Munich-Innsbruck-Salzburg

I always recommend airbnb over hotel, just go with someone who has a lot of good reviews.

Also, any particular reason for Innsbruck? I've never been there personally, but it seems like a lot of people don't think it's so great, and the recs I was getting actually influenced me to skip over it (although I'm sure there are some people who love it as well... it's sort of like asking people "hat's the best pizza?") Anyways, point being, with only a week, you may want to keep it down to just two destinations. My personal rec would be Munich/Salzburg as Salzburg is one of my favorite cities in all of Europe, but again, that's just me. It's also an easy train ride so you wouldn't sacrifice much time at all traveling.

If you haven't already booked your flight, you may want to look into open-jawing it so that you don't have to circle back to Munich.

The scenic route from Munich to Innsbruck would go through Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, and Seefeld, Austria. It takes just under 3 hours, with a change of trains in Ga-Pa. The fastest route, by express train (EC or RJ), takes just over 2 hours. I would consider the extra 50 minutes well worth the better scenery.

Just about any overnight accommodation in Germany, except big over-priced hotels that want to show a lower rate or a self catering apartment (Ferienwohnung), where you have a kitchen and fix your own breakfast, will include breakfast, so what's a B&B? The closest thing to what Americans think of as a B&B is what Germans call a Privatzimmer, a room in a private home. Privatezimmer are usually far less expensive than a hotel. And they are not just "Frau Schmidt's spare room"; they are often a large home, that once housed a family, that has been remodeled with rooms with en-suite bathrooms and a room downstairs where the owner serves breakfast. There is no front desk; you get a key to the front door. I find Privatezimmer to be the best, most intimate cultural experience you can have. But often you hosts don't speak English.

The best place to find Privatzimmer is on the town's own website, often www town_name.de. Look for "Unterkünfte", usually found under "Tourismus".

I've never stayed in an Airbnb, and I don't think I ever would. I don't think they are the same as a Privatzimmer. In one town where I recently stayed in a Ferienwohnung, the few places listed on the Airbnb website were just Ferienwohnungen (FeWos), at least one without a resident host. And, after Airbnb's fees, they were the most expensive FeWos in town.

Both excellent and thought-provoking responses. Thank you! To the first respondent, we thought Innsbruck as a third in a week but appreciate your thoughts on keeping it to two and, if we do, we would likely make it Munich and Salzburg and perhaps take a day trip to Innsbruck if views are better than in Salzburg.

To the second respondent, that’s great info about a more intimate way of staying beyond hotel or Airbnb. Thanks!

I am one of those who loved Innsbruck. We stopped there after the RS Alpine My Way Tour which included Salzburg (also a lovely place). Innsbruck was a great place for hiking. We walked maybe 15 minutes from our hotel to the funicular which we took to go across the river and part way up the mountain. Then we had MANY options for hiking, most of which passed by wonderful "huts" offering food and drink. The views looking back to Innsbruck and across the town were wonderful. We were there two nights; a third night would offer more time to explore the wonderful hiking options.