Munich: Best Guided Tours And Day Trips
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Looking for a guided tour in beautiful Munich? Or an easy day trip? We’ve got you covered! Keep reading for our recommendations!
Contents
Quick Answer: Best Munich Guided Tours & Day Trips
Guided Tours:
1. Munich WWII and Third Reich Tour
2. Viktualienmarkt Gourmet Food Tour
3. Munich Old Town Walking Tour
4. Munich 3-Hour Guided Bike Tour
5. Munich: An Evening of Bavarian Beer and Food Culture
6. Munich Beer Halls and Breweries Guided Tour
Guided Day Trips:
7. Neuschwanstein Full-Day Trip
8. Linderhof, Neuschwanstein & Oberammergau Day Trip from Munich
9. Dachau Half-Day Day Trip
10. Zugspitze Day Trip
11. Salzburg Day Trip
12. Munich to Eagle’s Nest (Berchtesgaden) Guided Day Trip
Where Can I Find The Above Map?
It’s part of our Germany Travel Planner, and it’s your Germany travel planning BFF! Using our custom interactive planning map you’ll be able to quickly see the best sights, castles, hotels, day trips, and more – along with our photos and up-to-date insider tips. Seeing where these things are in relation to each other makes it much easier to plan your overall itinerary, as well as each day of your trip. If you don’t yet have it, click here to get access.
Best Guided Tours In Munich
1. Munich WWII and Third Reich Tour
Munich is a city with a rich and fascinating history. One of the best ways to explore it is through a historical guided tour. If you’re a history buff or simply want an educational experience, this Third Reich & WWII Tour walking tour is the way to go.
This 2-hour walking tour brings you to key sites across the city related to the rise of Hitler and the infamous Third Reich. From the Hofbräuhaus, Feldherrnhalle, and Königsplatz, you’ll get to an insightful look into Munich’s dark past. Aaron did this small group tour on a recent trip to Germany and he said it was excellent and pairs well with a visit to Dachau or Munich’s Documentation Center.
Click here to learn about Munich’s history during WII through a guided walking tour.
2. Viktualienmarkt Gourmet Food Tour
Viktualienmarkt, Munich’s largest outdoor market, is an essential stop on your Munich itinerary. Make the most out of your time here by booking a gourmet food tour of the market!
In this tour, you’ll explore the different market stalls, sample all sorts of traditional and modern local food, and learn more about Munich history and traditions. This tour is perfect for foodies and those who want to try local Bavarian delicacies. Aaron did this small group tour on our last visit and enjoyed sampling all kinds of delicious savory and sweet treats.
Click here to try delicious Bavarian food in this gourmet food tour through Viktualienmarkt.
3. Munich Old Town Walking Tour
Embark on an exciting guided tour through Munich’s historic district! This tour starts at the vibrant Marienplatz, the heart of the city. From here you’ll see many of the main landmarks like St. Peter’s (Munich’s oldest church), Viktualienmarkt, and the Old Town Hall. It will also bring you to Burgstraße, the Old Court, and the iconic Hofbräuhaus before ending your journey through Maximilianstraße and the Bavarian State Opera.
Click here to see all of Munich’s Old Town highlights.
4. Munich 3-Hour Guided Bike Tour
If you’re looking for a more active and engaging way to get to know Munich’s Old Town, then a bike tour would be perfect! As you follow along with your bike, you’ll get to see all of Munich’s iconic landmarks, like Marienplatz, Hofbräuhaus, Maximilianstrasse, Königsplatz and more. This tour also brings you to the beautiful English Garden and includes a refreshing break at the Hofbräukeller beer garden!
Click here to book a fun biking adventure through Munich’s best landmarks.
5. Munich: An Evening of Bavarian Beer and Food Culture
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the culture of a city is through food! For Munich, we recommend this evening experience of Bavarian beer and food. This tour is led by an English-speaking local resident who gives you personal advice and recommendations to all the best local spots in the city. Through the tour you’ll also learn about the history of German brewing and visit the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum and the iconic Hofbräuhaus. And of course, you’ll get to sample different beer varieties paired with traditional Bavarian cheese and meats.
Click here to immerse yourself in Bavaria’s local beer and food culture.
6. Munich Beer Halls and Breweries Guided Tour
For another beer-filled activity, we recommend touring Munich’s traditional beer halls and breweries since there’s so many of them in the city. You’ll learn all about Munich’s brew-making history with a special focus on the secrets behind making Weissbier, Munich’s traditional beer. This traditional beer is made in Munich’s oldest commercial brewery which you’ll get access to in the tour. At the end of the tour, you’ll get to enjoy two complimentary beers at the Hofbräuhaus, one of the city’s most famous beer halls.
Click here to learn more about Munich’s rich beer culture.
Best Guided Day Trips From Munich
7. Neuschwanstein Full-Day Trip (By Van)
For many visitors to Bavaria, no visit to Munich is complete without going to Neuschwanstein Castle! This van tour is perfect if you’d prefer a small group experience. If you’re traveling with friends or family or you simply don’t want to stress with arranging transportation, then this is ideal. Not only will you get to visit the stunning 19th-century palace and enjoy its surrounding views, this tour also takes you to charming Bavarian villages in the Romantic Road countryside.
8. Linderhof, Neuschwanstein & Oberammergau Day Trip from Munich
If you want to visit Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Palace in one day, this is the tour for you. You’ll also make a stop in the charming town of Oberammergau. With these extra stops, this tour is a great way to maximize the convenience of private transportation and visit more sights than you’re likely able to do on your own.
9. Dachau Half-Day Day Trip
Dachau is one of the most important historical sites near Munich and one definitely worth visiting. A former concentration camp, it now serves as a memorial site with preserved structures like prisoner barracks and a museum of the camp’s history. Since it’s 40 minutes away from the city center, we highly recommend booking this guided tour if you don’t want to deal with transportation. This tour is led by trained guides who make sure that you’ll have an informative experience while being sensitive, respectful, and professional.
Click here to book an insightful and educatinoal half-day guided tour to Dachau Memorial.
10. Zugspitze Day Trip
Munich makes for an excellent base for day trips to the Bavarian Alps. A great option all year long is Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany. This full-day trip includes van transportation to Garmisch-Partenkirchen where you’ll be able to take a cable car to the summit of Zugspitze. Enjoy breathtaking views at the peak, enjoy restaurants and shops, and even cross over into Austria. And if that’s not enough, you can also enjoy a beer at the highest beer garden in Germany and then take a cog-wheel train through the mountains.
Click here to book the ultimate alpine experience in Zugspitze.
11. Salzburg Day Trip
If you want to visit another country while in Munich, add a Salzburg, Austria day trip to your itinerary. This day trip includes train transportation, a guided tour of the center and free time to do your own exploring. You’ll get to explore Mozart’s residence, iconic “The Sound of Music” filming locations, the Domkirche Cathedral, and many more highlights in the old town.
Click here to book a day trip to Salzburg that includes train transportation and guided tours.
12. Munich to Eagle’s Nest (Berchtesgaden) Guided Day Trip
For many, Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) in Berchtesgaden is a must-see. Not only will you enjoy spectacular views of the Alps, you can also visit the NS Documentation Center for more historical insight. This is a small group van tour so you’ll also travel on beautiful scenic Alpine roads from Munich to Berchtegsgaden.
Why Book a Guided Tour or Day Trip When Visiting Munich?
Guided tours and day trips can make your travels a whole lot easier and more enjoyable. Once you realize how amazing they are, they’re really a game changer for your travel experience! Here’s why:
- Forget about stressing over planning the perfect itinerary that hits all the best sights, finding the best ticket prices, and fitting everything into a tight schedule – guided tours handle all the details, from itineraries to tickets and transportation. All you have to do is show up, immerse yourself in the experience, and truly enjoy your vacation.
- Aside from eliminating the stress of planning, guided tours and day trips can give you a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the destinations you visit. Most tours are led by trained guides and locals who can give you personal recommendations or in-depth explanations of historic and cultural sites.
- Guided tours are also a lifesaver if you don’t speak German! Tour guides break that language barrier and give you insights into the local culture or uncover hidden gems that you probably wouldn’t find by yourself. And not only is it a good way to connect with locals, but you can also meet and talk with other fellow travelers during the tours.
Tip: It’s always a good idea to book guided tours and especially guided full-day trips in advance. Some of them, like those in popular destinations, can sell out pretty quickly. This is especially true during peak season.
Booking in advance secures your spot and sometimes tour operators even offer discounts for early bookings or offer a generous cancelation option. Some tours also have limited capacity, so if you’re traveling as a group booking and planning ahead is crucial.
Here’s how we can help you plan your perfect trip in 2024
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ACCOMMODATIONS: We recommend using Booking.com since they have widest range of accommodations available from hostels, boutique hotels, luxury chains, aparthotels, at the best prices. Check out our accommodation guides for specific recommended hotels.
WHAT TO PACK: If you’re bringing your phone, be sure to bring this plug adapter, this power bank, and this wrist strap. They’ve been lifesavers for us! You can see our other packing essentials here and here.
TICKETS & TOURS: For guided tours, day trips, private tours, and skip-the-line tickets, Get Your Guide is our go-to!
TRAINS & BUSES: To research train schedules and buy tickets or a Germany Rail Pass, we recommend the official Deutsche Bahn (German Rail System) website (and download their DB Navigator app). For buses, look at FlixBus , which offers tickets for routes within Germany and to other European countries. FlixBus is often cheaper than trains but can take longer.