Best sites to visit on day trips from Garmisch, Germany
 

We are going to be staying in Garmisch for two weeks, and would like to visit some of the neighboring countries. We are trying to put together our itinerary and could use some suggestions on where to go and what to see so that we make the most of our time. Any help would be appreciated.
We plan on renting a car but other travel suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

Partnach Gorge is a great walk just outside town.

Hi stuart _c_Payne_5,

You truly don't need to rent a car for your visit here, especially considering that you have the time to visit and see a lot of things without rushing. There is a great bus system in town that will carry you around, and of course the great trains will take you to neighboring countries and to the neighborhood.

I live in Garmisch, and I don't have a car.

Actually, I think one of the best ways to tour the area is by bike! I love the pace and the energy of bike touring.

Anyway, I would recommend several visits to Mittenwald -- there are a number of lovely walks (up the Kranzberg, from Krün to Mittenwald) as well as spending time in the village itself and visiting the violin-making museum.

Oberammergau is a very pretty town, well worth a visit. I would also spend time in Ettal and at Linderhof, all in the same neighborhood.

Innsbruck is a quick train ride away, and it's a nice place for a few visits.

Geroldsee, just outside of Garmisch, is a nice place for walking. Also be sure to walk by the Riessersee in town and the Eibsee at the foot of the Zugspitze.

Hope this gets you started.

s

These may be bit more ambitious, but Sterzing/Vipiteno, Brixen/Bressanone (we love both) are less than an hour from Innsbruck over the border in Italy. About 2.5 hours would put you in the Val Gardena in the Italian Dolomites.

http://www.brixen.org/en/home.html

http://www.valleisarco.info/en/holid..._sterzing.html

www.val-Gardena.com

Paul

Maybe OP could give some hints about their interests.
Hiking? Castles? Museums? ..?

While a trip to the Dolomites is definetely worth while, it may stretch the usual perception of a day trip. Usually you don't just have one place that is worth seeing, but more the whole scenery of the South Tyrol region - from Cortina to Meran. The Dolomites would be a nice trip if you were spending 1-2 nights somewhere in the region.

Technically the "border" between the Bavaria and the neighboring countries has no more relevance than a State Line in the US. Don't expect to experience a dramatic change in culture and scenery.

With a good deal of generalization, you could say that more interesting architecture (palaces, castles) are found on the Northern (Bavarian) side of the Alps; scenery (mountains) is more dramatic on the Austrian side and also in South Tyrol.

Stuart,

What time of year are you traveling?

I threw the Dolomites in since they stated they wanted to visit neighboring countries. By car (they say they'll have a car) Sterzing is under 2 hours, Brixen about 2 and Ortisei (Val Gardena) about 2.5. I agree an overnight would be best for this type trip, but you could possibly leave GP early, be in Ortisei before noon hop on the Mont Seuc cable car and spend the afternoon walking in the Seiser Alm/Alpe di Siusi. Is a strectch, but doable.

www.alpedisiusi-seiseralm.com/index.html

A day trip to Fuessen and Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles is a nice day trip from Garmisch. Maybe add the Tegelberg Sommerrodelbahn (luge ride) and/or Tegelbergbahn (cable car trip), which are very close by.

A trip to the top of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountian.

www.zugspitze.de
www.zugspitze.at

Linderhof palace is well worth visiting.

Obviously you will be within an easy drive to Munich, Salzburg, Fussen, Oberammergau, Mittenwald, Herren Chiemsee, Hallstatt, Linderhof, Ettal, Wiesekirche, Hall.

As pointed out above, the easiest "other country" would be Northern Italy.

You could also look at heading to the Lake Constance (Bodensee) area to dip into Lichtenstein and Switzerland. Lake Constance has some nice places to visit, Lindau, Meersburg and Mainau Insel (the flower island).

Sounds like you will be in a great place to base your explorations. Have a nice trip.

Thank you all very much for all of the suggestions. We are sorry we haven't been able to be online to check out any response to our questions. There was a very bad storm here on the 6th that played havoc on our cable hookup for phone, Internet, and tv. It also tripped circuits in the house and ruined the water heater. We also suspect that my wife's car was affected.......in shop now.
Ann and I lived in Oppenheim on the Rhein back in the mid 70's. I was in the military at the time, and didn't get many chances to sightsee.
We did get to visit Garmisch for a couple of days and see some of the suggested sites that were mentioned by pja1 and AisleSeat.
Thank you all for the links you provided.
Stuart & Ann

Bookmarking

I was also in the military in Germany...Stuttgart 70-71. We are heading back to Garmisch, again, for the Christmas Markets in November 2013.

We always get a car. The trains are great, but the car gives you flexibility to find new towns, etc you were not expecting.

If the weather is good go to the top of the Zugspitz. Beautiful site. We stayed at the old US Army hotel on Eisbee Lake in 1971 ($7.00 per night) but it is now remodeled and in private hands.

Oberammergau is also a good spot. A pretty easy day drive is to head south to Neuschwanstein, visit it and the other castle, then drive from there to WIES CHURCH (short visit) then on to Oberammergau through Ettal Abbey and Linderhof if you have time. This trip is a large circle ending back in Garmisch. Check it out on a map. I think you can now get advance tickets for Neuschwanstein online as the crowds can be large in the summer.

Salzburg is one of our favorite spots, but may entail more than a day drive.

Have fun! We will be there soon enjoying the snow, cold and short days, plus a little Gluwein!