What to do in 4-5 days after a week in Munich

Munich to Budapest 90 minute flight $100 to $200

Now why didn't I think of Budapest! It is, indeed, an interesting city.

If this is in the second half of the month, my suggestion is Stuttgart. They will be holding their Volksfest, similar to Oktoberfest, with about half as many people.

Or, go to Nurenberg and include a day trip to Bamberg. Salzburg is also close enough to Munich to head there for a few days.

Thank you both! Great ideas. Any recommendations for what to see in Saltzburg? Also, is Italy biting off too much for such a short time?

Salzburg kept my attention for almost 2 full days. But there is a lot to see in the region that could easily keep you busy a few more days.

You could take the train down through Innsbruck, Bolzano, Verona, and then over to Venice. You could do a one-day train ride or split up the time in the areas around train stops. Lots to see in all these places. You could look for autumn cow parades for September. They may not be published yet for next fall. Maybe try later in spring/summer. Vocabulary words to use in a google search may include: Almabtrieb, Alpabzug, Alpabfahrt.

I’d vote Salzburg. Simple train ride, and just easy to enjoy. Not sight heavy, but atmosphere and energy are great. Couple day trip options out there too.

If you’re willing to hop on a plane? Just about anywhere, but I’d pick a secondary city with a smaller airport. Berlin springs to mind, would be an interesting contrast to Munich.

Any recommendations for what to see in Saltzburg?

You have a 16th & 17th century city with beautiful churches, a fortress, and a palace. A performing arts scene centered around some local boy named Mozart. Day trips into the surrounding mountians. And, if you are into it, Sound of Music tours and sights.

You have some good options already, but I'll give you another one. It's a $35 train ride to Konstanz, where you have a great city, nice lake, fantastic garden island (Mainau), and dinosaurs, zeppelin rides, castles, gondolas into the alps, Switzerland, Austria, and Lichtenstein, Lindau, the Rhine Falls, etc. all right there. It's beautiful there in Sept.

I think all of the suggestions above are excellent choices. I like Nuremberg as there's a nice cluster of towns scattered around it that would make for some great day trips, like Bamberg, Regensburg, Wurzburg and even Rothenburg ob der Tauber. It's easy to reach from Munich, and it's even easier to take the train to most of the places listed above since Nuremberg is at the center of the hub (well, Rothenburg would take a bit more planning).

And I love Salzburg, so that would be a good choice as well. Are you looking for something inside or outside of Germany? Or does it matter?

We did the train ride from Venice to Munich. Well worth the day it takes.

Such thoughtful responses - thank you! We have a friend in Zurich so the Munich to Konstanz to Zurich seems like a great option, as does the Bolzano to Venice route. Since the last half of the trip is TBD, is is advisable to book a flight one way to Munich (traveling to and from the east coast of US), and figure out the return flight later, or is it better to end in Munich again so flight can be booked as round trip. Would also love any information about booking trains with the ability to get on and off as suggested. Thanks again!

You could also head northeast to Dresden and Saxon Switzerland--beautiful that time of year! Nature, history, architecture, art, light to moderate to difficult hikes, river, sandstone formations, early fall colour . . . . chef's kiss

The other suggestion would be Prague. It's close and gorgeous with so much to see and do.

Neither require airports or similar hassles.

Thank you all again so much. You have made the decisions very difficult! I think we narrowed it down to either heading to Zurich or to Venice. A post above mentioned the train down through Innsbruck, Bolzano, Verona, and then over to Venice. Does anyone have any more information on this trip? Is it possible to spend a night or two in towns along the way, and then get back on the train? Would we have to book each individual train ticket from town to town, or do we book the entire journey with the ability to get on and off. I apologize if my question is confusing. Again, your help is much appreciated.