Germany Austria travel

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a little more than an hour or so from Munich by train, is in the Alps, and is a great place. I'm going back there this summer. They have tandem paragliding off one of the mountains there as well in case you want an adrenaline rush to go along with your pleasant stay there. Gute Reise!

If you have three days in Salzburg, I suggest you spend one seeing Salzburg and the other two in Berchtesgaden. It's one of Germany's national parks. There is a beautiful narrow, deep Alpine lake, the Königssee, with electic boats to take you the length. A short bus ride out of Berchtesgaden gets you to the base of Kehlstein (Mountain), where special mountain buses will take you up to the Eagles' Nest, Hitler's mountain hideaway. At the base of the mountain is the Dokumentation Center, a museum with exhibits that document the Nazi rise to power. You can also tour the SS bunkers that were there.

Hi Dan, Since Salzburg is on your list, I'd visit the Berchtesgaden area also. If you have a total of 4 days (Salzburg 1day, 3 days before you fly out of Munich), I'd probably base in Berchtesgaden or area, visit Salzburg as a day trip (30 min. away), Visit the Konigsee, Jennerbahn cable car, Eagle's Nest, maybe a Salt Mine tour. So I'd suggest either all 4 days in 1 place (since Salzburg and Berchtesgaden are so close) or split the time between the two for a change of atmosphere. Berchtesgaden and the area has some terrific Alpine scenery. www.worldisround.com/articles/362557/index.html www.worldisround.com/articles/355557/index.html www.worldisround.com/articles/355548/index.html Paul

Dan, I was in the very same situation a few yrs back. I started in Prague, took train to Berlin and then did sort of a loop around Germany; ending in Munich, from where I flew back to NY. I had also been to Munich a few times on previous trips, so I bypassed it and went south to the alps for a few days, and then returned to Munich for just the last night, so that I'd be close to the train station/train to airport the morning of my departure. I spent those days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and loved it. There is so much hiking and out-doors activity. The highlight, for me, was the Zugspitze, the highest peak in all of Germany, accessible by cable-car (and a cog-wheel train that takes you to the cable car). From up-top, you are in Germany, but you are looking into the Austrian Tyrol; the views are nothing short of amazing. And if you do end up in Garmisch, here is a hotel/B&B recommendation:
http://www.hohe-tannen.de/ Ended up being one of my favorite small inns/B&B-type places I ever stayed at in Europe. Small, very clean, comfortable, homey and a great value. Breakfast each day was excellent, and the owners could not be nicer or more accommodating. Location great, too; in quiet neighborhood that was just a few min walk into town, as well as to the cog-wheel train for the 1st leg to the Zugspitze. And as someone also mentioned above, Munich to Garmisch-Patenkirchen by train is super-easy (around 1.5 hrs, if I recall).