Top Munich Day Trips

Travelers like to take advantage of Munich’s location in Bavaria, which is close to key cultural sites in Germany and Austria. These are reviewers’ favorite guided day trips from Munich:

• Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site Tour From Munich by Train
• Salzburg Sightseeing Day Trip From Munich by Rail
• Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof VIP All-Inc Tour From Munich
• Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace Day Trip From Munich
• Guided Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site Tour With Train From Munich

Yes, day trips from Munich are worth it, especially if you have extra time after acquainting yourself with the city’s superb museum and beer scene. Most travelers consider Neuschwanstein Castle, a storybook castle with UNESCO World Heritage status, a must-visit; closer to the city, the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site is a somber reminder; many people also take the opportunity to pop across the border to UNESCO-listed Salzburg.

Prices for day trips from Munich vary widely: Guided group tours of Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site by train can cost less than US$60, while a small-group tour of Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace with tickets included can cost as much as US$250. Private day trips by car usually start around US$1,000 per group, excluding tickets.

Yes, you can visit another country from Munich, and many travelers do: Austria’s UNESCO-listed Salzburg is about a 2-hour journey by rail or road, with Innsbruck at a similar distance. Switzerland, however, is a little too far for a day trip: Zurich is about a 4-hour journey by train or car, and even towns close to the border, such as St. Gallen, are around a 3-hour ride.

Salzburg is about a 90-mile (145-kilometer) drive from Munich, making it a popular international day trip for travelers to Germany. Though it takes around two hours to drive between the cities, many day-trippers prefer to take the train, which runs frequently and is a little faster. This well-reviewed day trip includes both return rail tickets and a guided city walking tour.

The fee for guided day trips from Munich usually covers transportation between Munich and your destination and expert-led tours once you get there. Meals and entry to ticketed sites are not always included, so read the fine print before booking.

Neuschwanstein Castle is about a 75-mile (121-kilometer) drive southwest of Munich, or about a 2-hour journey. Public transportation takes at least three hours so the easiest way to get there is to join a tour or drive yourself—although if you drive yourself you face a long walk or shuttle-bus ride from the parking lot. You do need a ticket and should buy one well in advance as desirable time slots sell out fast, particularly during peak seasons.

Munich day trip prices vary depending on duration and inclusions. If you’re looking for high-quality experiences on the lower end of the price range, these are the best tours to book now:

• Full-Day Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site Tour From Munich
• Berchtesgaden and Eagle’s Nest Day Trip From Munich
• Winter Tour to Neuschwanstein Castle From Munich
• Salzburg and Lake District Day Tour From Munich
• From Munich: Königssee Boat Ride & Berchtesgaden Salt Mine

German trains are formidably efficient and sometimes rail is the quickest way to get from A to B: Many organized day trips include both tickets and a guide at your destination. Some popular day trips are seasonal: For example, the Eagle’s Nest closes during winter, while a winter visit to Linderhof Palace means missing out on the Venus Grotto. The European Union has open borders so you don’t need to worry about passport control when taking a day trip into Austria.

It depends. Destinations including Salzburg, Dachau, and Nuremberg are easy to reach by train—in fact, the train is generally faster than driving. But out-of-town attractions such as Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof Palace, the Eagle’s Nest, and Berchtesgaden are easiest with your own vehicle or on an organized tour that includes transportation.

The best time to book your Munich day trip is as early as possible—particularly if you’re visiting during Oktoberfest, when tours can sell out months in advance, or touring top attractions like Neuschwanstein Castle, where travelers often book tickets weeks ahead of time. As for the best time of year to take your trip, the warm summer months (June–August) are the most popular, but May and early September avoid the school break crowds, while the Christmas period offers seasonal markets and generally snow as well.

Neuschwanstein Castle’s fairytale turrets should wow kids and adults alike. Salzburg can make a great family day trip, particularly if you include the funicular and the Toy Museum. The Berchtesgaden salt mine and a boat ride on King’s Lake (Königssee) deliver natural beauty, as does an adventure in Hallstatt, which has a salt mine, a funicular, and a skywalk. If your kids are over 3, the Zugspitze cable car offers a thrilling ride. And if all else fails, LEGOLAND® Germany is about a 1.5-hour drive from Munich.

The best day trips from Munich during Oktoberfest are the same as at any time of year: Neuschwanstein Castle, the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, and Salzburg top the list. Book early, as trips sell out far in advance, and bear in mind that the train station can be very busy if booking tours by rail.

For Alpine scenery, top choices include the Eagle’s Nest, Hallstatt with its lake, salt mine, and skywalk, the Zugspitze (Germany’s highest peak, reached by cable car), and Berchtesgaden, including a salt mine visit and a boat ride on King’s Lake. Neuschwanstein Castle also offers sweeping mountain vistas and some beautiful hikes.