Hi! We have 1 week from the time we land in Munich before we have to board our ship in Passau in November. Our cruise will include visits to Passau, Linz, Kremz, Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest. But for one week before the cruise, we'd like to explore other places on our own. We are two 60 year-old life-long bffs who enjoy eating (not fine dining, just great food), shopping, hiking, museums, well---everything! We are actually pretty avid hikers, but will probably not have all our hiking gear. We're overwhelmed looking at our options on how to spend this one week. Can anyone offer some suggestions? Car or train? Any help would be appreciated!
Posted by
NorthCarolina
1065 posts
Take a tour of Dachau Concentration Camp from Munich - I think it's crazy to be in Hitler territory and not see a camp. I think it's best with a guide as you'll learn so much more - we love bighattours.com. Book ASAP. He also does an amazing Third Reich Tour of Munich.
Salzburg is amazing and I'd do a few days there. Go to Eagles Nest and the Salt Mine - it is so fun.
Regensberg is also a great town, not destroyed in WW2, so all still original from centuries ago. Can be done as a day trip from Munich, but also easy to do a day there on your way to Passau. We did a day trip with Radius Tours out of Munich, but could be don't on your own
You will LOVE Passau, it isn't talked about enough.
No need to rent a car - all this is so easy via train.
Posted by
Irving
3230 posts
Visit the Bavarian Alps. Supposedly there are direct buses from Munich’s airport to Garmisch-Partenkirchen taking 2hm 15m. You can then take a taxi to your hotel /vacation rental.
Good day trips from Garmisch-Partenkirchen are the alps and Oberammergau by direct bus (45m). Always add an extra night to your stay when visiting mountains. You want to visit the alps rooftop on the clearest day you're there. If you’re open to renting a car drive to Berchtesgaden. A good day trip from the Berchtesgaden is Salzburg (30m drive).
You can then drop off your car in Munich. Don't bother dropping it off in Salzburg because picking up a car in one country and dropping if off in a different country costs too much. If you don’t visit Berchtesgaden take a direct train from Munich to Salzburg for the day (2h). Another memorable day trip by direct train from Munich is the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial (30m).
Posted by
Salt Lake City
1528 posts
We made the same trip in reverse a couple years ago, traveling about a week after the cruise. We were there in the early spring and the weather was wet. You could have similar weather.
We are walkers rather than avid hikers and our choices may be too tame for you.
Amberg is a short enough train trip before Passau. There is a nice old town to walk thru and there is a decent walk upto the Mariahhilfberg Pilgrimage Church. The walk through the "Stages of the Cross" was a good work out for us. The church is lightly visited and beautiful.
We also visited Coburg to see its old town center and walk up to the castle (Veste Coburg). It is a massive old castle. We did the walk in a steady rain and still enjoyed it. There was plenty of greenery and bird life if that interests you.
Würzburg is not far from Coburg and we have visited it several times. The old town center and Residence are beautiful. There are walks up the the castle (Marienberg Festung) across the Main River and the Käppele Pilgrimage Church. These are not wild places but the grades are real and the views back at the city are great.
If you want to mix historical sight-seeing with walking, this area of Germany (Franken) is a very good choice.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20248 posts
And I hope you have a few days at the end of your trip as everthing you are looking for is at that end of the trip with no additional travel required.
Hiking:
https://www.alltrails.com/hungary/budapest--2
https://www.komoot.com/guide/16615/hiking-in-budapest
https://welovebudapest.com/en/toplist/2020/12/23/10-best-hikes-near-budapest/
Shopping:
https://www.offbeatbudapest.com/budapest-city-guide/shopping/best-stores-budapest-overall/
https://www.timeout.com/budapest/things-to-do/best-places-to-go-shopping-in-budapest
https://justbudapest.com/shopping-streets/
Restaurants:
https://www.timeout.com/budapest/restaurants/best-restaurants-in-budapest
https://mrandmrsromance.com/eat-budapest/
https://www.willflyforfood.net/budapest-food-guide/
Posted by
8248 posts
We did an almost identical Danube cruise in July with Gate 1 Travel, it was super. Ours started in Regensburg.
Our cruise had an option for a tour of Salzburg, your cruise might have one as well.
You need 2-3 days in Munich, also, a couple of days in Garmish/Fussen. Check out the Fraundorfer guesthouse in Garmish.
Go up to the top of German's highest mountain, the Zugspitze, then do the castles.
If you have time, spend a day in Augsburg, about 50 miles west of Munich (take the train and explore the beautiful downtown, the ancient cathedral with oldest stained glass in the world. Also, visit the Fuggeri, a settlement for the poor that is 500 years old. The Rathaus is amazing. Dine for lunch at the Ratskeller https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187314-d2002547-Reviews-Ratskeller_Augsburg-Augsburg_Swabia_Bavaria.html
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
8021 posts
Salzburg is a gorgeous city that you could get to by train in 90 minutes, although I would suggest spending at least one night there if you can. I loved my stay there and could easily go back to visit. I would also second the recommendation to visit Dachau as it is truly moving. I am so glad I went there, and it's a very easy day trip from Munich.