The 10 Best Day Trips From Munich, Germany (by Train!)

Dachau

Travel time by train: 40 mins (using Munich’s public transportation system)

Now the Dachau Memorial Site, the first concentration camp was built by the Nazis on this site. It served as a model for all other concentration camps built during the war, and it’s estimated that 41,500 people were murdered at Dachau.

You’ll be able to see many of the original buildings at the memorial site, some of which contain exhibitions discussing the reign of terror under the Nazi regime or sharing the stories of specific people who were imprisoned at Dachau. 

I know most people dream of fairytale castles when planning their excursions from Munich, but I think everyone should visit Dachau (or another concentration camp) at least once. I included it on my 3-Day Munich itinerary and have taken family and friends here several times.

Claire’s Tip: It’s easy to reach Dachau using Munich’s public transportation network, but you can also sign up for a half-day tour that includes transportation to and from the memorial site.

Augsburg

Travel time by train: 30 mins ICE / IC or 45 mins RE

One of Germany’s oldest cities — and one of the quickest Munich day trip destinations! — Augsburg is worth visiting while you’re in Bavaria. You can’t see the entire city in a day, but you can see a lot of it! 

While in Augsburg, take the time to do the following: 

• Town Hall — Considered the most important Renaissance-style building north of the Alps. The Golden Hall is the main draw.
• Fuggerei — The world’s oldest social housing complex. A small portion of the complex is now a museum.
• Cathedral — It dates back to 995 AD and is lovely. 
• Old Town — Where you’ll likely spend much of your time in Augsburg anyway.

Schleissheim Palace

Travel time by train: 45 mins (using Munich’s public transportation) 

Schleissheim Palace is easily accessible with Munich’s public transportation, making it yet another quick, easy, and cheap day trip idea. The palace is one of the most beautiful that I’ve visited in Germany (and I’ve visited a LOT!), and you can easily spend a full day touring the multiple buildings and the extensive gardens. 

There are three buildings on site you can tour:

• Old Palace — Originally a ducal country mansion. It was destroyed in WWII and has since been rebuilt. It now houses a folklore museum (this is the one building on site that I think you can skip, as the museum didn’t impress me very much). 
• New Palace — The star of Schleissheim Palace! It was built in the 1700s for Bavarian Elector Max Emmanuel. The palace is beautiful, and the audio guide is quite detailed. I visited during the work week on a sunny October day and had it almost entirely to myself, but I imagine it’s busier on the weekends. 
• Lustheim Hunting Lodge —Now serves as the palace’s porcelain museum. If you don’t like looking at pretty plates in glass cases as much as I do, you can skip going inside since that’s all there is to see. 

Nuremberg

Travel time by train: 1 hour 10 mins ICE 

Every destination on this list is fantastic, but Nuremberg easily makes my personal top 3 for being the one of the best day trips from Munich. If you love castles, half-timbered houses, pretty market squares, and medieval history, you’re going to adore Nuremberg! 

If you only have one day in Nuremberg, you’ll want to spend much of your time in the Old Town. The city was most prosperous during the Middle Ages and was known throughout Europe as being a center for talented artisans and craftsmen. Those artistic roots can still be felt in the city center today. 

While in Nuremberg, here are the top sites I recommend visiting: 

• Kaiserburg — The Imperial Castle. Each newly elected Holy Roman Emperor held his first Imperial Diet (i.e. session with the official legislative body of the empire) here. Today it’s primarily a museum space, and the ramparts offer an epic view of the Old Town! 
• Albrecht Dürer’s House — Albrecht Dürer was one of the most well-known Renaissance artists in all of Europe. Explore the beautifully preserved 16th century half-timbered house and learn more about this famous artist and his life. 
• Weißgerberstraße (pictured above) — A small street lined with half-timbered houses. The 20 or so houses somehow survived the air raids of WWII, so know that you’re looking at the original facades!

And if guided tours are more your speed, this 2-hour walking tour of the Old Town is a great way to see the main sights and learn a bit about the city!

🇩🇪 The Top Attractions in Nuremberg’s Old Town ❤️

Salzburg (Austria) 

Travel time by train: 1 hour 30 mins (you’ll be using the Austrian railway, so the train names are different than in Germany)

A Munich to Salzburg day trip is very easy to do by train and is a great way to check one more country in Europe off of your bucket list! 

Salzburg, Austria is a quaint postcard of a city with the Alps as a romantic backdrop. Among other accolades, Salzburg is known for being the birthplace of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as well as a recurring filming location for The Sound of Music. 

While in Salzburg, make time for the following attractions: 

• Festung Hohensalzburg — A massive fortress on top of a hill above the Residenzplatz. The fortress has been around since the early 1000s, but most of the building left standing today was completed in the 1500s. Book your tickets in advance to skip the line!
• Mozart’s Birthplace — Learn more about the famous composer and see artifacts from his lifetime. 
• Salzburg Cathedral — A beautiful Baroque cathedral in the city center. 

Claire’s Tip: If you love The Sound of Music as much as I do, this 4-hour walking tour that takes you to the key filming locations in and around the city is a must!

Bamberg

Travel time by train: 1 hour 45 mins ICE 

One of the prettiest towns in all of Germany, Bamberg is another all-time favorite place to visit near Munich. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it’s home to half-timbered houses and historic buildings galore. It also has the largest intact old city wall in Europe!  

It’s a very compact and walkable town, so feel free to show up for the day without an itinerary and discover Bamberg’s main attractions at your own pace.

If you need some starting recommendations, here are the sites I love: 

• “Little Venice” (Klein Venedig) — Bamberg’s former fisherman’s district. You’ll want to view it from across the river to get a good look at the half-timbered houses and their quaint gardens. 
• Old Town Hall — Quite possibly the loveliest in the country! The frescoed town hall straddles the Regnitz River and sits atop a man-made island. 
• Cathedral — Completed in the 13th century. Be sure to find the graves of Kunigunde and Heinrich II, located within the cathedral. 

🍺 Bamberg in 1 Day: A Detailed Day Trip Itinerary for First Time Visitors 🇩🇪

Regensburg

Travel time by train: 1 hour 50 mins ICE and RB or 90 mins RE

One of the more popular day trip destinations during Christmas market season is Regensburg, a small city nestled along the Danube River with a history that stretches back many centuries. 

You can easily see Regensburg’s top attractions in a single day: 

• Old Town — A UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
• Schloss St. Emmerman, Thurn und Taxis — A gorgeous rococo palace where a noble family still resides. You can only visit on a guided tour, and you’ll want to book tickets in advance. (One of my favorite Christmas markets also takes place on the palace grounds!)
• Old Stone Bridge — Cross all the way to the other side for an unforgettable view of the Danube River.
• St. Peter’s Cathedral (Dom St. Peter) – A High Gothic cathedral that was built in the 1200s.

🥨 1-Day Regensburg Itinerary: What to Do and See on a Day Trip 🇩🇪

Stuttgart

Travel time by train: 2 hours ICE

Automobile fanatics MUST make the day trip from Nuremberg to Stuttgart. Known as the “cradle of the automobile,” Stuttgart is home to Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.

Things to do on a day trip to Stuttgart include:

• Mercedes-Benz Museum or Porsche Museum — Pick your poison!
• Staatsgalerie Stuttgart (State Gallery) — Known for its 20th century paintings, but has art from other eras as well. One of the top-visited museums in Germany.
• Eugensplatz – Has great view of the city
• Explore the area around the Schlossplatz – It’s the older part of the city center and also one of the prettiest areas.

Claire’s Tip: If you plan on visiting several paid attractions during your day in Stuttgart, buying the StuttCard city pass will save you a fair bit of money!

Coburg

Travel time by train: 2 hours 20 mins ICE and RE

If you’re well versed in the history of the British royal family, you may recognize the city of Coburg as being the birthplace of Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria. He spent much of his childhood in Ehrenburg Palace near the city center, which I highly recommend touring while you’re in town. 

Enjoy your day in Coburg by visiting the following attractions: 

• Veste Coburg (shown above) – A medieval fortress complex atop a hill. Martin Luther lived here for 6 months! It’s worth walking up to the palace and looking out from the ramparts, even if you don’t want to pay to go inside. 
• Ehrenburg Palace – Located in the heart of the city; this is where Prince Albert spent much of his youth. The guided tour takes you through the beautifully maintained palace and you’ll learn more about the Ducal family and its history.
• Old Town – Small but lovely. Be sure to see the old city gates. 
• Stadtkirche St. Moritz — The oldest church in the city.

🇩🇪 The 10+ Top Things to Do in Coburg ⭐️

Neuschwanstein Castle

Travel time by train: 2 hours RB, then 30 minutes on the bus (2 hours 30 mins total) 

I have an entire guide that walks you through how to get from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle by train, but if you want to see more of the area or simply don’t feel like messing with the train network then a guided bus tour to Neuschwanstein might be more your speed.

Be honest, you were waiting for me to mention Neuschwanstein Castle, weren’t you? When it comes to thinking through all of your day trip options, Neuschwanstein Castle is the big kahuna. 

This stunning castle perched dramatically amidst the Bavarian Alps is Germany’s “fairytale castle.” It was built for “Mad King” Ludwig II but was never completed due to his ever-changing architectural plans, increasing budget, and ultimately his untimely (and suspicious) death. 

The only way to see the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle is by taking a guided tour. I’ll be honest, the tour isn’t the best … and yet I’ve been inside Neuschwanstein three times. In total, the tour lasts just 30 minutes and you go through the handful of completed rooms at breakneck speed.

The few rooms that were completed before King Ludwig died really are incredible, though! They’re all decorated in frescoes depicting scenes from Richard Wagner’s operas, which the king loved.

NOTE: It’s imperative that you book your Neuschstein Castle tickets well in advance! You need to sign up for a specific time slot and plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early so you don’t miss your tour.

🏰 Neuschwanstein Castle Day Trip Guide: Getting There, What to Expect & Tour Options 👑

Enjoy Your Day Trip From Munich! 

You definitely don’t want to shortchange your stay in Munich — especially not if you’re visiting for Oktoberfest! — but if you have the time, a day trip or two would be great!

Hopefully this list of places to visit near Munich by train proves useful in your trip planning. Please leave me a comment below letting me know if you visit any of the cities I mentioned!

Have you signed up for my newsletter? It’s packed with lots more travel tips that make planning a trip to Germany a breeze!

More Free Munich Travel Guides

• The Top Things to Do in Munich, Germany
• Ultimate Guide to Munich’s Old Town
• 3-Day Munich Itinerary (All the Top Attractions!)
• 20+ FREE Things to Do in Munich
• All of my Munich recommendations!