10 Best Day Trips From Munich By Train

Are you looking for the best day trips from Munich by train? You’re at the right place.

Here’s an Ultimate Munich Day Trips Guide that lists the 10 best places to visit near Munich, Germany. All by train.

Munich’s central location in Bavaria makes it a perfect starting point for exploring nearby places. With an efficient and well-connected train system, you can easily reach many beautiful places in Bavaria and beyond within a few hours.

From visiting the famous Disney Castle of Neuschwanstein to exploring Salzburg, the City of Music, right across the Germany-Austria border, here are the 10 best day trips from Munich by train, plus travel tips for each location.

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link on this post. This will be at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links help me keep this website up and running. Thanks for your support!

Top 10 Munich Day Trips by Train

Neuschwanstein Castle and Fussen

Neuschwanstein Castle is Germany’s fairytale castle and one of Europe’s most iconic places to visit.

Located on a picturesque cliff in the Bavarian Alps, Neuschwanstein Castle is believed to have inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle and attracts millions of visitors annually. The so-called Mad Bavarian King Ludwig II built the castle in the late 19th century as a place to escape his busy royal life.

The castle’s Romanticist architecture, stunning interiors, and breathtaking views make it an absolute must-visit in Germany. Don’t miss Marienbrücke (Mary’s Bridge), the best place to get amazing pictures of Neuschwanstein Castle.

You can easily couple a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle with a visit to Hohenschwangau Castle and the nearest town of Fussen, a hidden gem in Germany.

Fussen is known for its musical history, by the way. Did you know that?

Be sure to buy your Neuschwanstein Castle tickets in advance because they sell off quickly.

How to get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich?

The easiest way to get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich is by train. Take a train from Munich Hauptbahnhof (central station) to Fussen. Trains run every hour and are either direct or one-stop journeys. It takes approximately two hours to get to Fussen.

Once you arrive in Fussen, ride Bus 73 or 78 and get off at Hohenschwangau. For details, refer to our Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle Day Trip Guide.

✦ Pro Tip: Book this highly-rated Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle Full-Day Tour with experts and enjoy your day.

Regensburg

Regensburg is a well-preserved medieval town in Germany and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is home to impressive landmarks such as St. Peter’s Cathedral, the Old Stone Bridge, and the world’s oldest sausage kitchen.

Begin your day at the Old Town or Regensburg Altstadt, home to over 1500 heritage buildings in Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. The city has a cute tourist train that shows you the best of Regensburg in less than an hour.

Head to St. Peter’s Cathedral, known for its Gothic architecture and stunning stained glass windows.

Relish a sausage at the world’s oldest sausage kitchen and stroll along the Old Stone Bridge for spectacular views of the Danube River.

How to get to Regensburg from Munich?

A direct train from Munich to Regensburg takes about 1.5 hours. Trains run every 40 minutes to an hour.

Once you arrive, the Old Town is within walking distance from the train station.

✦ Pro Tip: Book this highly-rated Regensburg Walking Tour with an expert local guide and enjoy your day.

Berchtesgaden: Eagles Nest and Lake Konigsee

If you’re looking for a beautiful day out in the Bavarian Alps, head to the magical town of Berchtesgaden near Munich.

Located in the Alps, close to the Austrian border, Berchtesgaden has always remained a favorite mountain retreat for Germans and Austrians.

While in Berchtesgaden, visit Lake Konigsee, a crystal-clear alpine lake. Join a boat tour and get off at the serene St. Bartholomew’s Church, where you can enjoy the peace and tranquility of it all. People also love hiking around the lake.

If you’re into World War II history, don’t miss Eagles Nest or Kehlsteinhaus, a historic site with a fascinating past. Kehlsteinhaus is located on a cliff in the Bavarian Alps and was built as a summer retreat for Adolf Hitler. It is now a small museum and restaurant and offers panoramic views of the Bavarian Alps.

How to get to Eagle’s Nest from Munich?

You can travel from Munich to Berchtesgaden by train. The journey takes around 2.5 hours.

Once you arrive at Berchtesgaden train station, take Bus 838 for Eagles Nest or Bus 841 for Lake Konigsee.

✦ Pro Tip: Book this highly rated Munich to Berchtesgaden Full-Day Tour with experts and enjoy your day.

Salzburg

If you’re looking for a culture and music-filled day trip from Munich, head to Salzburg, just across the German-Austrian border.

Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace, is known for its baroque architecture and musical heritage. It is filled with historical sites, charming squares, and elegant gardens.

Further, Salzburg is the city where the famous movie “The Sound of Music” was shot.

Start your day in Salzburg with a trip to Mozart’s Birthplace, now a museum dedicated to the composer’s life and work.

Join a Sound of Music tour and hum along with your group as you visit every location where the movie was filmed. Mirabell Palace and Garden are among the best Sound of Music spots to visit in Salzburg.

Check out the DomQuartier, the city’s historical center, home to the Cathedral and the Residenz.

How to get to Salzburg from Munich?

A train ride from Munich to Salzburg takes about 1.5 hours. That’s the fastest way to get to Austria’s music city from Munich.

✦ Pro Tip: Book this highly-rated Munich to Salzburg Full-Day Tour with experts and enjoy your day.

Nuremberg

Nuremberg is one of the most popular places to visit near Munich.

With only an hour’s train ride from Munich, you will have an entire day in Nuremberg, and you can see so much in a short amount of time. Nuremberg is small, so getting around is easy.

Some of the best things to do in Nuremberg involve history, specifically WWII. Nuremberg is where the famous Nuremberg Trials were held, and you can visit the actual courtrooms as well as museums that give you lots of information about the events. 

Non-history-related things in Nuremberg include walking the scenic, cobbled streets and marveling at the colored architecture, visiting Nuremberg castle, and getting good luck by rubbing golden statues in the main square. 

Nuremberg is one of the best places to visit in Germany, and a day trip from Munich makes for the perfect German itinerary. 

How to get to Nuremberg from Munich?

Getting there by train is the most convenient mode of transport (although taking a bus or driving yourself are also good options). The train from Munich to Nuremberg takes only 1 hour and leaves almost every 30 minutes throughout the day. 

✦ Pro Tip: Book this highly rated Munich to Nuremberg Full-Day Tour by Train and let the experts plan an amazing day for you.

Lake Constance

Escape the buzz of Munich city and take a day trip to Lake Constance or Bodensee. This large alpine lake on the River Rhine is divided into upper and lower lakes. It lies on the border between Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

A fun fact is that until the late 19th century around Lake, they had 5 different time zones, which caused quite a confusion until unification.

Džangir from Dr Jam Travels tells us that the best place to start exploring would be the east side of the lake at Lindau Insel or Lindau Island, which is closest to Munich. On this small island, you can explore a lovely old town (town hall, church, narrow streets) with a harbor (old and new lighthouse, lion statue).

Many spots on the lake are accessible to swimmers, so you can chill a bit with a swim. If you would like to explore further, you can take the train or ferry.

Among the places worth visiting nearby are Bregenz in Austria and Friedrichshafen, where you can experience a flight with a Zeppelin, or Constance, the biggest town on the lake with many interesting things to see.

You should visit this lake for Christmas markets and ice skating in the wintertime.

How to get to Lake Constance from Munich?

The best way to get to Lake Constance from Munich is by car, and the drive takes around 2 hours.

However, the train journey from Munich Hbf to Lindau (the closest town to Lake Constance), which takes about 2.5 – 3 hours, is extremely scenic. This lake is very popular among locals, so you should make a reservation upfront to secure a seat on the train.

Wurzburg

Wurzburg is a historic city in Germany that’s just over a 2-hour train ride from Munich.

Start your day trip to Wurzburg at the Residenz. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a giant palace in the middle of the city with beautiful gardens and stunning architecture.

After visiting the Residenz, make your way to the city center and visit one of the many cathedrals and churches, specifically the Wurzburg Dome or Neumunster Church.

The Old Bridge, or Alte Mainbrucke, crosses the Main River and is a popular destination for views of the famous Marienberg Castle, which sits on a hill overlooking the city. Nowadays, there is a winery on the bridge, where visitors can enjoy local wine from a glass while standing on the bridge.

Afterward, hike to the top of the hill and visit Marienberg. This castle offers the best views of Wurzburg.

Wurzburg is a small city, and many of its sites can be seen in a single day, making it an ideal day trip from Munich.

How to get to Wurzburg from Munich?

Wurzburg is an easy day trip from Munich. Just hop on one of the ICE trains from Munich Hbf to Wurzburg Hbf.

Once in Wurzburg, you do not need a vehicle to get around, as it is very pedestrian-friendly. Most of the main attractions and sites are around the historic town center.

✦ Pro Tip: Explore Wurzburg on this guided walking tour with an expert local guide and carry a bottle of Franconian wine home.

Bad Reichenhall

Bad Reichenhall is a beautiful city in Bavaria with a long and rich history. Its amazing architecture reflects this history and wealth.

There are many wonderful things to do in Bad Reichenhall. Lisi from Escaping Worlds tells us that visiting the Konigliche Kurgaren Park, which has a brine inhalation facility, is an absolutely must-do. The brine facility is open from April to October and has no admission fee.

This park is close to the pedestrian zone, a shopping street that is very inviting for a stroll or an ice cream.

Bad Reichenhall also has a thermal bath, which is the perfect place to relax. There are multiple indoor and outdoor pools and, of course, a sauna area. Be aware that there is an enormous rush during lousy weather, and the thermal bath is packed.

An alternative bad weather activity in Bad Reichenhall is the salt museum “Alte Saline.” You can learn more about the discovery of the brine spring and salt production there.

If you just want to unwind and enjoy the atmosphere of this small town, you can take a walk up the hill and into the residential area of Bad Reichenhall. The walk starts near the “Alte Saline” and leads you up the “Burg Gruttenstein.” 

How to get to Bad Reichenhall from Munich?

Bad Reichenhall is a 2-hour train ride from Munich; you only need to change once in Freilassing.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is located about 1 1/2 hours from Munich by train and makes for a fantastic day trip for several reasons. The city is mainly known as a winter sports resort, but visitors come to enjoy the landscapes and surroundings all year round.

Garmisch and Partenkirchen were two towns that Hitler merged in the 1930s for the Winter Olympics, and therefore, the towns have two separate city centers. 

Additionally, the city still hosts the yearly Four Hills Ski Jumping tournament. During the tournament, you can spot many celebrities hanging out in Garmisch.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is also known for a special art form called Luftlmalerei. The houses are painted with Trompe-l’œil paintings, which look convincingly real. You can spot this art form in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and neighboring Mittenwald and Oberammergau, as well as in the Fussen and Hohenschwangau near Neuschwanstein Castle.

If you are in the mountains, you will want to head to the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest summit, for unparalleled panoramic views. At the base of the Zugspitze lies one of Germany’s most beautiful lakes, the Eibsee Lake. Both are just a few minutes away from the central train station and are some of the top attractions in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. 

You should also visit the Partnach gorge, an easy hike near the Olympia stadium in Garmisch. The gorge is open all year round and offers a stunning natural environment.

How to get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen from Munich?

The best way to get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen from Munich is by train. Direct trains take about 1.5 hours.

Innsbruck

A day trip from Munich to Innsbruck is highly recommended if you want to explore hidden gems in the region.

Start your day in Innsbruck by exploring the old town full of historic landmarks. This is where you’ll find the city’s most famous attraction – the Golden Roof.

Walk the charming, narrow lanes of the historic city center and arrive at the City Tower, dating back to the 1400s. If you are ready to walk more than 130 steps of this tower, you will be greeted with the city’s best views. You can enjoy breakfast around here or go to the popular shopping street, Maria-Theresien-Straße, lined with souvenir shops, boutiques, and cafes. 

You can reach the mountains in less than 10 minutes by Hungerburgbahn Funicular. During ski season, you can also take a cable car to Nordkette to reach the skiing area. If the weather permits, you can hike around the Nordkette mountains. 

Other attractions include – Innsbruck Cathedral, the castle of Schloss Ambras, and the Hofburg Innsbruck Museum. To spend more time in this beautiful country, check out this Austria itinerary for the perfect vacation. 

How to get to Innsbruck from Munich?

The best way to reach Innsbruck from Munich is by train. More than 15 trains connect Innsbruck and Munich, with the fastest train covering the distance in just one and a half hours. The regular trains usually take 2 hours for the Innsbruck-Munich journey. 

You can get down at Hauptbahnhof Innsbruck and walk to the city center. The station is hardly 15 minutes away from the Innsbruck Old Town.

Loved this Munich Day Trips Bucket List? Pin it for later!