6 Best Day Trips from Munich

Munich is one of my favorite cities in Germany and has so much to offer. It’s also conveniently located for taking day trips all around Bavarian Germany and even to some Austrian cities. Keep reading for details on the best places to visit from Munich with details on how to get there, what to do, how long it takes to get there and more!

Jump To:

Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Neuschwanstein Castle
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
Ansbach
Salzburg, Austria
Innsbruck, Austria

Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!

Bavarian countryside — Bavarian Countryside

Regional Bavarian Train Ticket

First and foremost when planning your trips from Munich you’ll want to research Deutsch Bahn’s Regional day ticket for Bavaria. This can help you save a lot of money on trains when visiting other cities near Munich. There are specific regions where this is accepted and certain times so make sure you plan out your trip ahead of time. If your ticket is not valid you’ll be forced to purchase an additional full price one on board.

The tickets start at 27 Euro for one day of unlimited rides within the approved regions. You can add additional riders for as low as 9 euro. On weekdays they are not valid until 9AM, so keep that in mind when planning your travel.

If the regional ticket doesn’t work well for you, you can still purchase full-price tickets, but you should note they are much more expensive. For example, a round trip to Rothenburg from Munich cost over 100 euro.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of my absolute favorite places to visit from Munich. It’s a fairy-tale Bavarian town said to have inspire several Disney movies with colorful gingerbread houses & cobblestone streets encased by Medieval town walls. It’s a great place to spend a few hours wandering around, visiting the shops, enjoying the panoramic views of the Bavarian countryside & grabbing a late lunch before heading back to Munich.

How Long Does it take to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber from Munich

By Car: 2.5 Hours

By Train:

Route 1 (using DB Regional Bavarian Train ticket) 3.5 Hours

Route 2 (not an option on the DB Regional Bavarian Train ticket) 3 Hours

Is Rothenburg ob der Tauber included on DB Regional Bavarian Train Ticket?

The longer train route (but with less stops) is included in the DB Regional Bavarian Train Ticket. The shorter train route is nowt.

How to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber from Munich

Route 1: This route has short layovers, so if the trains are running late or you are not quick when switching you may have issues with your connections! Included in DB Regional Bavarian Train Ticket

Train from: München Hbf > Treuchtlingen (roughly 1 hour 45 minutes)

Train From: Treuchtlingen > Steinach (b Rothenburg ob der Tauber) (roughly 1 hour 10 minutes)

Train From: Steinach (b Rothenburg ob der Tauber) > Rothenburg ob der Tauber (roughly 15 minutes)

Route 2: This route it slightly shorter, but does involve more switches. It also gives you some time to explore Nürnberg & Ansbach if you take later trains instead of the immediate connections. Not included in DB Regional Bavarian Train Ticket

Train From: München Hbf > Nürnberg Hbf (roughly 1 hour)

Train From: Nürnberg Hbf > Ansbach (roughly 30 minutes)

Train From: Ansbach > Steinach (b Rothenburg ob der Tauber) (roughly 20 minutes)

Train From: Steinach (b Rothenburg ob der Tauber) > Rothenburg ob der Tauber (roughly 15 minutes)

Best things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Wander the dreamy cobblestone streets
Explore the shops
Climb the Medieval Wall that encase the city
Head outside the walls to get the best countryside view
Check out one of the local pubs
Have lunch at Restaurant Michelangelo (if you’ve had your fill of German food!)

Neuschwanstein Castle

The infamous Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the best places to visit near Munich. It’s known for being the inspiration of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle. The stunning castle is definitely worth a visit if you have a free day on your trip to Munich.

How Long Does it take to get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich

By Car: 90 minute drive + 30 minute walk or 15 minutes via bus/carriage to the castle

By Train: 2 hour train + 10 minute bus + 30 minute walk or 15 minutes via bus/carriage to the castle

Is Neuschwanstein Castle included on DB Regional Bavarian Train Ticket?

Yes, details on the route are outlined below.

How to get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich

By Car: It’s about a 90 minute drive to the castle. You’ll need to park at the nearby at Alpseestrasse, as there is not parking directly on site. Parking costs 8 Euro. From the parking area you have three options:

1: 30 minute walk – this is my recommendation as it offers the best views of the castle. The walk there is uphill and downhill coming back!

2: Pay to be driven by carriage (10 euro round trip)

3. Pay to take the shuttle bus (3 Euros round trip)

By Train Train is not the most convenient option and can take close to 3 hours one way, but it’s doable if you want to see the castle! Definitely look into the DB Regional Bavarian Train ticket as regular tickets can be quite pricy.

You’ll want to take the train from Munich to Füssen then catch the 73 or 78 bus. From the bus stop you have the same options to walk, take the carriage or bus noted above

Neuschwanstein Castle Ticket and Pricing Information

If you don’t intend to go inside the castle, you don’t need to purchase a ticket and it’s free to visit. I opted for this based on a lot of research I had done confirming that the outside is more impressive than the inside!

If you want to go inside you’ll need to purchase tickets from the website. They cost 15 euro.

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial site is one of the most powerful day trips you can take from Munich. The sobering memorial is a stark reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. Dachau is known for being the first Nazi concentration camp is responsible for the death of at least 43,000. It has been turned into a memorial site with a museum, reconstructed barracks and cells.

How Long Does it take to get to Dachau from Munich

Dachau is about twenty minutes from Munich.

Is Dachau included on DB Regional Bavarian Train Ticket?

Yes, but Dachau is reachable by local trains which are covered by Munich rail day passes that can be purchased if you’re using a lot of public transport in the Munich area.

How to get to Dachau from Munich

There are many local and regional trains that run between Munich and Dachau. You can take any of them. From Dachau take bus 726 towards Saubachsiedlung and get off at the Memorial Site.

Dachau Ticket and Pricing Information

Admission to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site is free of charge.

Ansbach

Ansbach is a small, charming Bavarian town that s a bit less touristy than Rothenburg and is a nice place to spend a few hours exploring. It’s also great stop on your way to Rothenburg if you want to see both!

How long does it take to get to Ansbach from Munich

By Car: Two hours

By Train About two hours!

Is Ansbach included on DB Regional Bavarian Train Ticket?

It is not included in the DB Regional Bavarian Train Ticket

How to get to Ansbach from Munich

This route will require one train switch

Train From: München Hbf > Nürnberg Hbf (roughly 1 hour)

Train From: Nürnberg Hbf > Ansbach (roughly 30 minutes)

Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg, Austria is known for being the home of Mozart as well as the location for the Sound of Music. It’s reachable as a day trip from Munich, but Salzburg is also popular tourist destination for visitors spending a few days. If you don’t have enough time to devote a few days to Salzburg, you can see it as a day trip from Munich!

How long does it take to get to Salzburg from Munich

By Car: 1.5 hours

By Train: 1.5-2 hours

Is Salzburg included on DB Regional Bavarian Train Ticket?

Yes

How to get to Salzburg from Munich

You can take the train directly from Munch to Salzburg. It runs roughly every two hours

Best things to do in Salzburg

Explore the downtown area and take in the impressive architecture
Try one of the two local breweries ( Medieval Augustiner Monks Brewery & Steigl Brewery)
Enjoy some of the best shopping in Europe
Learn more about Mozart and the Sound of Music!
Visit the Fortress

Innsbruck, Austria

If you love mountains and the outdoors a day trip to Innsbruck from Munich should be at the top of your list! Innsbruck is known for its stunning Alp views and being home to the winter Olympic games twice. I love spending time in Innsbruck and just basking in the mountain views. If you’re visiting Munich and the winter and are looking to do some skiing, Innsbruck is a great choice!

How long does it take to get to Innsbruck from Munich

By Car: 1 hours and 45 minutes

By Train: 1:45- 2 hours. The train from Munich to Innsbruck runs many times a day.

Is Innsbruck included on DB Regional Bavarian Train Ticket?

How to get to Innsbruck from Munich

You can take the train directly from Munich to Innsbruck

Best things to do in Innsbruck

Hit the slopes for some of the best skiing in Europe
Enjoy those mountain and lakeside views
Explore Old Town
Visit the Swarovski Crystal museum

Check out my full Munich Travel Guide here.