Any suggestions on the best way to do a day trip to Zugspitze from Munich?
Would it be better to setup in a smaller town for a couple days then head to Munich for a couple days?
Overall I will be in Bavaria for four days late in October and would like to experience some alps in addition to Munich before then heading off to other parts of Germany.
By mid-October, the weather in the Alps starts to become less reliable for outdoor activities. If you plan to visit from Munich, the weather can change very quickly from completely clear to completely overcast by the time you reach the mountains. If you really want to experience them, I would base myself for a few days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald or Ehrwald, then ascend Zugspitze at the first opportunity that the weather allows.
I agree with basing yourself in the Zugspitze area.
I'm not sure what there is for accommodations in Ehrwald, but there is a cable car to the Austrian summit of the Zugspitze, which is a very short walk from the German side.
I found Garmisch-Partenkirchen to be a little to large and commercial for my tastes.
Mittenwald is only about 20 minutes from GaP by hourly train and a cute little town on it's own - worth a visit if the weather isn't good enough to go up the Zugspitze.
You might also consider Oberammergau. It's about an hour by bus to Garmisch. The bus stops in front of the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bahnhof, which is adjacent to the Zugspitzbahn Bahnhof. Oberammergau is also just 15 minutes by bus from Linderhof, which is worth a visit if the Zugspitze is not advisable due to weather, and the castles at Hohenschwangau are accessible by bus from Oberammergau.
I'm not sure what there is for accommodations in Ehrwald,
Ehrwald has more than enough lodging options, as does nearby Lermoos. Although personally I prefer GaP, I had a very comfortable overnight stay once in Ehrwald en route to Italy at Hotel Sonnenspitze.
