4 Delightful Day Trips from Munich

The Isar River, running through Munich

If you know us, you know we adore traveling by train in Europe. And while we love to spend enough time in the cities we visit that we get to know them well, not just rushing through, sometimes it's great to take a day trip by train and pop into another cool spot! One of the great things about Europe is that wherever you are, there are probably several fantastic additional cities you could visit for the day. 

So let's say you're visiting Munich, a wonderful city with a fascinating history, great food, world-class museums, and beautiful architecture. Where might you go for a delightful day trip, a quick jaunt by train? We've got four options to share!

​1. Augsburg Augsburg is frequently overlooked as a day trip, and we think that's a mistake! This charming and walkable university town is only 45 minutes away from Munich. Its old town has a wonderful pedestrian-only shopping district filled with cute stores and restaurants. Plus the fantastic textiles museum is not to be missed--you can learn all about historic fashions, and see some stunning examples!

​2. Tegernsee Lake Snow-capped mountains, dark green forests, clear blue sky, sparkling water... they say nothing in Bavaria is as Bavarian as the Tegernsee Valley. This is a perfect spot for a hike (there are both gentle and challenging options), a picnic, or a visit to an outdoor beer garden where you can sip a cold brew and look out over the lake. And it's a straightforward hour-and-twenty-minute train ride from Munich.

3. Salzburg, Austria An hour and a half away from Munich, Salzburg is an excellent day trip. It's a medium-sized city set in the Eastern Alps. For classical music enthusiasts, you can't go wrong with visits to Mozarts Geburtshaus: his childhood home has been turned into a lovely and thorough museum. It's also perfect for fans of The Sound of Music--after all, the real Von Trapps lived in Salzburg, and much of the 1965 movie was filmed here. 

​4. Neuschwanstein Castle Though it's a little complicated to reach, as there are no direct trains, it's worth visiting anyway. People flock to this pretty palace for fairytale scenes, sweeping vistas, and beauty that takes your breath away. It was commissioned by King Ludwig to honor the opera composer Richard Wagner, and was part of a 19th-century trend known as castle romanticism.