Input needed for a 7 night Munich / Austria trip

Info: Nov 28 2023 had heavy snow falls (report) in mid and south Germany. Of course it can be very different this year but be prepared that it can happen. Winter tyres are mandatory by law when such conditions could be expected.

Ignoring the weather the German Alpine Road could be an idea.

Ensure you have driving permission for Germany by checking validity of your driving license plus carrying an IDP with you (if US or Canadian based license).

Be careful with Dachau although the kids reached minimum age of 13. Also a few adults have issues to cope with what they saw when visiting these places. This is not a movie.

A rental car gives you more flexibility, but you have to account for parking while in cities like Munich and Salzburg.

If you visit Salzburg, recommend visiting Berchtesgaden, Germany nearby.

Also, Vienna is wonderful, but some distance to drive.

Recommend visiting Garmisch and Fussen. The highest mountain in Germany is the Zugspitze and from Garmisch take the cog train up to the top and see the glacier (even in the Summer).

Whenever I visit Munich, I use public transportation. When I'm ready to leave is when I pick up my rental. If you're just going to Munich and Salzburg, why even rent a car? Salzburg is small enough to get around by bus. Dachua is easliy reached by train and bus, and there are several Christmas markets in Munich and all are near public transportation. One suggestion would be to rent a car from Munich to Salzburg when you're ready to leave Munich to see your other interests. You can either take the train from Salzburg back to Munich or keep the car and drive to Munich's airport from Salzburg. Driving in Munich is bad enough but parking overnight in Munich can get expensive. We had a great time at the several Munich Christmas markets! Have a safe and enjoyable trip.
PS Salzburg used to have a lift up to a nearby mountain that had trails and a bar. I got there by the local bus.

So, 6 touring days? Arriving Sunday, departing Sunday and back to work and school on Monday?

I think it will be challenging to see enough of Munich, including Dachau and more than one Christmasmarket, in less than thee days (arrival day plus two more?)

Garmisch is a great idea for a couple of nights. Include a trip to the Zugspitze.

I am not familiar with Schliersee. An alternitive is the Ammersee and a vist to Andechs Abbey for their excellent beer.

Have a great time?

Thank you so much for the input! Here is where we have landed - all can still be changed, but at least we have a plan to work off of
Day 1 - land in AM, get car, travel to Tegernsee where we will base in an apartment for 3 nights.
Day 2 - day trip to either Innsbruck or Zugspitze (90 mins to either)
Day 3 - same - day trip to Innsbruck or Zugspitze (90mins)
Day 4 - check out, drive to Salzburg, check in to hotel at Mirabell Gardens, walk and enjoy market
Day 5 - Breakfast in Salzburg, drive to Munich. Drop bags at Munich hotel, travel to Dachau - night, return car to rental facility
Day 6 - Munich
Day 7 - Munich
Day 8 - Fly out mid day

We will arrive back in us on Saturday and give everyone the day to recover. We once flew them back from London on a Sunday night and we all made it to school and work on Monday!
If a day just consists of walking around Innsbruck, eating and wandering the Christmas Market, we are fine. Just excited to have all the kids together seeing places they have not seen - but our touring list is not heavy. But having flexibility to swap days and linger or return to the apartment is appealing to us. Ex, if we are fatigued, we will just NOT go to Dachau on day 5. We will return the car and get settled in Munich. Then use transportation to get there on day 6. We just thought since it's also north and outside the city we would try to tie the visit to the rental car return.
We, and our kids, travel a lot, but are not terribly rigid.

Looks like a great trip! Check the weather for Days 2 and 3. IMO do the Zugspitze on the sunniest day.

And, in Munich https://paulaner-nockherberg.com/en/ is my favorite resaurant.