5 day weekend in Munich in early October...

Hi Shannon, We love October for Bavaria and Austria. 5 trips so far to these area's in October. Our experiences have been weather that's similar to here in the NY area. Daytime temps anywhere from the low 60's to the high 70's. Salzburg is worth the trip. Touristy, yet it's still a beautiful old town. Very easy to see on foot, as it's not all that large. Maybe visit King Ludwig's Neues Schloss (Herrenchiemsee) palace, an hour from Munich, or spend a day (and maybe a night) in Mittenwald (beautiful Bavarian village surrounded by alps), two hours from Munich. Paul

"I've read that two full days in Munich is enough time." Only if you don't want to see much. Whoever said that doesn't really know Munich. I've spent 25 full or partial days (18 nights) in Munich in seven trips. For my wife's first trip we spent two days there (3 actually, one we went to Salzburg). We watched the Glockenspiel, ate in the Hofbräuhaus, walked down to Isartor, toured the Münchner Stadtmuseum, [ETA, saw the Viktualienmarkt], went out to Schloß Nymphenburg. We didn't have time to see the church (Frauenkirche) or the Residenz. Last year, I spent a day each in the Deutsches Museum and going to Dachau. Another trip I took the S-Bahn down to Andechs. That's five days, and I didn't see everything there is in Munich. I don't like art museums, so I've skipped the Pinokotheken, but some people would go there. I spent 2 weeks in the area in Oct, 2007, and the weather was beautiful. October is Munich's driest month.

Three days is never enough time to see Munich, the previous post didnt even mention the English Garden, ViktuellenMarket, or just roaming around. Also if you do get bored there are many good day or half day trips from Munich to give you a break

Oktoberfest is over 4 October. If you will in Munich before the end, rooms might be an issue......I am frustrated by short visits to large cities as it does not allow me to get a good feel for a town. I have made 3 short visits to Munich (2-3 days) and never felt like I got to know the place....Salzburg is very touristy but also very attractive. It had a significant role in the religious and political history of Germany and Austria....You might also like a visit to Regensburg, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its medieval buildings. I love the narrow streets and plazas.

I agree with what everyone has posted. Munich is a great town and you can fill up 5 days easliy. I have been there twice. Both times during Oktoberfest, so our time was somewhat occupied with being at the Oktoberfest grounds (and recovering the next day). On my first visit, I thought Munich was okay but wasn't able to give it the attention it needed to explore. We went to the Virkulian Market, the Glockenspeil and the Deutches Museum. I was not a fan of the Deutches Museum, but I am maybe in the minority there. Granted my activities the day before may have slanted me so that I was too tired to really enjoy it - but I remember everything in that place being interactive except that everything was broken and nothing worked. You press a button to make something happen and nadda. Having said that we returned to Munich last fall and there was so much more I knew that I had not seen. This time we went to the Hofbrauhaus, The Residenz and The English Garden. This experience was great because I could really feel the history come alive in Munich. It was a whole other side to the city I had not seen yet. The English Garden is fabulous. The Residenz is facinating...but the audio guide is very dry. The Hofbrauhaus was a place we went to check it off and it was enjoyable. But sort of unnessary when Oktoberfest is going on. For side trips, definitely try to see King Ludwigs castles. The area is just beautiful. There is Dachau (that I have yet to make it to). Rothenburg and Salzburg would both be great. Your choices are endless.

Check carefully when you will be there and hotel availablity. Oktoberfest ends in early October and rooms are immpossible to get and extermely expensive. Also watch out for conventions around that time - another reason for limited and pricey rooms. Two days is hardly enough to really get a feel of the city - but enough to sample it and hopefully want to return.

Munich is one of my favorites[INVALID]and definitely underrated by any guidebook I have ever read. The downtown area is pedestrian friendly, and if it's cold you can get around in underground shopping areas built beneath the city core. The public transportation is good and easy. Besides the other items listed here (loved the Duetches Museum) the Alte and Neue Pinotek art museums are very good. Take a tram to one of the neighborhoods if downtown doesn't offer enough. I'd not worry much about day trips[INVALID]but if you want to go elsewhere, an easy to find train station can get you there.

I agree with all the suggestions for Munich. Have been there several times and it is a wonderful city to explore. Salzburg is also beautiful and easy day trip from Munich. You may also consider Rothenburg ob der Tauber or Nurnberg for another day trip. Both are wonderful medieval. Weather will be perfect in October 60ish................Have fun!!

I'm thinking your ticket is for after Octoberfest, so that's out. There is plenty to do in Munich that can use up five full days. English Gardens is a great place to spend a nice afternoon, after a morning spent at Marienplatz and Viktualenmarket(?). The Alta Pinokotek is one of my favorite art galleries anywhere. Nymphenburg palace will add another afternoon or more. If you feel you have seen plenty in the area, there are many daytrips available. Salzburg is great and, surprisingly, not as touristy as many other places in the area (tough I've only been in September and October). Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau are reachable as a daytrip from Munich - they ARE very touristy. Most do concentration camp daytrips but those have never interested me. We did the salt mine tour in Berchtesgaden as a daytrip from Salzburg that may be a decent daytrip from Munich also.

Thank you to everyone for your responses. We have been to Europe several times - but this will be our first to Germany minus our many stops in Frankfort's airport. :) Seems we will have no problem filling our time.