I will be going to Munich in September. Can you suggest some good day trips from Munich?

I will be travelling by train. If you know of any interesting towns or villages, please recommend them and perhaps you could tell me a little bit about them. Thanks!

Arnie, thank you so very much for your detailed response. I have made note of everything you have suggested.

Hi,
you've picked one of the best destinations in Germany. Apart from a lot that you should see in the city you should plan on a trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, located on the very south in the Alps. Lovely resort town with a few mountains to hike on (take Hausberg, access is easy and there's a good watering hole on top of it with ample space to relax). Or walk around Eibsee (lovely deep water lake in the mountains, takes you about 2 hrs to walk around). Garmisch is a US Army base, lots of people who speak English.
About 2 hrs away is Salzburg in Austria, definitely worth a day trip. If you need a visa for Europe your Schengen Visa will also allow you entry into Austria.
Also nice and much nearer is Starnberg (accessible by S-Bahn, the local commuting train system). Starnberg is also in the south but closer to Munich.
Personally, I love Spitzingsee but you won't get there by train. Go to Ammersee and check for busses.
Other close-by destinations are Chiemsee with Mainau island (2 hrs), Reit im Winkl (very lovely little town deep in the mountains - 2-3 hrs) and Neuschwanstein castle (2 hrs, same direction)
On the more serious side, take a trip to Dachau and see the remains of the concentration camp from the Nazi era but be prepared to see some really shocking stuff. Dachau is in the north west, about 1 hr to go. Nothing else to see there.
In Munich itself, don't miss the Oktoberfest which will take place in September, visit beer gardens, see the city center with lots of historical buildings, visit Deutsches Museum (if you're in technics, also see BMW Museum) and enjoy the relatively easy going lifestyle (for german standards) of the Bavarians. Wish you a great trip.

mmmm i'm surprised arnie above didnt mention dachau....you know, the holiday camp where the nazis sent the undesirables? real interesting place....

Neuschwanstein Castle, it's such a beautiful place
Augsburg is also a beautiful city, lots of history -- Martin Luther was imprisoned there...

Hi Josette,

Nurnberg is a beautiful city. It's about 2 1/2 hours by train from the main station in Munich. If you like to browse in shops, don't go on a Sunday. Everything except the restaurants will be closed. Even then, it is lovely just to walk through the old town.

Dachau can be reached by the S-Bahn in 15-20 min. from the main station in Munich.

Arnie mentioned wonderful places. I suggest contacting the tourist office in Munich and having them send you information. There are bus trips to many of these sites. Neuschwanstein Castle is easily reached this way and the trip will often include other interesting sites, for example, Oberammergau, which hosts the Passion Play every 10 years.

There is also a Welcome Card that gives discounts on many attractions/museums/restaurants in Munich. This is worthwhile if you plan to do a lot. Also one or three day tickets on the U-Bahn are cheaper if you plan to travel more. Most Germans will help you with the ticket machine if you ask.

Good luck!

Monastery Andech is a must! It is a monastery that still brews beer! I loved it!!!!

Of course, if you don't love beer as much as I do, do go to these websites to find out more about Munich.
http://www.germany-tourism.de/
http://www.visits-to-germany.com/
http://www.germany-tourism.co.uk/

For goodness sake, spend a day at Oktoberfest if you haven't been. It's something everyone should experience - definitely the most organized chaos ever!