Munich - arriving 2 days before tour starts

I really loved the BMW World and Museum. It was the unexpected highlight of our stay in Munich in 2015. It's across the street from the site of the 1972 Olympics - which is also worth a visit.

Thanks so much!

If you are interested in museums, go to one of the Pinakotheken (art) or the Deutsches Museum (science). If you have nice weather and want to see some countryside, the Tegernsee lake makes an easy day trip by train.

Take the train to Nuremburg. When you get to the main Habtbahnhof you can walk across the street and into the old part of town. It's easy to walk around old Nuremburg in a day, and there's so much to see. The castle, the open market by Lorenzkirch, the train museum, Albrect Drurers house, the old walls, the shops along the Pegnitz, etc.

Another city worth spending a day in is Augsburg, another short train ride from Munich. The old town is easy to walk to from the main station and, while not as pretty as Nuremburg, it's got some really interesting architecture.

If you don't want to leave the city (and the weather is good) I suggest a walk up through the English Gardens , or down to the Tierpark Zoo, or out to Schloss Nymphenberg. If your partner has any interest in seeing how things are made the Deutsches Museum (just 5 minutes past the Victualmarkt on the river) on it's island is fascinating. If you like hunting the hunting and fishing Museum (just inside the walking district) is interesting (look for the large bronze Boar and Carp statues).

If you like art the Alte and Neue Pinakothek (old and new art museums) are right next to the Egyptian Museum and the Museum of German Crystal. You can't see them all in one day. If you just want to sit and people watch the coffee shop next to the Frauenkirch is a good place.

If the weather is nice on one of you days and you are comfortable riding bikes, I'd recommend renting some and exploring the Englischer Garten, Olympia Park, and Nymphenburg Palace. You will get a great cross section of the city this way.

Taking the train to a lake south of the city is another great way to spend the day. There are several to choose from (Ammersee, Starnberger See, Tegernsee, etc)

DJ

Thanks so much for the recommendations. I very much appreciate your thoughts. They run the gamut!