Making the most of a business trip to Munich

Germany is pretty user-friendly for a first-time traveler. The vast majority of people speak excellent English, the transit is really good, the food is hearty and the beer is great.

I don't know how busy you'll be at your conference but I'd say Munich is worth a couple full days of tourist time for a first timer on a short trip - So maybe 3-4 days in Munich...

...Then you decide what types of other things you want to experience. Do you want the Walled cities of the Romantic Road? Do you want to take a ferry up the Rhine Valley and check out some of the riverside towns and castles? Do you absolutely need to see Neuschwanstein? Most first-time visitors consider it a bucket-list time, I think it's kinda overrated). You're even a 2hr train ride from Salzburg if any of that stuff tickles your fancy. Do you want to fly to Berlin and check out the vibe, the history and the museums?

So figure out what kinds of things you want to do and then figure out an itinerary that doesn't have you changing hotels every 2 nights. Resettling is usually wasted time, so try to do less of it.

Munich is a great place to visit for a few days, and there is an incredible science museum there. There are also the Nymphenburg Palace and the downtown palace to see of the Hapsburgs. We always go to Dachau when in the area to see the "work camp."

I would suggest you rent a car and take the 2 hour trip down to Innsbruck and the incredible Austrian Alps. We usually make a circle out of Munich--going west in Bavaria and then south into the Tirol region of Austria. Then coming back east over to Salzburg and back into Munich (2 hrs. drive.) Trains can also take you to Innsbruck and Salzburg.

No prior ticketing or planning is really required in Munich. It's been awhile since we've been in the region, and we plan to get back soon.

It was my first time there a month ago. We got along just fine. Everyone spoke English. Trains were a bit confusing at first but we got the hang of it. The only train tickets you'd want to book in advance are ICE trains that take you between big cities. Prices for those go up the closer you get to your travel date.

For history, I highly recommend a visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp just outside Munich. Easy to get to by train as well.

Also recommend BMW Welt and Museum. If you want a guided tour of BMW Factory, you'd have to book that well in advance. And it's all right across from Olympiapark which is worth exploring as well. Both are near a local train stop as well.

An American citizen doesn't need a visa to travel to Munich; they're covered under the Visa Waiver program.

Even most Business travel is covered under the 90/180 day Schengen visa waiver program, including attendance at conferences.

It sounds like you’re getting plenty of info on museums, etc. I might also recommend getting out of Munich for at least a few days. Personally, I prefer using the train system over car rentals (unless your destination is utterly unreachable by train). The Germany Ticket will save you a ton of money as well as the hassle of purchasing specific train tickets. A quick trip to Nuremberg (or even Bamberg) would be a worthy side trip. Both locations are essentially outdoor museums considering the architecture and historical significance of those cities. And of course the bier in Franconia is unparalleled anywhere else in the world.

Thank you all for your ideas and reassurance, this is very helpful! I wasn't originally considering visiting another city while there, but I think I've been convinced other wise.

My arrival/departure dates aren't set in stone yet, so I still have some freedom to plan. I think with these suggestions I will plan 3-4 days of exploring Munich before the conference, then take a train to another city for 3-4 more days. I am leaning towards either Nuremberg or Berlin; Nuremberg for the history and architecture, Berlin because it feels a natural stop for a first time. Any strong opinons/suggestions towards one or the other?

I am leaning towards either Nuremberg or Berlin

Can you fly home from Berlin rather than coming back to Munich? If not, IMO you are going to spend too much time on the train on this trip to visit Berlin. I do think that seeing both Munich and Berlin gives a broader perspective of Germany today than spending the entire trip in Bavaria. If this is going to be your only trip to Germany for the forseable future, head north to Berlin. If you expect to be back in a few years or less, a focus on Bavaria is fabulous.

random question: Are you packing suits and dress shoes for the conference or can you get by with a lighter all-purpose wardrobe?

Are you thinking something like this??
Arrive Munich - walking tour day to fight jet lag.
English Garden/surfers, Dachau half day, Art Museums,
Augsburg Daytrip
Conference + ?
Conference + ?
Depart Munich early AM for XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
Fly Home?