Day trips from Munich
Five trips out of Munich all leave from the main station, and the length of the ride decides how much of the day is left when you arrive.
- Nearest
- Dachau
- Furthest
- Neuschwanstein
- Free
- The memorial at Dachau
Every trip out of Munich leaves from the main station, and the length of the ride sorts them. Dachau is about twenty-five minutes away by S-Bahn, Salzburg and Garmisch about an hour and a half, Herrenchiemsee an hour to Prien and then a boat, and Neuschwanstein just over two hours to Füssen. So the choice is less where to go than how much of the day you want to spend on a train.
The S2 and bus 726
The memorial at the site of one of the first Nazi camps, opened on 22 March 1933 and liberated on 29 April 1945, lies about sixteen kilometres north-west of Munich. The S2 from the main station to Dachau takes about twenty-five minutes, and from there bus 726 towards Saubachsiedlung runs to the entrance; the Munich-M1 day ticket covers both train and bus.
The memorial is open every day from 9 to 5, the former crematorium area closes at 4.30, and on 24 December everything is shut. Entry is free and individuals do not book. The education department's programmes are for visitors over thirteen, and since it closes at five, it is wiser to set out before noon.
On your own
- Getting there
- S2 to Dachau, then bus 726
- Entry
- free
- Closed
- 24 December
- Ticket
- Munich-M1 covers train and bus
With a guide
- transport arranged
- a guide on site
- costs more than going alone
With a car you set the pace of each day trip instead of working around bus times.
Across the border, an hour and a half by train
A Railjet runs from Munich to Salzburg roughly every hour and a EuroCity every two hours, and the ride takes about an hour and a half. The Bayern-Ticket, €34 for one person, is valid as far as Salzburg Hbf, but only on regional trains and the S-Bahn, not on ICE and IC, and on weekdays only from nine in the morning.
Each further traveller, up to five, pays €10. With two rides of an hour and a half, Salzburg is a long day, not a short morning.
On your own
- Bayern-Ticket
- €34 for one person
- Each further traveller
- €10
- Valid
- regional trains and S-Bahn only
With a guide
- transport arranged
- a guide on site
- costs more than going alone
Garmisch and the Zugspitze: a whole day
The regional train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen takes about 85 minutes, 100 kilometres through Starnberg and Murnau.
At 2,962 metres the Zugspitze is the highest peak in Germany, on the border with Austria, and the way up is a rack railway from Garmisch or a cable car from the Eibsee. The Ticket Zugspitze, €78 on the summer tariff, pays for one ascent and one descent and also covers the round trip by rack railway, glacier cable car and the Zugspitze cable car, and the winter tariff begins in late November.
On your own
- Ticket Zugspitze
- €78 (summer tariff)
- Train to Garmisch
- about 85 min
- Winter tariff
- from late November
With a guide
- transport arranged
- a guide on site
- costs more than going alone
Two palaces, two days
Herrenchiemsee is an island in the Chiemsee, where Ludwig II began to build his own grand Versailles. The train to Prien takes about an hour, then it is about half an hour on foot to the landing stage, or the little train in summer, and a boat. The combination ticket is €14.
The famous Neuschwanstein is entered only on a guided tour at a fixed time. The ticket is €21 plus €2.50 to book online, so decide before you travel. Both want a whole day, and neither fits into the day of the other.
On your own
- Ticket
- €21
- Online booking
- €2.50
- Entry
- guided tour at a fixed time only
With a guide
- transport arranged
- a guide on site
- costs more than going alone
If you can pick only one
- Nearest, and with no ticket to buy: Dachau, by S-Bahn and bus, and only until 5 pm.
- A second city over the border, a whole day: Salzburg, by train to Salzburg Hbf.
- A mountain without the climb: the Zugspitze, through Garmisch.
- The castle everyone knows: Neuschwanstein, with a ticket bought ahead.
- Versailles on an island: Herrenchiemsee.
Where to next
Where to stay in Munich
→Munich's quarters all lie in the inner fare zone, so you choose by what you want outside the door: museums, bars, a park or a train.
Nuremberg · 151 km
→A city that twice became the stage of German history, both times against its will
How well does Munich suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Nomadinho scores out of 100, the same ones behind “Where to go”.
If you like Munich
Three places with the closest scores, from any country.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
What is the quickest day trip from Munich?
Dachau: the S2 from the main station takes about twenty-five minutes, then bus 726 to the memorial. Entry is free, and the memorial is open until 5 pm.
Is the Bayern-Ticket valid for day trips?
For most of them: it covers regional trains and the S-Bahn across Bavaria, as far as Salzburg Hbf, on weekdays from nine in the morning, and costs €34 for one person. It is not valid on ICE and IC.
Ready for Munich?
Front row for the next trip
Leave your email and we'll let you know when a new destination or story goes up.