Stopover suggestions between Regensburg & Garmisch

I'm going to also make the assumption that either you've seen Munich previously or it's somewhere else on your itinerary.

Risky here to recommend a place I've never visited, but I've heard that Landshut is worth a visit, mainly for the castle that overlooks the town.

Yes we've been to Munich before and actually will later in the trip stay a couple nights in Munich. The castle at Landshut does look interesting to check out.

I think Herrenchiemsee would be a little far east for your trip. Have you been to Oberammergau? In non-Passion-Play years it's pretty quiet, but a pretty little town with mural painted buildings. It's a short day trip from there to Linderhof or even the castles at Hohenschwangau. But it's also a short day trip for someone staying in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Another area to visit might be the lakes south of Holzkirchen (Kochelsee, Tegernsee, Schliersee).

I would second a stopover in Landshut. It is a very attractive town, about right for a few hours.

http://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Christmas-Markets-2009/Landshut-2009/10635634_WwvXRT

We had two very pleasant meals at the Augustiner an der St. Martins Kirche and the Gasthof zur Insel.

Thanks for the ideas. I think we will visit Landshut for a couple of hours and then head down to Tegernsee. It all looks great. Gary - Thank you for the link of your pictures. I was able to look at some of the other Christmas markets we will be visiting besides Landshut and also helped me understand how the weather could be. It all looks amazing.

More than one stop in a single day in December may be cutting it tight, unless you don't have a problem arriving in GaP after dark.

That's true enough. I've been to GaP before so I have an idea where we are going, but you are right that I'd rather arrive by dusk. We are early risers so we'll be on the road by 8:00 which should be when it's getting light out. If we stop for about 2 hours in Landshut and then head to Tegernsee then a couple hours there, I think we would be okay. Does that sound about right for timing Tom?

If you're familiar with GaP and you don't mind arriving after dark, then go for it. I'm just wondering, though, if Tegernsee might be kind of dead in the winter. Well, I guess you can find that out for yourself and report back.

I'm not as concerned with your getting into Garmisch-Partenkirchen after dark as I am with the drive from Tegernsee to GaP. I've been through that area a few times, and some routes, particularly the most scenic ones, are pretty mountainous. I think sunset at that time of year is about 1630, which gives you only 8½ hours of daylight from the time you say you will leave Regensburg. ViaMichelin gives the driving time from Regensburg to GaP through Landshut and Tegernsee as four hours. If you stayed at Landshut for 2 hours (hardly seems like enough if it is worth seeing), then you wouldn't have more than about 2 hours in Tegernsee or you would be driving in the dark.

Be prepared to omit Tegernsee if you stay very long at Landshut.

I'm thinking Starnberg or Andechs might be a better stopover.