a magnificent castle, and a romantic Old Town of well-preserved Baroque buildings combine to make Salzburg one of Europe's most beautiful cities. The birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg is a favorite of music lovers, who visit his home and attend the various concerts and festivals dedicated to his work.

Saltzburg's more recent musical fame is as the setting for the film The Sound of Music , and a number of sites in Salzburg will be familiar to fans of that story. Wander through the lovely arcaded courtyards and medieval streets of the Old Town and don't miss the beautiful cathedral and St. Peter's Abbey.

On the Salzburg, and Lake District Day Tour from Munich , you can visit the highlights of Salzburg along with The Sound of Music filming locations at scenic Lake Mondsee and even have time for a boat trip on Lake Wolfgang to admire the surrounding alpine scenery.

Passau is majestically situated on the Austrian frontier, where the Danube joins with the River Inn. The Oberhaus fortress and the Mariahilf church rise at either side of the Danube, combining with Passau's many Italian-style houses to create a memorable townscape. The old town of Passau lies on a narrow tongue of land between the two rivers, around a hill from which picturesque stepped lanes lead down to the rivers.

Highlights are the Cathedral of St. Stephen ; its most notable features are its crowned dome and Baroque nave built between 1668 and 1678. Inside, its sumptuous stucco decoration has an Italian feel, and its organ, added in 1928, is one of the largest in the world with 17,388 pipes and 231 stops.

Other Passau highlights include the pedestrianized Ludwigstrasse , the town's main business and shopping street and home to the Votive Church from 1619, and the Heilig-Geist-Spital , the Hospital of the Holy Ghost, founded in 1358. Also of note is the Residenzplatz , home to the Cathedral Treasury, the Diocesan Museum, and the 18th-century New Bishop's Palace (Neue Residenz). Across the Danube is the 13th-century stronghold of Veste Oberhaus with superb views from its tower.

Punctuating the border between Austria and Germany, Zugspitze is Germany's highest mountain, popular with hikers and climbers of all skill levels. But the favorite ways to access its eastern summit are by cable car or the cogwheel train from the station at Eibsee, the Alpine lake at the base of the mountain. From the summit, you can see three glaciers and a 360-degree panorama of mountain peaks in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy.

The Zugspitze Day Tour from Munich includes both a cable car ride to the summit and a return by the cog railway, as well as stops to admire the colorful painted houses in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the impressive Ettal Monastery , with its Rococo-painted sacristy, one of Germany's most beautiful.

About an hour from Munich by train or car, the attractive town of Murnau am Staffelsee is a top place to visit for art lovers and nature lovers alike.

It was the open landscapes of the nearby Murnauer Moos — the largest marshland in Central Europe — that drew Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, Paul Klee, and expressionist artists to Murnau. Rejecting the rigidity of the Munich art establishment in the early 20 th century, these artists called themselves Der Blaue Reiter — Blue Rider — school.

You can visit the home that Kandinsky shared with fellow artist Gabrielle Münter and see more of her works in the art gallery of the Schloßmuseum. Two Baroque churches, Maria, Hilf-Kirche and Pfarrkirche St. Nikolaus, are worth seeing, and the town's main street is decorated with beautiful wrought-iron signs.

Or you can walk or bike some of the network of trails through the richly biodiverse marshlands backed by the Bavarian Alps, to be inspired as the Blue Rider artists were.

A complex of three fine palaces, the early 18th-century Schleissheim Palace and Park is just 19 kilometers away from Munich's city center and is easily accessible by car and public transport. The New Palace (Neues Schloss) is made up of a 330-meter-long main building with a taller, triple-articulated central section linked by arcades to pavilions at either side.

The charm of the beautifully decorated interior lies in its successful mingling of Italian Late Baroque and Early Rococo styles. Highlights are its murals and stucco work depicting the Turkish wars; the Entrance Hall, with its eight red marble columns and paintings; the grand Staircase Hall; the two-story Great Hall, with its stucco ornaments and large paintings; and the Baroque Great Gallery housing works by Dutch, Flemish, German, and Italian artists. English language audio tours are available.

The older and smaller Schloss Lustheim was built in 1688 in the style of an Italian garden palace and stands on a circular island ringed by a canal. It is best known for its fine ceiling painting celebrating Diana, Goddess of Hunting. The castle houses the Ernst Schneider Foundation's Collection of Meissen Porcelain , one of the finest such collections in Europe.

Schleissheim Park was laid out in 1720 and is one of the few Baroque gardens in Germany to have survived in its original state. Highlights include its two fountains, a cascade, and the canal that runs down the middle of the park, as well as the beautiful avenues of limes bordering its gardens.

Address: 85764 Oberschleißheim

The lovely old Bavarian town of Freising lies on the high left bank of the River Isar just 33 kilometers north of Munich. The town's most outstanding feature is the Romanesque Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Korbinian, a five-aisle 12th-century basilica with a vaulted roof lavishly decorated by the Asam brothers in 1724 with stucco ornament and paintings.

A Gothic porch between the twin towers leads into the cathedral interior where you'll find the Romanesque crypt, one of the oldest of its kind in Germany, with its famous animal column made up of intertwined men and monsters, and the tomb of the church's founder, Bishop Korbinian.

Adorning the high altar is a copy of Rubens' Apocalyptic Women from 1625. Be sure to visit the Diocesan Museum with its comprehensive collection of sacred art, and the famous Lukasbild, a rare relic from Constantinople.

Address: Domberg 27, Freising

The finest Gothic church in Bavaria and a UNESCO-acclaimed Old Town make Regensburg an appealing day trip from Munich. One of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe , Regensburg is poised picturesquely alongside the Danube at the river's northernmost navigable point. This makes it a popular starting place for Danube cruises to Vienna , Budapest , and beyond.

The focal point of the Old Town is the soaring Regensburg Cathedral (Regensburger Dom), a 13 th -century masterpiece with two 105-meter-high spires and a magnificent Gothic facade. Inside, notice the superb 13th- and 14th-century stained glass, the beautiful cloister, and the paintings on the walls of the Romanesque All Saints Chapel.

In the adjoining Old Town, head for the Alter Kornmarkt to see the second-century Roman Tower and the 11 th -century Old Chapel (Alte Kapelle), the oldest Catholic church in Bavaria. The interior was updated to Rococo in the 18 th century, creating one of Europe's finest examples of the style.

The Old Town is worth exploring for its romantic passageways and courtyards, and for the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus), where you can tour the apartments and medieval courtroom. The compact center is a good place for shopping, with small independent shops along stone-paved streets.

Formerly the residence and stronghold of the Dukes of Bavaria, the pedestrian-friendly old town of Ingolstadt and its many well-preserved heritage buildings are still surrounded by the remains of medieval fortifications. Highlights include the Rathausplatz , with the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus), formed by the combination of four Gothic houses in 1882, and the 15th-century Spitalkirche, with its fine wall paintings.

To the north stand St. Maurice's Church (St-Moritz-Kirche) and the Upper Franciscan Church (Obere Franziskanerkirche), both dating from the 14th century. The massive 15th-century Herzogsschloss has one of the finest Gothic secular interiors in Germany, and the massive Kreuztor , with its seven towers and turrets, dates from 1385.

The Minster of Our Lady (Liebfrauenmünster) is a 15th-century Late Gothic church with the largest and finest Renaissance stained glass window in Bavaria, dating from 1527.

Address: Rathausplatz 2, 85049 Ingolstadt

Although more than 160 kilometers from Munich, the substantial market town of Oberstdorf is worth considering for a day trip or an overnight getaway. Three streams — the Trettach, the Stillach, and the Breitach — converge just below the town to form the Iller, whose valley cuts deep into the Allgäu Alps.

This beautiful setting in a ring of towering mountains, coupled with its excellent climate, has made Oberstdorf one of Germany's most popular mountain resorts. A highlight of the town is Kurplatz , with its fine covered promenade and magnificent views of the mountains.

Just outside the town is the Breitachklamm gorge, and walking trails can be found near the Heini Klöpfer Ski-jump in the Stillach Valley. From here, a cable car takes you up the Fellhorn, which at 2,037 meters, is a habitat for beautiful alpine flora. Another hill popular with climbers is the 2,224-meter Nebelhorn , also accessible by cable car.

Innsbruck's well-preserved Old Town, a compact center where Late-Gothic-style buildings crowd closely together along narrow, winding streets, has a photo-worthy view at every turn. The Alpine peaks that surround this Austrian city add a scenic backdrop to colorful houses reflected in the River Inn, as well as providing outdoor things to do year-round only a few minutes' cable car ride away.

Highlights of the Old Town are the famed Golden Roof and the beautiful churches, especially the spectacular Hofkirche.

Daily shuttles take visitors from Innsbruck to the nearby Swarovski Crystal Worlds , a fantasyland of art and design in sparkling crystal. In the Chambers of Wonder, internationally known artists and designers have created sparkling original interpretations in crystal, and outside in the 7.5-hectare garden, outdoor sculptures and art installations surround a huge grass-covered giant, from which springs a waterfall.

A visit here is combined with plenty of time to explore the historic Old Town on the 10.5-hour Swarovski Crystal Worlds and Innsbruck Day Trip from Munich tour, which also includes riding through some of Bavaria's most beautiful mountain scenery.

Address: Kristallweltenstrasse 1, Wattens

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10 Best Day Trips from Munich

By Becky Griswold · Last updated on May 20, 2024

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, was founded by a group of Benedictine monks who settled in the rich farming area that was close to Catholic Italy. In 1175 Munich formally became a city. It was eventually destroyed by allied bombing during World War II. After the war, the Bayern set to work and rebuilt this remarkable place. There are many interesting things to see in the city itself including the famous Glockenspiel. The metropolis also hosts the famous Oktoberfest celebration each year.

Hemmingway said of Munich, “You needn’t bother going anywhere else. I can tell you: you can’t beat Munich, everything else in Germany is a waste of time.” Apparently, he overlooked the day trips from Munich to some of Bavaria’s most famous historical sites.

10. Nuremberg

The second largest city in Bavaria is rich with medieval architecture. With its ancient Kaiserburg Castle and old churches in the Altstadt, the city’s history goes back a long way; it was considered the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire.

Nuremberg was also the location of Nazi rallies; the starting point of the boycott of Jewish businesses and the trials at which Nazis were held accountable after WW2. Following its almost complete destruction by allied forces, the city was painstakingly rebuilt.

Nowadays, Nuremberg is a fun and energetic town to visit – especially over the Christmas period due to its magically festive Christmas Market. Not only the place for seasonal celebrations, Nuremberg’s historical streets are packed full of charming cafes and old pubs, where locals and visitors rub shoulders over a local beer.

Getting to Nuremberg

• To get to Nuremberg from Munich< couldn't be easier as you simply need to hop on an hour-long direct train that will take you from the heart of one city to the center of the other.
• While getting there by public transport is very simple and quick, another great option to see as much of the city as possible is by taking a guided tour as this will teach you all about Nuremberg’s history while taking you around all of its main sights. See prices

9. Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Tucked away down in Southern Bavaria, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is nestled in the arms of the Bavarian Alps. Naturally, it’s the perfect spot for a little bit of skiing. It’s also home to Germany’s highest peak, Zugspitse, which towers above everything at 2,962 meters above sea level.

Summertime pursuits include swimming in the Eibsee and hiking in the hills. Split into two parts, Garmisch is the relatively more modern side of town, whilst wandering around the eastern portion of Partenkirchen is the perfect opportunity to soak up traditional Bavarian architecture. Here you can see wood carvings and Lüftlmalereien, traditional Bavarian fresco paintings.

Getting to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

• As a direct train runs from Munich Central Station it usually takes around an hour and fifteen minutes to get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, so in no time at all, you’ll find yourself immersed in nature.
• For an easy and stress-free visit to one of Germany’s most incredible landscapes, you may want to consider taking a tour. This not only includes a cable car ride up Zugspitze but also transport to and from the site. See prices

8. Regensburg

You’ll find the Bavarian city of Regensburg nestled at the confluence of three rivers: the Danube, Naab, and Regen all meet here. That riverside location makes for a perfect slice of picturesque beauty, especially with the Gothic spires of the wonderfully ornate 13th century Regensburg Cathedral peeking out above everything else.

The medieval part of Regensburg is definitely a major draw, but there are also Roman ruins here. The city sustained little damage from the bombings at the end of World War II, and offers visitors the unique opportunity to study the unbroken past of this town.

Getting to Regensburg

• As trains directly from Munich to Regensburg only take an hour and a half, the beautiful Bavarian city makes for a fantastic day out.
• With so much history on offer in Regensburg, a guided tour is one of the best ways to see as much of the city as possible. See prices

7. Herrenchiemsee

Located in southern Bavaria and set on the Herreninsel, the biggest of the islands on the large Chiemsee Lake – Herrenchiemsee – is a sprawling network of royal buildings. A day spent at the palace complex is one packed full of interesting architectural and historical delights.

The palace was built by King Ludwig II in the 19th century, to reflect the glory of Louis XIV, the Sun King of France. On a backdrop of lakes and mountains, the interior of the palace oozes opulence, as it drips with gold and glistening glass decorations – there’s even a grand Hall of Mirrors akin to that at Versaille.

Getting to Herrenchiemsee

• Herrenchiemsee lies just an hour and a half away from Munich by public transport. Visitors must first take an hour-long train to Prien am Chiemsee, then embark on a fifteen-minute scenic boat trip to Herrenchiemsee.
• If you’re looking to gain a deeper insight and understanding into the history surrounding Herrenchiemsee, you may want to consider taking a guided tour around the palace. Tours often combine a visit to the island with a stop at the Benedictine monastery on nearby Fraueninsel Island, and a scenic boat trip on the lake. See prices

6. Berchtesgaden

Set in the Bavarian Alps, Berchtesgaden is a town plentiful in beautiful, mountainous scenery; there’s absolutely no shortage of that. In fact, just to the south of this town is a unique place where you can admire the view: the Eagle’s Nest, which was Adolf Hitler’s alpine retreat.

Martin Bormann had it built, and gave it to Hitler for his 50th birthday. In spite of that, Hitler did not spend a great deal of time there. It’s now a restaurant and museum. Nearby, there’s the Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden, where you can learn all about the 500-year-old salt mine.

Getting to Berchtesgaden

• Lying next to the border with Austria, Berchtesgaden makes for a popular day trip, and there are a number of ways for you to get there. Taking the train there is comfortable and convenient, although it does usually take two or three hours. This is because you must first catch a train to Salzburg before changing for Berchtesgaden.
• Another option is to take a tour to Berchtesgaden; this is a popular option amongst many visitors to Munich as it combines a visit to the famous Eagle’s Nest with a trip to the stunning scenery of the Bavarian Alps. See prices

5. Rothenburg ob der Tauber

This medieval town is one of the stops on the Romantic Road, which is a trail that features a number of interesting places to visit. It is approximately at the half-way point between Frankfurt and Munich.

Rothenburg is a walled town that has remained intact down through the years. It is famous for being the most German town in Germany. During World War II the Nazi leaders habitually took people on day trips to show them this model village. It is also famous for the stores that carry Christmas items all year round and for having an outstanding Christmas market each December.

Getting to Rothenburg

• From Munich, it generally takes around three hours and fifteen minutes by train to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber; this involves a couple of transfers.
• To make the most of their trip along the Romantic Road, many people take a tour which combines a visit to Rothenburg ob der Tauber with a stop at Harburg Castle. See prices

Less than twenty kilometers from Munich, Dachau is a short day trip from the Bavarian capital. Dating back to the 9th century AD, the city has a long history but is best known for being the location of the former Dachau Concentration Camp . Originally intended to hold political prisoners, it was here that eventually tens and thousands of persecuted people, including Jews, were killed by the Nazi regime.

Established in 1933, Dachau was, in fact, the first of the many concentration camps eventually set up in Nazi-held territory. Today, there’s a memorial center and museum, as well as an art gallery.

Getting to Dachau

• Getting to Dachau from Munich by public transport couldn’t be simpler; the S-Bahn train will whisk you there in around ten to twenty minutes.
• To gain an insight into the horrifying events of the Holocaust and World War II, many visitors to Munich opt to take a guided tour to Daschau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. See prices

3. Linderhof Palace

The Linderhof Palace was the only castle out of three that Ludwig completed in his lifetime. His intended to spruce up the already existing lodge, but ended with a scaled down version of Versailles Palace.

Of special interest are the Hall of Mirrors and the Peacock Bedroom. He lived in seclusion in this palace hideaway for much of his life. In honor of Wagner, Ludwig built a fantasy grotto partway up the mountain behind the palace based upon Wagner’s opera, Tannhäuser.

Getting to Linderhof Palace

• While it is relatively easy to drive to Linderhof Palace yourself, a lot of people decide to take a tour from Munich for all the extra features that it provides. Many tours combine a visit to Linderhof Palace with a stop at the beautiful Neuschwanstein castle that lies nearby. See prices

2. Salzburg

Located just across the border in Austria, Salzburg is probably best known as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. With its iconic historic center bursting with Baroque buildings, there are a lot of sights to soak up in Salzburg. Ride the funicular or hike to the top of Hohensalzburg Fortress, which dates back to 1077.

The fortress is an icon of the city and offers picturesque views of the surrounding landscape. For those seeking to relive scenes from the movie “The Sound of Music”, must-see attractions include the 17th-century Baroque Mirabell Palace and Gardens and the von Trapp family home, which is now a hotel.

Getting to Salzburg

• By train, it takes between an hour and a half to two hours to reach Salzburg .
• To make the most of your time in the city, you may want to consider taking a guided tour. See prices

1. Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein, Ludwig’s fairy tale castle, is set on a hill above the village (and castle) of Hohenschwangau. It is one of the most visited castles in Europe. Walt Disney used it as a model for Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Disneyland. Ludwig paid tribute to Wagner in this castle as well with the furnishings and by naming the castle after Wagner’s opera, the Swan Knight. The Singer’s Hall is the entire fourth floor where the walls display images that point to Wagner’s works.

Slightly to the south of Neuschwanstein is another beautiful castle; Schloss Hohenschwangau. Maximillian II, father of Ludwig II, discovered Hohenschwangau Castle when he was still the Crown Prince. The vicinity in which he found it pleased him immensely. In spite of it being in ruins, he bought the castle and had it renovated. With two popular castles nearby, the town of Füssen is one of the most popular destinations for a day trip from Munich.

For visitors wanting to check out the fabulous Neuschwanstein Castle, there are a couple of important things to note before looking at travel options. First of all, visitors need to stop off at Hohenschwangau to buy their tickets to the castle at the Ticket Center . In the summer months, it is a good idea to book tickets in advance online as the place will be heaving with visitors and you may end up waiting a long time to buy tickets. In addition to this, the only way to enter the stunning castle is if you opt to go on a guided tour.

Getting to Neuschwanstein Castle

• From Munich you can simply take the train to Fussen railway station, which takes around two hours. From there, it is a short ten-minute bus journey to Hohenschwangau Neuschwanstein Castles, Schwangau – the nearest stop to the castle itself and the place where you need to buy your tickets. After that you can either take a short shuttle bus or Disney-esque horse-drawn carriage ride to the castle.
• To avoid the hassle of getting there yourself, you can always opt to take a tour to Neuschwanstein and its surrounding sights. One popular option is to combine both Neuschwanstein and the nearby Linderhof into one package. See prices

Map of day trips from Munich

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Home » Destinations » Europe » Germany » 19 Brilliant Day Trips From Munich (And How To Get There)

19 Brilliant Day Trips From Munich (And How To Get There)

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Here Are Some Great Day Trips From Munich!

If you’re somehow done exploring Munich, there are plenty of great day trips ideas from Munich. From great castles, beautiful lakes, cities, and attractions to explore all around Bavaria and into Austria, it can be hard to decide where to go next!

We would know: Lisa is from Bavaria so we’ve been lucky enough to have explored many of the places on this list.

We personally love exploring Nuremburg but hiking the lakes around Allgäu (near Neuschwanstein Castle) and going up the Zugspitze (Germany’s highest mountain) from Garmisch-Partenkirchen are also up there for us.

So, whether you’re looking to explore the natural beauty of the lakes around Munich or want to hop on a train to explore another city, here’s our guide full of great day trips from Munich in any season – with directions and ways to get there!

Popular Munich Day Trip Tours

• Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Palace Day Trip
• Zugspitze Mountain Tour
• Historic Nuremburg Day Trip by Train
• Salzburg, Austria Day Tour by Train

Table of Contents

Neuschwanstein Castle

Address: Neuschwansteinstraße 20, 87645 Schwangau, Germany

If fairytale castles are what you are after, there’s a day trip from Munich that you will absolutely love: Neuschwanstein Castle! Built in the late 1860s by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, the castle was supposed to be a home/retreat.

This world-famous attraction is located in the small village of Hohenschwangau and has inspired lots of people over the decades – even Walt Disney!

Today, because of it’s stunning location, interior/exterior, and history, Neuschwanstein Castle is visited by over a million people each year!

Just so you know, the castle is located up a hill and you can ONLY visit the interior if you book a guided tour. The only place to buy tickets is in the Ticket Center which is located in town (near the base of Neuschwanstein Castle).

Therefore, it’s highly advised to try and reserve tickets online in advance of your arrival or arrive early enough to ensure you can even get in for that day.

Even then, lines for those buying tickets on the day can be hours long in the summer season and the tickets for the day can sell out before lunchtime.

Yah, it’s popular – but there is more to the area that just one castle. If you’re making the trip, don’t forget about Hohenschwangau Castle – another beautiful place to check out close to Neuschwanstein. In fact, you can get a reduced ticket if you plan on visiting both.

Of course, you can still explore the area if you couldn’t/didn’t want to do a tour inside Neuschwanstein.

The region is known for the stunning mountains, nature, and you can always snap photos from the famous Marienbrücke or enjoy the lakes. You can learn all about visiting Neuschwanstein Castle on the official website .

Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle By Car

There are a number of ways you can get to Neuschwanstein Castle by car. Just so you know, it’s located in the small village of Hohenschwangau.

Generally speaking, the drive from Munich will take about 1 hour 45 minutes (with good/no traffic) and is a driving distance of approximately 115 km (give or take 10).

The German train system is awesome but some of these day trips are just easier with a car. You can compare prices for rental companies in Munich here . We rented from Sixt right in Munich and it was easy pick-up, easy drop-off in Nuremburg.

Once in Hohenschwangau, you’ll find a number of parking lots around the small centre. You cannot drive up to the Castle. So, expect to park down below in the village and walk up to the Castle or take a shuttle (which fills in the busy season).

Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle By Train/Bus

Taking public transport to Neuschwanstein Castle is one of those rare occasions where the German train isn’t a great option for a day trip. In fact, a car or tour is probably a better option. Why?

This is because from Munich you take the train to the nearby town of Füssen. There’s no train station near the Castle (again, rare for Germany).

From there, you have to get on a bus that heads for the village near the castle. The stop is known as “Hohenschwangau Neuschwanstein Castles, Schwangau”.

Here’s the catch – the total time is between Munich and the Castle is around 3 hours one way.

It’s doable – but for the purposes of a day trip, it’s a little high on the travel time. Plus, if you go in the summer season, you’ll be waiting for a tour for potentially hours once you get there.’=

It’s doable – but for the purposes of a day trip, it’s a little high on the travel time. Plus, if you go in the summer season, you’ll be waiting for a tour for potentially hours once you get there.

Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle Tour

One of the easiest ways to visit Neuschwanstein Castle if you don’t want to drive or navigate the train/bus is on a tour. Because it’s such a popular day trip from Munich, there are many great day tours to choose from. You just book ahead, show up, and enjoy!

• Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Palace – Explore the two top castles in the area on a great guided day trip! ( Very Popular )
• Just Neuschwanstein Castle  – Dive deep into the famous castle, local village, and views of the area with a knowledgeable guide.
• Neuschwanstein Castle and Füssen  – Discover the castle and explore the old town of Füssen nestled in the nearby Alps.

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site

Address: Alte Römerstraße 75, 85221 Dachau, Germany

If you want to dive into history – including the darker times of European history – then a somber visit to Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site is a must. As one of the closest places relative to Munich’s city centre, the site makes for a good day trip.

Originally opened back in 1933, Dachau has the rather unfortunate distinction of being the first concentration camp by the Nazi Regime. It also lasted right up until near the end of the war in April of 1945. So, there is a great deal of history at Dachau.

Eric visited Dachau as a day trip from Munich whilst travelling with a friend. You can visit the museum, wander the grounds, explore reconstructed buildings, visit religious memorials, and you can even hop on a live guided tour OR purchase an audio guide tour.

Eric purchased the audio guide and it was great to have the information on hand while exploring.

Understandably, Dachau is a very heavy experience – but one that is certainly worth the time. You can learn all about visiting on the official website for Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site .

Munich to Dachau By Car

Honestly, it’s WAY easier to take the train from Munich. In fact, you have to pay for parking once you get there and with Munich traffic it can take 40 minutes or more.

That said, to drive to Dachau head in a northwest direction and aim for the parking lot at: 73 Alte Römerstraße, 85221 Dachau, Germany.

Munich to Dachau By Train/Bus

Since it’s such a popular route, it’s quite easy to get from Munich to Dachau Memorial Camp. Eric has done this exact route, too. Just take a regional train from Munich Central Station (heading for Nuremberg) for about 12 minutes to Dachau Bahnhof.

The other (more frequent) train you can take is the S2 in the direction of Petershausen(Obb) and get off in Dachau for a slightly slower train time of about 20 minutes.

Once at Dachau Train Station, you walk a bit down the street and hop on the #726 bus towards Saubachsiedlung to Dachau Memorial Site (KZ-Gedenkstätte is the exact bus stop). This bus ride takes about 7 minutes – so overall the travel time is less than 30 minutes one way.

As with many Munich day trips on this list, you can check the train schedule at the DB website . This site will be your best friend.

Munich to Dachau Tour

While the route to Dachau is simple, you might want to benefit from having a guide take you. Guides can also offer extensive knowledge that you might miss if you do a self-guided tour of Dachau.

So, there are many day tours from Munich you can do to maximize your experience. The only difference is the companies that run the tours. You can see two popular ones below:

• Dachau Tour From Munich – Visit the Memorial Site via transport with a live English guide
• Dachau Tour From Munich II   – Visit Dachau also using public transport with a live guide

Address for Central Train Station/Parking: Bahnhofspl., 90443 Nürnberg, Germany

If you want to visit a German city that is smaller than Munich but still packs a historical punch, check out Nuremberg. Located to the north of Munich, the city boasts a lovely, medieval old town with a castle. You can also explore a great deal of World War II history here – so Nuremberg has something for lots of different interests.

Those looking to take nice photos will have the Pegnitz River running through the city centre, while those looking to learn about the Nazi Regime and Germany’s past can visit the Documentation Centre, Nazi Rally Grounds, at Zeppelinfeld and Lakes.

We really liked Nuremberg – we stayed for a few days and ended up experiencing lots of the city. With most cities in Bavaria, there are lots of great restaurants – like Trödelstuben – to try local foods such as Nuremberger Sausage!

We suggest checking out the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg , Albrecht Dürer’s House, having a beer at literally any beer garden, St. Lorenz Church, and the German National Museum!

Munich to Nuremberg By Car

Travelling to Nuremberg by car is possible BUT we’d honestly suggest taking the train. It’s faster and likely cheaper because with a car you have to pay for gas and parking when you arrive.

That said, the drive to Nuremberg takes about 2 hours for a driving distance of about 170 kilometres (minimum). It’s basically due north and a bit to the west of central Munich.

Munich to Nuremberg By Train/Bus

You can get to Nuremberg very easily by train or by bus. In fact, unsurprisingly, the train is the best option. You can hop on a regional train that will take about 1 hour 45 minutes from Central Station to Central Station. This train – heading for Nuremberg – runs almost every hour.

Alternatively, you can get there in about 1 hour 5 minutes if you take the ICE (fast German train) but this ticket is much more expensive than a regional train ticket. It’s still a good option, though – and you might find cheaper tickets if you book in advance!

Lastly, the Flixbus runs from Munich to Nuremberg multiple times a day (especially in the morning) with direct buses averaging around 2 hours total commuting time. Check out the Flixbus website here .

Munich to Nuremberg Tour

If you’re short on time or don’t feel like navigating the train and the city by yourself, you can always hop on a tour to Nuremberg. This can be a great way to explore without the stress of figuring everything out by yourself.

• Nuremberg Old Town and Nazi Rally Grounds  – Discover the city with a live guide and who takes the train there with you ( Popular )
• Nuremberg Trials and Old Town – Explore the city with a live guide and get there by coach bus

Read More: Discover More Beautiful Places All Over Germany

Address for Central Train Station/Parking: Südtiroler Pl. 1, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

You might not think to visit another country while you’re in Munich – but with Austria so close, Salzburg is a really great option. We really loved the city of Salzburg – for the scenic lookouts, the great nature, and the incredible old town and history.

Salzburg can get pretty busy with visitors – and for good reason: It’s the birthplace of Mozart and there’s a massive 11th-century castle (Fortress Hohensalzburg) overlooking the old town!

There’s also so much green space which makes Salzburg a good escape to see the tip of the Alps in the area known as “Salzkammergut”.

We got the chance to hike up to Fortress Hohensalzburg to check out the museum, do an audio tour, and snap photos from one of the tallest towers.

Elsewhere in the Salzburg Old Town (which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site), you can see gardens like Mirabell Palace, visit Mozart’s birthplace, go inside Salzburg Cathedral, and do much more.

We also rented bikes and visited Hellbrunn Castle which is just outside the centre. Point is: There are plenty of things to do in Salzburg !

If you head down on a day trip, you should have a look at the Salzburg Card if you plan on exploring more than two attractions. Also, check out the viewing platform up at the Museum der Moderne for amazing city views!

Munich to Salzburg By Car

Munich to Salzburg by car is a straightforward drive. Heading east of Munich (and a bit south), the total driving time is around 2 hours and 160 km (shorter and a tad faster if you take a toll highway).

Keep in mind that you’ll cross the border into Austria but there’s no actual physical border (it’s just a sign) because you’re travelling within the Schengen Zone.

Yay for freedom of movement! Once you’re in Salzburg, there are parking lots all over the place – especially in the Old Town.

Munich to Salzburg By Train/Bus

You can get to Salzburg very easily by train, too. There’s a direct train between the two centres that leaves frequently (every hour, if not more often) and takes about 1 hour 45 minutes.

We’ve actually taken the train in the other direction (from Salzburg to Munich) and it was a super easy ride – and scenic, too!

Alternatively, you can take the Flixbus to Salzburg. The trip is 2 hours flat and there are multiple departures throughout a given day (even more frequent on weekends). A seat can be as low as 5 Euro/per way which is a pretty good price to see another city in a whole other country!

Munich to Salzburg Tour

Admittedly, there is a TON to see and do in Salzburg. So, if you want to explore as much as you can in a single day and learn a lot, you might want to go on a Salzburg Tour.

Tours are good because then you also don’t have to worry about getting there – you just show up, travel there with a guide, and enjoy the amazing city!

• Salzburg City Trip  – Dive into exploring just the city of Salzburg with a guide and get there by train ride! (Popular)
• Salzburg City Trip II – Explore the city with a guide (travel by train) and a 2.5-hour walking tour of the UNESCO Old Town!
• Salzburg, Chiemsee, and More – Explore Salzburg, the famous Chiemsee, and more by bus ride from Munich

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Address for Tran Station: Bahnhofstraße, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

If you are looking for those perfect photographs of a medieval German old town, then you should head for Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This town – located to the northwest of Munich – is known for its preserved walled old town that is filled with colourful wooden buildings and cobblestone streets.

Because it’s just so pretty to visit, the town is very popular for tour groups visiting the south of Germany – but that’s understandable.

As for things to do, besides just wandering the gated old town, you can check out specific attractions around the Marktplatz (market square) like the Rathaus (Town Hall) and climb its tower for amazing views.

Of course, you will also find your fill of restaurants and souvenir shops if you’re looking for classic takeaways from your Germany trip! Lisa has been to Rothenburg and really liked it.

She can confirm that it’s busy (especially in the summer season) but still lovely. In the winter, you can check out the Christmas Markets which make for a classic and festive experience.

When you visit, you have to try out a “Schneeball” which literally means snowball in English. This is a shortbread-like pastry dessert that is rolled into a ball and coated in various toppings like chocolate, nuts, and more. We’ve tried them and they are really good!

Munich to Rothenburg ob der Tauber By Car

The only way to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber that makes sense for the purposes of a day trip is on the road. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is located to the northwest of Munich (it’s more west of Nuremberg, for reference).

If you are travelling by car, the trip will take around 2 hours and 30 minutes for a total distance averaging 225 km (there are multiple routes you can take). Once you’re there, there are plenty of parking lots to choose from just outside the old town walls.

Munich to Rothenburg ob der Tauber By Train/Bus

For the purposes of a day trip, the train to Rothenburg ob der Tauber is just too complicated and would take over 3 hours. It’s just not worth it to change multiple times in large cities (like Nuremberg) which you can just go and see instead!

Munich to Rothenburg ob der Tauber Tour

If you are keen on seeing Rothenburg ob der Tauber but don’t want to drive, you could take a tour. As part of Germany’s famous “Romantic Road”, on the tour you’d explore other picturesque towns and villages in a single day!

• The Romantic Road and Rothenburg  – Explore Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Harburg Castle on a guided day tour!

Address for Schlenkerla Brewery: Dominikanerstraße 6, 96049 Bamberg, Germany

Bamberg is one of those smaller German cities that you would recognize from the beautiful photos – but you wouldn’t know it’s Bamberg! Case and Point: the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) that straddles the Regnitz River is a sight to see.

Bamberg makes for a great day trip from Munich – but it’s about as far as we have on this whole list.

That said, we’d say it’s worth the journey. Bamberg has a lovely medieval old town that exudes Bavarian culture at every turn. You can visit the Bamberger Dom (Cathedral), the Neue Residenz Bamberg, the Michelsberg Monastery, and more.

Bamberg is also known for a famous brewery – Schlenkerla – which has been producing a “smoke beer” since the 1400s!

This beer – with a very dark and smoky flavour – is delicious and a must-try even if you aren’t a beer drinker. Eric tried it and it was great… very different than a lighter pale ale or lager!

Bamberg also has places for great photographs beside the Old Town Hall. There’s also a sight called Little Venice – where small colourful wooden houses line the river bank. If you want to learn more, you can check out our post on exploring Bamberg .

Munich to Bamberg By Car

If you want to drive by car to get to Bamberg, the trip is around 2 hours and 30 minutes and approximately 240 kilometres (depending on the exact route). Bamberg is north of Munich – essentially on the other side of Nuremberg.

Once you get there, you can find parking near the Old Town easily. We once parked in an underground garage on a weekend and there was loads of space still available.

Munich to Bamberg By Train/Bus

If you want to take public transit to Bamberg, the train ride is about 2 hours and 30 minutes – and you’ll change in Nuremberg basically for certain and potentially Ingolstadt (depending on when you leave and which train you take).

Once there, the train station in Bamberg is in the city centre’s east end so it’s a 10/15 minute walk to the historic Old Town. It’s pretty much along one road all the way to get there, so it’s nothing complicated.

The Flixbus would take between 3 and 4 hours so that’s not really an option for the purposes of a day trip.

Address for Rathausplatz: Rathauspl. 4, 85049 Ingolstadt, Germany

In case you haven’t had enough of medieval old towns to explore, you might also want to consider Ingolstadt for a day trip from Munich. This city to the north of Munich has another great example of a walled old town that has been preserved and features towers like the “Kreuztor”.

While the city might seem a little smaller than the others on this list, there is still plenty to see and do – and it’ll likely be less busy than other top day trip destinations. The city also has the Danube River running through it so you can even get in some river views/walking.

Ingolstadt is known for a few top attraction like Ingolstadt Village (for top shopping), the Audi Forum (Audi Museum and birthplace with cars on display and more), and a variety of museums to learn about Germany like the Museum of the History of Medicine and the Bavarian Army Museum!

Munich to Ingolstadt By Car

If you want to drive to Ingolstadt, the drive is pretty simple. The city is north of Munich about 1 hour driving time (for approximately 80 kilometres). Once you’re there, you’ll find parking no problem if you head for the Old Town.

Munich to Ingolstadt By Train/Bus

You can take the train to Ingolstadt very easily. It’ll be about 45 minutes to an hour on a regional train (the one that makes more stops). These trains run frequently (multiple times an hour) so you will have options to get there and back.

Once there, if you want to explore the Old Town (as many people probably do) then aim to get off the train at Ingolstadt Nord Station. From there, it’s about a 15-minute walk into the heart of the Old Town whereas it’s 30 minutes walking from the Central Station.

Munich to Ingolstadt Tour

One of the things Ingolstadt is known for is shopping. So, you can hop on a tour to Ingolstadt Village for a day of shopping via luxury coach!

Address for Rathausplatz: Rathausplatz 1, 86150 Augsburg, Germany

Augsburg might not seem too important – but it’s certainly a worthy day trip from Munich. As Germany’s third oldest city, there is a TON of rich history to check out in Augsburg. Located not too far to the west of Munich, this smaller city on the Wertach River has plenty to check out.

You might want to start in the old town at Rathausplatz where you find the old Town Hall and its famous “Golden Hall”. From there, you’ll easily see the Perlach Tower (built in the 10th century as a watchtower) which you can climb (over 250 steps) for views of the city!

If you are into Baroque Palaces, go and check out the Schaezlerpalais which isn’t too far from the top attractions. This whole inner city (Innenstadt) area is also full of cafes, restaurants, and shops that you can check out.

Munich to Augsburg By Car

Driving to Augsburg is a good option. The drive is short – only around 50 minutes – and about 65 kilometres exactly northwest of Munich. Once you arrive, there are a handful of parking lots/garages in the city centre (there isn’t really a classic walled Old Town like in other cities).

Munich to Augsburg By Train/Bus

You can also easily take the train to Augsburg. There are frequent regional trains (usually heading for Ulm) that take about 45 minutes to get to Augsburg. Once there, the train station is in the middle of the city and you walk 10 minutes east to the “heart” of the old buildings/Rathaus.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen (+ Zugspitze + Partnachklamm)

Address for Franz Krönner Konditorei und Cafe: Achenfeldstraße 1, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

If you want to embrace nature and head for the towering Bavarian Alps, you should think about a day trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. This small town is nestled in the south of the country – and serves as an access point for skiing, hiking, and more!

The town itself is very much a ski/hiking/resort town with plenty of shops and restaurants focused on these kinds of travellers.

We wandered around the heart of the town – it’s a healthy mix of traditional Bavarian buildings and modern shops. We even ate at Franz Krönner Konditorei and Cafe and it was excellent!

It’s no secret that the town is a key access point for many mountains around it – all you have to do is look up! The highest peak in all of Germany – the Zugspitze – can be accessed via cable car/cogwheel train just outside the town at the Eibsee (Lake).

When we visited the area with Eric’s family, we headed up the Zugspitze and spent the day exploring Garmisch. The combination of trains and cable cars was so worth it for the views. We even had a beer at the top – it was quite the experience.

Besides the highest peak, another popular hiking trail leads you to check out the Partnach Gorge (or Partnachklamm in German) with its waterfalls and walkways.

If you are keen to make it down here on a day trip, you’ll want to arrive early so you have enough time to enjoy all that the town has to offer. You can learn more about visiting Garmisch-Partenkirchen on the official website .

Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen By Car

Driving to Garmisch is super easy. The two places are connected by the A95 (Autobahn) so it’s very fast to get there – about 1 hour and 10 minutes driving for a total distance of 90 kilometres to the southwest of Munich.

Once you get there, it should be easy to find parking close to the town centre. We parked on/at Marienplatz and were able to walk into the area with shops, restaurants, cafes, etc.

Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen By Train/Bus

The train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a great option. The ride on a regional train takes about 1 hour 20 minutes and leaves multiple times throughout the day.

Once you’re there, the train station is right in the middle of the town – walkable in all directions to shops, restaurants, or to catch the bus to get on cable cars up the mountains!

You can also take the bus to Garmisch. There are a surprising number of Fluxbus departures throughout the day – the top takes 1 hour 15 minutes and can cost as little as 5 Euro/per way.

Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen Tour

One of the top reasons people travel to Garmisch is for the mountains – and for access to the Zugspitze. So, if that’s your plan as well – you might consider booking a guided tour from Munich to the top of the Zugspitze (and back)!

This way, you don’t have to worry about transportation there, tickets for the cable car or the train back down, etc. and can just relax and enjoy your day at the top of the country!

Address for Golden Roof in Old Town: Herzog-Friedrich-Straße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

If you want to discover a mountain city that feels small but packs a ton of history and natural beauty, you should consider Innsbruck. This Austrian city is located on the other side of some mountains from Munich – and the train ride to get there is absolutely breathtaking!

Once there, Innsbruck is full of things to do and see . We headed right for the Old Town to start with the top sights like the Golden Roof, the City Tower (Stadtturm), Hofburg Palace, the Cathedral of St. James, and more. We climbed the Stadtturm and would really recommend it!

For those incredible views, head up the Nordkette train and cable car to ascend to the top of Hafelekarspitze. It was closed for renovations when we visited but we will get those mountain views next time!

The city – not just the Old Town – is also full of shops, cafes, and great restaurants. For great strudel, eat at Strudel Cafe Kroll and for a massive authentic meal, try out Fischerhäusl ! It also helps that the central train station is so close to the city centre/Inn river!

Munich to Innsbruck By Car

The drive to Innsbruck is doable – and would certainly be beautiful. It’s about a 2-hour drive and about 150 kilometres south of Munich… through the mountains!

You’d actually go through Garmisch-Partenkirchen which is one route if you want to avoid any tolls. You’ll cross the border when you’re heading into the Alps but there’s no actual border – just a sign.

Munich to Innsbruck By Train/Bus

You can get to Innsbruck by train from Munich. The trip takes about 1 hour 45 minutes – but they leave less frequently throughout the day (every few hours) so you will need to plan ahead to catch the train you want there and back.

Once you get to Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof (Central Station), it’s just a 10-minute walk to the heart of the Old Town. We did it – it’s very simple!

If you want to take the bus, you’ve got options. The Flixbus runs multiple times per day with the average trip taking about 2 hours 15 minutes and costing as little as 8 Euro/way!

Munich to Innsbruck Tour

If you want to hop on a tour to Innsbruck, you can certainly do so. You can book a day trip from Munich to Innsbruck that takes you right to the heart of the Old Town – and nearby attractions like Swarovski Crystal Worlds!

Read More: One Day in Innsbruck – A Full Itinerary w/ Food !

Address for Train Station: 83209 Prien am Chiemsee, Germany

Sticking a bit closer to Munich with this one, there’s a lake you might want to check out! Sometimes called “The Bavarian Sea”, Chiemsee is a very popular lake in the Bavarian region. Located just to the southeast of Munich, it makes for a popular day trip in any season – but summer is extra nice.

The large lake is known for its three islands – one of which has the Herrenchiemsee Palace (which you can visit). Another smaller island has a historic abbey – Frauenwörth Abbey. You can explore the islands (and the surrounding views) with the frequent ferries across the lake.

The town on shore – Prien am Chiemsee – is a great starting point for any adventure. There are shops and restaurants and you’ll even find a place to hop on a boat to the islands. You can learn more about what to do when visiting on this Bavaria travel website .

Munich to Chiemsee By Car

Since Chiemsee is a lake, you’ll need to head to an actual place to park in the town nearby (Prien am Chiemsee). To get here by car, it’s only about an hour’s drive to the southeast from Munich about 90 kilometres.

Once you’re here, you can find lots of parking lots to leave the car while you explore and/or head over to see the island and Herrenchiemsee New Palace.

Munich to Chiemsee By Train/Bus

You can take the train to the lake really easily, too. The train from Munich Central Station to Prien am Chiemsee is semi-frequent and just shy of an hour long. Depending on which one you take, it might actually be the same train that heads for “Salzburg HBF”.

Once there, you can walk to the water OR take the Chiemsee-Bahn which is a small train that runs from the main train station to the lake!

Munich to Chiemsee Tour

One of the best ways to enjoy the lake (and all it has to offer) is to head there on a guided tour. This way you don’t have to worry about boat tickets, Royal Castle tickets, getting there from Munich (and back), and more logistics!

If you’re interested, check out this popular Chiemsee tour by bus from Munich to explore the Royal Castle and more!

Address for St. Peter’s Cathedral in Old Town: Domplatz 1, 93047 Regensburg, Germany

Another great city to check out that is packed with history is Regensburg. Located to the north of Munich, the city has a long history as a trading port because the Danube River passes through the city.

You can learn about the city’s maritime history at the Maritime Museum (boats converted into exhibits).

One of the top attractions is the Stone Bridge which was built over the mighty Danube in the 12th century.

We walked across it to snap photos – it was a popular spot! Other highlights in the Old Town – besides just walking around – are St Peter’s Cathedral, St. Emmeram’s Abbey (so beautiful), and the colourful Altes Rathaus (Town Hall) close to Haidplatz.

If you want a place to grab food, we had a sit down lunch at Café Lila. We sat outside and overlooked the open square (Haidplatz) which made for a lovely afternoon. Overall, we really liked Regensburg and would recommend checking it out for a day!

Munich to Regensburg By Car

Driving to Regensburg is certainly doable. The city is located to the north (and slightly east) of Munich. The driving time is about 1 hour 20 minutes for a total distance of about 130 kilometres.

Munich to Regensburg By Train/Bus

The train is easy to take to Regensburg. Depending on the time you leave, the best option is to take a regional train (headed for Nuremberg HBF) that takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

This train runs directly to Regensburg throughout the day – but there are other combinations that include S-train and/or changing once. Once you’re there at Regenssburg HBF, you can walk to the Old Town – it’s only about 15/20 minutes to the Danube. You can also take the city bus!

If you want to take the bus to Regensburg, Flixbus runs a direct bus (1 hour 40 minutes) from Munich to Regensburg multiple times a morning for as little as 8 Euro one way!

Starnberg (with Starnberger See)

Address for S-Train Station: Bahnhofpl. 8, 82319 Starnberg, Germany

If you want your day trip to include a lake but don’t want to travel too far at all, consider heading to Starnberg! This town is located at the north end of Starnberger See – a long lake (the second largest in the region) that is located just south of Munich!

The town of Starnberg is small but full of things to check out to fill up part of your day – like the Lake Starnberg Museum, lots of restaurants, and shops. The shoreline is great for walking and there are hiking trails in the surrounding area, too.

Once you’re down there, you can take a ferry around the lake – stopping at various points to explore the shoreline. The shore is packed with smaller towns and attractions like Schloss Höhenried, Schloss Berg, restaurants, green parks, and more. You can plan a visit with help from this official resource .

Munich to Starnberg By Car

Given that it’s so close, it’s really simple to drive to Starnberg. The town/lake is located just to the southwest of Munich – so the driving time is about 30 minutes and not long at around 25 kilometres!

Once you get there, you’ll find parking right by the water – which is also where the train station, and the main area for shops, restaurants, cafes, etc. are!

Munich to Starnberg By Train/Bus

You can very easily take the train to Starnberg. From Munich Central, hop on the S6 – it takes about 32 minutes directly there and runs very frequently (every 20 minutes or so). There are other S-Train/regional train combination options but why take those when you can catch the S6 direct?

Once there, the train station is right on the water so you can walkabout into the town OR hop on a boat cruise right away to explore the lake!

Address for Central Parking Lot: Seestraße 3, 83471 Schönau am Königssee, Germany

Of course, no post on day trips from Munich would be complete without a mention of the famous Königssee. Located as far as you’d basically want to go on a day trip from Munich (very close to Berchtesgaden, the Salt Mine, and the Eagle’s Nest), the Königssee is worth the trek.

This natural lake is different from the other lakes in this post because it’s location among towering mountains which means that you get these dramatic sheer cliffs that rise from the shorelines – like the fjords in New Zealand or Norway.

As such, you can take a ferry out on the lake and see the landscape for yourself. Along the way, you’ll see attractions like the famous St Bartholomew’s Church by the shoreline.

Of course, the geography of the area makes it great for hiking/mountaineering trails. However, for the purposes of a day trip, you should just check out the lake by boat and perhaps visit another nearby attraction listed above!

Munich to Königssee By Car

If you want to drive to the Lake (and the town of Königssee), then it’ll take you about 2 hours with a driving distance of around 160 kilometres. It’s pretty far but will get beautiful as you near the mountains.

It’s also very close to the Austrian border with other attractions listed below in this post. Once there, aim for a parking lot such as the one mentioned below.

Munich to Königssee By Train/Bus

For the purposes of a day trip, it’ll take too long to take the train or bus. You basically need to drive or take a tour since roads are the best way to get there.

Munich to Königssee Tour

One of the easiest ways to experience the lake and the amazing views is to head down there on a tour. Because the lake is just so far down from Munich – and it’s not THAT great to get to by transit – you’re limited for options.

Luckily, there is enough of a desire to explore the beautiful landscape that you’ll find a handful of great tour options to take you down there, guide you around, and bring you back to Munich with photos and memories!

• Discover the Königssee – See the famous lake by boat and check out other attractions (waterfall, etc.) on a guided bus trip!
• Königssee and Salt Mines – Explore the lake by boat AND see the Salt Mines on a guided day trip from Munich!

The Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus)

Address: Aim for the Parking Lot at the Dokumentationszentrum Obersalzberg: Salzbergstraße 43, 83471 Berchtesgaden, Germany

If you’re looking for one of the top attractions that are reachable from Munich, then you should check out the Eagle’s Nest. Known as the Kehlsteinhaus in German, this compound is located high atop a ridge in the mountain region known as Obersalzberg in southern Bavaria.

Aside from the incredible views of the area, the Eagle’s Nest is most known for its role in history – it was a frequent meeting point for high-level members of the Nazi Party – and Hitler did visit a handful of times.

These days, the location offers a very limited retelling of its history – and it’s largely a tourist attraction with a restaurant and beer garden. You can buy tickets for the bus ride up (and elevator to the actual building) at the Dokumentationszentrum Obersalzberg at the bottom of the hill.

Be sure to check the website for seasonal open hours – winter season is reduced hours or closed because the road is impassible. You can find all the latest information about visiting the Eagle’s Nest on the official website .

Munich to The Eagle’s Nest By Car

As with visiting the Königssee, you’ll need a car. The trip to this area is just shy of 2 hours and about 160 kilometres. The difference is that you’ll not go as far south to the lake if you’re heading for the Eagle’s Nest Parking Area.

Once you are at one of these parking areas, you can then choose to take the bus or hike for a few hours to the actual restaurant/viewpoint.

Munich to The Eagle’s Nest By Train/Bus

As mentioned, it would be too hard to get to the attraction itself using public transport. You need to get to the base parking lot to even get up there – and making it here is tough without a car. You basically need to drive or take a tour.

Munich to The Eagle’s Nest Tour

To be honest, this is one of those trips that is easier if you just do a tour. This is because there are just too many twists and turns (literally) that if you screw up can put a damper on your whole experience.

Plus, guides take care of tickets and offer knowledge – something you can’t get if you drive down yourself! Because the attraction is a popular one, the tour industry does a great job of taking people down there.

This means that you have some great Eagle’s Nest tour options to explore the Nest, the lake, amazing views, and more!

Salt Mines (at Berchtesgaden)

Address: Bergwerkstraße 83, 83471 Berchtesgaden, Germany

As one of the top attractions in Bavaria, it’s hard to compete with an underground train ride AND an underground lake. Well, at the Salt Mine Berchtesgaden, that’s just a normal day! Opened back in 1517, the mine is the oldest (and still active) salt mine in all of Germany.

These days, visitors can put on overalls (it’s cold down there) and embark on a guided tour of the operation.

It’s a great attraction for kids because you ride a train that takes you about the tunnels, there’s a slide you get to go down, a salt cathedral, and there’s even a boat ride across an underwater lake!

It’s a smart idea to book tours/tickets online in advance if you know when you plan on heading down. You can learn all about the Mine at the official website here .

Munich to Berchtesgaden By Car

Similar to driving down to the Königssee and Eagle’s Nest (listed above), the trip to this area is just shy of 2 hours and about 160 kilometres. Once you’re there, you will find a handful of parking lots close by.

Munich to Berchtesgaden By Train/Bus

Compared to the above day trips, the Salt Mines are located closer to the actual town of Berchtesgaden. However, the train connections are still a little wild to get there for purposes of a day trip. Just drive to Berchtesgaden and explore the Salt Mines yourself!

The Salt Mines make for a better day trip from Salzburg (since they are closer) – which we are writing about very soon!

Address for Parking/Near Train Station: Klosterwachtstraße 5, 83684 Tegernsee, Germany

If you want to head south of Munich to enjoy a small town and a lovely lake, Tegernsee is definitely an option. This smaller lake – and the town of the same name – is a popular day trip from Munich because it’s so simple to have a lovely day.

The train line terminates in Tegernsee – and the small town on the east shore of the lake is a great place to start a journey. You can visit the Olaf Gulbransson Museum and grab a bite to eat or a drink at the VERY popular Bräustüberl Tegernsee .

The area is known for many hiking trails and outdoor recreation so it’s also great to explore on foot.

Of course, the lake offers visitors an extensive boat tour route with many stops around the lake that you can hop on or off at to explore smaller towns along the shore and more.

Munich to Tegernsee By Car

The drive to Tegernsee is pretty simple. It’s located just south of Munich – meaning you’ll drive for about 50 minutes with a driving distance of about 55 kilometres.

Once you’re there, you can aim for the tourist centre address above (on the west side of the lake) to find parking, restaurants, shops, and connections to hop on a boat cruise of the lake.

You can also aim for the town of Tegernsee on the east side of the lake (near the Tegernsee train station) to find much of the same things.

Munich to Tegernsee By Train/Bus

You can take the train to the lake pretty easily actually. Tegernsee Station is right by the lake – and it takes just over 1 hour to get there direct from Munich.

Once you’re in Tegernsee (the town), you can walk to the shore, find restaurants, and hop on a boat to explore the lake.

Murnau am Staffelsee (+ Staffelsee)

Address for Parking Lot by Lake: Seestraße, 82418, Murnau am Staffelsee, Germany

Likely one of the lesser-known day trips from Munich, heading to Murnau am Staffelsee might feel like the most authentic experience. Located to the south of Munich, this very small town by the lake is a perfect setting for getting away from the big city for some peace and quiet.

The town itself – Murnau – is small with a cobblestone main street of shops, restaurants, cafes, and more. Check out Karg Bräustüberl if you need an authentic Bavarian meal. Around the town, there are holiday homes, green parks, campgrounds, and multiple places to play mini-golf (we did and it was awesome!).

Of course, no visit to Murnau is complete without checking out the lake. There are lots of walking trails/loops that make their way around the whole lake or just stick to a smaller area. You can also hop on a boat cruise to check out the island and other areas around the lake.

We just hiked near the water from the main town – but we did watch the boat pick up people and sail away again (shown above). Overall, we really liked Murnau because it was very peaceful so we’d recommend it!

Munich to Murnau By Car

Murnau by car from Munich is very easy – it’s just a drive down the Autobahn 95 basically heading south. The total driving time is about 55 minutes and around 70 km. We’ve done this – the closer you get to the mountains the more beautiful the drive becomes!

Munich to Murnau By Train/Bus

You can get to Murnau Train Station in about 55 minutes from Munich Central. You can take one regional train that runs quite frequently throughout the day directly there. Check out the DB website for the train.

Bad Tölz (+ Blombergbahn)

Address for the Blombergbahn: Am Blomberg 2, 83646 Wackersberg, Germany

If you want another thing to check out near the Tegernsee area, you can always head to Bad Tölz and check out the Blombergbahn. This small town that sits on the Isar River is a scenic getaway nestled in the rolling green hills of southern Bavaria.

If you want to get up a little higher for great views, that’s what the Blombergbahn is for. This double chair lifts you up to “Munich’s local mountain”, which is a great destination in the summer and winter with hiking and snoweshoeing trails all over the place.

One of the top activities is tobogganing – riding a cart down a mountain track.. and this can be done in summer! Sometimes people also call this tobogganing run the “Blombergbahn” so it can be a little confusing. You can learn more on the official website.

Munich to Bad Tölz By Car

Driving to Bad Tölz is pretty simple. The route is basically due south of the city centre for a driving time of around 55 minutes and driving distance of around 55 kilometres. Once you get there, there are numerous parking lots close to the town centre near the river.

Munich to Bad Tölz By Train/Bus

You can get to Bad Tölz easily by train as well. From Munich Central Station, there are frequent trains heading south that take anywhere from 55 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes.

These trains all terminate at the central station in Bad Tölz which is just to the east of the town centre. You could then take a Oberbayernbus (#9612) to the Blombergbahn.

Related Articles

If you’re looking for other great Munich posts (and/or need help travelling to Germany ), check out our other Munich posts:

• Where to Stay in Munich – Hotels and Neighbourhoods
• How to Spend One Day in Munich
• Our Favourite Munich Cafes
• Our Detailed Germany Itineraries for 5 to 14 Days !
• Brush Up on Your German Phrases

And there you have it – 19 of the best day trips from Munich! Obviously there are more villages, lakes, and other attractions, but we think this is a pretty comprehensive list for different interests.

Let us know if you’ve completed any – and if you know of a place we need to add to this list!

As always, Happy Waddlin’, – L&E

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How to Spend One Magical Day in Munich (Itinerary + Travel Tips!)

Some cities are just so relaxing, and so downright enjoyable, that visiting always puts a smile on your face–and after spending one day in Munich, we hope you’ll agree that the capital of Bavaria is one of them!

Munich always brings to mind the word livable for us: while the sightseeing is excellent, it’s the atmosphere that truly makes Munich stand out (something that it has in common with Madrid , at least for us).

Nicknamed the “Village of a Million People” (or Millionendorf), Munich manages to simultaneously live up to its status as stately (former) capital city while offering the relaxed pace of a much smaller one.

If your idea of spending 24 hours in Munich (or less!) involves a palace, a church or two, plenty of wandering, delicious food, beautiful parks, a few unexpected highlights, and–of course–some excellent beer, then we put together this one day Munich itinerary for you.

Here’s how to fall in love with Munich in a day!

Table of Contents

The Ultimate One Day in Munich Itinerary

Where to stay in munich for a day, more than 24 hours in munich, germany, getting around during one day in munich, quick tips for visiting munich in a day, read more about visiting germany (and central europe), your one day munich itinerary map.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

Start your morning at Marienplatz.

Where better to begin your one day in Munich than in the very heart of the city?

Marienplatz has been Munich’s central square for going on 1000 years, and it remains one of the best places to visit in Munich!

Notable buildings include the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall, which now houses a toy museum) and Neus Rathaus (New Town Hall), which are some of the most recognizable structures in the city.

Don’t miss the gorgeous Glockenspiel on the side of the Neus Rathaus!

It dances daily at 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM, and between March and October, you’ll have a third chance to catch it at 5:00 PM as well.

You’ll likely be a bit too early to catch it right now, but don’t worry–you’ll have another chance in a bit.

Soak up views of Munich from above at the Neus Rathaus or Peterskirche.

Before leaving the Marienplatz area, take the time to get a birds-eye view of the famous square and of Munich as a whole!

You have two options to do so: head to the top of the Neus Rathaus, or to the top of Peterskirche, which is Munich’s oldest church and worth visiting whether you climb the tower or not.

Opinions abound on which boasts the better view, but it’s safe to say you won’t be disappointed with either!

The two viewpoints more or less face each other, so decide whether you want to admire Marienplatz when looking to the south from the Neus Rathaus or to the north from Peterskirche (also affectionately known as Alter Peter, or “Old Peter”).

One other very notable difference?

Heading to the top of the Neus Rathaus involves an elevator… while heading to the top of Alter Peter requires a 306-step climb.

Make your way over to Viktualienmarkt.

The bustling Viktualienmarkt, or Victuals Market, is a must-see when trying to sample Munich in a day!

Located a very short walk from Marienplatz, the Viktualienmarkt was once a farmer’s market, but today caters more to foodies and souvenir shoppers–though if you’re hankering from some produce, you’ll still find that, too.

You’ll also find Munich’s very own Maypole here, as well as the city’s most central beer garden.

As the first of 2 beer gardens (potentially) included on this Munich itinerary, you may or may not want to stop for a drink–but it’s a wonderful place to do so!

The Viktualienmarkt Beer Garden offers a rotating selection of beer from Munich’s six major local breweries, so there’s no telling exactly what you’ll find on tap.

Bringing your own snacks is encouraged, so feel free to browse the market and then sit down to enjoy your purchases over a drink.

It’s worth noting that the Viktualienmarkt Beer Garden is also open year-round, weather permitting, while most beer gardens are seasonal.

If you’re hoping to enjoy this Bavarian tradition but are visiting Munich in winter, the Viktualienmarkt Beer Garden is your best bet for enjoying an outdoor brew.

Check out the Devil’s Footprint at Frauenkirche.

After enjoying the Viktualienmarkt, it’s time to head to another one of Munich’s most beautiful churches–but check the time, because you might want to pay a visit to the Glockenspiel in Marienplatz on the way!

From there, enjoy a very short walk over to Frauenkirche.

With its distinctive twin towers, Frauenkirche is one of Munich’s most iconic buildings–but it’s also known for a legendary visitor!

There are several versions of the story , but one way or the other, a very distinct footprint in Frauenkirche is attributed to the devil paying a visit to this Bavarian Cathedral.

Located just inside the entrance to the church, shortly before you enter the sanctuary, it’s one of the most popular things to see at Frauenkirche, so keep an eye out!

Odds are that there will be several people standing around photographing the footprint (and/or comparing their own footprint to the devil’s) when you walk in.

Fraunekirche is free to visit, with the exception of getting an audio guide or climbing one of the towers, which you most likely won’t have time for when trying to see Munich in 24 hours or less.

Step into Odeonsplatz.

One of Munich’s most important squares, Odeonplatz is dominated on one side by the bright yellow Theatinekirche, on another by the Munich Residenz (more on those two below), and on a third by the famous Feldherrnhalle.

If the Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshals’ Hall) looks familiar, you might have been to Tuscany!

The Feldherrnhalle  was built in the 19th century as a replica of the Loggia dei Lanzi, which stands on the Piazza dell Signoria in Florence (right around the corner from the Uffizi Museum).

The Odeonplatz is also home to some dark history: it was the site of a deadly confrontation between German police officers and upcoming Nazis during the climax of the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch.

During the time of the Third Reich, a statue of Hitler stood here that passersby were expected to honor.

The statue was demolished in 1945.

If you’re curious about this chapter in Munich’s past, this well-reviewed Third Reich walking tour covers the rise and fall of, as well as the resistance to, the Nazis in Munich in far more detail.

… and stop to form your own opinion of Theatinekirche.

Built between 1663 and 1688, the Theatinekirche (officially the Church of St. Kajetan) is a bit controversial among visitors: not everyone is a fan of the bright yellow facade!

Like its next-door neighbor, Feldherrnhalle, the Theatinekirche takes inspiration from Italian architecture and features an opulent Baroque interior that is light on color but heavy on details.

Theatinekirche is free, quick, and easy to see, so be sure to step inside as you pass by when visiting Munich!

Marvel at the Munich Residenz.

For more than 400 years, the Wittelsbach royal family ruled Bavaria from the Munich Residenz–and today, you can step inside and tour it for yourself!

What started in the 14th century as a modest medieval castle grew and changed enormously over the centuries until the opulent palace that we see today took shape.

Today, the Munich Residenz is the largest urban palace in Germany, and visiting is one of the absolute best things to do in Munich.

Thanks to its many centuries of growth, you’ll see a wide variety of architectural styles on display, from Renaissance to Baroque to Rococo (so much Rococo!) and beyond.

Of all the roughly 120 rooms in the palace, the Antiquarium, which was housed to hold the monarchs’ collection of antiques, is arguably the best-known (and it’s quite the marvel in person):

Want to see a different side of the Munich Residenz?

If your one day in Munich happens to be a Saturday, you can enjoy a concert in the Residenz’s chapel !

(Other concerts are occasionally offered throughout the year, so if you’re a classical music fan, check and see if there’s anything available at the time of your trip.)

Whether you visit at night for a concert or not, though, touring the many rooms of the Munich Residenz should absolutely be a priority during your day in Munich.

Meander through Hofgarten.

With only a day in Munich to work with, you won’t need to spend long in the beautiful Hofgarten–but it’s worth stopping by!

The Royal Garden dates to the 17th century and was once the exclusive strolling grounds of the aristocracy.

Don’t miss the Diana Temple while you’re there!

Make your way through the Englischer Garden to the Chinese Tower.

As you leave Hofgarten, it’s time to make your way into another park: the Englischer Garden, which is one of the largest urban parks in the world (even beating out Central Park in New York City and Hyde Park in London).

The park is expansive enough that there’s no way to see it all, but here are a few things to keep an eye out for.

Haus der Knust

As you enter the park, you’ll pass the formidable Haus der Knust.

Today, the building holds Munich’s Museum of Contemporary Art, but the building itself is also known for being the first major example of Nazi architecture.

Monopoteros

Built in 1836, this beautiful round gazebo offers beautiful views of the Englischer Garden, as well as of the rooftops of the Altstadt in the distance.

Chinesischer Turm

The Chinesischer Turm, or Chinese Tower, is a bit of a hike from the edge of the Englischer Garden–and in fact, walking here makes up a decent chunk of the actual distance covered in this Munich itinerary, so feel free to skip it if you’re short on time!

However, if you’re visiting Munich on a beautiful day, the Chinesischer Turm also offers one of the city’s most popular and idyllic beer gardens, perfect for relaxing while enjoying any extra time you have this afternoon.

Just don’t bother hiking over if the weather is too cold or wet: the beer garden’s hours are weather-dependent.

The tower also hosts a Christmas market during the holiday season!

And, as you walk back to Munich’s Altstadt, there’s one more place at the edge of the Englischer Garden to see…

Stop to admire Munich’s dedicated river surfers on your way back into the center.

Munich is a city known for its quirks, its easy access to nature, and its melding of the old and new… and a very fun example of that energy can be found at Eisbachwelle, one of the most famous river surfing spots in the world.

Year-round, very experienced (and sometimes professional) surfers jump into the river one after the other to ride the famous man-made wave, usually with plenty of onlookers around to watch them!

Eisbachwelle is located on the southern edge of the Englischer Garden, and you could easily see it on your way into the park as well.

However, since you’ll need to loop back into the center of town regardless, we placed them at the end of your park tour for the purposes of this itinerary for Munich.

You can find the right place by directing your GPS to Eisbachwelle or Eisbachbrücke (the name of the bridge where visitors watch the surfers).

Wrap up your one day in Munich with touristy fun and classic Bavarian food at Hofbräuhaus.

Dating to 1589, Munich’s iconic Hofbräuhaus is touristy in all the best ways.

Yes, you’ll be surrounded by many other visitors when eating and drinking there (plus some Munich residents shepherding their guests from out of town around), but you’ll also almost certainly have a great time, and spend far less than you might think for such an iconic location!

Classic Bavarian food like pork knuckle, pretzels, potatoes, and Bavarian meatloaf are featured on the menu, along with the classic beer served by the liter (if you haven’t ordered a full liter of beer yet in Munich, it’s worth ordering one for the photo op alone).

Prefer to step (ever so slightly) off the beaten path?

Augustiner, another beloved Munich brewery and one of our favorites, has a restaurant location right in front of the Frauenkirche.

Want to taste several varieties of Bavarian food and beer while learning a bit about Munich’s beer history?

If so, then this Bavarian beer and food culture tour might be right for you!

Book your Bavarian food and culture tour today!

On our most recent stay in Munich, we loved basing ourselves at Hotel Concorde !

The location, on a quiet street just a 7-minute walk from Marienplatz, was perfect, the room crisp and modern, the staff friendly, and the included breakfast great (we ate a lot of traditional sausages and pretzels for breakfast, among many other things).

For travelers on a budget, Hotel Kreis Residenz München gets great reviews, but note that you’ll be compromising significantly on location, so be prepared for a decent U-Bahn ride into the city center before kicking off your sightseeing!

Looking to splurge?

If so, then the luxurious Mandarin Oriental Munich is an incredible place to stay.

Check rates & book your stay in Munich today!

If you’re lucky enough to have more than one day in Munich, it’s time to start thinking a bit further afield–literally!

Attractions like the Nymphenburg Palace (the summer residence of the Kings of Bavaria), Olympic Park (grounds of the 1972 Summer Olympics), and the Alte Pinakothek (just one of several wonderful art museums in Munich) are all excellent options for extending your trip.

Autophiles will be drawn to the BMW Museum and BMW World (my stepmom is a big car fan and loved them), while those looking for a science and technology museum will love the Deutsches Museum, and football fans will want to tour the Allianz Arena .

If you’re looking to splurge on some shopping (or even just enjoy some luxury window shopping), head to the famous Maximilianstrasse.

In addition to all the cool things to do in Munich itself, though, it’s also hard to miss that the capital of Bavaria is one of the best-connected cities by train in Europe–meaning that the day trip possibilities are endless!

Just a handful of the best day trips from Munich include Neuschwanstein Castle , Nuremberg, Salzburg (only an hour away by train despite being across the border!), and Dachau (both the town and memorial site).

Looking to enjoy some time in nature?

Consider heading up to Zugspitze in the Bavarian Alps to enjoy views from the highest point in Germany (and–this being Bavaria–beers at the highest beer garden in Germany while you’re at it).

We designed this one day Munich itinerary to be completely walkable, and travelers who love to meander on foot won’t need any other transport to get around!

The route covers just under an hour and a half of walking, not including any time spent in each attraction (touring the Residenz, browsing the stalls at the Viktualienmarkt, etc.).

If you’re staying far outside the Altstadt or are taking a day trip to Munich from another city, you’ll want to take the U-Bahn (metro) or S-Bahn (commuter rail) to Marienplatz to kick off your day in Munich.

Hoping to avoid walking, or have some attractions well outside the Altstadt (like Olympic Park or Nymphenburg Palace) on your Munich bucket list?

If so, a hop-on/hop-off bus tour might be right for you.

Consider booking a tour to dive deeper into the city.

When trying to get an overview of Munich in a day, it’s hard to dive too deep into any one subject–but if you want to learn more about Munich’s history, booking an organized tour with a knowledgeable guide is a great way to do so!

For example, this popular bike tour will allow you to cover a wider geography than we included here.

For history buffs, this well-reviewed Third Reich tour offers an introduction to Munich’s Nazi-connected past.

And, for foodies whose love of Munich’s history is closely tied to its most famous drink, this Bavarian beer and food culture tour offers a chance to learn about (read: taste) far more varieties of beer than you’ll likely have time for on your own with only one day in Munich to work with!

Book your cultural tour of Munich today!

Come prepared with cash!

While credit cards are more widely accepted every year, Germany is still a very cash-based society in many ways.

There’s a good chance that you’ll find yourself reaching for your Euros more often than you might think during your day in Munich!

To make sure you’re not caught unaware, come prepared with cash, especially in places like beer gardens and when browsing the stalls at Viktualienmarkt.

Prepare for crowds during seasonal events.

If you happen to be planning a trip to Munich for Oktoberfest or the Christmas markets , you’re going to have a fantastic time.

However, some of the typical attractions that you’d like to see during a day in Munich might be impacted.

Crowded and pricey hotels (book ASAP if you’re visiting for an event), seasonal closings (see: beer gardens), and weather can all impact your trip, so keep that in mind as you plan.

Don’t plan to shop on Sundays.

Shops–including grocery stores–typically close on Sundays in Germany.

If you have any shopping planned, be sure to keep the day of the week in mind as you plan your 24 hours in Munich.

Tourist attractions and restaurants in central areas are generally less impacted by this, but it’s good to plan ahead!

Planning a trip to Germany soon and eager to keep reading?

You can browse our Germany blog posts here , or check out these guides:

• How to Travel Europe By Train: The Ultimate Guide (+ Tips!)
• Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle: A Fairytale Day Trip
• How to Celebrate Christmas in Europe: Itinerary Ideas, Tips + FAQ!
• Salzburg in Winter: A Massively Detailed Guide
• 17 Spectacular Places to Visit in Switzerland (+ Map!)

Take This Map With You! Click each highlight to pull up the name of the destination. To save this map to “Your Places” on Google Maps, click the star to the right of the title. You’ll then be able to find it under the Maps tab of your Google Maps account! To open the map in a new window, click the button on the top right of the map.

About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

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24 Hours in Munich: An UnBeerlievable Itinerary You’ll Be Glad You Copied!

Last Updated: October 31, 2023

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24 hours in one of the world’s most spectacular cities?  Okay, challenge accepted.

The following 24 hours in Munich itinerary is here to kick your butt and whisk you away on a whirlwind tour of all the city’s top highlights.

This itinerary is intense and jam-packed, but in a city like Munich, there’s no time to waste, so chop chop, what are you waiting for?!  Los geht’s!

… and if you have more time to spend in Munich, check out my 2 days in Munich and 3 days in Munich itineraries too.

Save this Munich 1 Day Itinerary for Later!

You’ll be very glad you did.

But first, the unsexy logistical stuff…

How to Get from Munich Airport to the City Centre

First thing’s first: let’s get you to the city. Taxis from Munich Airport to the city center cost about 50-60 euros, or you can book with Welcome Pickups, which guarantees an English-speaking driver and pick-up right from arrivals.

A must cheaper option is the Lufthansa Express, or taking the S-Bahn – both the S1 and S8 run from the airport to the center, and take about 45 minutes. For a full guide on what tickets to buy, how to find the station, etc., read my full Munich airport to city guide!

Munich’s Bus and Train Stations

If arriving by train or bus, you might find yourself with the daunting task of navigating one of Munich’s many train or bus stations. Don’t worry, I have a guide for that too! Read my guide on the different stations around Munich for more info.

Munich’s Public Transport System

I can’t sugarcoat it – Munich’s public transportation system is very, very confusing if you’re new around here. If you’re not sure what tickets to buy, what the U-Bahn/S-Bahn are or how to survive the system,  check out my full detailed breakdown on Munich public transport.

Alright – enough logistics! Let’s move onto our 1 day in Munich itinerary…

1. Start in Marienplatz

Marienplatz has been Munich’s main square since the 12th century and is THE best place to begin your whirlwind 24 hours in Munich. The first time you catch a glimpse of the majestic New City Hall (Neues Rathaus), you’ll maybe see why I decided to move here!

This square is packed with ‘wow factor’, from its central golden-angel topped column (the Mariensäule), which was built to celebrate the end of the Swedish occupation during the Thirty Years’ War, to the whimsically beautiful Old City Hall (Altes Rathaus) in the East, which, quite fittingly, houses a toy museum today.

Marienplatz is by far the most popular gathering point in the city, as it has been for centuries, since its origins as a space for markets, tournaments and celebrations. Today, it is tourist attraction numero uno here in Munich, which is why I think you should visit it first!

The square gets especially busy during the Glockenspiel performance at 11am, 12pm, and 5pm (omitted from November through February). You can try to be here for this performance, but it’s kind of underwhelming in my honest opinion.

Don’t forget to step through the central archway to peep into the little courtyard of the Rathaus – it is really beautiful, and a nice way to escape the crowds for a bit!

2. Traditional Bavarian Breakfast

When in Munich for only 24 hours, you need to prepare yourself… what better way to fuel up for a wild day of sightseeing than breaking open a cold one?

Let’s start your Munich adventure with a typical Bavarian breakfast, the stuff of true carby, boozy dreams.

Known around here as a Weißwurst Frühstück (White sausage breakfast), a Bavarian breakfast consists of three simple ingredients: a doughy pretzel, a pair of white sausages with sweet mustard, and naturally, a cold glass of wheat beer to wash it all down. Yes, this is truly a German stereotype served to you on a plate.

BUT HEY, welcome to Bavaria – it’s time to get buzzed before noon in the name of culture!

On that note: make sure you do indulge in this treat before noon – it’s very much a faux pas to have Weißwurst after the 12 o’ clock bell strikes… and don’t forget to peel the skin from your sausages too. Here’s a video on how to do it (and to prepare you for the interesting aesthetic of this beloved sausage).

WHERE TO GET BAVARIAN BREAKFAST IN MUNICH

Café Glockenspiel

Address: Marienplatz 28 (Look for signs and then take the elevator up)

If you can score a table by the window, this has an AMAZING view over Marienplatz and is my preferred place to watch the Glockenspiel performance (if you time things correctly) because you’ll be up above, watching the crowds of ant-like tourists from above while you sip your beer and eat your pretzels.

Service here is pretty mediocre and prices are a little higher (I mean, you always pay extra for a nice view!) but the experience is lovely if you manage to get a view.

Schneider Brahaus

Address: Tal 7

Located steps away from Marienplatz, this place is a little touristy, but locals like it here too. With a nice ambiance combined with excellent Weißbier, this would be a great place to have breakfast thanks to its very central location.

Hofbräuhaus

Address: Platzl 9

I’ll be real with you, the Hofbräuhaus is mainly for tourists. I mean, locals go there too sometimes (usually visitors in tow), but it’s very much a hammed up touristy serving of the classic beer hall experience.

That said, you can’t go to Munich and NOT visit the Hofbräuhaus. You just can’t! It’s touristy, but it’s fun, and it’s quintessentially Munich. This 24h itinerary is jam-packed so if you want to say you’ve had a beer here, why not do so for breakfast?

… AND IF YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE SAUSAGE…

Dear plant-based and vegetarian friends, I’m fully aware that most traditional Bavarian eats won’t be your jam, especially breakfast… BUT here are some breakfast options for you if you still want to have a great ‘typically Munich’ experience.

Vegetarian Weißwurst

If you really want to see what the buzz is all about and you have access to cooking facilities at your accommodation, there are some health food stores that sell veggie versions of the traditional Weißwurst.

I’ve heard Vitalia stocks them, as well as various “Bio” shops across the city. The Seitan Weisswurst from Wheaty is supposedly very good – click here to find a map of places in Munich that stock their products.

Café Frischhut

Address: Prälat-Zistl-Straße 8

Café Frischut is known for its schmalznudel, a very Bavarian, very fried, very doughy pastry that is definitely not good for you, but (I hope) involves zero sausage!

If you are hoping for a meat-free alternative to a Bavarian breakfast, but still want something that is very Munich, then stop at this adorable café and watch them fry up these beauties fresh before your eyes… all with a hot cup of joe of course.

Other Plant-Based/Vegetarian Options

And hey, if all you want is a good old fashioned avocado toast, who am I to judge? Munich has a surprisingly excellent selection of vegan/veggie restaurants these days, click here to check out my vegetarian friend Wandering Chocobo’s guide on places to eat that are veggie friendly.

3. Get a view

With a belly full of caloric regret, it’s time to work off your gluttony by enjoying one of Munich’s finest viewpoints. If you thought Marienplatz was amazing from the ground, wait til you see it from above.

Saint Peter’s Church Tower (Alter Peter) is one of the best places to get an amazing view over Munich, with soaring 360 degree views that stretch even to the Alps on a clear day.

Beware though, while the tower is cheap to climb (3 euros), it’s an upwards slog that will literally take your breath away, with crowds to match!

This is why I would recommend doing this earlier in the day to get your bearings and avoid the hordes of people who roll in as the day goes on. A good physical fitness is required for this climb as it’s quite steep and mildly claustrophobic near the top, but the views are very, very worth it.

Alternatively, you can check out the amazing view from the Neues Rathaus right across from Saint Peter. The best perk of this view? You can take an elevator straight to it, and the perspective is just as beautiful, usually with far fewer people because it remains a happy secret from most tourists.

To get a ticket, go into the Tourist Information Center in the Neues Rathaus and ask for a ticket to see the Rathausturm (or the City Hall Tower). It will cost 4 euros per adult, but an elevator will take you all the way up.

You access this elevator through the passageway that leads to the inner courtyard. Keep an eye to your left for a discrete elevator and take it up, then follow the arrows, show your ticket to the (permanently grumpy) staff member, and they’ll point you towards the final elevator that will zip you all the way up. Enjoy!!

4. Viktualienmarkt

Steps away from Marienplatz, you’ll find Munich’s thriving food market, featuring stalls crammed with colourful produce, fresh bites to go, a bustling beer garden, and plenty of wonderful local products to bring home.

This (to me) is a much classier place to go souvenir shopping than the tourist shops that line some of Munich’s main streets, but regardless of whether you want to shop or not, this market is well worth a nosy perusal!

Keep an eye out for the market’s large maypole, identifiable by its blue and white pattern and figures representing the different trades that can be found in and around the area.

Maypoles are a common sight around Bavaria – every town will have one, and most beer gardens too. They’re typically erected at the beginning of May and guess what? This one is carved out of the large Christmas tree that is set up every year for the big Christmas Market in Marienplatz!

FUN FACT: You are allowed to bring food/picnics into any of Munich’s beer gardens, so if you aren’t completely stuffed to the nose from your breakfast, you can grab some food from one of the vendors, buy a beer, and enjoy in the sunshine.

5. Wander around Altstadt

This is by far the most scenic part of Munich, and where I’d recommend focusing your attention if you only have one day in Munich to explore. Munich’s Altstadt today is pretty much the area enclosed within the old city walls, marked by gates like the Karlstor (at Karlsplatz), Isartor and Sendlinger Tor, and the non-gate, Odeonsplatz.

Wandering within this area for a few hours is a must, and while I’d love to provide a mega-efficient route for seeing everything, the truth is some backtracking is bound to be involved, but that’s all part of the journey 😉

So, here’s what I’ll do: I’m going to share with you some of the best points of interest in the Munich Altstadt and let you choose your own adventure… just make sure you eventually end up at Odeonsplatz because that is where our itinerary will continue.

So, here are a few points of interest within Munich Altstadt that you should check out during your day in Munich:

Frauenkirche

The iconic onion domes of Munich’s Frauenkirche are undoubtedly one of the most important landmarks of Munich, so you should definitely take a peek while you’re in the area. While the interior is not as stunningly ornate as some other churches in the city, it does have a very peculiar attraction: a ‘Devil’s Footprint’ in the back of the church.

This iconic beer hall is a must-visit in Munich, even if you don’t have time to stop for a beer. It’s a touristy place, but lots of fun, with a leafy beer garden, beautiful interior décor, live music and even a beautiful Festhalle upstairs (which many visitors miss, so be sure to head up the stairs for a look!)

The Residenz

The Munich Residenz is this massive epic palace right in the middle of the city, where for centuries rulers and decisionmakers lived in opulent splendor. While sadly, much of the Residenz was destroyed during WWII, it has been gradually restored over the years and is open to visitors today. While you might not have time to actually tour the museum inside, even walking by, admiring the facades and courtyard is well worth it.

Maximilianstrasse

If you’re a baller looking to shop, this is your place. This is the most luxurious shopping street in Munich, with high fashion brands for days. As for the rest of us, perhaps window shopping will have to suffice, but it’s a lovely street for a quick perusal, especially with the Maximilianeum at the end, home of Bavaria’s state parliament, and also, if you can believe it, a hyper-exclusive student residence.

Max-Joseph Platz

This is the square where you’ll find Munich’s National Theatre, with its striking neoclassical façade. This is one of the most photogenic spots in Munich, especially with the beautiful buildings opposite the theatre, with outdoor seating that spills out into the street in summer months.

Kaufingerstrasse

This is Munich’s main pedestrianized shopping street that leads all the way to Karlsplatz. It contains all the usual suspects of European retail: think Zara, H&M, etc. The stores here are not terribly unique or special, but walking down Kaufingerstrasse can be an experience in itself

As far as opulent churches go, this tiny church wedged between shops is by far the most ornate. Located near Sendlinger Tor, this Baroque beauty is worth the little detour.

Intended originally to be a private church (designed by rich artists for themselves, go figure), permission was only granted to build the church after they promised access would be for everyone.

This is great news for us, because the church is free to access for all people (even tourists!) today, and trust me when I say it’s worth a look.

Located along the old city gate Karlstor, Karlsplatz (also known by its more popular name, Stachus) is a large square in Munich that acts as the end of the pedestrian shopping zone leading from Marienplatz.

It’s a lovely square flanked by beautiful buildings, including the Justizpalast across the street, one of my favourite hidden gems in Munich (which is free to enter!), but mainly this is a jumping point for shopping or nights out. You’ll even find a network of shops underground below the square, just follow the escalators down.

Theatinerkirche

This mustard yellow church in Odeonsplatz divides people – you either love it or hate it, but I personally LOVE it. The interior is all white and incredibly detailed – such a truly beautiful church that in my opinion can’t be missed!

6. Odeonsplatz

Alright, we now find ourselves in Odeonsplatz, one of Munich’s main squares. While it dates back to the early 19th century, what’s especially striking about this square is if you look back on historical photos, it has remained largely unchanged.

Its focal point, the Feldherrnhalle is actually inspired (or well, copied) from the famous Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence. Today, you’ll usually find Odeonsplatz as the stage for countless festivals and events (beer and wine festivals are common in the summer!), as well as the preferred drinking place of unruly youths up in the steps of the Feldherrnhalle 😉

Historically, Odeonsplatz is also a noteworthy spot for your day in Munich. That’s because back in 1923, it was here that the final conflict broke out during the infamous Beer Hall Putsch, a failed coup d’etat led by Hitler and the Nazi party. 16 Nazis and 4 police officers were killed as a result, which led to Hitler’s arrest a few days later, when he was charged with high treason and thrown in prison, where he wrote Mein Kampf.

Whew. I know it’s a lot of history to take in, and pretty surreal when you look at historical photos too showing the Nazi rallies and speeches that took place here… but let’s not dwell too long on the past and lighten things up a bit with our next stop.

7. Hofgarten

Behind the Residenz is a garden as opulent as you might expect from Bavarian royals, designed in Italian Renaissance style in an ideal location between the Residenz and the sprawling English Garden.

Today, the Hofgarten is a public garden that you are free to access, and for us, it makes the perfect shortcut to visit Munich’s largest and most famous public park. Keep your eye (and ear) out as you pass the Dianatempel (Diana Pavilion) in the center. It’s a twelve sided gazebo that usually has some beautiful classical musician playing in the middle, and you might even recognize it from the Three Muskateers (2011) which filmed here!

This little garden is one of the most beautiful parts of Munich, and the perfect place to cross over to the English Garden.

PS: The Bavarian State Chancellory building (Bayerische Staatskanzlei) is here on the East Side of the garden. It’s a beautiful building to admire (which many do), but most miss the moving memorial hidden in the building’s courtyard.

Finding it is easy – step down the stairs and head into the center where you’ll find a covered pit, which houses a statue of an unknown soldier, dedicated to soldiers who lost their lives in World War I.

8. The Eisbachwelle and its River Surfers

From the Hofgarten, cross the street over to the Haus der Kunst, an imposing art gallery that was constructed in the 1930s as a museum showcasing Germany’s finest art.

It is considered to be the first example of Nazi architecture. If you keep your eyes open, you might also notice a sign for “P1”, Munich’s swankiest nightclub, known as the preferred playground for the rich and famous.

If you continue forwards you might soon hear the sounds of the famous Eisbachwelle, Munich’s unique standing wave which hosts a consistent stream of river surfers.

Actually, this is very close to where I live, so I can confirm that there are surfers here day and night, no matter the weather conditions. Sometimes, they even bring their own spotlights!

The best is when you come in the early morning and see some of the surfers changing from their wetsuits into their business suits for work, as they cycle away surfboard in tow. This is one of those things that are quintessentially Munich, and a must-do when you’re in town!

9. English Garden

The English Garden is a MASSIVE park that some say is the largest city park in the entire world. Yup, it’s even larger than Central Park in New York.

But while it’s huge, the best bits are definitely located in this portion of the garden. Stroll around to admire the Japanese Tea Room and garden, the Greek Monopteros, and slowly make your way to the Chinese Tower, one of Munich’s most famous landmarks, that (to be honest with you) is not at all Chinese in any form.

PS: Don’t be alarmed if you spot a nude person or two. Nude sunbathing and swimming is allowed in sections of the English Garden, and no, they are not secluded spots that are covered from the public eye, so if you get an eyeful, know that I warned you so 😉

10. Lunch time at the Chinese Tower

The Chinese Tower Beer Garden is one of the most popular hang-out spots in Munich, for locals and tourists alike (although it’s definitely one of the most popular beer gardens for visitors!)

Here, you’ll find a huge food selection of traditional Bavarian foods, and of course, plenty of giant beers to keep you going.

Grab a tray, grab a beer, grab some food and then head to a table and enjoy the atmosphere.

Do note that they will charge you a deposit for your glasses called “pfand”, so they’ll add an extra euro to your bill per glass and give you a silver token for you to bring back with your glass. When you bring it back, you get your money back!

TIP: If you want a more “local” vibe and you don’t mind a detour, my favourite beer garden is nearby and it’s called Seehaus. It’s perched along a little lake and it’s much quieter and less touristy than the Chinese Tower, although both are good.

11. Universität

From the Chinese Tower, walk back through the garden and head to the Universität U-Bahn stop. This is where you’ll find the main building of LMU (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität), where I did my Study Abroad Program!

From here, you can also see Siegestor, Munich’s Victory Arch, a monument built to honour the glory of the Bavarian army. On a vain level, it’s also a very aesthetically pleasing place for a photo 😉

Before hopping onto the U-Bahn for our next stop, I would recommend walking up to the entrance of the university at Geschwister-Scholl-Platz” (“Scholl Siblings Square” if you have time.

Here, you’ll find a subtle but moving memorial dedicated to the “White Rose Resistance Group”, an anti-Nazi resistance group run by LMU students, including the Scholl siblings for which the square is now named.

The White Rose was a non-violent group that campaigned against Nazi rule through graffiti and leaflets. They were soon arrested and executed. In their memory, you will now see bronze replicas of their leaflets embedded in the square’s cobblestones.

Virtually no tourists (or even students!) stop to look at this, but I think it’s one of the most moving memorials in the city.

If that story has left you drained and sad, there is an amazing ice cream place behind the university called Der Verruckte Eismacher, known for the Alice in Wonderland aesthetic and erm, let’s say ~inventive~ rotation of ice cream flavours, which includes Bavarian treats like Augustiner beer and sometimes even sauerkraut. Yup!

12. Olympiadorf

Alright, next stop: get off at Olympiazentrum.

Taking the U3 towards Fürstenried West, you’ll be here in 10 minutes.

… Once there, let me say: Welcome to my old stomping grounds! The Olympic Park is where I first lived when I moved to Munich, in the Olympic Village to be precise, which is where athletes lived during the 1972 Olympics, and have since been converted into student housing.

Before you head out to explore the park though, I want to show you one of my favourite hidden gems in Munich, the Olympiadorf, an amazing student residence/open air art gallery.

This is one of my personal favourite secrets of Munich, so please be respectful 😉

This is the student village where I once lived, and it has officially been recognized as one of the coolest student residences in the world for one simple reason: all the students live in small cube houses called bungalows which they can paint however they wish.

This, over the years, has created an amazing array of colourful and artistic facades on each house, with nods to pop culture, inside jokes and more. Be sure to stop for a quick walk around here before exploring the rest of the park – it’s easy to get lost in each of these streets!

… And stop by L4 to see the bungalow that I personally painted myself back in 2015.

13. Olympiapark

The architecture of Munich’s Olympiapark is worlds removed from the historic Old Town, and I love it. While it may look incredibly futuristic, it was all built for the 1972 Olympics, and the park continues to be a popular venue for sporting and cultural events. In fact, pretty much all the big concerts in town happen right here, in either the Olympiahalle or Olympiastadion.

Take some time to explore the park at your own pace. There’s loads to see here! The Olympiasee for instance is a lake that is lined with Munich’s own little ‘Walk of Fame’, with handprints and signatures embedded into the ground from famous celebrities (mostly musicians) who have visited the city.

There’s also the Olympic Tower, rotating exhibitions at the Small Olympic Hall, the BMW Headquarters (with a distinctive building shaped like the four cylinders of a car engine) and even SEA LIFE Munich.

I also highly recommend you visit the free Munich 1972 Massacre Memorial, which is an open air multimedia installation in the park that honours the victims of the massacre that occurred at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

This was a very dark chapter of Olympic history, when the Palestinian terrorist group Black September held eleven members of the Israeli Olympic team hostage in the Olympic Village here, eventually killing them all.

The events were horrific and terrifying, but the installation here does an incredible job of summarizing everything and memorializing the victims. A harrowing experience, but a worthwhile one.

Alright, let’s end this park visit on a high.

The Olympiapark is by far one of my favourite places in Munich to catch sunset. You have two options here, depending on your budget and um, desired romance level.

For a free place to watch sunset, climb Olyberg, a big hill that overlooks the park. You get a truly incredible vantage point over the city from here, and you can even see the alps on a clear day!

For bonus romance points, there is an Edeka supermarket near the Olympiaznentrum U-Bahn stop where you can pick up some wine, beers, or snacks. Alternatively, you can grab some take-out pizza or Asian food (the stuff from “Asian Kitchen” is surprisingly good) and climb up this hill for an amazing view.

If you don’t mind paying, the Olympic Tower is a truly incredible place to watch sunset. With the view being so much higher than Olyberg, you see way more and it’s breathtaking, but both are amazing in their own way.

Experience-wise, I much prefer sunset from Olyberg, but maybe it’s because I’ve had my fair share of romantic memories there. Heh. Heh.

15. BMW World

After sunset, make your way to BMW World, which is open until midnight daily.

This is an amazing free alternative to the pricey BMW Museum, and it has GREAT bathrooms, which I’m sure you might need after those sunset drinks 😉

BMW World is effectively a massive showcase to the BMW Brand, which is of course based here.

It’s a lot of fun though – you can look at all these amazing cars, get in them, hop on some motorcycles, and even (if budget allows) indulge in one of the most expensive fine dining experiences Munich has to offer, at the top-floor restaurant Esszimmer.

Two friends of mine ate their once, apparently they even offer to drive you home in a BMW after.

If however budget does not allow you to drop the 180 euros for a 7 course meal (wine NOT included), it’s time to head back into the city center for dinner.

16. Dinner time in Altstadt

Assuming you are staying somewhere decently central, after sunset, I’d recommend hopping on the U-Bahn and going back to Marienplatz. Munich by night is magical, and seeing all those same monuments lit up at night is a special way to wrap up your day in Munich.

For dinner, there are a few places in the city center that I recommend. You can also click  here to check out my full list of recommended Munich restaurants.

Augustiner Klosterwirt

Address:  Augustinerstraße 1

My favourite favourite favourite place to enjoy traditional Bavarian food, and where I take every visitor who comes to town.

Located in the shadow of the Frauenkirche, it is a place that is tourist-friendly enough that there are English menus and the servers won’t scowl at you for not speaking German, but it’s authentic and tasty enough that you’ll find plenty of locals here enjoying their meals too.

The schweinebraten is my go-to. I would hook myself up to an IV of their gravy if I could… plus Augustiner is the best brewery in town (as is the popular opinion with most locals).

Address: Sparkassenstraße 6

I concede, while my heart belongs to Augustiner Klosterwirt, the knödel at Haxnbauer is better. They are like jiggly little balls of crack.

Haxnbauer is maybe the most famous place to try pork knuckle in Munich, thanks largely to its fame in guidebooks and also its tantalizing display of pork knuckles that rotate hypnotically at the restaurant front.

The lines here are long, but the food is pretty good. It’s not my go-to place because it’s kind of pricey and touristy, but you WILL have a good meal here.

Address: Lenbachplatz 8

If you want something very cheap with a nice ambiance and aren’t feeling for Bavarian food, L’Osteria is a chain of pizza places around Europe that have a super classy ambiance for rock bottom prices. Their gigantic pizzas can easily feed two, and they’re only 10-12 euros each! Combined with a dim, candle-lit atmosphere, it’s the perfect place for a casual, cheap meal without it “feeling” cheap. Also, the BBQ chicken pizza is heavenly.

Address: Liebigstraße 14

Not quite in the Altstadt area, but not far away from the Lehel U-Bahn stop is my favourite neighbourhood Bavarian place, Liebighof. If you are coming during Christmas time, EAT HERE! The food is good, affordable, and the décor during Christmas time is next level magic.

They serve Bavarian food, but not the typical dishes you’ll find in every Bavarian restaurant in the center. Rather, they specialize in pfanne, pans of goodness with assorted meats, potatoes, etc. So simple but so good, and more of a local feel for sure.

Now time to sleep off your food coma and think about how wonderful Munich is forever.

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The 5 absolute best day trips from Munich

Munich's best kept secret is how much culture, food and skiing is just a train ride away

Photograph: Shutterstock

Munich is one of the epicentres of German culture, from fantastic beer and unforgettable weisswurst to shopping spots and bathing saunas. It’s a city that is buzzing with life, with beautiful medieval architecture and cracking museums and galleries, but one of its best features? How well connected it is. 

That’s right. If you’re making the trip to Munich , you’d be crazy to miss out on some of the nearby hotspots, where you can indulge in even more beer and even more sausages. Tiny, well-preserved cities are just a quick train ride away, or go a little further to find prime spots for skiing, hiking and biking. Whatever you’re after, here are the best day trips from Munich. 

RECOMMENDED: 🇩🇪 The best places to visit in Germany 📍 The best things to do in Munich 🍺 The best places to drink beer in Munich 🏺 The best museums in Munich 🏛️ The most beautiful buildings in Munich

Planning your next trip? Check out our latest   travel guides , written by local experts.

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Best day trips from Munich

Rothenburg ob der tauber.

A two-and-a-half hour train ride from from Munich.

A little more than two hours north of Munich between Stuttgart and Nuremberg, this walled town is arguably the most authentic throwback to medieval Europe you can find. Behind the 14 th -century city walls, you’ll discover a web of narrow passageways, half-timbered houses, stately towers and impressive churches, as well as the imperial castle, built in 1142. Thanks to immaculate preservation, Rothenburg unsurprisingly pulls in hordes of tourists, particularly in summer. If you can, it’s well worth staying into the evening, when the shuttle buses have left, the church spires darken against the twilight, and you can hear your footsteps echo down the cobbled streets. 

Cosy Franconian restaurant Glocke offers traditional cuisine with tip-top wines from their own vineyard.

Adjoining a gate tower, the half-timbered  Landwehr-Bräu am Turm serves chilled beer and simple dishes in an idyllic spot a few paces down from Plönlein.

The Medieval Crime Museum explores crime and punishment in the Middle Ages with a fascinating display of notorious crime cases, witch-hunts and the often-gruesome devices used to extract confessions and inflict punishment.

For ultimate Rothenburg romance, book ahead at the Burg Hotel .   Built into the city walls, it offers panoramic views across the Tauber valley, a beautiful cloister garden and 30 sumptuous, sun-lit rooms, many with four-poster beds.

If you only do one thing...  

Head to Plönlein, a particularly photogenic intersection of two cobbled alleys, framed by the 13 th -century gate towers Siebers Tower and Kobolzeller Tower.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

A one-and-a-half hour train ride from Munich.

It was built in 1936, when Hitler ordered the settlements of Garmisch and Partenkirchen to be conjoined into a town big enough to bid for the 1936 Winter Olympics. Today, it’s one of Germany’s premier destinations for hiking, skiing and biking, as well as mountain spas. In addition to its particularly scenic location, the town features several traditional Bavarian houses adorned with elaborate murals and abundant window boxes. 

Booking is a must at zum Wildschutz , a packed-out Garmisch institution which specialises in traditional Bavarian ox, boar, and deer dishes.

Combining a high degree of Alpine kitsch with Caribbean-inspired mixology and music, Peaches is one of Garmisch’s oldest – and kookiest – cocktail bars.

Take the cable car up the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak, promising a rousing dose of Alpine air as well as knockout mountain views stretching some 250 kilometres on clear days.

You’d struggle to find a more idyllic setting than the Hotel Eibsee , set 20 minutes out of Garmisch on the eponymous lake’s shore. It’s an enormous place, and the rooms are somewhat dated, but the food, service, spa and views are outstanding.

If you only do one thing... 

Take the lift up Alpspitze peak to the AlpspiX observation terrace. A major feat of design and engineering, it consists of two steel promontories reaching out a remarkable 13 metres from the mountain face in an ‘X’ shape. Prepare to feel your stomach flip as you look out at the Zugspitze and down a staggering 1,000-metre drop to the Höllental Valley.

Schloss Neuschwanstein

A three-and-a-half hour train from Munich. 

If you’ve seen ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’   or Disney’s ‘Cinderella’ , you’ve already seen something of Neuschwanstein – the ultimate outlandish project of Bavaria’s ‘Mad King Ludwig’. Built in the late 19 th century on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau, the castle was conceived by the notoriously profligate Bavarian king both as his own private retreat and as a vast architectural tribute to Richard Wagner, of whom he was an ardent fan. Ludwig paid meticulous, microscopic attention to all details of the Schloss’s extraordinary external and internal design, which includes a Singers’ Hall, a Throne Room, a Grotto and several rooms inspired by Wagner characters.

With its façade of sweet pastels and a splendid mountain backdrop, Hotel Hirsch is more than a little reminiscent of ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ . Inside, you’ll find two dining options: a ‘Bierstüberl’ pub and a more elegant à la carte restaurant.

In walking distance from the castle, Schlossbrauhaus Schwangau is a Bavarian micro-brewery which prides itself on quality ales and a friendly atmosphere.

With the serious footfall passing through Neuschwanstein every day, many nearby hotels have swapped charm and character for maximum turnover and tourist gimmicks. Hotel Villa Ludwig is an elegant exception, with 18 modern and stylish suites, all equipped with bathtubs, balconies and great views.

Get your classic Neuschwanstein photograph from the Marienbrücke, a historic bridge over the nearby Pollät gorge, and rebuilt by Ludwig as the ideal viewing platform for his castle.

If you only do one thing...  

Take the castle tour  – it costs €13 and you won’t really  see the Schloss without it. Tours are conducted in both English and German, with parallel audio guides in 16 other languages.

A 25-minute train from Munich. 

On March 22, 1933, a few weeks after Adolf Hitler had been appointed chancellor, a concentration camp for political prisoners was set up in Dachau, 16 kilometres north-west of Munich. It was the first such camp in Germany and served as a model for all subsequent concentration camps under the Nazi regime. In its 12 years of existence, more than 200,000 people were imprisoned here, including Jews, communists, political dissidents, resistance fighters, writers, priests and members of the Bavarian royal family. Some 41,500 were murdered. The Memorial Site on the camp’s grounds was established in 1965 by survivors. It includes chapels representing the various faiths persecuted at Dachau and a permanent exhibition which draws on first-hand prisoner accounts. Dachau is reached via a short S-Bahn and bus connection from Munich. 

While Dachau will forever be overshadowed by its concentration camp, the town had a long and important history before the Third Reich. The 16 th -century Schloss Dachau is a former residence of the Bavarian royals, set in prettily landscaped gardens, with a restaurant and terrace bathed in sunlight.

With just 28 seats, Weinraum combines a cosy atmosphere with a refined palette. It offers a selection of excellent Italian and Austrian wines, plus a great lunch menu.

Take the   guided tour , which takes place in English every day at 11am and 1pm.

At Hotel Schwarzberghof , owners Claude and Nicole Drummer have gone out of their way to create a supremely comforting place to spend the night. The individual and homely bedrooms are filled with soft fabrics, fresh flowers and traditional Bavarian touches.

Take a moment to look up at the camp’s memorial sculpture by Yugoslav sculptor Nandor Glid, a haunting composition of skeletal figures and barbed wire forms. Glid considered the Dachau memorial the most important work of his career; his own parents died at Auschwitz.

Berchtesgaden

A two-and-a-half hour train from Munich. 

The Alpine retreat of Berchtesgaden offers a dizzying mix of pristine natural beauty and dark Nazi history. The Königsee is for many the crown jewel of Bavaria – a vast, emerald green lake nestled between sheer cliff faces, with the charming St Bartholomä pilgrimage church on a peninsula halfway down its western shore. Higher up, the Eagle’s Nest is a formidable Nazi construction, completed in 1938 and formally gifted to Adolf Hitler on his 50 th birthday. A staggering 1,834 metres high, with an access road cut into previously impassable mountain terrain, it was conceived as a fortified meeting place and symbol of Nazi power, both to conduct top-tier meetings and to impress important guests. 

It’s all about fresh flavours (and flowers) at BioHotelKurz , located in a 500-year-old farmhouse just outside Berchtesgaden. Owner Frau Kurz has won a crowd of loyalists with her delightful hospitality and excellent veggie dinners. Booking is a must.

For an idyllic coffee and an Eis  try  Eiscafe La Fontana , right in the scenic centre of Berchtesgaden. The ice cream menu includes some particularly kid-friendly creations.

Take a boat tour down the Königsee to the St Bartholomä church. The on-board trumpeter may sound like a gimmick, but just wait until you hear the crystalline, seven-fold echo off the lake’s surrounding rock faces.

Ten minutes’ drive from Berchtesgaden, Hotel zum Türken  was built in 1911, seized by the Nazis in 1933, and occupied throughout the war by SS officers guarding Hitler’s private residence, the Berghof, built nearby. Reclaimed by the original owners after the war, it makes for a fascinating stay, so long as you can handle a lack of mod cons and some serious ghosts from the past.

If you only do one thing... 

Take the short hike up through the forest to the Königsee ‘Malerwinkel’ – a shady clearing among the pines with superlative views down on to the lake.

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Munich Sightseeing: The 8 Best Munich Tours & Day Trips

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One of Germany ’s most celebrated cities, Munich is famous for its beer culture, traditional Bavarian food, excellent museums, and, of course, Oktoberfest. From the opulence of the Residenz to bustling beer halls, you’ll never run out of things to do and see in Munich. It’s actually quite difficult to narrow down all the sightseeing in Munich to a few highlights, especially if you have just a couple of days to see this captivating German city.

To help you make the most of your time in Munich, we have selected our list of the top Munich tours and day trips to the surrounding German countryside. Here you will discover Munich’s best sights , as well as fun short trips outside of the city. From extravagant castles to quaint picturesque European towns, Germany’s scenic Bavarian region has something for everyone.

Read on to discover the best 8 tours in Munich for your German holiday!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

How to Book Tours in Munich

While there is no shortage of tour agents in Munich, we actually prefer booking our tours online.  GetYourGuide  is our go-to for booking tours. You can compare all the tour options around Munich in one place and choose the excursion that is just right for you. Plus,  GetYourGuide  has an excellent cancellation policy in case your holiday plans change.

Munich: Top 8 Tours & Day Trips

1. see munich’s top spots on a walking tour.

What better way to start sightseeing in Munich than with a walking tour of Munich’s most famous locations ? The guides are knowledgeable, entertaining, and work for tips so these walking tours are the best in Munich. There is so much to discover in Munich beyond beer and Oktoberfest. On this tour, you’ll see all of the highlights, conveniently wrapped into two hours. If you only have one day in Munich then this is the tour for you.

This Munich sightseeing tour starts in the Marienplatz , Munich’s central square and the epicenter of this city’s long history. With a distinctly Bavarian feel to it, the Marienplatz is full of street performers, musicians, restaurants, and shops. Located in the center of Old Town, your guide will tell you about the history of Munich and point out buildings of historical significance, like the impressive gothic-style New Town Hall . You’ll also get to see Munich’s famous mechanical clock, the Rathaus-Glockenspiel .

Continuing, the group will visit the landmark Church of Our Lady, or Frauenkirche . Most visitors will recognize it immediately because of its two domed towers that distinguish it from the rest of the Munich skyline. Next, you’ll pass by the famed Hofbräuhaus beer hall , one of the most celebrated beer taverns in the world. 

You’ll explore the vibrant outdoor market of Viktualienmarkt, full of delicious German food and Bavarian handicrafts. And at the Royal Residence , you will learn the stories of the Bavarian royal family. For the final stop on your tour of Munich, you’ll visit the Church of Peter , Munich’s oldest church that has stunning ornate frescos and interiors.

You’ll leave this Munich walking tour more knowledgeable about the origins of Oktoberfest and Bavarian beer culture. It’s the perfect way to explore one of Germany’s most picturesque cities. 

Your walking city tour of Munich will include:

• An English or Spanish-speaking guide
• Tips of the best locations to eat or drink beer

Book A Free Walking Tour of Munich

2. Eat and Drink Your Way Through Munich on a Bavarian Beer and Food Tour

Munich is known worldwide for its tasty brews and for its annual Oktoberfest celebration. So, of course, in Munich, there’s no shortage of renowned German breweries, lively Bier gardens, traditional Bier halls, and famous taverns.

On this Bavarian beer and food tour , you will sample local delicacies. You will also learn all about the history, culture, and production of beer. With a knowledgeable guide, you’ll visit several of Munich’s best beer halls and swap tales with fellow travelers. All of this while sampling the best Bavarian-style food and beer. Highlights of your evening out in Munich will include an exclusive tour of the Oktoberfest Museum and a stop at the world-renowned Hofbräuhaus Tavern.

Be sure not to eat before the tour, you’ll be offered plenty of traditional Bavarian food, like Weisswurst (a white sausage that this region is known for), dumplings, and roast pork. The food is paired with several different delicious varieties of German beer.

You are more than welcome to continue on your own after the tour ends with the new friends that you meet during your tour. If you are lucky, you might even see a performance from a traditional Bavarian Oompah band!

Your Bavarian beer & food tour will include the following:

• Fully guided tour by English-speaking local resident
• Personal advice and recommendations
• Transport to the historic center of Munich
• Entrance to an exclusive private tour of the Oktoberfest Museum
• Beer sampling session
• Table reservation at a traditional beer hall
• A giant platter of traditional Bavarian food

Book a Bavarian Beer & Food Tour

3. Attend a Concert at the Munich Residenz

Looking for a unique Munich sightseeing opportunity? Every Thursday and Saturday at 6:30 pm,  the Residenz Soloists and members of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra perform in the Hofkapelle (Court Chapel) of the Munich Residenz.  

The Hofkapelle is an amazing venue – small and intimate – that will make you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. In fact, Mozart himself once played at the Hofkapelle. The interior of the chapel is exquisitely decorated. You’ll enjoy marveling at the colorful frescos while listening to the orchestra perform.

Immersing yourself in the sights and sounds of the 17th and 18th centuries makes for one of the most memorable evenings out in Munich. The performance is lively and is suitable for classical music lovers and those that are new to the genre.

The concert program at the Residenz changes weekly and you’ll hear masterpieces by Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, and other great composers of the Baroque and Classical periods. You’ll also have the option of adding a meal or a 3-Course dinner with beer when booking at an additional cost.

Make sure you book your Munich Residenz concert tickets well in advance as this small venue frequently sells out!

Buy Tickets for a Concert at the Munich Residenz

4. Explore Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace

For one of the best day trips from Munich, you’ll want to visit Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace . Both are exquisite architectural gems and should not be missed during your trip to Southern Germany !

This German castle tour includes visits to both Neuschwanstein and Linderhof as well as a stop for shopping and exploring in Oberammergau , a charming Bavarian town that resembles something out of a fairytale.

Your full-day Bavarian castle tour will depart near the main railway station in Munich at 8:30 am, where you’ll board a comfortable bus for a smooth 1.5-hour bus ride. Your first stop, Linderhof palace was inspired by the Palace of Versailles and the French influence is readily apparent.

You’ll have the opportunity to explore the immaculately manicured gardens as well as the interior of the palace (tickets purchased separately). Your guide will tell you all about the crazy King Ludwig II of Bavaria and how he built the castles of his dreams, both of which you will see today.  

After a stop for photos and lunch in Oberammergau, the group will arrive at the iconic Neuschwanstein Castle where you’ll get a few hours to explore this breathtaking landmark. It’s one of the most impressive sites in Germany , thanks to its prime location at the foot of the Alps. If you think Neuschwanstein Castle looks familiar, that’s probably because it was the inspiration for the castle at Walt Disney World. When it comes to Munich sightseeing, you simply can’t miss Neuschwanstein Castle!

The entire tour lasts 10.5 hours and you will arrive back in Munich at approximately 6:30 pm. 

Your Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace tour will include:

• Travel in a luxury tour bus with a tour guide
• Audio guides
• You’ll need to purchase your castle entry ticket separately: 8.50€ for Linderhof Palace and 13€ for Neuschwanstein Castle. You can buy tickets during the tour.

Book a Tour of Neuschwanstein Castle & Linderhof Palace

5. Learn about the Holocaust at Dachau Concentration Camp

Did you know that Germany’s first concentration camp, Dachau, is located just thirty miles outside of Munich? The site is now home to the Dachau Memorial . It is a place to learn about the significance and tragedy of the Dachau concentration camp during the time of National Socialism in Germany.

The advantage of booking a tour of the Dachau Memorial is that a qualified guide will show you the grounds of the former camp, the historical buildings, and parts of the permanent exhibition all while providing additional background about World War II and further insight into the horrors that occurred at Dachau. 

On your tour, you will be guided through the prison cells and gas chambers. You will hear firsthand accounts of the prisoners’ own experiences and the suffering they faced. During this tour, you will imagine everyday life in the camp from its beginnings to its liberation by the US Forces in 1945. The knowledgeable guide will explain the meaning behind the pictures and exhibits in the museum.

Learn about the dark history of the holocaust during this thought-provoking tour and experience the somber atmosphere of Dachau firsthand – it’s a grim but important sight to see in Munich.

Your Dachau Memorial tour will include:

• Guided tour of the Dachau Memorial Site
• Transportation by train

Book a Guided Tour of the Dachau Memorial Site

6. Drive the Romantic Road to Rothenburg, Germany’s most Instagrammable town

For another amazing Munich sightseeing experience, you should visit the cozy medieval village of Rothenburg , one of Germany’s most colorful towns. This full-day tour traverses the Romantic Road , a route that links together some of Bavaria’s most picture-perfect towns and famous castles. During the drive, you’ll soak in the beauty of the German countryside. 

The first stop will be Harburg Castle , one of the oldest, largest, and best-preserved castle complexes in southern Germany . You’ll be able to explore the castle and see how residents protected themselves within the high walls and defended against invaders in the middle ages.

After a short rest and coffee, the tour continues to Rothenburg, a charming medieval town. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you wander along the beautiful cobblestone streets exploring this unique walled city. Shop for a souvenir in the boutiques, have a meal, or sip a Bier in one of Rothenburg’s traditional pubs .

One thing that makes Rothenburg so special is the plethora of traditional half-timbered houses that Germany is known for. You’ll want to make sure you have your camera with you as Rothenburg is one of the most Instagrammable spots in the country! 

Your drive back to Munich will be through one of the largest hops-growing regions in the world, the Hallertau . This full-day tour is a great way to see one of the most beautiful regions of southern Germany .

Your Romantic Road and Rothenburg tour will include:

• Travel in a luxury bus with a tour guide
• Skip-the-line tickets
• Entry to the Harburg is not included in the tour price (€8)

Book a Tour of Rothenburg and Germany’s Romantic Road

7. Discover beautiful Salzburg, including sites from “The Sound of Music”

Not too far from Munich lies beautiful Salzburg , surrounded by lakes and the stunning snow-capped Alps. Though most famous for being the setting of the film, The Sound of Music , Salzburg is also the hometown of Mozart and you can still see his residence and the cafes he frequented. 

While Salzburg is located in Austria, it’s actually quite easy to visit as a part of this Salzburg day trip from Munich . Your tour will start at Munich Central Train Station at 9 am, where a guide will meet you for a 2-hour train ride from Munich to Austria.

Upon arriving in Salzburg, your guide will give you a map and during the 1.5-hour tour, you will be shown the major sights. You’ll then have an additional three hours to explore the city on your own once you are oriented. 

Salzburg is an old-world beauty. Stroll down the city’s UNESCO-protected streets, admiring the extravagant chapels and palaces. Wander through the beautiful Mirabelle Gardens to see sights filmed in The Sound of Music . Be sure to see the stunning Domkirche ( Salzburg Cathedral ), one of Salzberg’s most striking buildings. And you can’t miss the Festung Hohensalzburg set high on the hill above the city, it’s one of the oldest and best-preserved fortresses in Europe.

This memorable tour is a great way to see the medieval churches, monasteries, and catacombs that Salzburg offers. After a day of exploring, you’ll meet back up with the group to return to Munich.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to bring your passport as you’ll be traveling from Germany to Austria. Passport checks sometimes occur when traveling via train between two countries in the EU. 

Your Salzberg day tour will include:

• Transport on the 1.5-hour train journey from Munich to Salzburg and back
• Fully-guided tour
• Map of Salzburg

Book a Day Trip to Salzburg

8. Visit Historic Nuremberg, One of Germany’s Most Famous Cities

For another great day trip, take a scenic train ride north of Munich to the historic city of Nuremberg . It’s easy to spend an entire afternoon exploring Nuremberg’s quaint old town, sampling delicious regional food in its cafes, and shopping in its world-famous Christmas markets – even if you’re visiting in the summer (they are actually open year-round).

Nuremberg is also known for its involvement with the Nazi Party, and if you’re a history buff you can see the actual Nazi Party Rally Grounds and some of the largest Third Reich buildings. Art lovers will enjoy Nuremberg’s Gothic churches, which contain pieces by some of Germany’s most talented artists. And photographers will love the colorful markets that have been part of the city for nearly 700 years. There is something for every taste in this enchanting German city.

This full-day tour from Munich to Nuremberg departs at 8:40 am from Munich’s central station for the short 90-minute train ride to Nuremberg. During the tour, you will learn all about the unofficial capital of the first Germanic Empire and the role that the city played during the Second World War. The city also played an important role in the Reformation era as well as in the scientific and printing revolution.

Your tour will also include a visit to one of the most iconic landmarks, the stunning Nuremberg Castle that overlooks the city. Nuremberg is one of Germany’s most famous cities, and there is so much to see that it’s easy to miss some of the best sights if you don’t have a guide. Luckily, this tour ensures you’ll see the best of Nuremberg even if you only have a day to explore!

Your tour of Nuremberg will include:

• English speaking guide
• Fully-guided tour of the historic city center and the Nazi Party rally grounds
• 2-way ticket for the transport from Munich to Nuremberg via train 

Book a Day Trip to Nuremberg

That’s it! The best tours and day trips in Munich, Germany. Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments.

Planning a trip to Germany? Check out our favorite books and travel guides.

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Nick took his first solo trip abroad to Ireland and Scotland when he was just 19. Since then he has visited over 70 countries around the world (plus 45 states in the USA). He coupled his passion for travel photography with Val’s passion for writing and thus Wandering Wheatleys was born. He now lives in Asheville with his two rambunctious kids, Humphrey and Wilhelminha. Besides photography, Nick loves eating the weirdest food he can find in a country (sheep’s brain currently sits in first place) and making Val get up an hour before sunrise to make sure he gets “the good light”.

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The 10 Best Day Trips From Munich, Germany (by Train!)

Created On: August 20, 2023   |   Updated: August 14, 2023   |   2 Comments

These day trips from Munich can all be done by train and most take 2 hours or less to reach. If you’ll be in Munich for a few days, you’ll definitely have time for a day trip! 

As the capital of Bavaria, Munich makes an excellent home base for exploring the region. Whether you’re craving half-timbered houses, peaceful Alpine scenery, or regal palaces, Bavaria has something for everyone. 

This list of day trips from Munich will take you to some of the most beautiful — and interesting! — cities in Bavaria. All of the destinations I’m sharing in this post can be reached easily by train and and are no more than 2.5 hours away (most are much closer, though!) 

I’ll update this list as I take more Munich day trips, but so far these are the only ones I’ve been to since moving to Germany in 2019 and absolutely adore! 

Note that this list is ordered by how long it takes to travel by train from Munich Central Station ( München Hauptbahnhof ) to the central train station of the day trip destination. 

Table of Contents 

Click “show” to see the full table of contents for this post. You can jump around the post as desired by clicking on the individual sections listed below. 

Travel time by train: 21 mins (using Munich’s public transportation system)

Just 20 minutes from Munich, you’ll find one of the darkest sites in Germany.

Now the Dachau Memorial Site , it’s on this site that the first concentration camp built by the Nazis during WWII. It served as a model for all other concentration camps built during the war, and I think all visitors should make time for a Dachau day trip from Munich. 

It’s estimated that 41,500 people were murdered at Dachau. You’ll be able to see many of the original buildings at the memorial site, some of which contain exhibitions discussing the reign of terror under the Nazi regime or sharing the stories of specific people who were imprisoned at Dachau. 

The Dachau Memorial Site is free to enter, but I recommend paying the small fee for an audio guide to make the most of your experience.

Travel time by train: 30 mins ICE / IC or 45 mins RE

One of Germany’s oldest cities — and one of the quickest Munich day trip destinations! — Augsburg is worth visiting while you’re in Bavaria. You can’t see the entire city in a day, but you can see a lot of it! 

While in Augsburg, take the time to do the following: 

• Town Hall – Considered the most important Renaissance-style building north of the Alps. The Golden Hall is the main draw.
• Fuggerei – The world’s oldest social housing complex. A small portion of the complex is now a museum.
• Cathedral — It dates back to 995 AD and is lovely. 
• Old Town — Where you’ll likely spend much of your time in Augsburg anyway.

Schleissheim Palace

Travel time by train: 45 mins (using Munich’s public transportation) 

Schleissheim Palace is easily accessible with Munich’s public transportation, making it yet another quick, easy, and cheap day trip idea. The palace is one of the most beautiful that I’ve visited in Germany (and I’ve visited a LOT!), and you can easily spend a full day touring the multiple buildings and the extensive gardens. 

There are three buildings on site you can tour: the Old Palace, the New Palace, and the Lustheim hunting lodge.

The Old Palace was originally a ducal country mansion. It was destroyed in WWII and has since been rebuilt. It now houses a folklore museum — this is the one building on site that I think you can skip, as the museum didn’t impress me very much. 

The New Palace is the star of Schleissheim Palace! It was built in the 1700s for Bavarian Elector Max Emmanuel. The palace is beautiful, and the audio guide is quite detailed. I visited during the work week on a sunny October day and had it almost entirely to myself, but I imagine it’s busier on the weekends. 

The Lustheim Hunting Lodge is small but stunning. It now serves as the palace’s porcelain museum. If you don’t like looking at pretty plates in glass cases as much as I do, you can skip the interior of the hunting lodge since that’s all there is to see. 

Travel time by train: 1 hour 10 mins ICE 

Every destination on this list is fantastic, but Nuremberg easily makes my personal top 3 for best day trips from Munich. If you love castles, half-timbered houses, pretty market squares, and medieval history, you’re going to adore Nuremberg! 

If you only have one day in Nuremberg, you’ll want to spend much of your time in the Old Town. The city was most prosperous during the Middle Ages and was known throughout Europe as being a center for talented artisans and craftsmen. Those artistic roots can still be felt in the city center today. 

While in Nuremberg, here are the top sites I recommend visiting: 

• Kaiserburg – The Imperial Castle. Each newly elected Holy Roman Emperor held his first Imperial Diet (i.e. session with the official legislative body of the empire) here. Today it’s primarily a museum space, and the ramparts offer an epic view of the Old Town! 
• Albrecht Dürer’s House – Albrecht Dürer was one of the most well-known Renaissance artists in all of Europe. Explore the beautifully preserved 16th century half-timbered house and learn more about this famous artist and his life. 
• Weißgerberstraße — A small street lined with half-timbered houses. The 20 or so houses somehow survived the air raids of WWII, so know that you’re looking at the original facades!

Be sure to read my full guide to Nuremberg’s Old Town when planning your day trip! 

Salzburg (Austria) 

Travel time by train: 1 hour 30 mins (you’ll be using the Austrian railway, so the train names are different than in Germany)

A Munich to Salzburg day trip is very easy to do by train and is a great way to check one more country in Europe off of your bucket list! 

Salzburg, Austria is a quaint postcard of a city with the Alps as a romantic backdrop. Among other accolades, Salzburg is known for being the birthplace of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as well as a recurring filming location for The Sound of Music. 

Salzburg’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and I recommend spending most of your day trip exploring the area on foot. 

While in Salzburg, make time for the following attractions: 

• Festung Hohensalzburg –  A massive fortress on top of a hill above the Residenzplatz. The fortress has been around since the early 1000s, but most of the building left standing today was completed in the 1500s. 
• Mozart’s Birthplace – Learn more about the famous composer and see artifacts from his lifetime. 
• Salzburg Cathedral – A beautiful Baroque cathedral in the city center. 

Travel time by train: 1 hour 45 mins ICE 

One of the prettiest towns in all of Germany, Bamberg makes for a fantastic one-day trip from Munich. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it’s home to half-timbered houses and historic buildings galore. It also has the largest intact old city wall in Europe!  

Bamberg is very compact, so feel free to show up for the day without an itinerary and discover the city’s gems at your own pace. If you need some starting recommendations, here are the sites I love: 

• “Little Venice” (Klein Venedig) — Bamberg’s former fisherman’s district. You’ll want to view it from across the river to get a good look at the half-timbered houses and their quaint gardens. 
• Old Town Hall — Quite possibly the loveliest in the country! The frescoed town hall straddles the Regnitz River and sits atop a man-made island. 
• Cathedral — Completed in the 13th century. Be sure to find the graves of Kunigunde and Heinrich II, located within the cathedral. 

Travel time by train: 1 hour 50 mins ICE and RB or 90 mins RE

One of the lesser known day trip destinations from Munich is Regensburg. It’s a small city nestled along the Danube River, with a history that stretches back many centuries. 

You can easily see Regensburg’s top attractions in a single day: 

• Old Town — A UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
• Schloss St. Emmerman, Thurn und Taxis — A gorgeous rococo palace where a noble family still resides. You can only visit on a guided tour, and you’ll want to book tickets in advance. (One of my favorite Christmas markets also takes place on the palace grounds!)
• Old Stone Bridge — Cross all the way to the other side for an unforgettable view of the Danube River.
• St. Peter’s Cathedral (Dom St. Peter) – A High Gothic cathedral that was built in the 1200s.

Travel time by train: 2 hours ICE

Automobile fanatics MUST make the day trip from Nuremberg to Stuttgart. Known as the “cradle of the automobile,” Stuttgart is home to Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.

Things to do on a day trip to Stuttgart include:

• Mercedes-Benz Museum or Porsche Museum — Pick your poison!
• Staatsgalerie Stuttgart (State Gallery) — Known for its 20th century paintings, but has art from other eras as well. One of the top-visited museums in Germany.
• Eugensplatz – Has great view of the city
• Explore the area around the Schlossplatz – It’s the older part of the city center and also one of the prettiest areas.

Travel time by train: 2 hours 20 mins ICE and RE

If you’re well versed in the history of the British royal family, you may recognize the city of Coburg as being the birthplace of Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria). He spent much of his childhood in Ehrenburg Palace near the city center, which I highly recommend touring while you’re in town. 

Enjoy your day in Coburg by visiting the following attractions: 

• Veste Coburg (shown above) – A medieval fortress complex atop a hill. Martin Luther lived here for 6 months! It’s worth walking up to the palace and looking out from the ramparts, even if you don’t want to pay to go inside. 
• Ehrenburg Palace – Located in the heart of the city; this is where Prince Albert spent much of his youth. The guided tour takes you through the beautifully maintained palace and you’ll learn more about the Ducal family and its history.
• Old Town – Small but lovely. Be sure to see the old city gates. 
• Stadtkirche St. Moritz — The oldest church in the city.

Here are all of my recommendations for things to do in Coburg , plus more information on the city’s history. 

Neuschwanstein Castle / Schwangau

Travel time by train: 2 hours RB, then 30 minutes on the bus (2 hours 30 mins total) 

Be honest, you were waiting for me to mention the Neuschwanstein day trip from Munich, weren’t you? When it comes to the best Munich day trips, Neuschwanstein Castle is the big kahuna. 

You might know Neuschwanstein as the “fairytale castle” of Germany. It’s the castle that’s plastered all over Bavaria’s tourism materials, and for good reason! 

Neuschwanstein was built for “Mad King” Ludwig II of Bavaria, but was never completed due to his ever-changing architectural plans, increasing budget, and ultimately his untimely (and suspicious) death. 

The only way to see the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle is by taking a guided tour. I’ll be honest, the tour isn’t very good and it’s expensive. The tour guide shuttles you through the few finished rooms of the castle at breakneck speed (it takes about 20 minutes from start to finish). 

The handful of completed rooms in the castle are incredible, though. They’re all decorated in frescoes depicting scenes from Richard Wagner’s operas, which King Ludwig II loved. 

Even if you can’t or don’t want to book a tour to see the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle, it’s still worth visiting on a day trip! You can explore the grounds, take in the views of and around the castle, and generally just enjoy the fairytale ambience of the Bavarian Alps. 

Neuschwanstein Castle can be reached by a combination of train and bus. It’s an easy route to follow, but you’ll need to look up the exact train times beforehand to ensure you make all the right connections. 

What Else to See Near Neuschwanstein Castle

I recommend getting to the town of Schwangau (where Neuschwanstein is located) as early as you can stand it. Tour Neuschwanstein first to avoid the crowds coming in off the tour buses, then walk over to Hohenschwangau Castle (give yourself about an hour between the two castles to allow for travel time either on foot or by bus).

Fewer people bother to visit Hohenschwangau Castle, so you get treated to a longer, more relaxed tour and you get to see the entire building. This is where King Ludwig II spent the bulk of his childhood, and the medieval frescoes decorating the walls give you a peek into the upbringing that inspired his love of Richard Wagner and operas. 

If you have any time left after visiting both Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, head down to the beautiful Alpssee cradled in the valley between the castles. I had time to walk part way around the Alpsee and although it’s small it’s one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen! 

Tip: I arrived in Schwangau as early as I possibly could to see both Neuschwanstein AND Hohenschwangau on my last visit. It’s totally doable, but you must book both castle tickets and train tickets in advance and be prepared to stick to a schedule! 

Navigating Bavaria by Train: Is the BayernPass Worth It? 

When traveling around Bavaria, I often buy my train tickets day-of via the Deutsche Bahn app or directly with the BayernPass .

Ticket prices sometimes increase if you book them the day you plan on traveling, but since I often use the regional trains for my Munich day trip excursions the prices often remain the same. (It’s only when you’re booking last-minute  ICE or IC high-speed trains that the prices can skyrocket!)

Another reason I prefer booking my train tickets for day trips out of Munich is because it allows more flexibility in my schedule.

Depending on your timing and how soon you want to reach each destination, you might want to consider buying a BayernPass . The BayernPass costs just 27 Euros for one person and lets you take an unlimited number of trips on the regional (RB) and regional express (RE) trains within Bavaria for one day.

You can only travel with the BayernPass from 9am to 3am the following day, Monday to Friday. On weekends the BayernPass is valid from midnight to 3am the following day.

Enjoy Your Day Trip From Munich! 

You definitely don’t want to shortchange your stay in Munich, but if you have the time, a day trip or two would be great!

Hopefully this list of day trips from Munich proves useful in your trip planning. Please leave me a comment below letting me know if you visit any of the cities I mentioned!

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to keep up with my daily adventures in Berlin and beyond!

More Things to Do & See in Munich: 

• The Top Things to Do in Munich, Germany
• Ultimate Guide to Munich’s Old Town
• 3-Day Munich Itinerary (All the Top Attractions!)

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Comments & Reviews

January 15, 2024

Great suggestions! We r planning a two month tour of Europe in 2025, very helpful hints!

January 16, 2024

Glad you found this guide helpful, Mary! Two months in Europe sounds fantastic, enjoy your trip!

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One Day in Munich Itinerary – How to Spend a Perfect Day in Munich, Germany

Munich, Munchen, Minga or “Home of The Monks” is the largest Bavarian city situated on the edge of the Alps, along the Isar River. There are two sides to Munich. The compact traditional city center is the core of the atmospheric beer halls, beautiful architecture and traditional German hospitality (also known as gemütlichkeit). In contrast, the modern side is a testament to technology and innovation, showcasing the rise of the city since its traditional days. One day in Munich will allow you to explore the best of both worlds. Drink some beer, eat plenty of Weißwürste, explore Munich’s fascinating culture and witness the German efficiency at its finest. 

GUEST POST BY ROMI R. BLOG: Medium

What’s the best time to visit Munich ?

There is a wide variety of things to see in Munich all year-round.  Summer is the perfect time to engage in local activities such as drinking beer in beer gardens, swimming or hiking in the Alps with moderate prices of accommodation. Munich is famous for Oktoberfest so if you want to visit the famous beer festival, come to Munich in September .

Oktoberfest was originally held in October, however, the warmer weather was a factor in the newer September date. The weather is just as warm as in the summer! The city is bustling with over six million tourists each year who all agree Oktoberfest is the best time to visit Munich. Although, the prices of food and accommodation are quite high.

If you don’t mind the cold, Christmas is a great time to visit Munich. The city is packed with Christmas markets offering gluhwein (mulled wine) and traditional food. The cost of accommodation is the lowest, but you might have to endure low temperatures.

A few facts about Munich

• Some  Bavarians refer to Munich as “Minga” (emphasis on the i) which means “Home of The Monks”. The name dates back to 1150 when Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria, built a bridge over the river Isar next to a settlement of Benedictine monks. Shortly after the monks established a market in a city we all know as Munich.

• Everyone knows about the bavarian beer, but what many don’t is that it’s so famous when king Gustav invaded Bavaria he agreed to leave Munich in peace if the citizens surrender barrels of Hofbräu beer!
• Munich left an impact on Jimi Hendrix, so much so that he smashed his first guitar in a live performance at the Big Apple Club.

One Day in Munich Itinerary

Follow this guide and make the best of your trip even if you’re short on time. Munich is a compact city with a flawless transportation system. It is best to use that to your advantage and opt-out of the hop-on-hop-off buses. These are the top things to see in Munich in one day.

Start Your Day With a Typical Bavarian Breakfast

The central Munich square is in a perfect location for the start of an action-packed day but before you get there, have something to eat.  For 10€ the Deutsche Bahn Regional takes you from Munich Airport straight to Marienplatz in just 30 minutes. If you want to spend a night in a convenient location you can check in to Mercure Alstad Hotel located just a three-minute walk from the Marienplatz. Once you’re checked in, you can indulge in one of the top things to do in Munich.

Try Weißwurst Frühstück – white sausage breakfast with sweet mustard and a pretzel, all topped with a Weissbier. Try Schneider Bräuhaus known for the best Bavarian beer and breakfast in the area. Definitely a must on your Munich itinerary!

Experience The Clock Tower Performance at Marienplatz

Once you have satisfied your appetite head to the magnificent Marienplatz. The first thing that catches the eye is grand New City Hall (Neues Rathaus) and its neo-gothic facade. After you capture the perfect photo, peek into the New City Hall courtyard to get away from the crowds!

The golden angel column found in the center was built to commemorate the end of the Swedish occupation while to your East you will find Old City Hall (Altes Rathaus). The New City Hall’s clock tower is famous for its captivating performance at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. (and 5 p.m. in the summer). Definitely check it out! Marienplatz is surrounded by beautiful churches. St. Peter’s Church , Heiliggeistkirche and Frauenkirche are all nearby and worth seeing.

Shop at Neuhauser Straße, Kaufingerstraße or Victuals Market

Head west from Marienplatz and in just two minutes you will reach one of the oldest streets in Munich – Kaufingerstraße. While you’ll find multiple stores on the main street, check the passageways for interesting shops and unique finds! Keep walking west for another two minutes and you will reach Neuhauser Straße. The largest pedestrian zone in Munich offers a variety of stores and street vendors selling fruits, vegetables or souvenirs. You can snack and people watch before you head to Karlsplatz. 

If you’re in search of a nice local market, Victuals Market or Viktualienmarkt is a short walk from Marienplatz. It is a 200-year-old farmer’s market packed with local products and interesting finds.

Explore Karlsplatz

Keep walking west from Neuhauser Straße and in two minutes you will reach Karlsplatz, locally known as Stachus. Karlsplatz is a popular meeting point in Munich. Even if you’re just looking to see how the city breathes, Karlsplatz is one of the top things to see in Munich. Once you’re at Karlsplatz you will notice the large city wall gates “Karlstor” and the grand Palace of Justice also known as Justizpalast. Stop for an Instagram update before heading to your next destination.

Visit The Munich Residenz

Walk from Karlsplatz and enjoy the stunning views before reaching The Munich Residenz. On your short walk, you will pass by the statue of the Roman god Neptune –  Neptunbrunnen as well as a Max-Joseph-Platz square (Maximilian Square or Maximiliansplatz). Finally, you will reach The Munich Residenz – The Royal Palace of Bavaria.

The huge epic palace built in the year 1385 is one of the most captivating things to see in Munich. The lavish interior has rooms in the renaissance, baroque and neoclassical styles. On certain days visitors can enjoy a classical concert or a market! A combination ticket for the residence and the museum costs around 14€.

Have a Beer And Lunch in The Englisch Garten

The Englisch Garden or The English Garden is the largest park in Munich. Larger than Central Park in New York or Hyde Park in London!  While the name Englisch Garten suggests it has something to with England it’s quite international.

You can find a Japanese tea house, a Greek temple, and a Chinese pagoda. Mass selection of attractions and the divine nature make the English Garden one of the most popular places for visitors and locals .

In the summer months, people tend to go fully nude – you’ve been warned! Once you’ve had enough of the walking, stop by one of the many beer gardens and have lunch. Our favorite is the restaurant and beer garden at the Chinese Tower .

Head to Olympia Park and The BMW Museum

Once you’re ready to leave the English Garden head to the U-Bahn Giselastraße station and take the 10 min ride on the U3 to Olympiazentrum station.

If you have time, head to the BMW museum . It’s open until 6 pm and the admission is around 10€. Even if you’re not a car lover the fascinating exhibition of history, BMW cars, and motorcycles, is worth the time.

On a short walk from the BMW Museum, you will find the Olympia Park . Constructed for the 1976 winter Olympics it’s still home to all the major events. You can visit the Rock Museum or the Munich Walk of Stars. Enjoy the sunset and the view of the Alps from the Olympia tower – one of the highest towers in Europe.

Finish Your Day With A Beer At Hofbräuhaus

After a long day of sightseeing the best way to end it, is with, again, a beer! Hop back on the U-Bahn to Marienplatz and take the short walk to Hofbräuhaus. The gorgeous 3-floor beer hall has a Bavarian restaurant, live shows, and a typical upbeat Bavarian vibe.

You can try Obatzda (cheese dip) , and sausages such as Bratwurst and Weisswurst. Of course, the key is to have German beer. If you’re in Munich during Oktoberfest, Hofbräuhaus is one of the busiest attractions too, so you’ll get to meet beer lovers from all over the world.

Party Until The Sun Comes Out

If you have the time and energy, Munich has a fabulous nightlife. Those in the mood for techno can give Harry Klein near Karlsplatz a try.  If you’re her during April they do a “Marry Klein” month where they host only female DJs. If you want to finish your night off and not have to worry about the long distance to your hotel, a great and affordable place to stay near Harry Klein is the Euro Youth Hotel . Gärtnerplatz and Glockenbachviertel are the best areas in Munich for alternative crowds. You can choose from many bars and clubs according to your music taste.

Where to stay in Munich, Germany

When choosing accommodation for one day it’s important to make the most out of your time. There are hotels near Franz Josef Strauss Airport for travelers with early flights, but the best accommodation in Munich is in the city center.

Best Hotels Near Franz Josef Strauss Airport

Soller Business Hotel

Lilienthalstr. 1-3, 85399 Hallbergmoos

Just a 10 min drive (or a 20 min S-Bahn ride) from Franz Josef Strauss Airport in Munich, Soller Business Hotel is a favorite stopover for most visitors. The wellness area with steam, sauna and relaxation room is the perfect place to relax for a night between your trips.

BOOK A ROOM HERE

Hotel Daniels

Hauptstrasse 11, 85399 Hallbergmoos

Located in a perfect position, a 15-minute drive from the airport, but only a 25 min S-Bahn ride to the downtown core.  Hotel Daniels is the best choice for an overnight layover that allows travelers to get much-needed rest, yet it’s still close to the Munich city center. Travelers love the comfortable beds and helpful staff!

Best Hotels Near Munich City Center

Hotel Deutsche Eiche

Reichenbachstr. 13, Ludwigsvorstadt, 80469 Munich

The Deutsche Eiche focus is on the gay community, but everyone is welcome to stay! Every morning the hotel serves a classic Bavarian buffet breakfast while at night you can enjoy the spectacular views from the rooftop terrace. The 24/7 reception staff is always ready to help and the guests particularly enjoy the central location.

Mercure Alstad Hotel

Hotterstr. 4, Altstadt-Lehel, 80331 Munich

The ideal Marienplatz location combined with clean, sleek and modern interior is the winning factor for the visitors of the Mercure Alstad Hotel . The number of shops, restaurants, and bars in the area are ideal for travelers wishing to explore Munich, but short on time. You don’t even have to leave the neighborhood!

Euro Youth Hotel

Senefelderstr. 5, Ludwigsvorstadt, 80336 Munich

The best party place in Munich! Euro Youth Hotel is extremely affordable considering the location. It’s the best value in the city. The on-site bar has a daily happy hour. If you really want to save money (and spend it on beer) you can choose from one of the many dorm beds. The Hotel is near clubs, bars, and most of the major attractions.

Day trips from Munich

Neuschwanstein and hohenschwangau castle.

When you’re a regular person and socially awkward you stare at the floor. When you’re a king, you build Neuschwanstein Castle. King Ludwig II (king of introverts, but also a real king) built the castle to escape the public in 1886. He only made one mistake. The castle is gorgeous and now everyone wants to see it. The day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich takes about an hour and a half of your time in each direction. The Neuschwanstein Castle ticket price is around 14€.  Check out the other Hohenschwangau Castle, as they are very close to each other. 

Dachau Memorial Site

A very important part of our history and a testament to what humans can endure, the Dachau memorial site is an eye-opening experience. The tours take you through the reconstructed cell-blocks decorated with photographs and documents. It is a sobering experience, but one that every person should see. The tickets range from 3€ to 30€, depending on your choice of a tour. Dachau is just a 30-minute drive from Munich.

Eagle’s Nest

Drive along the scenic German Alpine road, straight through a tunnel in the rocks to the Eagle Nest mountain peak. Eagle’s nest is a perfect mix of nature and history. You can take a bus or drive about two hours from Munich. You can buy tickets at the base station, they cost around 20€ for adults and 8€ for children, the elevator ride is included with your purchase.

Extra tips for visiting Munich

• Buy the Munich Card (different from Munich Pass!) – Munich pass will cost you around 40€. It buys you entrances to attractions and public transport. For someone looking to do the most in one day, it’s not that bad of a deal, but the Munich Pass is around 12€. It buys you unlimited public transport and 30% off attractions. If you’re going to see only two or three things, it’s much more worth it.
• Buy the Bayern Ticket – Especially for your day trips. You can spend the whole day exploring Bavaria for the price of a one-way ticket to any city. You can buy the Bayern transportation ticket at any red machine in any train station.
• You are allowed to bring your own food to a beer garden – People think that because you’re entering a bar, you’re not allowed to bring your own food. You are!

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If you have any other propositions for this One Day in Munich Itinerary, feel free to share it in the comments below!

Make sure you have everything you need

What to pack for your next trip.

Make your next trip as simple and as enjoyable as possible by packing smart. It’s amazing how much stress top travel items can save you, so choose carefully. Things like lightweight travel backpacks, for example, are ideal for short trips and allow you to move around with ease, and a passport holder will make sure you keep your documents safe at all times. Check our travel checklist guide for 2021 to make sure you haven’t missed anything, and travel to your next destination in style and with maximum comfort.

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Romi is a llama coach from Split, Croatia. This sounds made up but it’s true. ​She lived in Toronto, Canada for about ten years, give or take, but she wasn’t working with llamas. She was working in PR, restaurants, daycares, one yoga clothing store. She doesn't know how she got that job as she has never done yoga at that point. She taught English in Colombia and Vietnam. Traveled the world for two years. Then she got into writing. Actually, she was always writing, but then someone paid her to write. Then more people paid because they saw she was making them money. Then it became a thing she does for a living. And here we are now. Specializing in travel, real estate, and digital nomad guides, familiar with SEO, and always ready to learn something new so she can branch out and take over the world.

Exactly what I was looking for, for my upcoming trip. Thank you! More places please – this is fantastic!

Thank you! More place coming soon:)

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One Day in a City

24 Hour Travel Itineraries to Make the Most of a Day in a Destination

One Day in Munich Itinerary: Top 10 + More Top Things to Do

June 28, 2023 By Gina Posts on this site may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here .

A Detailed Itinerary for What to See in Munich in One Day

Munich is the third largest city in Germany and the largest in Germany’s Bavarian region, an area in southern Germany predominately known for scenic beauty, frescoed buildings, and lots of beer, which can make it hard to narrow down the best places to visit in Munich in one day.

Which is why I extensively researched the best one day in Munich itinerary for you during my time in the incredible city and put it to the test.

Read on to find out out what to see in Munich if short on time and learn why Munich is much more than just its annual Oktoberfest and the majestic Bavarian mountains and plains surrounding it. Even if you only have time to see Munich in one day, it’s still possible to experience the culture, sights, and (if you’re so inclined) the beer.

But first, wondering the best way to get around Munich? Download my helpful Munich Transportation Tips document…

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Yes, Munich is much more than beers and pretzels as big as your head…but you should still make time for that! First, though, take in the sights of the city. Here is what I’ll be covering in this article to help you have a fantastic day in Munich.

What You’ll Find in This Article:

Top 10 things to see and do in munich.

• One Day in Munich Itinerary
• Munich Beer Garden for Lunch Recommendations
• Where to Sleep in Munich
• Where to Eat for a Farm-to-Table Dinner
• Itinerary Modifications (More ideas on what to see!)
• A Brief History of Munich

Time needed:  1 day

How to See Munich if Short on Time | Top 10 Things to Do if You Have One Day in Munich

A beautiful palace and grounds where the former royalty of Munich and Bavaria spent their summers.

The elaborate main residence of Bavaria’s former governing family.

The central square of Munich’s old town with government buildings, churches, restaurants, and bars.

A cuckoo clock performance on a grand scale.

An engineer’s paradise. Non-engineers who love to learn how things work – like cars, airplanes, rockets, and hot air balloons to name a few – will also enjoy the interactive museum.

Not to be missed! Even if you’re not a beer drinker, stop by one for some cheap grub and to take in the laidback Bavarian ambiance.

Visit the architectural wonders of Asamkirche, St. Peter’s Chapel, and Cathedral Church of our Lady.

At Museum Brandhorst and Pinakothek der Moderne, you’ll see works of art by Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, and more.

When you need some peace and solitude in Munich, head to this large park where you can find an uninhabited piece of grass to lay out on. The park is even bigger than New York City’s Central Park.

This guide doesn’t focus on Oktoberfest, but if you’re there for the yearly festival that operates from the end of September through the beginning of October, this One Day in Munich itinerary will give you a good overview of what to do when you’re not in the beer tent. There is one important tip to remember with Oktoberfest, though: Book early – 10 to 12 months in advance is ideal.

Now, read on for more details about these top things to do in Munich!

Recommended 1-Day Munich Itinerary

For the optimal itinerary to experience a wide range of Munich in a short amount of time – and especially for those who are visiting Munich for the first time, here is what to see in Munich to optimize your time.

Also, modified itinerary ideas based on your special interests are listed at the end of this blog post, and are also a good resource for places to visit in Munich if you find yourself with more than one day in the city.

Now, let’s get started on that Munich in one day itinerary!

Royal Palaces of Munich: Schloss Nymphenburg and Munich Residenz

Munich is home to incredible palaces and royal residences. Here are two palatial palaces you don’t want to miss out on seeing that are also ideal places to start your day off in Munich.

Schloss Nymphenburg

Start your day by swiftly getting out to Schloss Nymphenburg palace, which is a 20-minute tram ride from the city center. Though it’s a bit of a trek to get to compared to other sights in the city, it’s worth it to see for its history and grandeur.

Schloss Nymphenburg was the Baroque summer palace of Bavarian sovereigns and served as a retreat from the royal’s residence in the city. The Bavarian nobility would spend the summer in the country at Schloss Nymphenburg with their family.

Notable Rooms to See in Schloss Nymphenburg

Festival Room: This is the first room you’ll enter of the palace rooms. It is decorated in light colors and frescoes and has a summer feel. The room was used for family celebrations and Ludwig II was even baptized there.

King Ludwig I’s Gallery of Beauties: This ornate room has 36 portraits hanging in it. These portraits were created over the course of 20 years and have a notable theme: they are all portraits of women King Ludwig I deemed to be exceptionally beautiful. What is interesting about this is that the portraits are of women from all classes, whether a noble princess or the daughter of the local baker. It was very rare for such a portrait to be done of a commoner back then – especially to then have it hanging in a royal residence.

Short on Time Tip: Just get the ticket to visit the Palace and grounds. The other option is a combination ticket that includes the Marstallmuseum, the Museum of Nymphenburg Palace, and the park palaces. However, if short on time visiting these extra places will take up a lot of your day.

Munich Residenz

Next up, head to Munich Residenz , the other home of the Bavarian royalty. Heading to Munich Residenz right after Schloss Nymphenburg will give you a great contrast of the two different styles of decorating between a summer and city palace home.

Compared to the white and pastel coloring of Schloss Nymphenburg, the Munich Residenz is darker, bathed in crimsons, browns, and blacks. In addition to being the place of residence for royals from 1508 to 1918, the Munich Residenz also served as the seat of government for the Bavarian rulers.

The Munich Residenz was created within and around the original castle built on its location in 1385. When the original castle was built, clashes were often occurring in the region and the Dukes of Bavaria wanted a residence that would better protect them, which they called Neuveste for ‘new fortress’.

Over the centuries the Neuveste was expanded and reflects architecture styles of the late Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassicism eras. In 1508 the Munich Residenz began to be more of a statement piece than a building for protection as it was expanded into a magnificent palace that served as the royal palace for Bavarian monarchs and not just a fortified palace used mostly for protection.

This was also around the time that the Court Gardens were added to the palace. During World War II, bombings badly damaged Munich Residenz and when the rooms were rebuilt most were reconstructed to their former specifications, though some of them were not done to the same level of extravagance they had before.

Today, many of the rooms are open to the public to view and the Munich Residenz is also home to one of Bavaria’s largest museum complexes, including a treasury, plus the old, opulent Cuvilliés Theatre.

Notable Rooms to See in Munich Residenz

Grotto Court: This room was secluded for the king and was made of shells, crystals, and bronze figures. Very elaborate looking.

Antiquarium Hall: This room is full of antiques from the 16 th , 17 th , and 18 th centuries. It’s the largest Renaissance hall north of the Alps.

Ancestral Gallery: Portraits in this hall show over 100 members of the House of Wittelsbach and their consorts. The room is was finished in 1703 and also features a genealogy tree toward the center of the hall.

Ornate Chapel: This room was the private oratory Duke Maximilan I. It is where he kept all his personal sacred relics. These were very important to him as sacred relics were considered to be more important than gold. The Pope even granted Duke Maximilan I permission to keep tabernacles containing the Eucharist in the Munich Residenz.

Green Gallery: This room stands out from the rest as it takes a break from the deep crimsons and gold decorating most rooms in the palace and instead has walls covered in green silk damask.

Short on Time Tip: Unless you’re really into governing artifacts and royal crowns, skip the treasury and gardens to save time during your day in Munich.

Next Up for Your One Day in Munich: A Munich Beer Break!

Beer gardens definitely make up some of the best places to visit in Munich in one day. After your morning touring palaces, it’s a good time for a break, and when in Munich, you may very well want to include a beer with any breaks so for lunch head to one of Munich’s beer gardens.

Here are two beer garden top picks in Munich:

Hofbräuhaus

The most famous beer garden in Munich is Hofbräuhaus. It has been open since the early 1800s and serves up huge portions of German cuisine plus entertains with live German folk music. The outdoor area of Hofbräuhaus fills up fast, so be prepared to wait or opt for a seat indoors in the large dining hall.

Augustiner Keller

If you for sure want to sit outside, head to the massive (and my personal favorite beer garden) Augustiner Keller. This beer garden can seat up to 5,000 people and is split into two sections: one that’s self-serve and the other that has table service, all of which consists of picnic-style tables located under leafy trees.

Deutsche Museum: the World’s Largest Science & Technology Museum

After lunch and a beer, get prepared to be wowed at Deutsche Museum, the largest science and technology museum in the world. While Munich has its fair share of museums, for one that’s quite different from most museums you’ll find in European cities, I recommend heading to Munich’s Deutsche Museum.

While visiting the Deutsches Museum, you’ll learn how planes mimic birds, how hot air balloons work (both current ones and designs from the past), the details of aerodynamics and the birth of different types of planes and helicopters, among many other engineering and technical feats.

Notable Exhibits at Deutsches Museum

Space: The space area features artifacts from past missions and houses a rocket four stories tall.

Model Train: A large, elaborate model train world is set up within Deutsches Museum. The train operates at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. each day and has a seating area to watch it perform. You’re still able to see the setup of the model train even when it’s not in operation.

Ships: See boats from long ago, including a massive sailboat that is cut in half, allowing viewers to see what conditions were like inside ships of the past.

Airplanes: See actual fighter jets from past wars and peer in the interior of other small planes, including some that were the first model of their type ever built.

What to Pack for Your Day in Munich

Here’s a quick break in the one day in Munich itinerary to make sure you know what to pack so you’re adequately prepared for what you want to do in Munich.

• Summer Travel Scarf
• Winter Travel Scarf
• Summer Travel Shoes
• Winter Travel Shoes ( Male Version )
• My favorite travel purse .
• AND THE ONE THING I ALWAYS PACK  (Don’t just trust your memory!)

Church Time in Munich

Asamkirche: A Baroque Masterpiece

Even if you’ve seen many cathedrals and churches during your travels and feel you’re on cathedral overload, this is not one to miss. It is a small, elaborate church that is an excellent example of Baroque architecture.

Asamkirche was built in the 18 th century and gets its name from architect Egid Quirin Asam, who lived in the house next door to the soon-to-be-constructed Asamkirche and built the church along with his brother, Cosmas, as their personal place of worship with the intention of being buried in it.

Unfortunately for Asam, the higher powers of the church claimed the church and demanded it be opened to the public. Fortunately for travelers to Munich, it is still standing today and open to visitors.

The location makes sense when you realize that it wasn’t built for the public as, unlike most churches, this one does not stand alone. Instead, it is part of a long row of connected buildings on Sendlinger Straße.

Notable Aspects of Asamkirche

The Altar: Particularly the gleaming sunburst above the altar.

Statue of Jesus: A sculpture to the left side of the pews (when facing the altar) that is a sorrowful rendering of Jesus Christ.

The Ceiling: Look up to see the frescoed motif on the ceiling of the church.

Baroque Architecture Style: Look for the dramatic Baroque-style dichotomy between black accents and bright gold features in the church.

St. Nepomuk: There is a statue of St. Nepomuk above the doorway.

St. Peter’s Chapel (Peterskirche)

St. Peter’s Chapel (Peterskirche) is the oldest church in Munich, built in 1180 in a Romanesque architecture style.

St. Peter’s Chapel smells of incense upon entering and the dim lighting excellently displays the gold sunburst at the top of the altar. More gilded gold statues are displayed below the sunburst amidst solid marble columns. The chapel has a frescoed ceiling with gold statues lining the pews while subdued white walls frame the congregation area.

St. Peter’s Chapel also has a tower that can be climbed (several hundred steps) for spectacular views of Munich.

Notable Aspects of St. Peter’s Chapel

St. Mundita Skeleton: Located in the second chapel from the left are indeed the actual skeletal remains of St. Mundita, a Christian martyr. The skeleton is housed in a clear box and adorned with jewels, gold, and some eerie fake eyes.

Altar: The Baroque High Altar is impressive and designed in part by Egid Quirin Asam (of Asamkirche fame).

Short on Time Tip: Skip the tower. Munich is a city just as beautiful seen from the ground.

Cathedral Church of Our Lady

You have one more church you should visit during your day in Munich. The Cathedral Church of Our Lady, also called Frauenkirche, was built in the late 1400s and   is located close to Marienplatz (next up on our One Day in Munich itinerary).

The Cathedral Church of Our Lady is an impressive landmark of Munich due to its dual domed towers above the entrance. The cathedral showcases a late-Gothic style of architecture and serves as the cathedral church of the Archbishop of Munich and Freising.

For stunning views of the city and nearby Alps head up the south tower, which can be done via steps or an elevator.

Next Stop on Your One Day in Munich: The Main Square of Marienplatz

Marienplatz is the main square in Munich. Be prepared to get sucked into Marienplatz’s vibrant energy derived from the nearby shopping and restaurants, plus the still in use Old Town Hall and New Town Hall, and – most popular – the Glockenspiel. Visiting the sights of Marienplatz is a must thing to do for your one day in Munich.

Old Town Hall

Built in the late 1400s, Old Town Hall stands tall in Marienplatz. Though the outside isn’t overly impressive, touring the inside of Old Town Hall introduces you to medieval architecture mixed in with Baroque and Gothic touches as you ascend the geometrical staircase.

The 180-foot tower can also be visited for great views of the city of Munich. The tower also has historical importance as it was built prior to the rest of the town hall and was originally part of fortifications built to protect Munich. Short on Time Tip: While visiting the tower, you’ll see a toy museum located on the top few floors of the tower. The museum is called Spielzeugmuseum and unless you’re traveling with children, it is probably ideal to skip so as to not run out of time for other Munich sites.

New Town Hall

New Town Hall overshadows Old Town Hall in terms of impressive architecture as is encased in Gothic intricacies. Built at the end of the 19 th century, the New Town Hall today houses the city council, mayor office, and the headquarters of the city administration. New Town Hall has a tower that can be visited via an elevator for views, and that tower is also home to…

The Glockenspiel

Every day at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., and 5 p.m. (the 5 p.m. performance doesn’t occur from November through February) the Glockenspiel performance of motorized figurines dance, joust, and twirl around the inside of the tower of New Town Hall for 12 minutes.

Where to Sleep if One Day in Munich Extends into Night

When it’s time for your head to hit the pillow, I have a great recommendation for where to do so: the luxuriously appointed and conveniently located Charles Hotel . I stayed here and loved it. The location is right in the city center, yet situated in a tranquil garden setting. The spa is relaxing and lovely, the rooms are well-appointed, and the service is top-notch.

• Click here to see photos and prices for Charles Hotel .
• Click here to see my full review on Charles Hotel.

Other Munich Hotel Options

High End Option: Bayerischer Hof This luxury hotel in the center of Munich has been open since 1841. Along with a historical building, the Bayerischer Hof offers opulent rooms with a high level of service.

• Click here for prices and photos of Bayerischer Hof.

Mid-Range Option: Hotel Exquisit Hotel Exquisit is ideal for travelers who like a boutique hotel experience without having to pay a fortune for it. The hotel is also excellently located and is within walking distance of the sights and restaurants of Marienplatz.

• Click here for prices and photos of Hotel Exquisit.

Budget Option: Pension am Jakobsplatz A family run pension located right in Marienplatz and just a 5-minute walk to the Marienplatz metro stop. The rooms are simple, but comfortably appointed. The accommodations all have showers in the room, though some rooms have shared toilets located in the hall. In addition, a breakfast is served each morning.

• Click here for prices and photos of Pension am Jakobsplatz.

You can also search for Munich hotels using the handy map below. I’ve placed the star pin where Marienplatz is so you can get an idea how far you are from the center of Munich. You can book now and not pay until you arrive for a lot of places. Munich hotels fill up fast, especially in the summer, so my planning tip if you’re still unsure where you want to stay is to at least book somewhere decent sooner than later as long as it has a good cancellation clause. Better to do that than wait too long and be stuck in an undesirable hotel or location.

What to Do in Munich? Eat!

Once night falls, the entertainment still continues in Munich. Head back to a beer garden or for a memorable dinner out, make a reservation at Broeding Restaurant , a set menu dining experience that is gourmet heaven.

Itinerary Modifications for One Day in Munich

Visiting these One Day in Munich Itinerary recommended sites will give you a great feel for the history and culture of Munich. Adding more into the day would really rush things, and you want to enjoy your time at each site.

However, since not everyone places similar value on the same types of attractions when traveling, I’ve included some additional suggestions of some of the other top sites in Munich you may enjoy substituting into your day. And, if you find yourself with extra time to spend in Munich, these can be done on a second or third day spent in the city.  

Also, if you’re planning to check out a lot of these sites from both the recommended and modified itinerary, look into getting the Munich CityTourCard , which can save you money, time, and includes transportation. You can a 1-day pass or up to six days.

Modification for History Buffs: Bavarian National Museum

The Bavarian National Museum (Bayerisches Nationalmuseum) is a major museum in Europe featuring historic Bavarian art and culture. The collections range from Late Antiquity to Art Noveau, and visitors to the museum will get the chance to see collections of art from the Wittelsbach era. In addition, oil paintings, Bavarian furniture, sculptures, and tapestries can be viewed.

Notable Sights in the Bavarian National Museum

Christmas Cribs: View a collection of Christmas cribs that are displayed in 60 scenes with figures. The cribs and figures come from the Alps and Italy between the 17 th and 20 th centuries. Many of the scenes are of the Nativity, though there are some of other biblical events as well. This collection has different opening times from the rest of the museum. From November to January, the Christmas Crib collection can be seen during regular opening times, however, during the rest of the year, visitors must call +49 89 21124227 to make an appointment.

Musical Instruments: See pianos, violins, and more instruments from the 16 th to 18 th centuries, including instruments that were owned by the Wittelsbach family.

Riemenschneider: There is an entire room in the Bavarian National Museum devoted to 15 th century sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider. Look for the impressive 12 Apostles from the Marienkapelle in Würzburg.

Modification for Nature Lovers: Englischer Garten

As Europe’s largest park, the Englischer Garten (English Garden) in Munich is impressive. Located in the northeast part of the city alongside Isar River, Englischer Garten stretches over more land than NYC’s Central Park and is a relaxing place for nature lovers to while away a few hours. The park dates back to 1789 and received its name because it was designed to be similar to the layout of an English country park.

Over the centuries, the park has been expanded many times, and today it offers trails for bikers and joggers, soccer fields, swimming (and even surf) spots in the river, and gorgeous vistas of Munich from the Greek-style and onsite Monopteros Temple. Englischer Garten also has an onsite Japanese teahouse and beer gardens for those who’d like to get a cup of tea or other drink while visiting the gardens.

Modification for Modern Art Fans: Museum Brandhorst

If you love modern art collections, head to Museum Brandhorst, which highlights the impressive art collection of Udo and Anette Brandhorst. The collection features a vast array of artwork by Cy Twombly, plus over 100 pieces by Andy Warhol. Starting from the 1970s and on, the Brandhorsts amassed one of the world’s best collections of pop art plus works by other top artists of the 20 th and 21 st centuries.

In 2009, the art they’d amassed was housed in the Kunstareal museum complex, adjacent to the Pinakothek der Moderne, and opened to the public for viewing. For travelers wanting more modern art who have time, also visit the Pinakothek der Moderne museum.

Modification for Historic Art Aficionados: Alte Pinakothek

In the same complex as the modern museums of Museum Brandhorst and Pinakothek der Moderne, you’ll find Alte Pinakothek, a museum dedicated to European Old Master paintings.

The museum started out with a collection of paintings that were commissioned by Wilhelm IV, the Duke of Bavaria, and his wife for the Munich Residenz. Today, the Alte Pinakothek houses hundreds of paintings from the 14 th to the 18 th centuries, including works by Raphael and Leonardo Da Vinci.

One Day Tip: If you visit both Museum Brandhorst and Alte Pinakothek, opt for the day pass that gives you access to both museums, plus Pinakothek der Moderne and Sammlung Schack. Also, museums in Munich are closed on Monday so if museums are important to you, don’t time your day in Munich to fall on a Monday.

Modification for Automobile Fans: BMW Welt and Museum

If you love cars, you won’t want to miss the BMW Welt and Museum in Munich. Housing some of BMW’s most valuable vehicles, including both cars and motorcycles, you’ll get amped up to go drive Germany’s famed autobahn after visiting the BMW Welt.

While looking at each car, you’ll learn about the features that make it great. In the BMW Museum, there is an exhibition going into the details of BMW’s history.

Don’t forget to download my helpful Munich Transportation Cheat Sheet!

Munich tours.

And if you’re starting to feel overwhelmed about doing this on your own, I have some tour recommendations for you from Viator, a company I’ve used many times in the past and have always had a great experience on the tours I’ve booked through them. Here are a few to check out for Munich.

• Private Munich Old Town & Third Reich Walking Tour : A two-hour walking tour that takes you through Marienplatz and other parts of Munich while you learn more about Munich’s Third Reich history.
• City Highlights Tour : Get in a fun workout while you glide around Munich via bike to see some of the city’s top sites.
• Old Town Walking Tour : Spend a couple hours with a knowledgeable guide as you see some of Munich’s top sites, including Marienplatz, Hofbrahaus, and more.

Plus some tours to other destinations near Munich:

Want more tips for visiting Munich? Check out these links:

Two Munich Beer Gardens for Two Different Experiences Munich Residenz: Visiting Where the Bavarian Monarchs Lived Charles Hotel in Munich: Luxury Service in the City Relaxing at the Charles Hotel Pool and Spa

History of Munich

Curious about the history of Munich, too? Here’s a quick little summary I put together to get you started on learning about the city’s past:

Munich is located in southern Germany, about two hours north of the Austrian border.

Many may think Munich is synonymous with Oktoberfest, but its German spelling, München, actually stands for “Home of the Monks”. This naming makes sense as Munich traces its roots back to the Benedictine Monastery, which was established in the 8th century in Munich. So important were the monks to this region that the Duke of Bavaria in 1157 granted them the right to build a marketplace and trade goods. For the next century, much of the activity in Munich was conducted by the monks.

This changed – along with Munich’s course in history – in 1255 when the Wittelsbach family decided to move their place of residence to Munich. The Wittelsbachs were the rulers of Bavaria and their presence in Munich over the next 700 years greatly influenced the way we see Munich today. Under the Wittelsbachs’ influence, Munich was greatly expanded. Magnificent palaces were constructed on its land and gardens and the arts were made a strong focal point in the city. In the early 1900s, the Wittelsbach rulers were abdicated and the two World Wars had a strong impact on Munich through much of the early 20 th century. Hitler even conducted some of his earliest secret strategy meetings in a basement of a bar in Munich.

During WWII, Munich was heavily bombed. Many of its landmarks, including St. Peter’s Cathedral and Munich Residenz were severely damaged. In the years after WWII, Munich painstakingly reconstructed them to their former glory. Over the past several decades, Munich has transformed itself into both a cultural and technological center, and enjoys much prosperity.

Today Munich is known for its frescoed painted buildings, fun and elaborate beer gardens, incredible museums, and scenic parks.

Heading to other places in Germany during your trip? You may also be interested in these articles:

One Day in Berlin One Day in Bavaria Tips for Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle

Found this post helpful? Pin for later! This article was originally published on January 6, 2014 and was extensively updated in 2019.

I'm a former travel agency marketing director turned freelance travel writer. My editorial and copywriting work has been published on and in USA TODAY, Travel + Leisure, the Travel Channel Cities app, TripSavvy, and many more online and print publications. I especially love sharing my knowledge of traveling with limited vacation time, making the most of cruise ports of call, and vacationing with kids. I also enjoy sharing my favorite travel gear and products to make traveling easier!

May 26, 2018 at

Hi, I spent one day in Munich using your blog as a guide…bang on information..we spent a great day all thanks to you

August 2, 2016 at

Hi Michelle, I wrote a blog post about the part of the Bavaria region south of Munich — it’s a bit out of the way of the direct route between Salzburg and Munich, but maybe will help with ideas for your itinerary: https://www.onedayinacity.com/one-day-bavaria-germany/

June 12, 2016 at

Thanks for all the tips. We are planning on arriving in Munich in the fall and traveling to Salzburg and then back to Munich. Any tips for things to check out along that route?

December 4, 2015 at

Thank you and thanks for the extra tips! 🙂

I really like your concept! Munich is “my” city and you got the perfect mixture of what you should see! I would like to additionally recommend the Pinakothek der Moderne and the Lenbachhaus for all who loves art!

December 12, 2014 at

I always have only few hours in Munich and just have ate and walked around main streets, next time i will use your guide 😉

July 6, 2014 at

thanks a lot for recommending our restaurant. It’s great to hear that you had a nice evening at the Broeding!

Hope to see you again if you stay in Munich the next time.

Have a good time and best greetings from the whole team.

Andreas Sommelier

February 5, 2014 at

It is a great place, Jeff, even if short on time. And I bet it would be a lot of fun to watch a soccer game there!

January 31, 2014 at

I have never been in Munich. I would love to visit when my soccer team The Bavarians are playing at home. sounds like a great place for one day visit.

January 22, 2014 at

Nice! Hopefully that means you get to visit a lot. 🙂

I hope you’re right! 🙂

January 21, 2014 at

Hi Gina, With how much you travel, I am sure it is just a matter of time before you get to experience it yourself. I am actually thinking of going again this year but we will see 🙂 Cris

January 20, 2014 at

Love Munich! Although I maybe biased as my family comes from there! 😉

January 18, 2014 at

Oops, you’re right, Romy! I got my photos mixed up. 🙂 Updated now, thanks for pointing that out! Have fun in Munich!

January 17, 2014 at

Hello Gina,

very good post about Munich – will be there tomorrow again – but your picture of Munich’s residenz is the Theatiner Church at the Odeonsplatz (Odeon’s place).

Cheers, Romy

You’ll love exploring Munich! It’s such a spectacular city. I, on the other hand, really need to get there for Oktoberfest one of these years!

I’ve only been to Munich during Oktoberfest but would LOVE to go back and see the rest of the city properly.

January 16, 2014 at

Hi Cris, thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on Munich! I would love to go to Oktoberfest one year, hopefully sooner rather than later. 🙂 Lucky you that you got to experience it!

January 15, 2014 at

Hi Gina, I just came across your blog and must say that i love the concept of your site/guidebooks. This is particularly useful to people traveling on business who might just have one free day! As for your Munich post, I was just there during Oktoberfest and like you mentioned, there is more to the city than Oktoberfest. Having said that, I really enjoyed how open the locals were to meeting people from other places during this festival so if you have a chance to make it to Munich in September you should definitely do so! If you do, hit me up, I have a friend there who has attended Oktoberfest every other day for the past 10 years and he showed us how to get into the tents even if they were “full”. Happy to share the tips with you should you ever need them 🙂 Happy travels! Cris

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One Day In Munich (With An Itinerary, Insider Tips + A Map!)

One day in Munich will never be enough to experience everything it has to offer, but even if you’re short on time you can still get a taste of this wonderful German city. I’ve visited Munich on numerous occasions, and have put together a one day itinerary that will show you all of the highlights while also taking some time to indulge in some traditional German food and drink and explore some of the city’s green spaces.

For me personally, if I only have one day to spend somewhere I don’t like to waste too much of it sitting on the subway. As a result, most of the places on this itinerary are centered around Munich’s Old Town, though if you are staying for longer I’d highly encourage you to venture further afield! Here are my best tips for making the most of 24 hours in Munich.

Table of Contents

8:30 to 9:00: Grab A Bite For Breakfast

If you haven’t spent the night in a hotel that offers breakfast, naturally your first port of call will be to find a strong coffee and something to eat. Your options are fairly limited here, as many cafes that serve proper breakfasts don’t open until 10 am. However, as there will be plenty of time to try some proper German food later on, I would recommend grabbing something small from one of the bakeries near Marienplatz.

For something a little different, head over to Café Frischhut. At this unassuming little bakery you will find traditional Bavarian pastries including Schmalznudel , a deep-fried dough fritter much like a flat donut. They start baking at 8 am, so you’ll have your hands on these tasty treats when they’re at their freshest. Pair that with a piping hot coffee and you’ll be good to go, full of energy for the jam-packed day ahead. Is it the healthiest breakfast option? Well, no. But if you can’t treat yourself on holiday then when can you?

9:00 to 11:30: Take A Free Walking Tour

I’ve written a few times about just how valuable I find the SANDEMANs walking tours , and the Munich edition is no exception. Walking tours are great for short trips as they allow you to learn a lot about the city in a short period of time, and I never fail to find out something I never would have learned on my own. If, like me, you have a terrible sense of direction, it’s also a great way to get your bearings of the city without the risk of getting lost!

The tour lasts for 2.5 hours, during which you’ll see the beautiful church tower at St Peter’s, the Glockenspiel at the town hall and much more. While checking out some of the city’s main tourist attractions along with some hidden gems, you’ll also learn all about Bavarian royalty and the history of Oktoberfest.

Even if you ignore everything else on this itinerary, I highly recommend you grab a spot on this tour (you can book tickets online or just turn up). The meeting place is just in front of Mary’s Column, just 5 minutes walking distance from where you grabbed your breakfast.

11:30 to 12:00: Check Out The Local Produce At The Viktualienmarkt

The walking tour finishes close to where it starts, and after that I’d recommend heading back towards the Viktualienmarkt to take a proper look around. Though it’s no longer in its original location, this gourmet food market has been around since 1807 and now boasts an impressive 140 market stalls across 22,000 square metres.

You’ll find beautiful displays of fresh fruit and vegetables, colourful flower stalls, meats, wine and honey. You’ll find traditional wooden handmade decor, artwork and gourmet coffee and wine. There is even a beer garden should you want to give your feet a rest and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the market around you. It’s a great place to pick up some gifts or souvenirs to take home and experience a true Munich institution.

12:00 to 14:30: Amble Up The River Through The English Garden

If the weather is good, then a walk up to the English Garden really can’t be missed. One of the largest city parks in the world, this gorgeous green space spans a whopping 3.7 square kilometres (that’s larger than New York’s Central Park!) and has been around since the 18th century. There’s plenty to see, including a Japanese teahouse, a Greek style temple and a Chinese Tower complete with its own beer garden.

In summer, the beer garden can be really lively, and if you’re there at the weekend you might catch the oompah band playing up in the tower. The food stalls offer authentic food like  Steckerlfisch  (grilled fish on a stick),  Hendl  (roasted chicken) and  Schweinshaxn  (roasted pork knuckle). Take the time to sit and enjoy an al fresco German lunch before strolling back along the Eisbach river. When the weather is good, you’ll find surfers riding a standing wave, just like they’ve been doing since 1972. 

14:30 to 17:00: Learn Something New At One Of Munich’s Many Museums

Once you approach the city centre there is a large collection of museums where you can easily spend a couple of hours. For art lovers, there is the unbeatable trio of the Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek and Pinakothek der Moderne (where you could while away a day, let alone an afternoon!).

For history buffs, there is the Munich Residenz and Bavarian National Museum. Or, if you want to go a little further back, there is the rather spectacular Egyptian Museum. Science nerds will have a ball at the Deutsches Museum, a science and technology museum that’s one of the largest of its kind in the world. Needless to say, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to finding somewhere you’ll enjoy.

17:00 to 19:30: Explore Some Of The City’s Unique Independent Shops

After all that walking it’s time to slow down the pace and indulge in a bit of retail therapy. Along with brands we all know and love (plus many most of us could never afford!), Munich is home to some fantastic independent retailers. Even if you don’t typically enjoy shopping, there are some one-of-a-kind spots that are definitely worth a visit.

For creative types there is soda, where you’ll find carefully curated magazines and books for sale. If interiors are your thing, you’ll feel right at home in Papillon , where they sell gorgeous vintage furniture finds. For unique local products you can’t miss Mein Platzl , which exclusively stocks handmade goods from the Alpine region. With everything from regional sweets and spirits to natural cosmetics, you’re sure to find something special to take home.

19:30 to 21:00: Enjoy A Traditional German Dinner

Honestly, there are so many fantastic restaurants in Munich that it can be hard to choose. If I was in Munich for the first time and only had one day there, I would definitely go to Hofbräuhaus . Is it touristy? Yes. Is the food also delicious? Yes! And there are plenty of locals who go there too. The state-owned beer hall was originally built at the end of the 16th century, and though much of it has since been rebuilt it still has an authentic Bavarian charm.

The menu is packed with typical Bavarian food, with options for vegetarians too. And of course, you can’t leave without sampling some of the tasty beer on offer – I’m personally rather partial to a Weisse beer, or wheat beer, which has a light, fresh taste with an aromatic finish. For food, I’d recommend trying the Käsespätzle , a regional speciality that’s not unlike mac and cheese. You’ll have passed Hofbräuhaus on your walking tour, so it should be easy enough to find for a sit down and a hearty meal.

21:00 to 22:00: Have A Famous ‘Painkiller’ At Pusser’s Cocktail Bar

Tucked away on a side street with a fairly plain wooden exterior, Pusser’s doesn’t look like much from the outside. Inside, however, you will find some of the most delicious cocktails you have ever tasted. Their signature drink is a Painkiller, a heavenly blend of rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream, finished with a sprinkling of nutmeg. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy you’ll find an extensive menu with drinks to suit every taste, enjoyed in a beautiful old school setting with some live piano music if you’re lucky.

Beer drinkers may prefer to check out some of the city’s traditional Kneipen , or pubs, of which you have plenty to choose from. For a cosy spot with an atmosphere to match, Augustiner am Platzl is an excellent choice, right around the corner from Hofbräuhaus (it’s also another great option for food if you’re looking for somewhere a little less hectic).

22:00 to 00:00: The Rest Is Up To You…

Depending on how lively you’re feeling, bars don’t tend to close until 3 am and most pubs won’t turf you out until 1, giving you countless options should you want to extend your evening. I’m not much of one for clubbing, but I hear that Nightclub Bayerischer Hof is a great spot for live music, situated in the basement of the fancy hotel of the same name. Whether you head to bed for a good night’s sleep or party on until the wee hours, you’re sure to find the perfect end to your one day in Munich.

FAQS For One Day In Munich

Is it easy to get around munich on public transport.

While this Munich itinerary is based around walking, if you’d prefer to use public transport then you’re never too far from a U-Bahn or S-Bahn station. There are plenty of excellent ticketing options, including a Single Day Ticket, Group Day Ticket and an Airport City Day Ticket if you are coming straight from there.

If you’d like to skip the walking tour and discover the tourist attractions by yourself, you might like to go for the City Tour Card. This is a combination ticket that covers your transport as well as discounts at more than 80 attractions and restaurants (including major museums and big names like the Deutsches Museum and Munich Residenz).

How Far Is Munich City Centre From The Train Station?

While you can hop on the tube to get to the city centre from München Hauptbahnhof  , it’s very easy to reach on foot in around 20 minutes.

Is One Day In Munich Enough?

If you are stopping off in Munich en route to somewhere else, then as this itinerary shows, you can pack plenty of exciting stuff into one day. However, if you can manage to squeeze it into your travel plans, I’d highly recommend staying for at least 2 days to get to experience all of the major attractions without having to rush around too much.

More Resources For Your Trip To Munich

Here are a few blog posts with information about other activities, day trips and accommodation:

Things To Do In Munich In Winter

• The Best Day Trips From Munich
• The Splendid Dollman Hotel, Munich

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Beth is a freelance writer and creator of The Train Diaries. When she's not writing, she can usually be found petting dogs, watching horror films or creating her true crime podcast, Case Remains.

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One day in Munich

How to make the most of your time and spend one day in munich, germany.

Munich is a fabulous city. Beautiful architecture, excellent food, and museums everywhere you look. There are just so many things to do in Munich . But depending on your Germany itinerary, sometimes time is short. Which really is no problem, because you can have an amazing 24 hours in Munich nevertheless .

As a local, I know all the highlights and historical sites inside out. In this guide , I’m going to show you exactly what you need to see and what you can skip . I’m also going to walk you through some alternatives, so you’ll enjoy your one day in Munich the best possible way.

I’m not going to lie, though. 3 or 4 days is probably what you would need to cover the basics ( click to check out a 3 day itinerary ; here’s a break-down of how many days you need in Munich ideally ). You will have to make some hard decisions and you will have to skip some highlights. Obviously, there is no time for any of the beautiful day trips from Munich or for the many beautiful fairy tale castles in Bavaria .

Note: I earn a small commission from purchased made through links in this article

The basic one day Munich itinerary

As time is precious, I do recommend you to start your day early . Most museums and attractions don’t open before 9:00 am, so you are somewhat limited in your choices though. I recommend you to buy the Munich Card ( buy it here ), as it will give you discounts for all the entrance fees and free public transport.

• 8:30 am: Start at Odeonsplatz and check out the beautiful Theatinerkirche ; You might also want to drop by at the adjacent Hofgarten park
• 9:00 am: Head to the Munich Residenz Palace (don’t go on the extended tour)
• 10:50 am: Walk towards Marienplatz , enjoy the Glockenspiel & climb Alter Peter for the best views of the city.
• 11:45 am: Lunchtime ; Check out the Viktualienmarkt and buy some snacks. It’s a good location to sit down in the beer garden to enjoy a stein of local beer (or maybe two).
• 1:00 pm: Walk down the pedestrian area towards the Church of our Lady
• 1:30 pm: Now it’s time to marvel at Königsplatz (walk or take the subway from Marienplatz) where the Art Quarter starts.
• 2:00 pm: Alte Pinakothek is probably the most famous museum, but if you don’t like Old Masters (Da Vinci, Raphael, etc), pick the Museum Brandhorst for contemporary art.
• 4:00 pm: Now you can either visit one more museum or head towards Englische Garten (take bus #100 to Odeonsplatz or walk). Walk past the Monopteros temple and check out the beer garden at the Chinese Tower.
• 5:00 pm: Walk towards the Eisbachwelle – surfing spot right in the middle of the city
• 6:00 pm: Head towards Hofbräuhaus . There’s usually live music, excellent traditional food, and of course Bavarian beer. Stay as long as you like and then walk home. Munich is perfectly safe at night .

Alternatives

The above 24 hours itinerary for Munich is my recommendation, but of course, we are all different and you might want to change things up a bit. Which is quite easy, as you’ll skip a couple of attractions on the way. I do want you to know, however, that Munich really is worth visiting and you should consider skipping other cities like Frankfurt or Cologne. Anyways, here are some further options.

• In the pedestrian area are two amazing churches: 1) St. Michael’s Church, where you will find the crypt of the Bavarian Kings . And the Asamkirche, a fantastic (yet tiny) baroque masterpiece .
• In the afternoon, the Englische Garden is a beautiful spot, but you could also head towards Nymphenburg palace (takes about 30 minutes from the central station) if you want to see another palace and a beautiful park. The famous Munich zoo could also be an option if you are traveling with kids
• In terms of museums, I would like to point out the Deutsche Museum , which is an extremely huge and fun technical museum (aviation, physics, computer, geology) sitting on an island on the river Isar. Here is a list of the top museums in Munich for some further alternatives.
• You can also choose to do the extended tour inside the Residence Palace and check out the fantastic Treasury Museum . Then you’ll need 4 hours instead of 2, though.
• It’s also possible to use the whole afternoon and take a suburban train to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial . If you start around 2 pm, you should be able to make it work easily.
• Instead of the Hofbräuhaus, you could also attend a performance at the Bavarian National Opera, which happens to be one of the opera houses in the world

Munich has an amazing public transport system and you can basically walk most of the time, as the inner city isn’t all that large. Still, I wouldn’t crowd my day too much because it’s easy to underestimate the transfer times. And always remember there are so many beautiful photo locations in Munich that just walking around can be rewarding.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering if you should visit Munich or Berlin , I wrote a detailed guide about that too.

Where to eat in Munich

The whole pedestrian area is full of restaurants, cafés, and bars, so you will have to problem finding a place to eat. If you don’t want to eat at the Viktualienmarkt or the Hofbräuhaus, there are plenty of amazing alternatives.

One thing you should know is that Germany is famous for its bread. You will find a bakery around every corner and they all sell lovely pastries & sandwiches for a euro or two. This is the cheapest way to eat. Butcheries usually also have some nice takeaway options (try Leberkässemmel!). There are also little Turkish kebab restaurants all over the city, which is another excellent street-food option very popular among locals.

Almost all the traditional restaurants in the immediate city center are touristy. Local’s really don’t go there. But as probably don’t want to eat pizza or sushi, there is somewhat no way around it.

The Rathskeller directly below the city hall is one of these touristy places, that is nevertheless quite lovely (beautiful ceiling murals). Donisl , also on Marienplatz is also a popular budget alternative for traditional bavarian food. If you don’t mind paying a little premium, then the Spatenhaus an der Oper is an excellent choice with beautiful interiors (go on the second floor!!). The Augustiner Bräustuben is also quite wonderful.

But like I said, in summer I’d recommend eating at a beer garden (while you can bring your own food, there is also tons of traditional options you can order there). One of my favorite’s is the Wirtshaus Zum Straubinge r . The Schneider Bräuhaus is also quite an institution.

Where to stay

One day in Munich is short, so you will want to stay somewhere in the city center or near the central station. Please be aware that Munich is an incredibly expensive city, and it’s almost impossible to find a hotel in the direct city center for less than 100 USD a night.

Luxury hotels in Munich’s city center:

• Bayerische Hof
• Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten
• Rocco Forte The Charles

Mid-price options

• Motel One Sendlinger Tor
• NH Collection München

budget hotels in the city center

• King’s Hotel CityStay
• Arthotel Munich

How long does it take to the city center from Munich Airport

Do you have a long layover at Munich airport and now you are wondering if you can use that time to see Munich while you are waiting? Well, I do have to break the news to you that this will be somewhat problematic. There is no highspeed airport connection, only a regular suburban train. It takes about 40 minutes from Munich airport to the central station .

There are coin lockers at the central station (or the airport) where you can store your luggage. The problem is: the suburban train leaves only every 20 minutes and it takes you quite a while to get out of security, etc. So, for the transfer to the city center and back, y ou have to calculate 3 hours to be on the safe side .

If you got a layover of 6 hours or more, I’d say its worth it. Otherwise, it might be better to check out the beer garden at the airport 😉

FAQ: Things you should know before you plan your one day in Munich

• Is there a tourist card? Yes, the Munich Card and gives you free public transports and discounts for most attractions ( but it here ). The Munich Pass costs 39,90 (free entry and tours), but probably not worth it
• Most museums are closed on Mondays All the state-run museums are closed on Mondays. But harken, a lot of them are just 1 euro on Sundays.
• National holidays There are 13 national holidays in Bavaria. Please be aware that shops won’t be open, some museums are closed. Some national holidays are “silent”, which means loud music and dancing are prohibited. Definitely something to check before you visit.
• Opening hours All the shops are closed on Sundays. Grocery stores usually open around 7:00 am, but all shops close at 8:00 pm or earlier. So, if you plan some shopping, don’t come to late.
• Bring cash Credits cards are not universally accepted, especially in small shops and bars. You should definitely bring some cash. Museums, palaces, etc accept them, though.
• Trade Fairs & Festivals There are quite a couple of large trade fairs in Munich. Especially the BAUMA and the Heim+Handwerk. Also, the Oktoberfest and the Christmas Markets. Hotels will be booked out quite a long time in advance and will be considerably more expensive. Do your research in advance!

This was my guide for spending one day in Munich. I hope I was able to help you put together your own itinerary, but feel free to ask any questions below.

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