We have planned a Danube cruise with Viking with three days in Prague on the front end before boarding the longship in Passau. The trip begins March 26, 2022. We can opt to fly into Munich and stay there a few days before the Prague portion. If we opt to do this we would need to make our own hotel reservations in Munich as well as airport transfer. Never having been to either Munich or Salzburg, is it worth adding a few days on the front end of the trip to see these two cities? If so, can anyone recommend a hotel in Munich? It doesn't have to be a 5 star hotel.

It would be worth it for me. As far as airport transfer, just take the train. The journey takes about 40 minutes. Ticket options include a single trip or the Gruppen Tageskarte (2-5 people), an all-day ticket which covers the entire train network in Munich. There are also buses.

Hotels I like in Munich include the Marc Munchen, ‘adults’ only’ about a five minute walk from the Hauptbahnhof, the Hotel Mueller – a small traditional hotel on a quiet side street near Sendlinger Tor and The Residence Inn and Marriott Courtyard in Munich Ost.

Easy to get to/from the airport and to Munich's old town from all three.

Getting to Salzburg from Munich via train is also very easy using the Bayern Pass. There are some 32 trains a day and it only takes two hours. It's a straight shot from the Munich HBF with no changes.

Yes, I'd want at least 3 nights in Munich and 2 in Salzburg. We stayed at the Platzl in Munich which was a wonderful location and a very nice place. Ask for a room on a upper floor.

https://www.platzl.de/en/?gclid=CjwK...xoCrBEQAvD_BwE

In Salzburg, find a hotel near the pedestrian zone.

We corrected the typo Salburg in your thread title

You can take either the S-1 or the S-8 S-bahn trains from MUC to center-city and buy tickets at the airport from the machines as needed. As was mentioned above the trip takes about 45 minutes. We have used the Platzl hotel, among others, various times and it is very VERY centrally located and an easy walk from the U/S Bahn station at Marienplatz. The breakfast cannot be beat.

Full disclosure: we got the Platzl recommendation from Dukey... He knows where to be!