Heading to Munich with a friend for the first time in May. We've been to Iceland and Amsterdam twice and are starting out in Amsterdam for Queen's Day then leaving for Munich (renting a car) on a Tuesday. We'll have Tues - Fri to explore and need to drive back to Amsterdam on Saturday. We've never been to Germany before and wanted the flexibility of a car to stop when we want and for daytrips. So three questions for the experts out there.

1) Would you drive straight through from Amsterdam to Munich or stop somewhere along the way for a night, any good city suggestions?

2) Should we stay in Munich for the full 3 days or head out on a day trip (dachau?) or 2. What are the key 'musts' in Munich?

3) Any good recommendations on where to stay in Munich? Price range is 100 - 150 US.

History and beer drinking are always the two highlights for us. We're just starting to research but any advice you have would be great. Thanks!

You will not have anywhere near 4 days in Munich. It is more than 550 miles from Amsterdam to Munich.

If Munich/Bavaria is what you mainly want to see, you would be MUCH better off taking the train or flying south and then renting a car to explore outside Munich (then train or plane back to A'dam)

If you want to enjoy Munich and its environs, I would take the train from AMS to MUC. (Check www.bahn.de for schedules) Either southbound or better yet northbound, go via Cologne (Koeln). This way you will be going along the Rhein river.

While in Munich, you can take a couple of day trips, either by train (using the heavily discounted Bayernkarte ticket) or by car, which will give you more sightseeing opportunities.

One day- when the weather is good and the mountains are clear, you could drive on the -Salzburg Autobahn to Prien (exit Bernau), head for the small port of Stock (4km from Prien) and take the boat to visit King Ludwig's palace on Herrenchiensee. You can also do that trip by train.

If you go by car, the Herrenchiemsee visitwill take you about 3 hrs., starting in Munich. Then you could return to the autobahn the way you came , but continue on the same road (B-305) to Grassau, Reit im Winkel - Fritz am Sand (shortly thereafter the B-305 turns right; you don't want to go straight to Ruhpolding), Schneizlreuth and then follow the signs to Berchtesgaden. This whole route is very scenic. It takes about 21/2 hrs. from Prien

You will enter Bgdn.at the RR station. From there you can either drive up to the Obersalzberg and switch there to the bus to the Kehlsteinhaus (aka Eagles Nest), or if it's crowded at the Obersalzberg, head from the RR station toward the Koenigsee, and watch for the signs to the Jenner Bergbahn on your left. Take that gondola lift to the top of the Jenner. The view is almsot a impressive as from the Kehlsteinhaus.

Return from Bgdn. to Munich by way of Bad Reichen hall and the Salzburg - Munich autobahn A-8

Dachau, which you mention takes about 3 R/T, including visit to the KZ on the the S-Bahn suburban train.

Another day trip from MUC is Garmisch-Partenkirchen, wich can be done by train and Bayernkarte ticket or by driving on the Munich - Garmisch autobahn. Within walking distance of the Garmisch RR station is the station for the Zugspitzbahn. This cog railway takes you to the top of Germany's highest mountain.

Or,if you drive, continue from Garmisch to Leermoos, west of G. and take the cable car to the Austrian part of the Zugspitze. After you return to terra firma, go on to Fuessen and view the Neuschwanstein Castle. From there you can return to Munich via Landsberg and the Lindau - Munich autobahn.

Should the weather not be the greatest, you can also take the train (using the Bayernkarte) to spend a day in Salzburg

Yeah, I wouldn't make the trip from Amsterdam to Munich by car. Too much freeway driving. I'd take the train.

In Munich, one thing I suggest you not miss is the Schatzkammer (or treasury), especially to see the 16th-century Renaissance statue of St. George Slaying the Dragon, made of gold, but studded with thousands of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and semiprecious stones.

Website for the Treasury: http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/engl...ts/mu_schk.htm

I was not enchanted with Munich but was dazzled by areas outside Munich, especially Ludwig's Linderhof palace. According to www.viamichelin.com, it's about an hour and 15-minute drive from Munich, passing near Ettal, where I would stop and see Kloster Ettal and its fabulous chapel. Here's a link to my photos of our trip to Linderhof and environs. That is just some incredibly beautiful country. Given the choice, I'd give Munich short shrift in favor of lodging instead in a place like Garmisch-Partenkirchen. However, I wouldn't want to have missed seeing the fabulous St. George Slaying the Dragon in the Treasury in Munich.

By the way, in Munich, we stayed at Hotel Uhland, an economical favorite of many fodorites. http://www.hotel-uhland.de/enwelcome.html

Oops. Forgot to post the link to my photo album of our visit to Linderhof and environs: http://www.dotphoto.com/Go.asp?l=Mar...055845&T=1

Also, here is a link of photo album for Garmisch-Partenkirchen area: http://www.dotphoto.com/Go.asp?l=Mar...053722&T=1

Geez, that is some beautiful country! I love southern Germany!

In Munich, we stayed at the Hotel Laimerhof near the Nymphenberg Palace. It is a little outside the center of the city, in a nice neighborhood, easily reached on the S-Bahn train or the city tram. Our rate was around 90 euros/night. Near there (10 minute walk) is a great beer garden called the Hirschgarten.