The Best Weekend Getaways From Munich Accessible By Public Transport

Munich has many great qualities, but one of the best things about it, is that you can travel to other cities and towns in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland quickly and comfortably by train. Here are our picks for the best places to nip off to for a weekend break from Munich.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

If you’re all about half-timbered houses, windows boxes, and crooked, narrow little streets, then Rothenburg ob der Tauber will not disappoint. For an extra bit of magic, visit at Christmas and enjoy the twinkling lights and Christmas market. Whatever time of year you visit, the journey is two-and-a-half hours by train from Munich Central station.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Bamberg

This is a toy town of a different kind to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. For starters, it’s much larger and has a thriving modern life. Even so, the old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the Little Venice district is full of half-timbered cottages along the banks of the Regnitz river. It’s the town hall that’s the jewel in the crown, though, so have your camera ready. Travel time from Munich Hbf: two hours.

Salzburg

In Austria, but still worth visiting, and not just because you’re the world’s biggest Sound of Music fan. There’s a fortress, a palace, a modern art museum, a priory and a cathedral, but the best thing about the city is hanging around in the squares that dot the town and the cafés that circle them. Travel time from Munich: 90 minutes.

Regensburg

Regensburg has been a settlement of one sort or another since the Romans turned up in 179AD, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Whether by luck or management, Regensburg has remained untouched by war, and now functions less as a town and more like an outdoor museum, with monasteries, churches, and houses of the gentry all having pride of place among its residents. Travel time from Munich: 90 minutes.

Nuremberg

There’s more to Nuremberg than trials and parade grounds. The city itself is nearly 1,000 years old, so naturally it has a giant castle in the centre of town. It also has many streets lined with half-timber houses in all sort of colours. There’s also a great contemporary art museum. Travel time from Munich: 60 minutes.

Berchtesgaden

Nature lovers will find the Berchtesgaden area, which is tucked up next to the Austrian border, to be a little slice of heaven. In the summer, cool, clear mountain lakes like the Obersee are perfect for a skinny dip after a long hike, and in the winter there’s fresh powder for skiing like almost nowhere else in Europe. Travel time from Munich: two-and-a-half hours.

Innsbruck

Also in Austria and also set majestically in the foothills of the Alps, Innsbruck is a wonderful weekend getaway in winter and summer. The city is capital of the Tyrol, the area around the Alps in Germany, Austria, and Italy, that has its own special character and culture, not to mention dialect. Fantastic architecture and food like groestl and speckknoedel await. Travel time from Munich: two hours.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.