Tag: munich

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Germany Planning a Trip

Getting from Munich to Venice

Venice is a one-of-a-kind city but it’s also a very controversial one: you can either love it from the first minute or hate it just as fast. There are plenty of things to do in Venice and none has to be very touristy or part you with a lot of money.

Munich is a major travel hub in Germany and is particularly a good idea if you plan to take the train to explore more of Europe.

Quick summary

With no buses linking Munich to Venice and the connecting flights starting close to €150 one way , the cheapest alternative remains the train. Book in advance and you’ll pay about €60 one way and if you travel by day also get rewarded with stunning views along the way.

Flights from Munich to Venice

There are two airports to use when flying into Venice, but the one handling flights to/from Munich is Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE). It is located 8 km from the city and is hub for Air One, Alitalia CityLiner and Volotea. The airport mostly receives seasonal flights.

Direct flights to Munich are operated by Lufthansa and the airport used is Munich International Airport (MUC), the second busiest airport in Germany. It is hub for: Air Berlin, Augsburg Airways, Lufthansa, Air Dolomiti, Air Independence, BinAir, Condor, Hamburg International and TUIfly.

Even during the shoulder season in mid-September 2012, expect to pay from € 450 for a direct flight, one way and from €147 one way for a connecting flight via Dusseldorf on Air Berlin. Unfortunately , the fares don’t go down during the low season, either. In fact, you can pretty much consider flying into Venice an expensive affair, no matter when you plan to travel.

Read more about
>>Airfare to Venice
>>Cheap flights to Munich

Trains from Munich to Venice

A very scenic way to get between Munich and Venice is by train. Bahn.de lists all the connections between the two cities.

The direct trains leave Munich daily at 11:31 a.m. (Venice Santa Lucia), 6:57 pm (Venice Mestre) and 11:40 p.m. (Venice Mestre). The travel time is between 6h40 min and 9 h. Single savings fares start at €59 (morning train) and €53 (the night train). Standard single fares start at €82.80 (morning train) and €114.80 (the night train).

On the way back , catch the direct trains at 1:14 a.m. (Venice Mestre), 1:34 pm (Venice Santa Lucia) and 9:05 p.m. (Venice Santa Lucia). The same fares apply.

Please note that the fares depend on how far in advance you purchase the ticket and which train you choose. Rail passes can be used on these trains.

Driving from Munich to Venice

Both Germany and Italy are part of EU and the Schenghen area, which means you won’t be paying surcharges for taking the rental car across the border. However, do make sure you ask the rental company if you may cross borders in the car.

The shortest route – 476 km – between Munich and Venice is on SS51 and the drive takes about 5 h. The route passes through Austria. You might want to drive on A22 although it’s a slightly longer route (543 km) but the driving time is about the same and it also passes through Austria.

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Germany Planning a Trip Transportation

Getting from Berlin to Munich

Both Berlin and Munich are major travel hubs in Germany, offering plenty of connections to the rest of Europe and the rest of the country. Munich certainly appeals to those looking to experience Oktoberfest, but the city also offers plenty of other things to do. On the other hand, Berlin is known for its history and night life.

Quick summary

The cheapest way and also the slowest way to travel between Berlin and Munich is by bus. Single fares start at €43 but you’ll be traveling for about 9 hours. Trains take less – 6h – but the savings fares start at €69 one way (and depend on when you travel). Flights can be as cheap as €50 one way but you need to add the cost and time of getting to/from the airports and the city centers, too.

Flights from Berlin to Munich

There are two airports serving Berlin and both direct flights to Munich.

Schönefeld (SFX) is the base of low cost carriers serving Berlin and is hub for EasyJet and GermanWings. The airport will be merged into Berlin Brandenburg Airport in early 2013, so plan accordingly. Flights to Munich are operated by GermanWings and take 1h. In mid-September 2012, the single fare starts at €50.

Tegel International Airport (TXL) is the main airport serving Berlin, a hub for Air Berlin, Germania and GermanWings. In early 2013, Tagel is supposed to close and Berlin Brandenburg Airport will take its place. Flights to Munich are operated by Air Berlin and Lufthansa. In mid-September, the single fare starts at €85 on Air Berlin.

Munich is served by Munich International Airport (MUC), the second biggest airport in Germany and seventh biggest in Europe. It is hub for : Air Berlin, Augsburg Airways, Lufthansa, Air Dolomiti, Air Independence, BinAir, Condor, Hamburg International and TUIfly.

Plan in advance (up to 6 months) and you’ll be finding cheaper fares on Air Berlin. Hence, in mid-December 2012, you’ll pay from €60 one way for flight from Tegel.

Read more about:
>>cheap flights to Berlin
>>cheap flights to Munich

Buses from Berlin to Munich

The bus is certainly the cheapest option for traveling between the two cities, but it’s the slowest, too. It takes about 9 h to cover the distance. Berlin Linien Bus offers direct buses , departing Berlin daily at 8:15 a.m. The single fare is €43. On the way back catch the bus from Munich at 9:45 a.m. The same fares apply.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Germany

Trains from Berlin to Munich

Bahn.de lists the connections between Berlin and Munich. Berlin is served by five train stations, but Hauptbahnhof is the most important , serving the high speed trains and connections to the rest of Europe.

Munich’s main station is located in the city center , west of Marienplatz. Deutsche Bahn uses Munich as a major hub.

There are direct trains, leaving about every hour to two hours from Berlin, but there are also plenty of connecting trains available. The direct trains take 6 h and the single saving fare starts at €69 but depends on the time of departure and how far in advance you make the purchase. The standard fare starts at €121. Both fares are valid on high speed trains.

>>read more about Train Travel in Germany

Driving from Berlin to Munich

You can certainly rent a car and drive the 588 km (shortest route on A9) between Berlin and Munich in about 6 hours (depending on traffic).

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Photo credits : Munich airport , Berlin train station

Categories
Germany Planning a Trip Transportation

Getting from Munich to Salzburg

Salzburg , Austria reminds almost everyone about the movie The Sound of Music. Actually, it’s quite tempting to burst into singing Do,Re,Mi when you visit the castle, but there’s more to this lovely city than just a movie. Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and , aside from visiting the castle, you can also visit the fortress and many museums.

Although you can easily spend a week in the city, many travelers decide to visit Salzburg as a day trip from Munich. If you don’t plan to take the tour bus, here’s how to get between the two cities on your own.

Quick summary

Given the short distance between the two cities – only 145 km – there is no reason to even think about flying. So, you are left with taking the train, the bus or driving. With buses connecting only the Munich Airport to Salzburg, you are left to traveling by train, unless you plan to drive a rental car. Make sure to book the tickets in advance to get the cheapest possible option.

Trains from Munich to Salzburg

Bahn.de lists two connections per hour, daily, between Munich and Salzburg. The travel time is between 1 ½ h and 2 h, depending on the type of train. The single savings fare starts at €19. The standard fare starts at €64.

On the way back from Salzburg to Munich, you have at least 1 connection per hour available. The single savings fare starts at €38. The standard fare starts at €61.60.

Buses from Munich to Salzburg

It’s highly unlikely to take a bus between the two cities. The reason is that there’s only a shuttle bus connecting Munich Airport to Salzburg, but the price is higher than the train ticket. Plus, if you are in central Munich already, there’s no point to travel to the airport to catch the shuttle bus.

Driving from Munich to Salzburg

Both Germany and Austria are part of the European Union and the Schengen Area, which means you won’t be paying surcharges for taking the rental car across the border. However, you need to ask the rental company if you are allowed to do that.

On A8, the travel distance between the two cities is 145 km , which can be tackled in about 1 ½ h. Please note that the route has tolls

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Germany Planning a Trip Transportation

Getting from Munich to Prague

Munich is the capital of Bavaria, particularly known for Oktoberfest beer celebration. It also has many interesting museums and a stunning architecture. Whether you are traveling to Munich for Oktoberfest or for any other reason, you need to know the cheapest way to get here and some details so that planning your trip gets a bit easier.

Prague is one of the most popular destinations in Europe. It used to be a cheap place to visit in the Czech Republic but things have changed. Some say it’s very touristy, while others say it’s just stunning. I’ll leave it up to you to decide. Prague has a lot of places to visit and things to try out.

Quick summary

Given the short distance between the two cities (about 400 km), there’s no need to fly between Munich and Prague. In fact, there aren’t any direct flights available and all routes go through Warsaw. The cheapest option is traveling by bus. For about €30 you’ll cover the distance between the two cities in 5 h.

Trains from Munich to Prague

Bahn.de lists both buses and trains between Munich’s Hauptbahnhof and Prague’s central station. There’s a direct train leaving Munich daily at 7:02 p.m. The travel time is 5 h 49 min and the standard fare is €65.90 one way.

Buses from Munich to Prague

On Bahn.de you can also choose a bus to get between Munich and Prague. The bus departs Munich at 3:45 p.m. and the travel time is 5 h. The savings single fare is €29.

Eurolines also offers direct buses between the two cities. There are two departures per day from Prague (7 a.m. and 6 p.m.). The travel time is 5 h 15 min and the single fare starts at 500.- Kč / €19.60 [promo offer]. The standard single fare is 790.- Kč / €31. On the way back to Prague, the bus leaves Munich at 7 a.m. daily.

Driving from Munich to Prague

Both Germany and the Czech Republic are part of the European Union and the Schengen area, which means you won’t need to pay surcharges for using the rental car to get from one place to another. However, you should ask the car rental company if you are allowed to take the car across the border.

The shortest route between Munich and Prague is 381 km and takes about 4 hours to drive. Please note that the route has tolls.

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Germany Planning a Trip Things to Do

3 Days in Munich: Itinerary Ideas

Munich is synonymous with Oktoberfest. Or , if you don’t visit during the fair, with large quantities of beer , pretzels and sausages. But Munich is so much than a drink and greasy food.

>>read more about the things to do in Munich

Itinerary assumptions:

  • fly directly into Munich
  • stay in a budget hotel or hostel close to the city center
  • make use of the public transportation (underground, tram, bus) ; the inner district 3 days card costs €13.80.
  • if you feel comfortable on bike, you can rent one for your stay in Munich. There are many bike paths in the city but the accidents involving bicycles are on the rise.

Sample prices

  • Return flight: London – Munich – London; Aug 10 – Aug 13, 2012; from €113 on EasyJet
  • Return flight: Paris – Munich – Paris; Aug 10 – Aug 13, 2012; from €131 on Air France
  • Accommodation: from €57 / person / 3 nights in a 12-bed dorm; from €252 / 2 persons / 3 nights in a twin room with private bathroom.

Day 1

Start the day with a free walking tour of Munich (details here ) . One of the start points is in Marienplatz at 10:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. The tour visits the Hofbräuhaus and Frauenkirche, among other important landmarks, and takes three hours.

After the tour, go back to Marienplatz and explore the city in depths. Go to the top of Frauenkirche to see the views of the city and enjoy lunch in Viktualienmarkt.

In the afternoon, explore the English Gardens , with its lake, waterfall, beer gardens and enjoy the time in nature. Pack a picnic basket if you don’t want to get back to a beer hall for dinner.

Alternative Day 1

Plan to spend the first day in Alstadt (Old Town). Start in Maxburgstrasse and visit St Michael’s Church and then explore Frauenkirche. Don’t forget to go to the top for some interesting views of the city.

Walk to Marienplatz, the heart of the Old Town. Stop to see the statues dance (during summer at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. every day for 15 min) and then visit some of the churches in the area or just do some people watching.

In Viktualienmarkt there’s a beer garden pretty well known among budget travelers. Try the food and don’t miss tasting the beer, either.

Go to Odeonsplatz and continue to the English Gardens, the continent’s largest city center park. Between an artificial lake, the Chinese Gardens – complete with beer gardens – and interesting structures, you’ll be busy for the entire afternoon.

During the evening, make your way to Landsbergerstrasse and its Augustiner Braustuben, a traditional beer hall. Try the food and meet the locals. Sure, try the beer , too but mind the quantities. You still have some sightseeing left to do in the town.

Day 2

Start your day with a visit to Deutsches Museum, Europe’s largest technology museum. It is located close to Viktualienmarkt, so after spending hours checking out the exhibits, you can enjoy lunch here, or make your way to Hofbrauhaus, Munich’s best known beer hall. It’s touristy and not exactly authentic but it’s not a bad choice for lunch.

Go back to Marienplatz and take Deinerstrasse to get to Munich Residence, where you can learn about the Bavarian history.

From Marienplatz, take U3 to get to to northern Munich with its Olympiapark. Exploring it is free, unless you want to take some guided tours (which cost few Euros).

Day 3

After enjoying Munich for two days, escape the city to visit the superb Neuschwanstein Castle on your third day. Take the train to Füssen and then the bus Hohenschwangau. In total you’ll be traveling for about 4 hours (including the 30 min walk to the castle). So, leave Munich early in the day, especially if you’ll tackle the summer crowds, too. Driving saves some time (under 2 h to get to Hohenschwangau) but you need to consider the cost of renting a car.

You might remember this castle as being very similar to Cinderella’s castle in Disney’s vision. Actually, her castle was inspired by Neuschwanstein Castle, which is , indeed, a super sight. The guided tour takes only 35 min but you can spend some more time exploring the surrounding forest.

After visiting the castle which inspired Disney, take some time to explore Hohenschwangau, the castle where King Ludwig II grew up. The Romanesque style is charming.

>>read more about Getting from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle

Photo credits: Marienplatz ; Beer ; Castle

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Germany Planning a Trip Transportation

Getting from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is located few kilometers from Füssen, an enchanting town in Bavaria. Aside from being the gateway to the famous castle, the city of Füssen is also home to Hohes Schloss , the former Benedictine monastery of St Mang and there are lovely lakes with magnificent views located near by, too.

The castle is located on a hill above the village of Hohenschwangau and was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat. Immediately after the king’s death, the castle was open for the public. Most tourists know this castle as the inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Summary

Neuschwanstein Castle is located close to Munich so visit it as a day trip is an excellent choice. Trains take about 2 hours and then you need to take a short bus ride before you walk for 30 min to get to the castle.

Trains and buses from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle

Bahn.de operates a variety of trains between Munich and Füssen. Direct trains start running at 7:51 a.m. and leave hourly. The single savings fare is €21 and the standard fare is €24. The travel time is 2 h.

Once in Füssen, take bus 9713 to Hohenschwangau. From here, the castle can be reached on foot (30 min walk).

Driving from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle

You can rent a car in Munich and drive the 128 km to Hohenschwangau (on A96 and B17) in about 1h 45 min. From here, just walk to the castle. You can find parking in Hohenschwangau (cost: about €5).

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Germany Planning a Trip Transportation

Getting from Munich to Vienna

Munich is the capital of Bavaria, well known for Oktoberfest. But the German city also offers palaces, churches, relaxing gardens and interesting squares to spend your time. Don’t miss visiting some of the museums either.

>>read more about the Things to do in Munich

Vienna is the capital of Austria, a lovely city well known for its architecture, museums and opera. Walk on the Ring Street to see the most important sights in the country, visit Schonbrunn Palace with its gardens and zoo. And don’t miss Stephansdom, an impressive Catholic cathedral right in the center of the city. For lovely views of the city, talk the elevator to the observation deck on Danube Tower or ride the Giant Ferries Wheel in Prater.

Summary

If you purchase the train ticket in advance , it’s almost as cheap as the bus ticket (€39 train, €34 bus) but you’ll be saving two hours of traveling. Either way , you won’t need to deal with getting to/from the airport.

Flights from Munich to Vienna

Munich International Airport (MUC) is the second busiest airport in Germany and is a major hub for Lufthansa. It is also hub for: Air Berlin, Augsburg Airways and Air Dolomiti.

Vienna International Airport (VIE) is located just outside the city limits and is home base for Austrian Airlines and Niki. It is the busiest airport in Austria. S-Bahn (commuter rail) is the cheapest and easiest way to get from the airport to the city center but there are also buses which go to important squares.

Flights between Munich and Vienna are operated by: Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Niki, Air Berlin and TUIfly. The flight time is 50 min. In mid-June 2012 expect to pay from €63 one way on Air Berlin. A return flight during the same period is €112 , also on Air Berlin. By mid-October 2012, expect to pay from €53 one way on Niki.

>>book a cheap flight to Munich

Trains from Munich to Vienna

Bahn.de operates trains between Munich and Vienna (Wien) Westbahnhof . If you purchase in advance, the single savings fare is €39 on the direct train (RJ) and €59 with a connection in Plattling. The standard fare ranges from €79.40 to €89.20 one way. The travel time is between 4 h 20 min and 5h.

The direct trains leave Munich daily at 1:27 p.m., 3:27 p.m. and 5:23 p.m. On the way back, the direct trains leave at 6:14 p.m., 6:14 a.m., 8:14 a.m. , 10:14 a.m. The complete scheduled can be found on the operator’s website (which also lists trains operated by other companies).

Buses from Munich to Vienna

Eurolines operates a bus line between Munich and Vienna. It departs Munich at 7 a.m. daily and the travel time is 6 h 30 min. On the way back, the bus departs Vienna daily at 4:45 p.m. The promotional single fare starts at €34 , but depends on how far in advance you purchase the ticket. The standard single fare is €47.

Driving from Munich to Vienna

You can certainly rent a car in Munich and drive to Vienna. Both Germany and Austria are part of the Schengen area so you won’t be paying any surcharges, either. On A1, the distance is 406 km and you should be able to cover it in about 5 hours (depends on the traffic, of course).

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Germany Planning a Trip Transportation

Getting from Frankfurt to Munich

Frankfurt is the economical capital of Germany and home to the country’s largest airport, with a lot of connections to the rest of the world. The downtown area and the scenic neighborhoods attract millions of travelers each year.

Munich is mostly known for being home to Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer party, but the city also has a lot of other things to offer. The architecture and the culture are big parts of the city’s appeal to visitors.

Summary

With no buses connecting Frankfurt to Munich, the cheapest option is the train. Book in advance and you’ll pay €29 (savings fares one way on IC trains).

Flights from Frankfurt to Munich

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is a major international hub, the busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic in the country and connects Germany to the rest of the world. The airport is located 12 km from the city center and is hub for Condor Flugdienst and Lufthansa.

Munich is served by two airports, but the flights to/from Frankfurt land on / depart from Munich International Airport (MUC). It is located 28.5 km from the city center and is hub for Air Berlin, Augsburg Airways, Lufthansa and Air Dolomiti. It is the second busiest airport in the country.

The only company operating direct flights between the two cities is Lufthansa. In mid-June 2012 expect to pay from €78 one way on Lufthansa. A return flight in the same period starts at €159 on the same airline. The same fares apply later in the year, too.

>>book a cheap flight to Munich

Trains from Frankfurt to Munich

Bahn.de operates fast trains (ICE) between Frankfurt and Munich. The travel time is about 3 ½ h. If you book in advance (about a month) the single savings fare is €59 . The standard fare is €95 one way. Trains depart from each station every hour until 1 a.m. And they start around 5 a.m. daily.

The savings fare on the IC trains is €29 and the travel time is similar. If don’t mind traveling in the evening, these are excellent choices to save money and get between the two cities fast.

>>read more about Train travel in Germany

Driving from Frankfurt to Munich

You can rent a car and drive the 400 km (on A3 and A9) between Frankfurt and Munich. Driving in Germany is a delight and you should be able to cover the distance in about 4 h (depending on the traffic).

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Germany Things to Do

Things to do in Munich

Munich is the capital city of Bavaria, very well known thanks to the Oktoberfest, an annual event which includes a lot of beer, music and German food. But the city is also famous for the architecture and culture , being home to excellent museums.

Oktoberfest

The first festival took place back in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen. In the early years, horse races were held as part of the event , and later agricultural conventions were added. In 1896, the first giant beer tent appeared within the festival. And the rest, it’s history.

If you plan to head to Munich for Oktoberfest, make sure to book the accommodation way ahead of time. Consider staying outside the city as the room rates tend to double during the fair. The public transportation system is pretty much over crowded especially during the weekends.

But , if you love beer, then this is the place to be. And don’t forget to try the German food, as well.

Clubbing in Kunstpark

If you still have energy after all that beer, then you can head to Kunstpark, a former industrial area, now filled with clubs and bars to suit all tastes.

Relax in the Englischer Garten

Whether you nurse a hangover or just want to relax after visiting the city, the Englischer Garten is an excellent choice. It’s the largest green area in Munich and offers plenty of things to do. You can walk, jog, bike, surf, enjoy a picnic or row a boat.

Stop by the Viktualienmarkt to buy some goodies for your picnic first.

Eat lunch in Marienplatz

Marienplatz is a very popular destination for tourists. You can enjoy a meal, go shopping, do some people watching or party the night away. Plus, the tourist attractions are within walking distance.

Visit the park at Schloss Nymphenburg

Schloss Nymphenburg was the royal summer residence and the gardens are now open to the public. You can visit the castle or walk in the garden.

Visit Peterskirche

Peterskirche is the oldest church in Munich, dating from the 12th century. It’s right in Marienplatz and the tower offers lovely views of the surrounding area.

See the city from the twin towers of Frauenkirche

Frauenkirche was built in the 16th century and restored after World War II. The view from the twin towers is considered one of the best in Munich.

Ride a sledge at Blomberg

No, it doesn’t have to be winter to try this one. Blomberg mountain is an excellent place to head to if you like some action…or fancy seeing excellent views of the surrounding area. Try the sledge or go hiking. If you get hungry, there’s a restaurant in the area, too.

Explore the area from Karlsplatz to Marienplatz

Walk between the two squares, go shopping or stop for a coffee when you get too tired.

Visit the BMW museum

BMW Welt is the only BMW museum in the world and if cars are your thing, then don’t miss this one. You can test drive simulation cars, learn about the brand’s history and the models.

Olympia park

The Olympics took place in Munich in 1972 but the park is still open and an excellent choice for an active day. In the winter, you can ski down the slopes , while during summer you can swim in the pool. Plus, there are shows taking place year round.

Visit a Christmas Market

If you plan to visit Munich in December, don’t miss one of the Christmas Markets which take place in the city. Pick up decorations for your tree, get some gifts and try the mulled wine.

Take the kids to the Deutsches Museum

It is the largest technological and scientific museum in the world and is a pleasure to visit. Take the kids to explore the interesting displays.

Photo credits: Oktoberfest , Englischer Garten , Marienplatz , Schloss Nymphenburg , View from Peterskirche , Frauenkirche , Karlsplatz , BMW museum , Olympia park , Christmas Market , Deutsches Museum

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Germany Things to Do

10 Days in Germany: Itinerary Ideas

Germany is quite diverse. The traditional and the modern mix in many ways. Shining cities often snuggle against medieval castles. Each of these trips in the south of the country is designed to be a relaxing week long and is based around day trips from a central city. Though of course you can go to more or fewer day trips and adjust the length to your schedule. These are more for getting deeper into an area and not packing in sights. A night train or quick flight from one to another also lets you string a couple together if you have more time.

There are train connections to the day trip suggestions in less than 2 hours each way from the main city. If you stay on the regional trains (RE, RB) there are tickets called Länder Tickets that let you travel on the slow trains inside of the state you are staying in for a day. These can be cheaper than directly buying tickets, especially if you are traveling with several people. Also check with the public transport office of your base city, often there are tickets that work just in that region and could be even cheaper.

This is just a sampling of possible daytrips and activities around each base city. Definitely look for local festivals in nearby towns not mentioned. Due to the great public transport system, Germany is a great country for day tripping and exploring cities.

Quick search for cheap airfare to Frankfurt:

Quick search for cheap airfare to Berlin:

Quick search for cheap airfare to Munich:

Freiburg – South Baden : Spas and Nature


Freiburg is the gateway to the Black Forest and in the sunniest corner of Germany. The town is home to a university which keeps the city young and happening for the out of the way city. Bicycles rule the roads and an excellent public transport system lets you get up into the forest for some hiking or to any of several nearby spa towns. This region has been known as a spa resort area since the Roman towns.

Quick search for hotels in Freiburg:

Getting Here: Frankfurt airport is 2 hours on the ICE train and there is a bus from Basel-Mulhouse Airport that takes about an hour to Freiburg.

Baden-Baden : A Roman era spa town which still has modern spa houses, one of which is built above roman ruins. Once also a playground for the Parisian elite, this town retains its resort roots but is a pleasant place to stroll and relax. Bad Krozingen and Badenweiler are also nearby spa towns south of Freiburg if that s your thing.

Titisee & Schluchsee : These are two lakes up in the Black Forest. Titisee is more touristy while Schluchsee is bigger and more outdoorsy with its walking tracks. Good places to start hiking tracks or just get out of the town into the cool fresh mountain air.

Breisach : On the Rhein River looking out over France, there has been a human settlement here for thousands of years. A rebuilt cathedral stands on the promontory.

Outdoor Activities: Both the hills of the Black Forest and the wine growing dormant volcano of the Kaiserstuhl are popular hiking and biking areas.

France (Colmar and Strasbourg) and Switzerland are also within easy reach.

Nürnberg – North Bavaria : Medieval Charm


Nürnberg is a large city north of Munich. The most famous Christmas Market is here. The town is watched by a castle on a hill and straddles a river. This part of Bavaria is called Franconia and home to many towns with medieval and Gothic features.

Quick search for hotels in Nürnberg:

Getting Here: Although Nürnberg does have its own airport, it is small, so Munich is the larger airport of choice nearby.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber : A medieval village, Rothenburg is part of the Romantic Road. The town retains its almost cutesy look and is a popular tourist spot.

Nördlingen : One of the few towns (Rothenburg being another) in Germany to retain its full city wall.

Bamberg : A university town as well as a town of beer. Worth a day to walk the hills, see the many churches and gawk at the town hall built in the middle of the river.

Amberg and larger Regensberg lie to the east and south-east respectively. Both have Gothic features such as churches, town halls and bridges.

Munich – South Bavaria : Postcard Vistas


Munich is one of the most well known city in Germany and likely what most Americans are expecting when they picture Germany. There really is enough to do in Munich itself to spend a few days doing that, but there are plenty of nearby places that are interesting as well.

Quick search for hotels in Munich:

Getting Here: Munich has its own airport that is fairly well connected.

Füssen – Castle Neuschwannstein is world famous. Füssen is just over 2 hours south on the edge of the Alps and only a few miles from the castle. Avoid the tour busses if you have time and some hiking abilities. The less famous yellow Castle Hohenschwangau is just down the hill from its neighbor and not on most tour agendas.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Site of the 1936 Winter Olympics, this is your alpine day trip from Munich. The tallest mountain in Germany (Zugspitze) is also nearby. As expected, there are plenty of hiking trails around.

Dachau – Very close to Munich, a concentration camp with museum to experience some of Germany’s sad history.

Ulm – The tallest church spire in Germany is in Ulm, and is also the birthplace of Albert Einstein. The main part of Ulm is actually in Baden-Würtemberg not in Bavaria, so ask about tickets before you rely on the Länder tickets.

In addition, the day trips to Nördlingen and Regensberg (from Nürnberg above) are also easily reachable from Munich.

all photos by Andrew Couch & may not be used without permission