Munich is the Bavarian capital (technically an unofficial capital) and an absolute cultural hotspot. The metropolis’s historical past is subsequent to none, with harrowing tales of World War II and the catastrophic rise of the Nazi Party. However, there are extra lighthearted issues to do in Munich, like attending the world-famous annual Oktoberfest or visiting the well-known previous city corridor. Munich is definitely one of the vital well-known cities in Germany and an absolute pocket rocket for actions and points of interest – so why on Earth would you wish to guide day journeys from Munich?
As thrilling and various as the town middle, Munich is ready amidst gorgeous surroundings you’ll completely adore experiencing on day journeys. And with its prepare station and wonderful public transport system, it could be a criminal offense to chorus from indulging in a day journey or two. With a great deal of automobile leases, you possibly can simply arrange a romantic highway journey too, and there are a few of Germany’s finest castles inside two hours of the town middle.
Top Day Trips From Munich
When you go to Munich, you positively have to allocate a day or two to day tripping your means round its surrounding areas. Day journeys from Munich are important, even in the event you simply wish to higher perceive the town. Here are our high suggestions for Munich day journeys – from Dachau Concentration Camp to Eagle’s Nest.
Planning Your Trip To Munich Right Now?
Below are a number of the high day journey excursions from Munich. Don’t overlook to plan forward when visiting Germany!
Top Day Trip Activities and Tours from Munich:
The finest solution to get round Bavaria from Munich is by rental automobile. You can evaluate costs right here. If you don’t wish to drive, we have now included day excursions from Munich at many of the locations listed.
For transfers from the airport to downtown Munich, guide this Private Transfer to take the effort out of discovering a taxi when touchdown. Your driver can have your identify plate ready for you upon arrival.
1. Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is a fairytale fort and an esteemed UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you suppose you don’t acknowledge the identify, you’ll acknowledge its image. The gorgeous fort sits amidst the snow-capped Bavarian Alps and is featured in the cult basic movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The brilliant white partitions and turrets (dramatic sufficient to make Walt Disney jealous) reduce a phenomenal image towards the mountainous backdrop. And, not even contemplating its historical past, it’s no surprise that Neuschwanstein Castle is without doubt one of the world’s most well-known castles.
This Full Day Trip takes you on a guided tour from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle after which you’ll proceed on to Linderhof, Hohenschwangau, and Oberammergau giving an excellent spotlight tour of Bavaria’s high points of interest.
Neuschwanstein Castle was constructed by King Ludwig II as a bolt-hole after his – reasonably embarrassing – loss in the Anglo-Prussian conflict, and plenty of say that he used it as a form of imaginary kingdom. King Ludwig II met a twisted finish, declared insane by the federal government and ultimately discovered in a suicide-suspected-assassinations alongside his psychiatrist.
You can uncover extra about Neuschwanstein Castle and King Ludwig II on a guided tour of the attraction. It is 2 hours away from Munich by automobile, which is one of the simplest ways of reaching the fort moreover a guided tour. Between the fort’s magnificence and Ludwig’s complicated story, it’s simply among the best Munich day journeys. The Premium tour contains skip the road tickets to Neuschwanstein and Linderhoff
2. Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site is without doubt one of the most tragic tales and darkish day journeys from Munich. Dachau was one of many foremost focus camps utilized by the Nazi Party in World War II, and it was a Nazi celebration rally grounds in addition to a jail (and infrequently dying sentence) for political prisoners. To study extra in regards to the World War II historical past round Munich, it is without doubt one of the foremost ‘attractions’ in the realm. While you don’t get an official tour information, guests get an audio information main them by way of the focus camp complicated and a sequence of reveals. You’ll find out about those that misplaced their lives and get an extremely unhappy however insightful training on the rise and fall of the Nazi’s energy.
You can guide a guided tour to Dachau with knowledgeable information, skilled and licensed by the Memorial web site. They will arrange journey preparations and provide you with a complete tour of the memorial web site.
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site is lower than one hour from Munich metropolis middle. You can drive there in half-hour, however we’d recommend catching the 20-minute prepare to Dachau earlier than catching the ten minutes bus to the camp. Or you possibly can take a guided tour. As far as day journeys from Munich go, it’s the best possibility. The memorial web site can be essentially the most instructional in World War II historical past.
3. Zugspitze Cable Car
Zugspitze cable automobile is without doubt one of the high day journeys from Munich. Zugspitze is 2,962 meters above sea degree and is the best mountain in Germany. As Germany’s highest peak, it attracts tons of holiday makers desirous to benefit from the gorgeous views and tick it off their bucket lists. The smartest thing is that you could experience the cable automobile to the highest.
You can guide a guided full day tour to Zugzpitze from Munich to experience the cable automobile up Germany’s highest peak. Enjoy the breathtaking views earlier than you descend on the historic cogwheel prepare.
The Zugspitze cable automobile is a bit of costly (almost $90). However, the 10-minute journey is ridiculously scenic and holds a world file for the ‘longest free span in a cable car.’ Really, $90 is kind of cheap, contemplating you’ll be getting a round-trip tour to the highest of Germany’s highest mountain. And Zugspitze cable automobile is without doubt one of the most enjoyable Munich day journeys. You can view the borders of 4 international locations from the summit – Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. There’s a summit station, too, with eating places and an indoor viewing space.
The finest solution to attain the bottom of the Zugspitz cable automobile is by driving, and you may attain this attraction in lower than two hours by automobile. You additionally undergo some stunning areas, skirting the sting of Ettaler Forst and Murnauer Moos.
4. Linderhof Palace
King Ludwig II was not wanting stunning castles; we will inform you that without cost. Linderhof Castle is simply one other of his magnificent builds and one of many high Munich day journeys. The Nineteenth-century palace is the final word image of grandeur. If Neuschwanstein Castle was a fairytale picture, Linderhof Palace is a royal picture. The stately fort has a phenomenal expanse of gardens and water options.
Book the final word Royal Fairytale Castle Tour with skip-the-line tickets to Linderhof Castle and Neuschwanstein that features guided excursions and leisure time to discover a few of Bavaria’s finest highlights.
And guests can take guided excursions across the grounds between April and October. Need assist to decide on between the 2 of Ludwig’s castles? In a super world, select each. But what differentiates them is measurement; Linderhof Palace is rather more intimate and totally furnished inside. Whereas Neuschwanstein Castle is best identified for its dramatic backdrop and locale.
Linderhof Palace is finest reached by automobile or organized tour. By automobile, it’s only a 1.5-hour journey. While by public transport it takes over 2.5 hours. Consider reserving a guided tour, together with transportation, for this one in the event you want a driving license.
5. Take a River Altmühl Boat Tour
The River Altmühl lies between Nuremberg and Munich. When you consider rivers close to Munich, your thoughts most likely jumps to the Danube – no disgrace in that – which, whereas stunning with gorgeous views, is without doubt one of the busiest locations to take a ship tour or cruise. Regarding avoiding crowds, the River Altmühl is the higher possibility. It has an idyllic setting looping between little cities and villages. To expertise the German countryside from the water, the River Altmühl is without doubt one of the space’s best-hidden gems.
You can rent a kayak or canoe. Or guide a extra conventional guided tour on a small boat with different vacationers. Zimmern to Solnhofen is a well-liked boat tour route on the Altmühl. Still, canoe and kayak leases dotted all alongside the river. An Altmühl boat tour is without doubt one of the high day journey decisions and nicely value wiggling into your Munich itinerary, particularly since Solhofen is simply 1 hour and 40 minutes by automobile from Munich’s metropolis middle.
6. Vaduz
Vaduz is without doubt one of the most uncommon Munich day journeys – finest for these with a driving license and a agency sense of journey. Why not enterprise into Liechtenstein so as to add one other nation to your passport whilst you have the prospect? Vaduz is Liechtenstein’s capital and is situated alongside the Swiss border. You’ll get a unique perception into the surroundings and panorama. The drive takes you just about 3 hours southwest of Munich (no small endeavor, so we’d recommend having drivers rotate driving shifts) and previous Obersee Lake. If you fancy a midway stopping level, Memmingen is a phenomenal city with brightly painted buildings and loads of aesthetic, conventional cafes.
In Vaduz itself, there’s the gorgeous Vaduz Castle, Old Rhine Bridge, and Werdenberg Castle. Vaduz is a perfect spot to museum-hop and sightsee historic castles and prior royal residences. For historical past buffs with a style for highway journeys, there’s nowhere higher than day-tripping from Munich. We needed to recommend it as an extra afield, lesser-known day journey possibility. Especially as it’s so good for beating the crowds.
While in Liechtenstein, take this 35-minute prepare journey for panoramic views of the mountains and the Old Town of Vaduz.
7. Eagle’s Nest
The notorious Eagle’s Nest is without doubt one of the eeriest day journeys from Munich. Eagle’s Nest is a former navy base on a mountain summit that’s reachable to guests by elevator – or mountaineering in case you are brave. The complete factor is reasonably scenic and has stunning views over the encircling panorama. However, the actual kicker is that this base belonged personally to Adolf Hitler.
The dictator obtained Eagle’s Nest as a fiftieth birthday current and used it as a bolt-hole to flee the general public eye and vital cities. While he by no means acquired to make use of it as steadily as supposed, it was, by design, a spot for Hitler to privately take pleasure in.
Eagle’s Nest is a spot for darkish tourism and severe historical past lovers. Most folks go to due to the historic perception into the conflict and the private factor to the location – Hitler is a terrifying determine, and other people grapple with the sense of him really being a ‘real’ particular person. Eagle’s Nest is eerie proof of Hitler’s on a regular basis actions.
This day journey is finest accessed by automobile, which takes just below 2 hours and passes the character reserve of Mundung der Tiroler Achen. Public transport is a nightmare, taking 3 hours n a number of bus strains. If you possibly can’t drive, guide a guided tour from Munich.
8. Stuttgart
If you fancy a prepare experience with breathtaking surroundings, think about Stuttgart. Stuttgart is Germany’s car-obsessed sixth largest metropolis, famously house to automobile factories together with Mercedes-Benz and Porsche autos. Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have headquarters and museums in Stuttgart – so for any petrolheads, it’s a fabulous metropolis to go to. These two big-name museums have a number of the finest excursions for automobile lovers.
The prepare station in Stuttgart is smack bang in the town middle, so it’s a breeze to get to Munich. The direct prepare leaves from Munchen Hauptbahnhof and takes 2 hours and 17 minutes on common, passing simply three stops earlier than reaching Stuttgart. High-speed trains are one of the best when taking Munich day journeys, and regardless of being a barely longer journey, this public transport is without doubt one of the best and most stress-free methods of occurring a day journey. Bring an excellent guide and benefit from the countryside views.
9. Beer Halls and Brewery Tours
Local beer is a large promoting level when visiting Munich, so having some beer-themed day journeys from Munich additionally is sensible. Once you’ve exhausted (or opted out of) the busy beer halls and breweries across the metropolis middle, set your sights additional and think about going to breweries and venues on the outskirts of Munich. These spots are a lot quieter – which means fewer crowds and a extra genuine beer tradition. These outskirt venues typically supply one of the best excursions and a way more intimate expertise.
You might select CREW Republic (40 minutes away on public transportation) or Hops Hacker GmbH & Co (half-hour away on public transportation). There are tons of lesser-visited beer halls and breweries, so simply be ready to journey additional afield and watch the standard of your expertise triple.
10. Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt is understood for Audi automobiles and its medieval previous city. Strange mixture, proper? But it makes for a captivating day trip. A 14th-century gate marks the doorway to the previous medieval city the place Ingolstadt would have been considered one of Germany’s finest small cities. You can simply discover this area on foot as every little thing is inside strolling distance. Ingolstadt stays among the best excursions for early German historical past. Skipping centuries totally, visiting the Audi Forum – a large museum with a powerful classic automobile assortment is value visiting. The metropolis is assorted as you journey by way of its ages and is an excellent vacation spot on a day trip from Munich.
Ingolstadt is finest reached by prepare – a pleasant contact for positive in making at the present time journey from Munich one of the vital sustainable choices. It takes simply 40 minutes from Munich on a direct line.
11. Rothenburg ob der Tauber
If you stroll previous journey shops in Munich, you’ll see footage of Rothenburg ob der Tauber plastered all over the place. It is without doubt one of the most basic day journeys from Munich, whisking away camera-happy guests to a cobbled German city round 3 hours from Munich by automobile or shuttle. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is famed for its medieval structure, together with the ‘money shot’ of a curved avenue taking a pointy bend with conventional homes lining the highway. The half-timbered homes and dull-painted buildings are stunning, and it’s simple to see how tourism has turn into rife right here.
This personal tour from Munich takes you alongside the Romantic Road in a cushty van. The 10-hour tour might be custom-made and takes you thru the Bavarian countryside to Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is certainly a busy vacationer vacation spot. Don’t be underneath any illusions that you just’ll be jostling elbows with different vacationers when snapping photographs. Be ready to purchase into the cheesiness of all of it – even a bit of bit. However, it is without doubt one of the most aesthetic spots to go to when day-tripping from Munich. We’d recommend forking out on a day tour for this journey, as reaching Rothenburg ob der Tauber by prepare is difficult, requiring a number of prepare modifications and taking on 3 hours.
12. Partnach Gorge
If you need mountaineering trails, nowhere itches the spot like Partnach Gorge. The brilliant blue water is an excellent mild shade – nearly child blue – and runs like a crystal towards the darkish grey rocks. Visitors hike alongside the water by way of slim gorges and underneath waterfalls, protected by the cliffs above. It is definitely essentially the most scenic place to go and revel in mountaineering trails on a day trip from Munich. And strolling alongside the slim railed paths carved out of the gorge’s cliffside is exhilarating. There isn’t a hike prefer it in this space of Germany.
Partnach Gorge is a horrible place to try to attain by public transport, demanding a number of buses and schedule juggling at stops. Instead, we’d recommend hiring a automobile and driving, because it takes an hour and 20 minutes to achieve by automobile from Munich.
13. Schleissheim Palace Complex
A Seventeenth-century palace instantly conjures visions of whole grandeur. And with elaborate gardens, Prussian artwork reveals, and manicured structure, it’s proof that first impressions rely. Schleissheim Palace Complex is grand by way of and thru. You can simply spend half a day strolling previous water fountains and admiring the unique art work. Past guests have even gone so far as to match it to being in Alice and Wonderland. Its grandeur provides it a severe wow issue and makes it as standard as it’s. The truth that you could spend a complete day right here can be constructive, and the combination of indoor and out of doors actions is ideal for a heat day.
Schleissheim Palace Complex is situated simply north of Munich – round 40 minutes away by public transport and half-hour by automobile. It is without doubt one of the closest day journeys points of interest to the town and considered one of its most stunning. For a novel expertise, guide a night live performance at Schleissheim Palace carried out by members of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra.
14. Nuremberg
Nuremberg is Bavaria’s second-largest metropolis, solely simply smaller than Munich. Sadly, the Second World War destroyed a lot of its unique structure. However, a lot of it has been restored over later years, so you possibly can nonetheless see components of medieval structure and historic buildings. You may also hint lots of the historical past of the world wars in Nuremberg, together with the trials after WWII. Memorium Nuremberg Trials was the place the Nazi celebration and associates have been tried and convicted as conflict criminals. The museum is ready above the unique courtroom and has many reveals and data on enacting justice. Nuremberg is a hub of historical past and tradition – whether or not darkish or lighthearted. If you fancy one other ‘large city experience’, spending a number of hours outdoors of Munich is an excellent means.
We have an entire information on issues to do in Nuremberg; test it out for extra inspiration. It’s additionally value noting that Nuremberg is simpler to achieve by prepare than by automobile, taking solely an hour as a substitute of two hours by automobile.
Book a non-public tour of Nuremberg from Munich. The full-day tour is led by a 5-star personal information to see all of the highlights and finest points of interest of Nuremberg. Sights embrace Imperial Castle Kaiserburg, Frauenkirche, St. Laurence, and St. Sebald, and extra. Plus, return tickets between Munich to Nuremberg.
15. Augsburg
Augsburg is a phenomenal metropolis. It takes the phrase historic middle to the following degree with its ultra-traditional medieval metropolis middle, full with metropolis partitions. And some elements even date again to the Middle Ages; Augsburg is the oldest metropolis in Germany. If you’re into historical past or structure, that is your day journey. There are medieval guild buildings, cathedrals, and abbeys to go to. It seems like Augsburg has an historical constructing or story at each nook.
Ready for the actual winner? Augsburg is simply half-hour away from Munich by prepare. You experience two stops on a direct prepare line, reaching the town in what seems like no time in any respect. We love the smaller-city ambiance that Augsburg presents; it has a lot historical past to provide folks.
While in Augsburg guide this scenic flight that features hovering over the likes of Neuschwanstein Castle, Munich, and Bavaria’s gorgeous mountains, lakes, and forests.
16. Lake Chiemsee
Lake Chiemsee is a phenomenal day journey, and if it’s a scorching day in Munich, think about this your only option. With pure seashores skimming alongside the lake’s shoreline, it’s no thriller why this is without doubt one of the hottest swimming spots outdoors of Munich. Swimming is essentially the most tempting possibility on a scorching day however doesn’t rule out boating too.
There are three islands on the lake, considered one of which homes a Benedictine nunnery. It’s nice enjoyable to discover by boat. So guide a time slot, lease a ship, and let unfastened on the water. Lake Chiemsee is admittedly fun-orientated, which makes it stand out from different extra sightseeing or history-focused points of interest.
Lake Chiemsee is a very fashionable day journey from Munich. Depending on the whereabouts of the shoreline you propose to go to, it takes you round an hour to get to the lake from Munich – by prepare or automobile. It is steadily visited by these residing in the town. It is a dream to arrange as a day journey, which is totally simple logistically.
One of the principle points of interest at Chiemsee is Herrenchiemsee Palace. This day tour from Munich takes you on a ship experience alongside the lake to the Benedictine convent on Fraueninsel and the Palace constructed by ing Ludwig II.
17. Salzburg
Salzburg is a straightforward promote; we received’t lie. This is ten occasions extra so in the event you love classical music, as the town was house to Mozart. The Old City has gorgeous medieval city buildings and homes, strongly influencing later baroque structure too. In the Old City, you’ll discover Mozart’s birthplace – now transformed right into a museum documenting his life. Aside from the Mozart museum, Salzburg is house to the imposing Hohensalzburg Castle.
It can be situated alongside the Austrian border, which means you see a wholly completely different facet to this space of Germany. So whereas Mozart attracts folks in, there are many different points of interest to take pleasure in. Book a non-public day tour to Salzburg with your individual personal 5-star information to immerse in the filming places of ‘The Sound of Music’, see the Old Town and Fortress Hohensalzburg, go to the fabulous Mirabell Gardens and extra.
Getting to Salzburg by public transport is a mission – taking a number of trains and buses in a 1.5-2-hour journey. Driving is way simpler, taking 1 hour and 45 minutes and passing Lake Chiemsee and different cute little cities to cease at.
Day Trips From Munich: FAQs
Munich day journeys are standard for a lot of causes, as you possibly can see. The smartest thing is that for most of the day journeys we’ve featured, you possibly can simply hop on a straightforward prepare experience – making a day journey from Munich non-reliant on a driver’s license and rather more sustainable.
Now that you’re feeling impressed, what else is there to shortly cowl earlier than you head out day tripping? These are our high FAQs to prep you in your day journeys from Munich.
What is an efficient day journey from Munich?
Dachau Concentration Camp is a harrowing day journey from Munich if you need an perception into World War II and Nazi Party historical past. While Neuschwanstein Castle is ideal for these wanting the fairytale ‘German castle’ expertise.
Is Salzburg value a day journey from Munich?
Yes, Salzburg is an excellent day journey from Munich due to its hyperlinks to Mozart and ridiculously cultural historical past. Salzburg can be stunning, and the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The metropolis is an interesting and visually putting day journey.
What different cities are close to Munich?
Augsburg, Nuremberg, and Salzburg are all inside a 2-hour radius of Munich. Larger cities in Northern Germany, like Frankfurt, are inside a 5-6 hour radius by public transport or automobile.
How many days are sufficient to see Munich?
We recommend 4 days when visiting Munich. The metropolis itself might be appreciated in 2-3 days. However, permitting a 4-day itinerary means that you could incorporate a day journey to someplace like Neuschwanstein Castle, the Bavarian Alps, or Linderhof Palace.
To Conclude
Out of all of the German cities you would go to, pat your self on the again for selecting Munich, as a result of it’s simply so wealthy in the best way of day journeys. Day journeys from Munich are a superb solution to broaden your understanding of German historical past and Munich. And all of those Munich day journey choices will complement your go to completely. You’ll have a improbable time, whether or not you select a picturesque city like Ingolstadt or a experience up the cable automobile, or take a guided tour of Linderhof Palace.
Don’t cease at Munich both; in the event you get an opportunity, discover extra of Germany’s stunning cities and engaging historic points of interest. You might plan a romantic highway journey over a number of days or perhaps weeks. Or take a look at our information on the finest locations to go to when heading to Berlin. Enjoy your go to.