Looking for some ideas for a few public transit friendly day trips from Augsburg/Munich. I'm spending a few days in Augsburg this October and I'm looking for a few nice day trips from Augsburg. I've been to Munich a few times, so not interested in seeing it again. Nurnberg will be a component later in the trip and Dachau is already on the list. I've already seen parts of the Romantic Road (Rothenburg, Dinkelsbühl, Nördlingen). I've also seen the castles and Würzburg. I'm not a big museum guy, but I am into WWII history. I generally like smaller towns (but larger cities with beautiful churches or great architecture are also great). Into photography, architecture and food. You all have been super helpful with some great day trips from Frankfurt, but thoughts from the hive on this one?
Posted by
Paradise
8379 posts
Donauwörth is about 30 minutes from Augsburg by train. Harburg(Schwab) is about 10 minutes from Donauwörth by train.
Landsberg(Lech) is 1 hour from Augsburg by train.
All 3 of the above are Romantic Road towns.
Neuburg(Donau) is a fine town and can also be reached by train in about 1 hour from Augsburg.
Two years ago I stayed at and really liked the Hotel Ost am Kö in Augsburg.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19786 posts
I guess if I had to pick a base for side trips it wouldn't be Augsburg. When I did my Romantic Road trip in 2007, I skipped Augsburg. It was a fairly long day, from Landsberg am Lech to Nördlingen, with stops in Donauwörth and Harburg, so I decided to skip Augsburg. Since it's on the main line from Ulm to Munich, figured I'd get there someday. Well, I haven't, at least not yet.
There were some things in Augsburg I wanted to see, but It was just a matter of all the places on the Road I wanted to see and time available.
The closest places to Augsburg that I have been in and could recommend are Ulm and Harburg. I have stopped in Ulm twice and climbed to the top of the Münster, once in 1988 and again in 2002. Another place within an hour of Augsburg is Harburg (Schwaben). There's a neat castle there. But it's pretty close to Nördlingen, where you've already been.
From Augsburg, I would probably go to the island city of Lindau, on Bodensee, but it's a 5 hour round trip. Another place I like is Oberstdorf, in the Oberallgäu. From there you can go up into the Kleinwalsertal, an alpine valley that is actually part of Austria, but only accessible from Germany, from Oberstdorf.
I see Russ checked in before me. In 2007, on my Romantic Road trip, I stopped in Landsberg, spent a night there. It's a pretty town on the Lech river, and I enjoyed the stop there, but I'm not sure it would be worth a special trip.
Same for Donauwörth. I made special to see the statue of the "young Donau" (I'm not sure it's there anymore), at the confluence of the Danube and the Wörnitz. Some people consider Donauwörth to be the beginning of the Danube, but that is actually back in Baden-Württemberg, at Donaueschingen.
All of these trips can be made with a Regio-Ticket Allgäu-Schwaben (day pass) for 31€ single, 10€ more for each additional person.
Posted by
Arctophilia (x-27), Northamptonshire, England
37229 posts
Too bad Lee skipped Augsburg and never went back... I have found it very interesting on many levels
It may be Bavaria's third largest city, one of the oldest dating back to the Romans, but it comes across like a small town
Fuggerei and Fuggerhaüser vs. Martin Luther major history? The Fuggerei is history on many levels - a 16th century social project (world's oldest) with housing for those with needs, easily viewable (nice little cafe too), but dig down (actually) and you find yourself in World War Two bunkers, also well presented with chilling exhibits - have to negotiate stairs. I spent about 3 hours there alone. Those Fuggers were something else.
Martin Luther? The exhibits are detailed, some English on the signage although I didn't look carefully as I was following in German - I'd had no idea that Augsburg was so central his life and teachings.
The old cathedral is well worth a visit. So is the rest of the Altstadt. Look for the medieval guild houses. And the Golden Hall (elevator hidden away but available)
Sure there is plenty around, but don't miss what's on the doorstep.
I really like Augsburg (can you tell?)