5 Days in Munich Without a Car: Our Train-Based Trip to Garmisch, Neuschwanstein & Salzburg

Munich was our base for this trip, but the best parts were not limited to Munich only. We used the city as a starting point for mountains, castles, lakes, museums, cafés and even a day trip to Salzburg.

We travelled from Berlin by train and stayed in Munich for the full trip. That made everything easier. We did not have to keep changing hotels or carry luggage from one place to another. Every evening, after a long day outside, we could return to the same room and rest.

This itinerary is useful if you want to visit Munich without renting a car. We used trains, buses, U-Bahn, walking and our own energy. Some parts were easy. Some days were tiring. A few places were crowded. But overall, Munich worked really well as a base for a 5-day trip.

This is not a perfect checklist. It is what we actually did, what worked for us, what felt worth it, and what we would suggest if you are planning something similar.

Quick Trip Overview

Trip length: 5 days
Starting point: Berlin
Base: Munich
Transport: Train, bus, U-Bahn and walking
Main places covered: Munich Old Town, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Munich Residenz, BMW Welt, Olympiapark, Neuschwanstein Castle, Alpsee, BMW Museum and Salzburg
Best for: Couples, public transport travellers, first-time Munich visitors, and people who want a mix of city and nature

We booked our Berlin to Munich ICE tickets using a DB last-minute special offer. After reaching Munich, our plan was to keep the city as a base and decide the day trips based on weather and energy.

That worked well because Munich is connected to very different kinds of places. You can spend one day in the Old Town, another near the Alps, another around a castle and lake, and still return to the same hotel in the evening.

If you do not drive, this kind of trip is very doable. You just need to start early on the heavier day trips and avoid packing too much into every day.

Day 1: Berlin to Munich, Then a Spontaneous Trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

We reached Munich around 10 AM after taking an early train from Berlin. After dropping our bags at the hotel, we could have kept the day only for Munich. But the weather was too good to ignore.

So we changed the plan and decided to go to Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Before leaving Munich, we spent some time around the Old Town. For a first-time visitor, Marienplatz is the easiest place to begin. It puts you close to the New Town Hall, old streets, cafés, shops and Viktualienmarkt. It is touristy, yes, but it helps you quickly understand the centre of the city.

Viktualienmarkt was a better stop for us than just staying around Marienplatz. It felt more relaxed, with food stalls and people sitting around. If you only have a short time in Munich before a day trip, Marienplatz plus Viktualienmarkt is a good first taste of the city.

We also went to one of Munich’s old cafés and had coffee with traditional cakes. We tried Prinzregententorte and Baumkuchen. This was a nice way to begin the trip because it made the morning feel slower before the train ride to the mountains.

Why Garmisch-Partenkirchen was worth adding

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is one of the most popular mountain day trips from Munich. People usually go there for alpine views, Zugspitze access, hiking and the slower mountain-town feeling.

For us, it worked because the weather was clear. We reached Garmisch around 3 PM, which is late for a full hiking day, but still enough for walking around, exploring the town and doing a smaller hike for Zugspitze views.

The town felt completely different from Munich. Munich was busy and full of city movement. Garmisch felt open and calm. It was the right place to go on a sunny spring day.

We walked around the town and then went for a hike to get a view of Zugspitze. We did not try to do too much because we had already travelled from Berlin that morning. That made the day manageable.

In the evening, we had pizza and spaghetti at Restaurant Colosseo with a view. After walking and hiking, that meal felt perfect. We then took the 8:07 PM train back to Munich and reached around 9:30 PM.

When we checked into the hotel, we got a top-floor room with a beautiful city view. After starting the day in Berlin, walking in Munich, and ending up in the mountains, that room view felt like a good ending.

How much time you need: A full day is better, but a half-day can work in spring or summer if you only want the town, views and a short hike.
Is it worth adding? Yes, especially if the weather is clear and you want nature without changing hotels.
Tip: Keep Garmisch flexible. If the weather is grey or visibility is poor, use that day for Munich instead.

Day 2: Munich Residenz, Rischart Café, BMW Welt and Olympiapark

Our second day was focused more on Munich itself. We started with the Munich Residenz Museum. The ticket was 10 euros per person.

The Residenz is useful to add if you want something beyond the usual Old Town walk. It gives you a look at Munich’s royal side, with rooms, corridors, halls and decorative details that take time to absorb. This is not the kind of place where you rush in and leave in 20 minutes.

For us, it was worth visiting because it gave the day structure. We had already seen Marienplatz and Viktualienmarkt the previous day, so the Residenz added something deeper to the Munich part of the trip.

How much time you need: Keep at least 1.5 to 2 hours if you want to see it properly.
Is it worth adding? Yes, if you like museums, architecture, interiors or history. If you are not a museum person, you may prefer spending more time outside.
Tip: Do it in the first half of the day. After the museum, you can easily walk back towards cafés and the Old Town.

After the museum, we went to Rischart Café at Marienplatz for coffee and cake. We had cappuccino, tiramisu and Munich cheesecake. This area is busy, but it is convenient after visiting the Residenz or walking around the Old Town.

Later in the day, we went towards BMW Welt and Olympiapark. BMW Museum is also there, but we decided to save the museum for another day and only visited BMW Welt first.

BMW Welt and Olympiapark

BMW Welt is worth adding if you are curious about cars, design or modern buildings. You do not need to be a serious car enthusiast to enjoy it for a short visit. It gives you a taste of BMW without committing to the full museum.

For us, BMW Welt worked well as an evening plan because it was easy to combine with Olympiapark.

Olympiapark was a good contrast after the Old Town and museum. It felt open and spacious. After spending the morning indoors at the Residenz, it was nice to walk somewhere with more space.

How much time you need: BMW Welt can take 30 to 60 minutes if you are casually exploring. Olympiapark can take 1 to 2 hours depending on how much you walk.
Is it worth adding? Yes, if you want a different side of Munich beyond the Old Town.
Tip: BMW Welt, BMW Museum and Olympiapark are close to each other. You can combine them, but do not force all three if you are tired.

Later we returned to Munich Old Town. It was a public holiday, so the city was crowded with locals and tourists. We tried going to Hofbräuhaus for beer, but it was full inside. Instead of waiting or forcing the plan, we dropped it and walked around the Old Town before heading back to the hotel.

That is one thing I would suggest for Munich: keep backup plans. Popular places can get crowded, especially on holidays.

Day 3: Neuschwanstein Castle, Marienbrücke and Alpsee

This was the day we knew would be tiring, so we started early. We took the 5 AM train to Füssen because we wanted to reach the castle area before it became too crowded.

Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most famous day trips from Munich. Most people go for the castle view, especially from Marienbrücke. But what surprised us was that the area around the castle was just as important as the castle itself.

After reaching Füssen, we took a bus towards the castle area. There is also a bus that goes closer to the castle, but we decided to hike up towards Marienbrücke.

Marienbrücke

Marienbrücke is known for the classic view of Neuschwanstein Castle. This is the view most people want. Because of that, it gets crowded.

For us, it was still worth going because the view gives you the full castle setting: the castle, the hills and the alpine background. But it is not a quiet place. You should go expecting people.

After Marienbrücke, we hiked more around the area and found different views of the castle, Hohenschwangau and the surrounding alpine landscape. This made the day feel better than simply going to one viewpoint and leaving.

How much time you need: Keep at least half a day for the castle area, and more if you want to include Alpsee.
Is it worth adding? Yes, but go early and do not expect it to be empty.
Tip: If you care more about views than interiors, you can still have a full experience without going inside the castle.

Should you go inside Neuschwanstein Castle?

We went close to the castle, but by then it had become very crowded. We decided not to go inside.

I do not regret that decision because the best part of the day for us was being outside: hiking, seeing the castle from different viewpoints and walking around Alpsee. Someone who loves royal interiors may feel differently, but for us, the outside experience was enough.

Alpsee Lake

Alpsee became one of the best parts of this day. Many people focus only on Neuschwanstein, but the lake made the whole trip feel more complete.

After the busy castle viewpoints, Alpsee felt calmer. We did the lake loop and enjoyed the views around it. There were also lovely viewpoints of the castle and surrounding mountains from different parts of the area.

After completing the loop, we reached Hohenschwangau Castle. By this point, we were tired, but it was the good kind of tired. The day had started very early and included trains, buses, hiking, castle views and the lake walk.

We took the bus back to Füssen and then the train back to Munich. Once we reached the hotel, we did not try to do anything else. We just enjoyed the view from our room and rested.

How much time you need: If you include Marienbrücke, the castle area and Alpsee, keep almost the full day.
Is Alpsee worth adding? Yes. It made the day much better for us.
Tip: Do not plan a heavy evening in Munich after this day. Neuschwanstein plus Alpsee is tiring by public transport, but worth it.

Day 4: A Slower Munich Day with BMW Museum, Books and Chinese Food

After the Neuschwanstein day, we needed a slower day. We started with coffee and cake from Mr Jelly Café, which was close to our stay. Not every travel day needs an early train, and this was the right day to take it easier.

Then we went to BMW Museum.

BMW Museum

I was excited for BMW Museum because I have always been fascinated by BMW cars. We bought tickets on the spot from the vending machine, which accepted only card.

The museum was more interesting than just looking at cars. It had BMW history, technology, design stories, BMW art cars, Elvis’ BMW and a special exhibition on 50 Years of BMW 6 Series.

If you like cars, this is an easy yes. But even if you are not deeply into cars, the museum can still be enjoyable because it is designed well and has enough variety.

How much time you need: Around 1.5 to 2 hours is a good amount of time.
Is it worth adding? Yes, especially if you are already visiting BMW Welt or Olympiapark.
Tip: Carry a card. The ticket machine we used accepted only card.

The Munich Readery

After the museum, we visited The Munich Readery, a secondhand English bookstore. We bought two books from there.

This stop may not appear in a standard Munich itinerary, but it made sense for us. We like adding bookstores and cafés to our trips because they make the city feel less like a checklist.

If you enjoy books, this is a nice slower stop. It also gives your Munich day a break from big attractions.

How much time you need: 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how much you browse.
Is it worth adding? Yes, if you like English books or want a quiet break.
Tip: Add one personal stop like this to your itinerary. It makes the trip feel more yours.

Food and evening walk

Later, we went to Restaurant Uncle Chen and had angry chicken with rice and diced chicken noodles. After several days of walking, sightseeing and café food, this meal felt comforting.

In the evening, we went back towards the Old Town and Schuster. When we came out of the U-Bahn, the city felt different. There was loud music and karaoke happening, connected to a Rave Parade-style protest about high rents, more free space for celebration, musicians and loud events.

This was not something we planned, but it showed us a different side of Munich. Until then, the trip had been about museums, mountains, castles and cafés. Suddenly, the city felt louder and more local.

Tip: Keep one slow day in Munich if you are doing multiple day trips. It helps you enjoy the city without burning out.

Day 5: Salzburg Day Trip from Munich

For the final day, we took an early morning train to Salzburg. The direct train took around 2 hours, and we used our Deutschlandticket for the journey.

Salzburg works well as a day trip from Munich because the main sights are close to each other. You do not need to plan a complicated route if you focus on the Old Town area.

What I liked about Salzburg was how walkable it felt. After Munich and the bigger day trips, Salzburg felt compact and easy to explore.

Mirabell Palace and Garden

Our first stop was Mirabell Palace and Garden. It is a good place to begin because it is open, easy to walk through and gives a soft start to the day.

We did not want to rush in Salzburg, so starting with the garden worked well. It gave us time to arrive properly before moving towards cafés and the Old Town.

How much time you need: 30 minutes to 1 hour is enough unless you want to sit and relax.
Is it worth adding? Yes, especially as a first stop in the morning.
Tip: Visit early if you want a calmer experience.

Café Sacher

After Mirabell, we went to Café Sacher and had the original Sacher Torte. This was one of those classic Salzburg experiences we wanted to try once.

Was it necessary? Not really. Was it worth doing once? For us, yes. Sometimes travel is also about trying the thing a place is known for, even if it is a little touristy.

How much time you need: 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on waiting time.
Is it worth adding? Yes, if you want the classic cake experience. Skip it if you do not care about cafés or if the waiting time is too long.
Tip: Go earlier in the day to avoid wasting too much time waiting.

Mozart’s Geburtshaus and Salzburg Old Town

After Café Sacher, we went towards Mönchsberg and then entered the Old Town. We visited Mozart’s Geburtshaus, where the ticket was 15 euros each.

Mozart’s Geburtshaus is one of the main cultural stops in Salzburg. If you are already in the Old Town, it is easy to add. For us, it made sense because Salzburg and Mozart are so closely connected.

How much time you need: Around 1 hour is enough for most visitors.
Is it worth adding? Yes, if you are interested in Mozart or want to understand the cultural side of Salzburg.
Tip: Since it is in the Old Town, combine it with Getreidegasse and nearby squares instead of treating it as a separate trip.

We then explored Residenzplatz, DomQuartier, Getreidegasse, Salzburg Cathedral, the Hohensalzburg area, St. Peter’s Monastery and the River Salzach.

The best way to enjoy Salzburg in one day is not to overcomplicate it. Stay around the Old Town, walk slowly, choose a few meaningful stops and leave some time for the river.

By the end of the day, we were tired but happy. Salzburg gave our Munich trip a different ending. It felt close enough to do as a day trip, but different enough to feel like a separate experience.

How much time you need: One full day is enough for the Old Town, Mirabell, Café Sacher, Mozart’s Geburtshaus and a riverside walk.
Is it worth adding from Munich? Yes, if you are comfortable with a 2-hour train ride each way.
Tip: Start early and focus on the Old Town. Do not try to cover everything in Salzburg in one day.

What Worked Well in This Munich Itinerary

Using Munich as a base

This was the best decision. We could do day trips without changing hotels. After every long day, we returned to the same room.

Mixing city days and nature days

Munich alone is interesting, but the trip became much better because we added Garmisch, Neuschwanstein, Alpsee and Salzburg.

Starting early for crowded places

The 5 AM train to Füssen was not easy, but it helped. For places like Neuschwanstein, an early start makes a difference.

Keeping one slow day

The BMW Museum day was important because it gave us a break between heavier day trips.

What We Would Do Differently

We would probably keep even more buffer time.

The Neuschwanstein and Alpsee day was worth it, but it was tiring. If someone prefers slow travel, they may want to stay overnight near Füssen or Hohenschwangau instead of doing everything as a day trip.

For Salzburg, we would still do it as a day trip, but we would keep the plan focused exactly like this: Mirabell, Café Sacher, Old Town, Mozart’s Geburtshaus, cathedral area and river. Trying to add too many extra sights would make the day stressful.

For Munich itself, we would not depend on Hofbräuhaus during a public holiday. It was too crowded when we went. Next time, we would either go earlier or choose a backup beer hall or restaurant.

Practical Tips for Planning 5 Days in Munich Without a Car

Stay near good public transport.
This matters more than staying in the prettiest area. You will save energy if your hotel is well connected.

Use Munich as a base if you dislike changing hotels.
It worked well for Garmisch, Neuschwanstein and Salzburg.

Check the weather before choosing Garmisch.
Garmisch is best when visibility is good. If the weather is bad, switch it with a Munich museum day.

Start early for Neuschwanstein.
Crowds build up quickly, especially near Marienbrücke.

Do not skip Alpsee if you have energy.
The lake made the castle day feel more complete.

Keep one lighter day after a heavy day trip.
BMW Museum, bookstores, cafés and an easy dinner worked well for us.

For Salzburg, focus on the Old Town.
One day is enough if you do not try to cover everything.

Wear comfortable shoes.
This trip involved city walking, museum walking, hiking, lake walking and old town streets.

Carry a card.
At BMW Museum, the ticket vending machine accepted only card.

Final Thoughts

This Munich trip worked because we did not treat Munich as only one city to explore. We treated it as a base.

That made the trip more interesting. We could have coffee and cake in Munich, see Zugspitze views from Garmisch, walk around Alpsee near Neuschwanstein, spend a slower day with BMW cars and books, and still take a train to Salzburg before the trip ended.

It was not a relaxed trip every day. Neuschwanstein was tiring. Salzburg needed an early start. Some places were crowded. But the route made sense for us because we like mixing cities with nature and we prefer travelling without a car.

If you are planning 5 days in Munich, my honest suggestion is this: do not fill every hour. Choose a few strong day trips, keep Munich as your base, and leave enough space to change plans when the weather is good.

For us, that flexibility is what made the trip memorable.