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lighthearted issues to do in Munich, like attending the world-famous annual Oktoberfest or visiting the well-known outdated city corridor. Munich is definitely one of the crucial well-known cities in Germany and an absolute pocket rocket for actions and points of interest – so why on Earth would you need to e-book day journeys from Munich?
As thrilling and numerous as the town middle, Munich is about amidst gorgeous surroundings you’ll completely adore experiencing on day journeys. And with its prepare station and glorious public transport system, it will be a criminal offense to chorus from indulging in a day journey or two. With a great deal of automobile leases, you’ll be able to simply arrange a romantic street 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 undoubtedly must 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 need to higher perceive the town. Here are our prime suggestions for Munich day journeys – from Dachau Concentration Camp to Eagle’s Nest.
Planning Your Trip To Munich Right Now?
Below are a few of the prime day journey excursions from Munich. Don’t neglect to plan forward when visiting Germany!
Top Day Trip Activities and Tours from Munich:
The finest approach to get round Bavaria from Munich is by rental automobile. You can evaluate costs right here. If you don’t need to drive, we’ve included day excursions from Munich at many of the locations listed.
For transfers from the airport to downtown Munich, e-book this Private Transfer to take the effort out of discovering a taxi when touchdown. Your driver may have your identify plate ready for you upon arrival.
1. Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is a fairytale fortress and an esteemed UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you assume you don’t acknowledge the identify, you’ll acknowledge its image. The gorgeous fortress sits amidst the snow-capped Bavarian Alps and is featured in the cult basic movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The shiny white partitions and turrets (dramatic sufficient to make Walt Disney jealous) minimize a gorgeous image towards the mountainous backdrop. And, not even contemplating its historical past, it’s no marvel 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 a very good spotlight tour of Bavaria’s prime points of interest.
Neuschwanstein Castle was constructed by King Ludwig II as a bolt-hole after his – quite embarrassing – loss in the Anglo-Prussian warfare, and lots of say that he used it as a type of imaginary kingdom. King Ludwig II met a twisted finish, declared insane by the federal government and finally 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 fortress apart from a guided tour. Between the fortress’s magnificence and Ludwig’s complicated story, it’s simply top-of-the-line 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 most important focus camps utilized by the Nazi Party in World War II, and it was a Nazi get together rally grounds in addition to a jail (and infrequently demise sentence) for political prisoners. To study extra concerning the World War II historical past round Munich, it is without doubt one of the most important ‘attractions’ in the world. While you don’t get an official tour information, guests get an audio information main them by the focus camp complicated and a collection of reveals. You’ll study those that misplaced their lives and get an extremely unhappy however insightful schooling on the rise and fall of the Nazi’s energy.
You can e-book a guided tour to Dachau with an expert information, skilled and approved by the Memorial website. They will arrange journey preparations and offer you a complete tour of the memorial website.
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site is lower than one hour from Munich metropolis middle. You can drive there in half-hour, however we’d counsel catching the 20-minute prepare to Dachau earlier than catching the ten minutes bus to the camp. Or you’ll be able to take a guided tour. As far as day journeys from Munich go, it’s the best choice. The memorial website can also be essentially the most academic in World War II historical past.
3. Zugspitze Cable Car
Zugspitze cable automobile is without doubt one of the prime day journeys from Munich. Zugspitze is 2,962 meters above sea degree and is the very best mountain in Germany. As Germany’s highest peak, it attracts tons of holiday makers eager to benefit from the gorgeous views and tick it off their bucket lists. The neatest thing is you could journey the cable automobile to the highest.
You can e-book a guided full day tour to Zugzpitze from Munich to journey 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 costly (almost $90). However, the 10-minute journey is ridiculously scenic and holds a world document for the ‘longest free span in a cable car.’ Really, $90 is sort of affordable, 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 fun Munich day journeys. You can view the borders of 4 nations from the summit – Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. There’s a summit station, too, with eating places and an indoor viewing space.
The finest approach to attain the bottom of the Zugspitz cable automobile is by driving, and you’ll attain this attraction in lower than two hours by automobile. You additionally undergo some lovely areas, skirting the sting of Ettaler Forst and Murnauer Moos.
4. Linderhof Palace
King Ludwig II was not in need of lovely castles; we are able to let you know that without spending a dime. Linderhof Castle is simply one other of his magnificent builds and one of many prime Munich day journeys. The Nineteenth-century palace is the last word image of grandeur. If Neuschwanstein Castle was a fairytale picture, Linderhof Palace is a royal picture. The stately fortress has a gorgeous expanse of gardens and water options.
Book the last 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 really perfect world, select each. But what differentiates them is dimension; Linderhof Palace is way 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 lovely 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 choice. 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 e-book 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 prime day journey selections and effectively 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 when you have the prospect? Vaduz is Liechtenstein’s capital and is positioned alongside the Swiss border. You’ll get a special perception into the surroundings and panorama. The drive takes you just about 3 hours southwest of Munich (no small endeavor, so we’d counsel having drivers rotate driving shifts) and previous Obersee Lake. If you fancy a midway stopping level, Memmingen is a gorgeous city with brightly painted buildings and loads of aesthetic, conventional cafes.
In Vaduz itself, there may be the attractive 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 street journeys, there’s nowhere higher than day-tripping from Munich. We needed to counsel it as an extra afield, lesser-known day journey choice. 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 army base on a mountain summit that’s reachable to guests by elevator – or mountaineering if you’re brave. The complete factor is quite scenic and has lovely views over the encompassing 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 received to make use of it as regularly as supposed, it was, by design, a spot for Hitler to privately get pleasure from.
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 warfare and the non-public ingredient to the location – Hitler is a terrifying determine, and folks grapple with the sense of him truly 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 slightly 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 traces. If you’ll be able to’t drive, e-book a guided tour from Munich.
8. Stuttgart
If you fancy a prepare journey with breathtaking surroundings, contemplate Stuttgart. Stuttgart is Germany’s car-obsessed sixth largest metropolis, famously residence 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 few 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 the very 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 a very good e-book and benefit from the countryside views.
9. Beer Halls and Brewery Tours
Local beer is a big promoting level when visiting Munich, so having some beer-themed day journeys from Munich additionally is smart. Once you’ve exhausted (or opted out of) the busy beer halls and breweries across the metropolis middle, set your sights additional and contemplate 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 the very 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 thought for Audi vehicles and its medieval outdated city. Strange mixture, proper? But it makes for an enchanting time out. A 14th-century gate marks the doorway to the outdated medieval city the place Ingolstadt would have been one among Germany’s finest small cities. You can simply discover this area on foot as every thing is inside strolling distance. Ingolstadt stays top-of-the-line excursions for early German historical past. Skipping centuries solely, visiting the Audi Forum – an enormous museum with a powerful classic automobile assortment is value visiting. The metropolis is diversified as you journey by its ages and is a superb vacation spot on a time out from Munich.
Ingolstadt is finest reached by prepare – a pleasant contact for certain in making today journey from Munich one of the crucial 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 in all places. 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 road taking a pointy bend with conventional homes lining the street. The half-timbered homes and dull-painted buildings are lovely, and it’s straightforward to see how tourism has grow to be rife right here.
This non-public tour from Munich takes you alongside the Romantic Road in a snug van. The 10-hour tour will 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 below any illusions that you simply’ll be jostling elbows with different vacationers when snapping photographs. Be ready to purchase into the cheesiness of all of it – even a bit bit. However, it is without doubt one of the most aesthetic spots to go to when day-tripping from Munich. We’d counsel 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 shiny blue water is a superb mild coloration – nearly child blue – and runs like a crystal towards the darkish grey rocks. Visitors hike alongside the water by slim gorges and below waterfalls, protected by the cliffs above. It is definitely essentially the most scenic place to go and luxuriate in mountaineering trails on a time out 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 attempt to attain by public transport, demanding a number of buses and schedule juggling at stops. Instead, we’d counsel 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 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 offers it a severe wow issue and makes it as well-liked as it’s. The truth you could spend a whole day right here can also be constructive, and the combination of indoor and outside actions is ideal for a heat day.
Schleissheim Palace Complex is positioned 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 one among its most lovely. For a novel expertise, e-book 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’ll be able to nonetheless see parts of medieval structure and historic buildings. You can even hint a variety of the historical past of the world wars in Nuremberg, together with the trials after WWII. Memorium Nuremberg Trials was the place the Nazi get together and associates have been tried and convicted as warfare criminals. The museum is about 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 couple of hours exterior of Munich is a superb 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 less complicated to achieve by prepare than by automobile, taking solely an hour as an alternative of two hours by automobile.
Book a non-public tour of Nuremberg from Munich. The full-day tour is led by a 5-star non-public 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 gorgeous metropolis. It takes the phrase historic middle to the following degree with its ultra-traditional medieval metropolis middle, full with metropolis partitions. And some components even date again to the Middle Ages; Augsburg is the oldest metropolis in Germany. If you might be 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 historic constructing or story at each nook.
Ready for the actual winner? Augsburg is just half-hour away from Munich by prepare. You journey 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 e-book 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 gorgeous day journey, and if it’s a sizzling day in Munich, contemplate this the best choice. With pure seashores skimming alongside the lake’s shoreline, it’s no thriller why this is without doubt one of the hottest swimming spots exterior of Munich. Swimming is essentially the most tempting choice on a sizzling day however doesn’t rule out boating too.
There are three islands on the lake, one among which homes a Benedictine nunnery. It’s nice enjoyable to discover by boat. So e-book a time slot, hire 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 extremely popular day journey from Munich. Depending on the whereabouts of the shoreline you intend to go to, it takes you round an hour to get to the lake from Munich – by prepare or automobile. It is regularly visited by these residing in the town. It is a dream to prepare as a day journey, which is totally straightforward logistically.
One of the principle points of interest at Chiemsee is Herrenchiemsee Palace. This day tour from Munich takes you on a ship journey 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 gained’t lie. This is ten instances extra so in the event you love classical music, as the town was residence 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 residence to the imposing Hohensalzburg Castle.
It can also be positioned alongside the Austrian border, which means you see a wholly completely different aspect to this space of Germany. So whereas Mozart attracts folks in, there are many different points of interest to get pleasure from. Book a non-public day tour to Salzburg with your personal non-public 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 far 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 well-liked for a lot of causes, as you’ll be able to see. The neatest thing is that for most of the day journeys we’ve featured, you’ll be able to simply hop on a straightforward prepare journey – making a day journey from Munich non-reliant on a driver’s license and way more sustainable.
Now that you’re feeling impressed, what else is there to rapidly cowl earlier than you head out day tripping? These are our prime FAQs to prep you on 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’d like 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 a superb day journey from Munich due to its hyperlinks to Mozart and ridiculously cultural historical past. Salzburg can also be lovely, and the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The metropolis is a fascinating and visually hanging 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 counsel 4 days when visiting Munich. The metropolis itself will be appreciated in 2-3 days. However, permitting a 4-day itinerary means 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 may go to, pat your self on the again for selecting Munich, as a result of it’s simply so wealthy in the way in which of day journeys. Day journeys from Munich are an excellent approach 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 incredible time, whether or not you select a picturesque city like Ingolstadt or a journey 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 lovely cities and engaging historic points of interest. You might plan a romantic street journey over a couple of days or even weeks. Or take a look at our information on the finest locations to go to when heading to Berlin. Enjoy your go to.