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December: Day Trips from Munich

Hello Everyone!
Looking for ideas for a couple of day trips for our family of 4 ( kids are both in college) . We will be in Munich for almost a week this December- around Christmas. Looking for a couple of day trips that people have taken from Munich during previous winter December years.

I know there is Dachau, Salzburg, and Nuremberg. We have figured out how to get to these places. Looking for other ideas.

We would be using public transportation: trains or buses.

Would like to hear your experience via bus or train.

I thank everyone in advance.

Posted by
19647 posts

Since Dachau is a Munich suburb, I'd categorize it as a half-day trip. Augsburg, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, maybe even Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Posted by
7595 posts

Going in December, take heavy overcoat, hat, gloves and warm shoes. Also, days are short, it gets dark at 4:30pm.

You can train to Salzburg, but if you want to see Berchtesgaden, you will need more than a day trip.

Augsburg is great for a day trip be sure to see the City Hall and the Fugerii (a 17th Century settlement for the poor-people still live there).

Also, Nuremberg, Regensburg can be done by train. Garmish can be done as well, but getting to Fussen and the castles will need more transport from Garmisch.

Posted by
65 posts

I did the places you mention last month plus Berchtesgaden, which can be accessed by train (the salt mine there was interesting).

Also, Fuessen to see Ludwig's castles is an easy train ride, though I imagine it would be pretty cold in December.
I took trains all over and found it pretty easy to do. Do note, though, that if you get the Bavaria pass you really can't travel before 9AM on weekdays. The conductor put a gal off my train to Fuessen at the next stop after he discovered she had such a pass and it was not yet 9AM (he gave her the option of a 60 Euro fine or getting off to wait until after 9AM).

Posted by
6590 posts

In late December there will be only 9.5 daylight hours in Southern Germany. The transportation to "Ludwig's castles" in the Alps will mean nearly 5 hours round trip on trains and buses. Salzburg will require nearly 4 hours round trip. I don't see Munich as a good base for such long outings, even in the summer. Salzburg has plenty to see and do and requires more than a few hours' time for a proper visit. Suggest you overnight in Salzburg if you do go.

"...getting to Fussen and the castles will need more transport from Garmisch."

The 5 hours I mentioned above would become many more hours if you attempted to go there via Garmisch. Don 't get the idea that both places would be feasible in a single day.

"Looking for other ideas."

Landsberg am Lech, Romantic Road town - see photos - (2 hrs. round trip on public transport)

Landshut - 1.5 hours round trip by public transport

Nymphenburg Palace - scroll down for directions using public transport.

BMW Museum - directions using public transport

Freising - attractive town near MUC airport, good place to spend a final night.