We plan to visit Bavaria next spring for 10 nights and will be using the train exclusively to get around. Munich is planned as home base for at least 5 nights but I realize that Bavaria is a big region so am looking for suggestions for a second home base to minimize our travel time to some attractions. We prefer not to change accommodations too frequently so just one other home base for 5 nights would be perfect I think. Obviously it would have to have easy access to trains. I'd love to hear suggestions.
I think that would really depend on what places you want to see in Bavaria that are not close to Munich. For instance, I wouldn't suggest you go to Würzburg if the other places you want to see are around Berchtesgaden.
Speaking of Berchtesgaden, that would make a nice 2nd base. There are enough things in Berchtesgaden for several days, plus Salzburg is only an hour away by bus. You could go into Salzburg by bus in the morning, then go on to Mondsee or Wolfgangsee.
Another place I like is Oberstdorf, in the Iller valley of the Oberallgäu. If you like natural settings, mountains, etc, it's perfect. Spend a day in the Kleinwalsertal, a beautiful Alpine valley, a part of the Austrian Vorarlberg that's isolated from Austria, only accessible from Germany. With a Bayern-Ticket you can go down to Lindau on the Bodensee and take a boat tour. I've spent a week at a time there five times and still look forward to my next trip.
If you go to Würzburg, there is the Marienberg fortress there and the Residenz, and it is within striking distance of Bamberg, Nürnberg, and Rothenburg odT.
Nuremberg is the railway hub for Franconia (north Bavaria). You can use a VGN ticket, which is less than a Bayern Ticket. Bamberg, Bayreuth, and Rothenburg o.d.T. are all within the network. Wuerzberg is not far away by train just outside the network.
Thank you! Those suggestions give me at least a starting point to research.
See what I wrote on the VGN TagesTicket Plus here.
Garmisch partenkirchen would be my choice. So much to do and train travel is super easy there. You can go into Austria for the day or even Italy.
Salzburg is convenient for Berchtesgarden, and the Mozart/Sound of Music sights. Also another 2 1/2 hours on the train from there and you can delight in Vienna.
Thanks for all of the great suggestions! It gives me some areas to research - part of the fun is the deciding.