Family Easter trip to South-East Bavaria

we have been to Salzburg before so don't want to go that far

Just FYI, it'll take longer from Munich to get to Berchtesgaden than it would take to get to Salzburg.

As an alternative I will suggest two other possibilities.

Go south from Munich by train to Holzkirchen and explore the area once served by what was called BOB (Bayerishe Oberlandbahn). That includes Bad Tölz, Tegernsee, Schliersee, and Bayrischzell.

Reit im Winkl Get there by bus (RVO 9505, about an hour from Prien a. Chiemsee). And you could stop to see Herrenchiemsee on the way.

@Lee The Holzkirchen area sounds amazing. I notice Holzkirchen is where the train line splits; would that be a good base to stay and then do day trips to Bad Tolz, Tegernsee, Schliersee and Bayrischzell? If so, do you think there's enough to do to stay there for 5 nights, or do maybe 3 nights in Holzkirchen and another 2 nights based somewhere else? If we did a full day in each of the 4 places you listed, there's your full 4 days, and it's definitely easier not to have to move around too much with young kids.

Holzkirchen would certainly be conveniently located for all three branches of the rail lines in that area, but I'm not sure you can find appropriate accommodations in Holzkirchen. There is a Novital next to the train station, but it looks rather primitive (small, two bed rooms, shower and toilets on the hall, community kitchen but you have to bring you own cooking utensils). I see Alte Post has apartments with a double bed and sofa bed - might be appropriate for two small children. It looks kind of expensive, but this is a popular resort area. There is a bus connection from the S-Bahnhof to near Alte Post.

I did see a couple of other FeWo in the area, but it looked like no nearby buses and a long walk to the Bahnhof, so I didn't check further.

You might also check towns with stations on those lines, like Warngau or Schaftlach. Schaftlach is where the Bad Tölz/Tegernsee lines diverge and only about 10 minutes by rail back to Holzkirchen if you want to go to Schliersee, Bayrischzell, or Wendelstein.

A bit expensive (Easter vacation too) and you will have to get there, but something like a Wellness hotel with Pension in the Bayerischer Wald? Hotel Riedlberg (Drachselsried) Hotel Sonnenhof (Lam) etc? A 3-night stay would be nice. Pools and stuff for the kids, hiking, nature, relaxing, Bavarian Forest...

@Lee Thanks very much for your help. I'll have a look around.

Frankly, I wouldn't want to spend my vacation in Holzkirchen. it's not a particularly attractive place and over the last 30 years has increasingly turned into a dormitory town for commuters to Munich. It's also still on the plain and not in the mountains. Schaftlach and Warngau are also villages without many leisure facilities. If you want to go on vacation in this area, you have to go further towards the mountains, e.g. to Tegernsee (which is likely to be fully booked over Easter), Bad Tölz or Schliersee. Good alternatives could be found a little further west, namely Murnau am Staffelsee or the Kochelsee and Walchensee. Incidentally, I also think the original suggestion of the Chiemsee is not bad, or as a quieter alternative, the nearby Simsee - Bad Endorf is on the Munich-Salzburg railroad line and many interesting day trips can be made via nearby Rosenheim, such as Wasserburg or Kufstein and of course the Chiemsee (Prien, by direct train).