22 Unforgettable Day Trips from Munich You Would Love To Take

So you followed my advice and are heading to Munich for the Christmas Market or just for a magnificent city break at any other time of the year. You’ve spent some days in town, seen it all, and are looking for a day trip, an escape from the hassle and bustle a big city brings along. If that’s the case, I will let you get inspired by my list of perfect day trips from Munich, Germany.

These are all beautiful villages near Munich, and some of the best places to visit near Munich on a day trip, on 2 days, or even on a long weekend. 

Read next: The best place to stay in Munich and Useful things to know before visiting Munich

Planning the trip

When it comes to planning a trip, I sometimes tend to go the extra mile and overdo it and I plan everything down to the hour. And sometimes, I just forget the most important things and get surprised as I go about my trip.

But if you are planning to take a day trip from Munich and are looking for cities near Munich, I’ll help you out and do the lists, plans, and everything in between. There are so many amazing places to visit in Germany, and Bavaria doesn’t lack just that.

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How to travel for a day trip from Munich?

When taking a road trip or a day trip, there are always 3 options when it comes to transportation.

BY CAR: this might be in most cases the most convenient and fastest way of taking your day trip.

But this comes as well with some things one should have in mind: how easy/hard it is to find a parking space (in my experience in Germany it is not that hard), how much does it cost to park per hour (reasonable price in Germany), traffic conditions (roads under construction etc), the experience one has with driving.

Discover Cars is a great aggregator that will help you find and book the best option for renting a car during your trip, helping you save up to 70% on your car rental. They have a pretty good Cancellation policy that would give you options in case your flight or travel plans change.  Get your offers here!

 

BY TRAIN. I usually am a big fan of this type of transportation, especially in Germany where trains are very fast and have great connections to most of the options listed below.

However, train ticket prices can be high especially if you are not planning ahead of time and just plan to take the ticket directly before leaving on a trip.

Check out train timetables and prices before you go!

BY BUS (Flixbus). This might be the cheapest of the 3 options available, but it is also the least reliable (I have dealt with major delays in most of the times I traveled with them, especially when I came back from seeing the tulip fields near Amsterdam). However, it gets you from A to B, and you don’t have to worry about other things. 

Book your trip at the best price ahead of time here!

TOUR – Book an organized tour and forget about having to worry about transfers, timetables, and itineraries. You’ll have everything planned and you’ll just have one worry: to enjoy the ride. 

Check out these organized tours for day trips from Munich!

Day trips from Munich // 22 perfect weekend trips from Munich, Germany

Nuremberg (approx. 1 hour)

Located within an hour and a few minutes by train from Munich, this not so little historic city is the perfect getaway and not a place to miss in the Bavaria region, just right for a day trip from Munich.

Choose one morning to hop on one of the many trains linking Munich to Nuremberg (roughly every 30 min you will find a train leaving in this destination) and make sure to buy the Bayern – Ticket if you want to save some money, especially if you are traveling in a group, which will make it even more affordable (EUR 25 plus EUR 6 per extra passenger, you do the math).

Nuremberg is also a city not to miss for its lovely Christmas Market (Christkindlesmarkt) normally open from the 1st until the 24th of December, but don’t avoid it in other seasons either, because there are plenty local attractions to explore:

• the Imperial Castle up on a hill offering a breathtaking view over the city,
• the Germanisches Nationalmuseum the largest cultural-historical museum in the German-speaking world,
• the City-Museum at Fembo-Haus where the building itself will win you over from the first look, only to name a few.

If you are not that into museums, you can also opt to explore the city on foot as we did, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Getting from Munich to Nuremberg:

• By train: approx. 1 hour
• By car: 2 to 3 hours

Book your organized tour 

 

Dachau and the Concentration Camp (approx. 45 min)

As the first concentration camp opened by Heinrich Himmler in 1933, it is easy to say that Dachau is a place filled with emotions that will make you emotional as well.

The camp was finally closed in 1960 and now hosts a Memorial Site open to the public. If you have read books about that period and its atrocities, or if you have at least seen all the movies, stepping in the past at Dachau might be an idea for a day trip from Munich.

Getting from Munich to Dachau:

• By S Bahn: approx. 50 min
• By car: 35 min

Book your organized tour 

 

Schleissheim Palace (35 min.)

Really close to Munich and easily reachable by public transportation, only a 35 minutes ride by S-Bahn, the Schleissheim Palace complex was built starting 1617 and is an amazing destination for a day outside of the city.

Looking back, I’m extremely sorry I did not know about this place earlier because it is such a royal destination and a tranquil place for spending a few hours and maybe a full day outside of Munich.

The New Palace, the Old Palace, the Lustheim Palace, and the Court garden will keep you busy and will wow you with their beauty.

Getting from Munich to Schleissheim Palace:

• By train: approx. 35 min
• By car: 25 min

Landshut (1 hour)

An 800 years old town just one hour outside of Munich, Landshut is vibrant, colorful, with a pretty old town and a castle on the hill.

Trausnitz Castle apart from the fact that it is a romantic point of interest in Landshut, perked on top of a hill overlooking the historic center, it is also filled with history, being the first Bavarian state chancellery during the Middle Ages.

So I advise you to put Landshut on your list of cities near Munich to visit.

Getting from Munich to Landshut:

• By train: approx. 1 hour
• By car: 1 hour

Walchensee (approx. 1 hour)

Amazing nature, breathtaking views, fresh cool air. That’s what you’ll find at only 1 hour away from Munich.

Lake Walcher offers one of the most beautiful views in the German Alps. One you surely won’t want to miss out on. This could easily make it to one of the most Instagrammable places in Bavaria.

Getting from Munich to Lake Walcher:

• By car: 1 hour

Herrenchiemsee (approx. 1 hour)

Another lake with an incredible castle on an island.

The palace was started in 1878 and is built based on the model of Versailles, and was a “Temple of Fame” for King Louis XIV of France.

Another thing you don’t want to miss while here is the Palace’s Garden with its incredible fountains and the 900 meters access avenue heading directly to the lakeside.

Getting from Munich to Herrenchiemsee Palace:

Getting to the island by car: drive to Prien am Chiemsee and from there follow the signs to Chiemsee or Königsschloss. From there take the ferry to Herreninsel. Boat timetables can be found here.

Getting to the island by train: get the train to Prien am Chiemsee and from there take the special train to Prien/Stock boat pier. From there take the ferry to the island.

Book your organized tour 

 

Ulm (approx. 1.5 hours)

Step back in time with a weekend trip from Munich to Ulm. This romantic town of Germany made me think about the small villages in France, with more or less the same architecture and houses filled with flowers.

Stroll through the Fisherman’s and Tanners’ quarters, climb the Ulm Minster’s tower and get a view over the whole town, take some pretty pictures of the Schiefes Haus – the most romantic building in Ulm, and pay a visit to the Wiblingen Abbey founded in the 11th century, take a walk on Ulm’s Town Walls.

These are just a few of the things you can do on your one-day trip from Munich to one of the most beautiful places in Bavaria.

Getting from Munich to Ulm:

• By train: approx. 1.5 hours
• By car: 1.5 hours

Regensburg (approx. 1.5 hours)

One can easily say that Regensburg is one of the most beautiful German towns, perfectly set on the edge of the Danube River.

What is there to see in Regensburg you ask?

Well, you shouldn’t miss visiting the Regensburg Cathedral, a landmark hard to miss, dating from the 700’s.

The gothic-style Town Hall waiting for you to take the Instagram perfect pictures with its amazing arches and balconies.

Another great thing to do in Regensburg if you are taking things slow is to have a walk on the old stone bridge and just admire time passing by and how locals live.

Getting from Munich to Regensburg:

• By train: approx. 1.5 hours
• By car: 1.5 hours

Book your organized tour 

 

Altötting (approx. 1.5 hours)

A pilgrimage town for 500 years in veneration of the Virgin Mary, the city is located in the Bavarian Alpine region in between Munich and Passau (see next on the list).

Today, the town is still an important site for religious processions and a pilgrimage destination, with impressive churches and many church services and candlelight processions.

Getting from Munich to Altötting:

• By train: approx. 1.5 hours
• By car: 1 hour

Passau ( approx. 2 hours)

One of the oldest towns in Germany with a 2000 year history, Passau is located right at Germany’s border with Austria.

Known as the “City of Three Rivers” located in between beautiful hills, Passau is utterly romantic with its many beautiful views.

Climb the heavenly ladder with its 321 steps up to the Mariahilf Monastery, take a picture with the Schaibling Tower, visit the Alte Rathaus (old town hall), explore Höllgasse or Artist Alley where you find plenty of work done by local artists, see The Passau Glass Museum (Glasmuseum Passau) and marvel at Europe’s largest collection of glass.

Getting from Munich to Passau:

• By train: approx. 2 hours
• By car: 2.5 hours

Innsbruck (approx. 2.5 hours)

Oh, Innsbruck! I don’t know what it is about this great city at the feet of the Alps, but once I got there on a cold winter morning I simply fell in love with it. Just walking around will make you forget the cold and the icy wind.

It is true that most of the tourists reaching this place are choosing the city mainly for its proximity to the ski slopes, but trust me, you have nothing to lose if you choose it also for a day trip from Munich, Germany.

We stepped into Austria by bus ( Flixbus) only because it was way cheaper (as cheap as 8 euro one way) than the train would have been, but it is true that the later is more reliable and you most certainly won’t encounter any delay (as the bus).

TIP: Book your bus ride here ahead of time and get great prices!

On the other hand, if you choose to travel by train you will have to change trains in Garmisch, with a short transfer time though.

So what to do in Innsbruck if you are not coming here with your skis on your back for a weekend trip from Munich?

Step into the Altstadt (Old city) and allow yourself to be mesmerized by the dignifying old buildings and if it’s a cold winter morning, you will have the honor to be almost alone on these narrow streets.

Stop for a sweet pastry and a good coffee at one of the many old cafes you will find everywhere (better yet, try the Café Konditorei Munding, the oldest one in town or the 360 Bar) and don’t miss out on trying the apfelstrudel.

Take the Hungerburgbahn, the funicular up the Nordkette mountain where you will find yourself at 2,256 m above sea level, just imagine the view from here!

Once back, stop at the Hofburg, the Imperial Palace, and don’t miss out on the Swarovski world (make sure you still have some money for some heavy shopping).

Getting from Munich to Innsbruck:

• By train: less than 2 hours
• By car/bus: approx. 3 hours

Book your organized tour

Garmisch – Partenkirchen (Zugspitze) (approx. 1.5 hours)

One hot summer day we decided to go and see for ourselves what this place one hour Southern from Munich we heard so much about is all about. And off we were, once again choosing Flixbus.

If you are a nature lover you will surely love it here, even though I have to admit I was waiting to see a somewhat smaller city than the one we found, but still very traditional with cool buildings, surrounded by the very tall Alps.

Just take the very early bus and come prepared with the right clothing and shoes, since you will have to climb the mountains.

Even if you choose to take the train up to the highest point of Germany (the Zugspitze) where you will find yourself above the clouds, at about 3,000 m above sea level, just make sure to bring clothes that will keep you warm even during Summer.

The train runs roughly every 30 min (you can find the complete timetable here) and a ticket for non-skiers costs 45 EUR ( click here for a complete price list).

I honestly loved the place, made me feel closer to nature, and regret the fact we didn’t have more time to further explore and climb up to the top.

Getting from Munich to Garmisch – Partenkirchen:

• By train: 1h and 20 minutes
• By car/bus: approx. 1.5 hours

Book your organized tour

 

Linderhof Palace (1.5 hours)

Just a 30 minutes drive from Garmisch – Partenkirchen and 1.5 hours from Munich, the best way of getting to Linderhof Palace is by car because public transportation is not very efficient or conveniently linked.

Hidden in the Bavarian Alps, Linderhof Palace is torn from a fairytale. Just like Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof Palace is the smallest of the 3 palaces dreamt and commissioned by Ludwig II.

Getting from Munich to Linderhof Palace:

• By car/bus: approx. 1.5 hours

Lake Constance (Bodensee – approx. 2 hours)

The largest lake in Germany, bordered by both Austria and Switzerland, this is a destination not to miss by nature-lovers.

Both Konstanz and Lindau, the largest towns next to the lake, are beautiful destinations in any season, especially during winter when charming Christmas Markets are organized here.

Don’t miss out on the 110-acre Mainau (the Flower Island) if, like myself, you love flowers. This is what I would call a perfect escape from the city, in a huge Botanical Garden on an island, with a Baroque Palace, a Palm House, a Hydrangea Path, a beer garden, only to name a few.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzJHRuSIiAN/

Getting from Munich to Lake Constance (Lindau):

• By train: approx. 3 hours
• By car/bus: approx. 2 hours

Salzburg – the sound of music (approx. 1.5 hours)

I have to admit I still haven’t been there, but I am pretty sure Salzburg is indeed one destination that needs to be part of the top perfect day trips from Munich.

Everything I heard about the Austrian city painted it as a picture-perfect destination and one of the best places to visit in Austria, a reason more for considerating taking a Munich to Salzburg day trip.

Part of the UNESCO World Heritage and home to Mozart and “The Sound of Music“, Salzburg seems to be a small town infused with history and art.

Moreover, the city is incredibly beautiful, with the Hohensalzburg Fortress overseeing everything, the romantic Mirabell Palace and Gardens, and of course Mozart’s birthplace as only a few of the top attractions, Salzburg will surely take your breath away.

Oh, and one more thing: you can take the train from Munich (use the Bayern Ticket) and be in Salzburg in a little less than 2 hours.

Getting from Munich to Salzburg:

• By train: approx. 1h and 40 min
• By car/bus: approx. 2 hours

Book your organized tour

Starnberger See or Ammersee  (approx. 1 hour)

What do people from Munich do on a hot summer day? (yes, they have those as well, sometimes) Go see one of the many lakes surrounding the city.

Since most of them are reachable by S-Bahn or by bus, you won’t have to spend too much time on the road and it won’t be too expensive either, making it even easier for you to escape into nature.

The closest lake, only 27 km south of the inner city is the Starnberger See, offering also a view of the Alps and can be reached by S6 towards Tutzing.

Close to the Ammersee lake you can visit Herrsching with its romantic palace, the “Kurparkschlösschen” or just choose to take a trip with a boat on one of the lakes ( here you will find the timetables for all the lakes in Munich’s proximity).

Getting from Munich to Starnberger See or Ammersee:

• By car: approx. 1 hour

Neuschwanstein Castle (approx. 2.5 hours)

This place is such a fairytale!

No, really! It actually inspired Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty castle so don’t be surprised if you seem to know the place from somewhere.

Its story is not exactly a fairy tale since Ludwig II of Bavaria who thought about the great building design and spent so many years and money to build the palace ended up spending only 172 days here.

Today, the Castle is one of the most popular palaces in Europe attracting yearly over 1.4 million people, with around 6000 visitors every day during summer – hint, plan your visit in advance, and book your ticket here beforehand.

It is thus easily understood that Neuschwanstein Castle is a favorite destination for many who are looking for weekend trips from Munich.

How to get from Munich to Neuschwanstein? Some time ago I found this article and I find it really helpful and well written, so I recommend you read it if you are planning a trip to the Palace.

Getting from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle:

• By train (public transportation): approx. 3 hours
• By car: approx 2 hours

Book your organized tour

 

Bamberg (approx. 2 hours)

History infused Bamberg, also known as “Rome of Franconia” is just perfect for a day trip from Munich. Sitting on 7 hills, divided by the River Regnitz which creates the Island City, Bamberg is one place not to be missed.

Bamberg Cathedral with its Medieval architecture founded in the 11th century, the history museum, the iconic Altes Rathaus (the old town hall covered in mural frescos), the Neue Residenz – the largest palace in Bamberg, are just a few of the places to see and things to experience in Bamberg.

Getting from Munich to Bamberg:

By train: approx. 2 hours
By car: approx. 3 hours

Rothenburg ob der Tauber (approx. 3 hours)

Everywhere you search for this town you will see that everyone who has ever been there will rate it as “the most romantic German town“. And that’s fair when you get a glimpse of the pictures as well.

Still Germany’s best-preserved walled town, Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the most exciting medieval town totally worth the 2.5 hours drive from Munich.

If you think about a Munich to Rothenburg day trip you can always choose to go by train, but bear in mind you will have to make a few changes until you get there. Check out train timetables and prices here!

Or even better, opt for an organized tour which will offer you the comfort of not having to think about planning a thing, at a bit of a higher cost. 

If you are a museum lover than you will surely love this town that offers everything from the Imperial Town Museum, the Medieval Crime Museum, History Museum to the Christmas Museum (yes, you read that right!).

Getting from Munich to Rothenburg ob der Tauber:

• By car: depending on the works to highways, approx 3 hours
• By train: 3.5 -4 hours

Book your organized tour

Ingolstadt (approx. 1 hour)

While Ingolstadt is a very nice city, I am actually not referring to the city itself now. Yes, I’m talking about the Ingolstadt Designer Outlet. 

After all the running around I am thinking you might want to spend some quality time here, do some shopping and reward yourself, for..mm…anything.

Who needs a reason for shopping after all?

You can book a ride with the Shopping Express bus that will take from the main train station in Munich and bring you up to the shopping outlet in about 40 min. Be ready to pay the 20 EUR round trip ticket and book it in advance here.

Check out also the Tourist Information.

Getting from Munich to Ingolstadt:

• By train: approx. 40 min
• By car: approx. 1 hour

Würzburg (approx. 3 hours)

Very close to Rothenburg ob den Tauber and Nuremberg, part of Germany’s Romantic Road, Würzburg is a place where you’ll probably want to spend more than just a day.

Würzburg Residenz is the town’s gem with its impressive architecture and splendid park. With architecture inspired from Vienna to Paris and from Genoa and Venice to Amsterdam, the Palace won’t let you down.

Perched on the hill above Main River, Marienberg Fortress and Princes’ Building is a feast for the eyes with its massive fort walls and the 4 stories Maschikuli Tower.

The Old Main Bridge will make you think about Prague at a lower scale, particularly beautiful at night when the town lights up.

Getting from Munich to Würzburg:

• By train: approx. 2 hours
• By car: approx. 3 hours

Erding Therme (less than 1 hour)

 If you are thinking about something more relaxing than shopping, Erding Therme is the place to be for you.

Every day for about 12 hours, you will find here an oasis of peacefulness and a wide variety of activities to choose from:

• wave pools,
• Europe’s biggest water slides,
• many different pools with thermal spring water,
• the VitalityOasis area where guests of 16 years of age and older are allowed that offers access to many saunas and relaxation activities (just bear in mind that in some of the areas bathing suits are not allowed, yes we were a bit surprised to get there and see this, but at the end of the day we had a fun relaxing day).

 Trust me, one day will not be enough to explore this place and you can also choose to spend a night at their nearby Victory hotel.

If I caught your attention, you can find the Therme’s price list here, expect to pay somewhere between 33 and 40 EUR for one full day depending on the area you choose to visit.

 Getting to Erding Therme: take the S2 train and get off at Altenerding, from where you can take one of the buses (550, 560 or 570) or better yet have a short stroll up to the therme.

Getting from Munich to Erding:

• By train: 51 min
• By car: 35 min

Germany travel resources

• See the pretty small German villages you don’t want to miss
• Spend one day in Munich with my ultimate itinerary
• Check out my ultimate list of the best places to stay in Munich, based on my travels to the city for the past 5 years.
• Take the prettiest pictures in the most Instagrammable places in Munich
• Drive Germany’s Romantic Road and be enchanted by castles and vineyards
• Get your ultimate list of useful tips worth knowing before visiting Munich and everything you need to know about getting around Munich
• Find out the best 10 things to do in Munich during winter
• Spend one day in Nuremberg exploring the pretty Bavarian town
• Visiting Germany’s capital? Check out the perfect 2 day Berlin itinerary

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