I will be visiting Munich for just 2 1/2 days in early December. I'd like to venture out via car for one of those days. I recall seeing in the past, but cannot find now, the names of a couple of small PICTURESQUE ALPINE towns that are ~ 30-60 minutes south/southeast from Munich. Can someone give me some advice about a few alpine towns to visit that day. (When I search online, I get many 1-2 hours away, but that is not what I am searching for). I may get to Salzburg next year, so that is not what I am seeking now.
Thanks for your ideas.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
The Alps ARE south of Munich. The German-Austrian border runs (mostly) along the crest of the first ridge of the Alps.
The nearest place from Munich is Garmisch-Partenkirchen, directly due south of Munich, other places further east or west are further. According to Via Michelin ( Garmisch-Partenkirchen ), this is 01h11, 90 km from Munich by road. That figure assumes no stops. On top of that you need to add how long it would take to collect your hire car.
Other places would take longer to get to. This is why people usually go to these places by train if they are staying in Munich, "30-60 minutes" is not really possible.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the place you get a train up Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain. It is a town, not a small village.
I like Oberstdorf, but Via Michelin puts that at 02h07 169 km from Munich by car.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19276 posts
The first towns I think of that close to Munich are Starnberg and Holzkirchen, although I wouldn't consider Holzkirchen picturesque. Both are about a half hour south of Munich by rail. From Holzkirchen, the rail line fans out to Kochel, Tegernsee, and Schlersee, all about another half hour (60 minutes, total) south of Munich. Perhaps these are the towns of which you are thinking.
Posted by
TX
980 posts
When we lived in Munich and wanted a day in the mountains (really foothills) we would drive to Tegernsee, Schliersee, Spitzingsee, or Lenggries. All of these were less than an hour from where we lived in Haidhausen.
These area all have decent tourism websites so check them out to see if they will meet your definition of picturesque.
DJ
Posted by
75 posts
The closest real alpine town is Garmisch-Partenkirchen but it is about 1-1,5 h drive from Munich. A bit closer are several smaller towns in the film below Etal, Oberammergau and the beautiful Linderhof castle, about 1 hour away from Munich. Anything closer than that to Munich I wouldn't call "alpine". See map in the film below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlmiXy04Rfc&t=5s
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19276 posts
I like Oberstdorf, but Via Michelin puts that at 02h07 169 km from Munich by car.
But worth every km of it. Oberstdorf, in my opinion, is a much, much nicer town than Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The whole Iller valley leading up to Oberstdorf is beautiful, and, beyond Oberstdorf, the Austrian Kleinwalsertal is incredible.
There is a direct ALX train from Munich Hbf to Oberstdorf in 02h21, only 14 minutes longer than Via Michelin's driving estimate and if you use an Allgäu-Schwaben-Ticket it's only 22€ (single) round trip, less than Via Michelin's estimate for gas one way. And if you take the train, you can use the time for something useful instead of having to watch your driving.