A trip to Munich in late May was an unexpected addition to the 2019 vacation season. Scott had a 3 day work trip so we decided it was a good idea for Amanda to tag along. Europe is a favorite for Amanda as she loves the history and architecture. Prior to this trip, Scott had really only been to Europe for some short work trips and had not had the opportunity to get out and explore. We really enjoyed our time here and would definitely visit again.
How to Get Here
We took this trip while based in Seattle so we hopped on a Delta flight through Detroit to Munich. Downtown Munich is about a 40 minute drive from the airport. Since we were staying close to the city center for most of the trip we opted to not rent a car. At the airport we found an information station which had a kiosk for the Lufthansa Express Bus. A charter bus service that leaves every 15 minutes from the airport and provides direct service to the Central Station in the city center. There is flexibility to purchase one-way or round-trip tickets. This option was cheaper than a taxi or Uber.
Trip Length
Our trip was a total of twelve calendar days. Traveling from Seattle to/from Europe takes a minimum of one day each way. Scott’s conference was three days during which Amanda worked from the hotel which left seven days for exploring. Keep in mind that our philosophy is to see and do as much as we can on our trips. You won’t see a lot of time for relaxing in our trip itineraries. It’s quite often exhausting to be honest but we wouldn’t do it any other way. If you prefer to have a bit more down time we would recommend reducing the number of day trips or extending your trip.
Where to Stay
In order to use hotel reward points and reduce our overall trip cost we ended up staying at four different hotels during this trip. If you plan on doing a lot of day trips out of Munich we would highly recommend staying close to the Munich Central Station for easy access to trains, buses, taxis and tour companies. There are many hotels in central Munich so you should be able to find something that meets your needs and fits within your budget. Below is a list of the hotels we stayed at during our trip.
Relaxa Hotel Munchen – This hotel was a ten minute walk from Munich Central Station which was great for our early morning starts. Very clean and the staff was friendly and helpful. We felt safe walking to and from this hotel, regardless of time of day, to the various spots in central Munich.
Rilano 24/7 Hotel Munchen – We stayed at this hotel during the three work days (aka ‘free hotel’). Very clean, good wifi, etc. From a tourist perspective, this would not be an ideal hotel. The surrounding area is very residential although there were a few restaurants nearby. It’s close to the English Garden which is a main attraction for locals and tourists alike. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to explore the park. It’s on our list for the next visit to Munich.
Hotel Europaischer Hof – This hotel is literally across the street from Munich Central Station which is extremely convenient but is also a little loud. We were only here for one night so it wasn’t a deal breaker for us. This hotel is a little older and was undergoing renovations during our stay. Not our favorite of the trip but it was clean and convenient.
Aloft Munchen – For those looking to stay in a US chain, Aloft is a convenient option directly across from Munich Central Station. You can expect the typical Marriott hotel experience here. This hotel would normally be out of the price range we like to aim for but we booked on points so it was a nice treat for our last night.
What to Do
Munich
Like many cities in Europe, it’s easy to get around Munich. It’s a very walk-able city with many public transportation options (bus, trains, taxi, Uber, etc.). We purchased Hop On Hop Off bus tickets prior to our arrival. They typically aren’t that expensive and it’s a nice way to get a feel for the city, pick up some quick history and give your legs a break. Another option is to book a walking tour with a guide. We recommend Radius Tours. We booked a combo walking tour ‘Hitler & the Third Reich’ with Dachau Concentration Camp which is a short train ride out of the city. It was really interesting to hear about the impact of WWI on Germany and how that paved the way for the introduction of the Nazi party. Walking the grounds of Dachau Concentration camp was a sobering experience. As hard as it was to see exhibits and hear stories of this place, it’s important that we don’t forget the past.
Munich has many town squares or ‘platz’. One of the most famous, Marienplatz, is beautiful and definitely a must-do. Another must-do when touring Munich is to check out a few of the beer gardens for a beer, snack or meal. Hofbrauhaus & Augustiner are two of the big local ones whose beer you can find at Octoberfest (still on our bucket list).
Day Trips
While there are many things to do in Munich, we also recommend taking advantage of the numerous tour options to get out of the city and explore more of Bavaria. Normally we rent a car to allow for complete flexibility in our schedule. We decided to take a different approach on this trip and take guided tours instead. There are pros and cons to this approach. Yes, you spend eight to ten hours a day with a group of people on a pre-defined schedule which can be a little much. However, the benefit is that things are planned for you allowing you to simply enjoy. It also allowed both of us to enjoy the scenery and catch some quick naps during the travel to/from the location. We did five day trips ranging from nine to eleven hours each. We used two companies, Radius Tours and Grey Line Bus Tours. We recommend both as they were well organized and had knowledgeable guides.
Romantic Road (Harburg/Rothenburg) 11 hours
This was a charter bus tour through Grey Line. A stop in Harburg to visit a castle and then on through the charming, winding Romantic Road to Rothenburg. In Rothenburg there is free time to explore, shop, eat, drink, etc.
Nurembug 10 hours
A few hours on trains takes you to this city that was once one of the wealthiest cities in Bavaria. Nuremburg was important over many centuries and most recently known as the site of the Nazi Rally Grounds. This tour had quite a bit of walking, but the Radius guide did a great job keeping the group together.
German Alps (Eagle’s Nest, Documentation Center, Berchtesgaden) 10 hours
Unfortunately weather does not always cooperate when traveling. Our original trip itinerary with Grey Line included a trip to the famous Eagle’s Nest tea house but the buses were not running as there was still snow on the road. The Documentation Center is a new museum with loads of information about the Nazi party and their time in the area. Pay for the audio guide as many of the placards are in German. There is a lovely restaurant with views of the alps if the weather permits. Try the apple strudel and schnitzel! The salt mine Salzbergwerk was educational and entertaining (especially the slides!). Berchtesgaden is one of the few cities where original exterior paintings remain on buildings.
Neuschwanstein Castle 9 hours
One of the most famous castles in Germany, Neuschwanstein Castle, was never actually completed due to the untimely death of King Ludwig II. This location is typically reached by train but due to the large group, Radius Tours booked a charter bus instead. The tour of the castle itself is less than 30 minutes long, is quick paced due to the popularity (you have a three minute window to enter the gates) and does not allow photos. That being said, if you are going to make the trek to the castle it makes sense to do the tour. The village itself is very quaint and there is time to explore and relax.
Herrenchiemsee Castle (Herreninsel & Fraueninsel islands on Chiemsee Lake) 9.5 hours
Another Radius Tour, this trip takes you to Chiemsee Lake, one of the largest lakes in Bavaria. A short boat ride brings you to Herrenchiemsee Castle, another one of King Ludwig II’s fantasy castles. This one is meant to replicate Versailles Palace in Paris, complete with its own Hall of Mirrors. Again, no pictures are allowed inside but this tour was very nice. The grounds on Herreninsel Island provide a relaxing break from the city. The second stop on the lake is Fraueninsel Island which has a small community and is home to a 1300 year old Benedictine Convent.