Munich to Brugge?

Munich to Brugge via train with stops in Rothenburg & Bacharach/St Goar would generally take at least 3-4 days, depending how much time was spent in each stop off location of course. Spending a week on that trip would be more manageable.

I'd go from Munich to Rothenburg (about 3½) by regional train (so you can use a Bayern-Ticket - €21 for one person, €29 up to 5). Spend a night in Rothenburg (it's worth a night). The next day (or the following if you want more than an afternoon and evening in Rothenburg), go from Rothenburg to St. Goar (or Bacharach). If you use regional trains you can stay in Rothenburg until noon and still get to St. Goar by dinner. If you use regional trains, you can use a Quer durchs Land Ticket for €42 single, €48 for two. Spend the night in one of those towns. By regional trains, St. Goar to Brugge will take 14 hrs with 10 train changes. You don't want to do that. With sufficient advance purchase, you can get a Savings Fare ticket from St Goar to Brugge in about 6 hrs (+/-) using express trains. Use the German Rail (Bahn) website to see schedules and book the last leg online. One hint: on the Bahn schedule website, spell St. Goar as St Goar (no period after St). That defaults to the Bahnhof; otherwise it will show you some options, including the KD dock, but not the Bahnhof.

"Bacharach to St. Goar?" That's only 40 minutes. You'd be better off seeing more of the scenic area - start in Bingen or Rüdesheim and end in St. Goar, which gives you another hour and who knows how many more castles. The Munich station wakes up early. A 6:48 train from Munich gets you to Bingen Hbf at 11:03 with one change in Stuttgart. Walk straight into town for the 11:30 boat north. Arrive St. Goar 12:55. You still have time to make it to Bruges if you're crazy. Get on the 13:33 and arrive at 19:00 (3 changes.) But why not see Rheinfels (The TI in St. Goar will keep bags, or drop them at hotel) and stay the night in St. Goar, or return south by train to Bacharach (10 min.) to spend the night there? The next morning, it's about 30-40 min. to Koblenz, where you connect for Bruges. Alternatively... you can get off the boat in St. Goarshausen instead at 13:05 (east bank across from St. Goar) and get a train north (13:31) to Braubach (13:52) The TI there will keep your bags too. Have a look around town and a bite to eat, then walk up to the castle or take the shuttle and at 15:00 take a tour of the very best Rhine Castle - Marksburg: http://www.marksburg.de . Braubach is a handsome town, a good place to overnight: http://www.bensbauernhof.com/pensionfelsenkellerbraubachrhine.html The next morning you'll catch a train into Koblenz (12 min.) where you'll connect to move on to Bruges. Note: all the above presupposes a railpass or tickets for the fast trains on the long legs and just one night between Munich and Bruges. If you want to see Rothenburg too, I'd add a night.

Thanks for the ideas! How would things change if I rented a car?

A little less time, a lot more money.

Parking in Bruges can be "challenging" and expensive if you are not careful. There are 2 zones in Bruges, the blue zone and the white zone. Parking near the touristed centre can add up. If your hotel or B&B says where to park you should listen to them. For people who used to just park on the street in front of their B&B, like we used to do, it has gotten much tougher.