Munich - Getting Out And About

[LadyCG]

I'm thinking of booking, say, 3 nights in Munich next July as an anniversary present.

Has anyone done Munich to Salzburg and / or Munich to Neushwanstein Castle, Lichtenstein, as day trips? Would you recommend travelling by train or doing an organised day trip by coach with pick-up from your hotel?

And what of Munich itself? Any recommendations for must-sees and where to eat?

Many thanks.

[bhg481]

The Dachau concentration camp is on the outskirts of Munich - an interesting and moving place to visit.
Munich to Salzburg is a fair distance, so I would be surprised if you could get a day-trip by coach - train would be a possibility.

[LadyCG]

It's about 1hr 24min by train I think ...

[bhg481]

I think Neuschwanstein may be tricky to get to from Munich but there is another of Ludwig's palaces on Herreninsel in Chiemsee, about half way between Munich and Salzburg, which may be easier to get to as there is a motorway link. That palace is based on Versailles, so nothing like the classic Neuschwanstein, but still well worth a visit (involves a short boat trip).

[LadyCG]

Thanks for the info.

[LadyCG]

Neushwanstein in NOT in Lichtenstein!! D'oh!

[-SharonA-]

Dachau is a must. I sobbed my way around this camp. Englishsher gardens is pretty. There is Marienplatz a square and there is a cathedral.
Also take time to see BMW's headquarters which is supposedly shaped like car part.

[-Talbot-]

Allianz arena

[LadyCG]

Thanks. I'll research those.

Anyone done Nuremberg?

[bhg481]

Nuremberg is a lovely old town - a railway trip from Munich.

If you're into highly-decorated churches the Bavarian villages are full of them.

[Buenchico]

Most trains between Munich and Salzburg take slightly longer than the 1h 24m you suggested. (The fast, but relatively infrequent, ones do take about one and a half hours but the majority take about an hour and three quarters. All services are direct, with no changes). However the train would definitely seem to be the easiest way to get there.
https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml

Getting to Neuschwanstein Castle on public transport is somewhat trickier. There's an hourly train service to Füssen, with alternate services being either direct or requiring a change of trains at Buchloe. That part of the journey takes around two hours. Then you need to take a 9651 bus from Füssen to the stop for the castle outside Schwangau. Although the bus ride only takes 8 minutes, those buses are very infrequent: http://www.rvo-bus.de/oberbayernbus/view/mdb/kursbuch/mdb_266217_9651_101217.pdf
So a taxi might be better. (From there you have to take the path to walk to the castle, taking you about 20 minutes).

A few links for you:
https://www.muenchen.de/int/en/tourism.html

https://www.salzburg.info/en

http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/tourist/

You might also wish to consider visiting Lindau, on Lake Constance:
https://www.lindau.de/en/
The express bus service is actually quicker than the trains, getting you there in a little over 2 hours:
https://www.flixbus.co.uk/bus-routes/munich-lindau

[LadyCG]

Thank you all for your replies.

Chris, I had a good look in TripAdvisor and there's a few companies doing day coach tours to Neushwanstein and other points of interest with pick up and drop off atva central point in Munich for around £47 pp.

I would be very grateful for recommendations for spa hotels and restaurants in Munich.

Many thanks again.

[LadyCG]

Aha! I've found a day trip that combines Neushwanstein and Linderhof. I would like to check out Rothenberg too, but I'll check out its proximity to Munich first.

[bhg481]

Rothenburg is a lovely town to look round but it may not be easily accessible from Munich for a day trip.

At this rate your 3 days is going to turn into 3 weeks.

[LadyCG]

We're talking about doing a longer trip now. 3 days won't be enough.

[LadyCG]

Rothenberg is off the list btw - too far.