Munich Day Trips: Alps, Castles, Salzburg
The mountains start less than two hours from Marienplatz, so Munich is one of the easiest big cities from which to leave. Ranked by travel time, the main day trips show what a single day really allows.
Zugspitze: 1 hour 30 by direct train
A direct train runs from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, about 90 km south. From there a cogwheel train, the Eibsee cable car and a glacier cable car take you to Germany’s highest summit at 2,962 metres. The adult round trip is €78 on the summer tariff, valid until 22 November 2026, and the Zugspitze price page lists the winter tariff when it opens. If the weather is clear, the Partnachklamm gorge is worth a walk on the way back.
Salzburg: 1 hour 30 by Railjet
Salzburg is about 140 km southeast, across the Austrian border. The Railjet is the quick option and needs a standard fare. Mozart’s birthplace, the Mirabell gardens and Hohensalzburg Fortress fill a day. Check timetables on bahn.de .
Linderhof and Ettal: 1 hour 45 by road
Linderhof is King Ludwig II’s only completed palace, a small Rococo-style residence in alpine woodland, with a Venus Grotto in its grounds. Ettal Abbey, a Benedictine monastery with its own brewery, sits nearby. Public transport takes planning here, so many visitors go with a car or a coach tour.
Neuschwanstein: about 3 hours each way
The castle stands in Hohenschwangau near Füssen, 125 km from Munich, which is roughly three hours door to door. Take a regional train to Füssen (about 2 hours 10), then bus 78 to Hohenschwangau village and walk 30 to 40 minutes uphill, or take the shuttle bus or a horse carriage. Entry is by timed guided tour only, and tickets cost €21 (€20 reduced) plus a €2.50 online fee, bookable via hohenschwangau.de . In summer the middle-of-the-day slots sell out weeks ahead. The Schwangau through-road is closed until about mid-December 2026, so allow extra time. The Marienbrücke viewpoint is free but shuts in ice and snow, and its daily status is posted on the same site.
Berchtesgaden and the Kehlstein
The Kehlstein road and bus run until about 8 November in 2026, weather permitting. The bus costs €31 for adults and €16 for children 6 to 14, per berchtesgaden.de . Allow a full day for the trip.
Dachau
The Dachau memorial site is 20 km northwest, a 25-minute ride on the S2 from Hauptbahnhof, then bus 726 to the entrance. Admission is free, and it is open daily 9:00 to 17:00. English tours run at 11:00 and 13:00 for €4, for ages 13 and over, and audio guides cost €5 (€4 reduced). Visits with children under 12 are not recommended. The S2 goes beyond Zone M, so buy a ticket that covers Dachau in the MVV app or at a machine. It is a serious place, and a half-day is the right allowance. Details are on the memorial’s website .
Choosing
If you only have one day, Zugspitze gives the biggest scenery return, and Neuschwanstein gives the most famous interior. If you can afford a night away, see the multi-day trips from Munich . You can also compare guided Alps day tours on Viator , which saves the logistics.
Tip: start before 8:00 for any of these, and check the weather on the morning itself, since a cloud-covered summit makes the Zugspitze ticket poor value.