Around Munich, the largest city in Bavaria, there are many places that are even more interesting than the city itself. Stunning castles and palaces, mountain peaks of the Alps, ancient cities. All this is within easy reach. Looking for best day trips from Munich for one day? Here are 15 perfect ideas.
Best day trips from Munich: Garmisch-Partenkirchen
This small Bavarian town is surrounded by Alps. This is a classic mountain resort, which combines local traditions and the desire to preserve nature in an exceptional way. Walking around the city is a real treat. In addition to breathtaking views, the city will delight you with traditional houses with painted facades and bright flowers on the windows. Nearby is the highest peak in Germany – Zugspitze (2962 m).
How far is Garmisch-Partenkirchen from Munich
The distance from the center of Munich to the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen is approximately 90 kilometers if you travel by car.
Best day trips from Munich: Partnachklamm Gorge
For its stunning beauty, the Partnachklamm gorge has been declared a natural monument. From the middle of the gorge, you can walk along the winding paths that lead down from the rocks through the waterfalls.
How far is the Partnachklamm Gorge from Munich
The distance from the center of Munich to the Partnachklamm is approximately 95 kilometers if you travel by car.
Photo: Zairon (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo: Zairon (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo: Zairon (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Best day trips from Munich: Linderhof Palace
King Ludwig II, aside from Neuschwanstein Castle, had another favorite place. Tucked away in an alpine forest at the end of the 19th century, this Linderhof Palace was built on the site of the king’s hunting lodge and is furnished with splendid furniture and rich wall carpets. On the territory there are beautiful gardens with amazing fountains.
Be sure to visit the Hall of Mirrors, the Tapestry Room and the famous grotto of Venus.
How far is Linderhof Palace from Munich
The distance from the center of Munich to the Linderhof Palace is approximately 100 kilometers if you travel by car.
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Photo: Softeis / Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Best day trips from Munich: Herrenchiemsee Palace (Schloss Herrenchiemsee)
The royal complex Herrenchiemsee, which is also called the “Bavarian Versailles”, is built on an island located in the middle of the largest lake in Bavaria.
Sights such as the State Staircase, the Great Hall of Mirrors and King Ludwig’s Little Apartment can be found on the palace grounds. The gardens are decorated with fountains and sculptures.
There are two museums here – the Museum of King Ludwig II and the Augustinian monastery, which store artifacts from the life of the king and priceless furniture.
How far is Herrenchiemsee Palace from Munich
Distance from the center of Munich to the pier of the city of Prien am Chiemsee is approximately 95 kilometers if you travel by car. From the pier you can get to Herrenchiemsee Palace by boat.
Photo: Guido Radig (CC BY 3.0)
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Photo: rjones0856 (CC BY 2.0)
Best day trips from Munich: Salzburg
This is the birthplace of the great Mozart and one of the most famous cultural centers in Europe, attracting millions of tourists who want to plunge into the magical atmosphere of baroque, music and art. Salzburg is a unique city that harmoniously combines picturesque natural landscapes, wonderful ancient architecture, art and culture, as well as tradition and modernity.
How far is Salzburg from Munich
The distance from the center of Munich to the city of Salzburg is approximately 150 kilometers if you travel by car.
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Best day trips from Munich: Nuremberg (Nürnberg)
Nuremberg is the most German city, a monument of medieval architecture, the birthplace of Bavarian gingerbread. This is the city of emperors and kings, where amazing places and enchanting landscapes meet at every turn. Majestic castles, Gothic churches, beautiful fountains and unique museums, the beauty of which is emphasized by the magnificent landscape, have made Nuremberg popular with tourists from all over the world. Here you can feel the special atmosphere of old Germany, which is harmoniously intertwined with the young spirit of a modern European city. Nuremberg can be discovered again and again. It never disappoints and every time it opens up from a new side.
How far is Nuremberg from Munich
The distance from the center of Munich to the city of Nuremberg is approximately 170 kilometers if you travel by car.
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Best day trips from Munich: Ingolstadt
It impresses with its versatility – here you can see both medieval buildings and architectural projects of modern design. Ingolstadt is not only an ancient fortress city, but also the residence of the Dukes of Bavaria. Among other things, it is also a university center. The city is surrounded by the preserved ruins of medieval battlements and fortifications.
How far is Ingolstadt from Munich
The distance from the center of Munich to the city of Ingolstadt is approximately 85 kilometers if you travel by car.
Photo: Helmlechner (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: Tobias Van Der Elst / flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Photo: Brian Burger / flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Best day trips from Munich: Schleissheim Palace (Schloss Schleißheim)
The palace and park ensemble in the town of Oberschleissheim is one of the former summer residences of the Wittelsbachs. The palace complex consists of three palaces-castles and a park. Schleissheim Palace, striking in splendor: a large front staircase, a snow-white ballroom, chic interiors, exquisite furniture, a baroque art gallery, frescoes on the ceilings and stucco, sculptures and a park with fountains.
How far is Schleissheim Palace from Munich
The Schleissheim Palace parking lot is approximately 20 kilometers from the center of Munich if you travel by car.
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Photo: Rufus46 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: Rufus46 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Best day trips from Munich: Passau
The town of Passau is famous for its location. Its center lies between the Danube and its major tributary the Inn. It is so densely built up that you probably won’t even notice that the two rivers are separated by a rather high hill – unless you try to climb from the Danube to the cathedral. But both other banks – the left of Danube and the right of Inn – are much higher than this hill, and the best views of Passau are from them. Most of the time, however, you will spend in the center. Although Passau was bombed three times in 1945, the center is remarkably well preserved, and, as befits a Bavarian city, almost entirely built in the Baroque style. Its dominant and compositional spot is a huge cathedral, on the towers of which there are two completions in the form of onions, visible from almost anywhere in the city.
How far is Passau from Munich
Passau is approximately 175-195 kilometers from the center of Munich if you travel by car.
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Best day trips from Munich: Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a charming old German town where you start to believe in miracles. It is located in Bavaria, in the district of Middle Franconia, and is famous for its unique, well-preserved architecture, as well as its unique snowball-shaped cakes called Schneeball. A visit to Rothenburg ob der Tauber is like a journey into an amazing fairy-tale world, where everything around is imbued with the spirit of magic. There is a special energy here. All the houses in the historical part seem unreal, toy, as if they came from old pictures or postcards. It seems that time has stopped here, so the heart of every tourist stops in anticipation of magic. No wonder the city is home to the only Christmas museum in the world. It is open to visitors all year round and allows you to plunge into the atmosphere of the Christmas holidays, regardless of the date on the calendar.
How far is Rothenburg ob der Tauber from Munich
The distance from the center of Munich to the city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber is approximately 250 kilometers if you travel by car.
Photo: Berthold Werner (Public domain)
Photo: Weners (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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Best day trips from Munich: Berchtesgaden and Kehlsteinhaus
The city of Berchtesgaden is surrounded by the beautiful National Park of the same name. Besides, in the town there is a well-preserved old palace built back in the 1100s.
The infamous Eagle’s Nest or Kehlsteinhaus is also very popular. This is a hideout built for Hitler on Mount Kehlstein at an altitude of 1834 meters.
How far is Berchtesgaden from Munich
The distance from the center of Munich to the town of Berchtesgaden is approximately 160 kilometers if you travel by car. Please note that some routes pass through Austria, so check in advance if there are any travel restrictions at the moment. To get from the town of Berchtesgaden to the Kehlsteinhaus, you need to buy a ticket for the tourist bus. You can do it at the Berchtesgaden railway station. Specify in advance all the nuances associated with a trip to the Eagle’s Nest.
Photo: Bernd Thaller / flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: Bernd Thaller / flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: Franz Reger (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Best day trips from Munich: Mount Eckbauer
Mount Eckbauer, located in the German region of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, is part of the country’s popular ski area. The length of the ski slopes in the region is about 120 kilometers. The height of Mount Eckbauer is 1238 meters, and the ski slopes located on it are perfect for the beginners.
The Eckbauer Olympic ski jumps attract tourists because two-thirds of the slopes are located in the shade. A wide slalom track from top to bottom passes through a picturesque forest. A convenient two-seat chair lift delivers skiers to the top. At the foot of Mount Eckbauer there are hotels and cafes.
How far is Mount Eckbauer from Munich
The distance from the center of Munich to the Mount Eckbauer is about 120 kilometers if you travel by car.
Photo: Allie_Caulfield / flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: Allie_Caulfield / flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: Allie_Caulfield / flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Best day trips from Munich: Chiemsee
Located 97 km from Munich, in Chiemgau, which is one of the most picturesque regions of Germany, Chiemsee Lake has spread at the foot of the German Alps. For its impressive size, this second largest European lake was named the Bavarian Sea. There are 4 large and several small islands on the lake. The two main ones are Herrenchiemsee (Gentlemen’s Island) and Frauenchiemsee (Ladies’ Island). On the Gentlemen’s Island stands the Herrenchiemsee Palace, built by the last Bavarian king Ludwig II in 1878.
How far is Chiemsee from Munich
The distance from the center of Munich to Lake Chiemsee is approximately 90 kilometers if you travel by car.
Best day trips from Munich: Lake Walchensee
Located about 70 kilometers south of Munich in the Bavarian Alps, lake Walchensee is one of the largest and deepest alpine lakes in Germany. Despite its beauty, it’s often less crowded than other nearby lakes, so it’s a great place for a day trip from Munich. Its clear waters often take on a variety of blue hues that contrast with the mountains in the background.
How far is Walchensee from Munich
The distance from the center of Munich to the Walchensee lake is about 85 kilometers if you travel by car.
Germering bei München, Bayern (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Best day trips from Munich: Regensburg
Regensburg is a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, located on the banks of the Danube. The roots of the city go back to the distant 179 AD. Thanks to the regular trade routes established after the Stone Age, the city prospered. It still retains ancient architecture.
How far is Regensburg from Munich
The distance from the center of Munich to the city of Regensburg is approximately 125 kilometers if you travel by car.
Burghausen Castle (Burg zu Burghausen)
A little more than a hundred kilometers from Munich, in a small town near the border with Austria, is the Burghausen castle complex, which is considered the longest in Europe. The length of the unique structure is 1043 meters, and the first mention of it dates back to 1025!
How far is Burghausen Castle from Munich
The distance from the center of Munich to Burghausen Castle is about 110 kilometers if you travel by car.
