Munich at Christmas
 

We will be visiting family in Munich from 12/23 to 1/1. (I will immediately head for a Xmas market when we arrive!)But after visiting for a bit, we would like to do some exploring of Munich and the environs. Any suggestions of what NOT to miss??? Also, we are thinking about a drive to Salsburg for a couple days. Is that reasonable?

We are flying into Munich and taking the train to Salzburg for 2 days before returning to Munich for 2 days the week before Christmas.
The train was a better deal than the car hire for us, but it depends on how much countryside you want to see.

Munich has a lot to offer depending on what you like.

There are several museums and several art gallaries. The walking tour through the old city is memorable as you go to the Frauen Kirche, Rathaus and Hofbrauhaus plus the Christmas markets. The big Christmas market is at Marienplatz with a creche market (nativity figures) a block away. The Residence is the huge downtown palace of the Wittlesback family but it is pretty dull compared to other sights. You can see Nymphenburg Palace with it's wonderful carraige house the is full of Cinderella coaches.

There is a special family day pass on the trains in Bavaria where up to 5 people can go anywhere in Bavaria on the train after 9am for 27 Euros. Salzburg is included in the map of places you can go. That makes a wonderful daytrip.

If you rent a car you can make a circuit out the autobahn toward Garmish to go to Ettal Monastary, Linderhof, Oberammergau, Wiesekirche, then to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. You might want to plan a couple of days for the circuit so you can see the castles.

You can do this on the train but it is not as direct as the route to Salzburg.

Go ice skating in Marienplatz! And stroll up and down the street that leads to the Altes Rathaus, or Old Town Hall. On the way, you'll see the Glockenspiel at the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), and if you have any holiday shopping left to do, there are plenty of places along here to stop in. From here, you can go to the Viktualienmarkt (food market) or head to the Hofbrauhaus for a stein of bier :)

Personally, the next time I go to Munich, I want to visit the Tierpark Hellabrunn (the zoo). It's the largest zoo in Europe, and it is divided into continents that feature animals that are native to the lands. It might be too cold when you're there, but it looks pretty amazing, and I won't miss it next time, even if it's blustery. And if your family has a dog, it's one of the only ones that allows you to bring the pooch with you!

The city is closed from 12/24 early afternoon to 12/26 midnight.
Normal operation to commence again on 12/29. :D