Must-See Stops Between Munich and Lucerne?
 

We are taking a train to travel from Munich to Lucerne and intend to make a leisurely day of it (leave Munich in the morning, arrive in Lucerne by dinnertime). Is there anywhere we should hop off to walk around for a few hours between those two areas, especially scenic sights or towns? We will wait to do Zurich for a few days, as we catch a flight out from there later on.

Unfortunately we only have time to do Lucerne this trip so we have some excursions planned (Mt. Pilatus, Brienz) but would love to see a little more of the country when we have chances.

We will have a small amount of luggage with us but we're young and excited about the trip so it shouldn't slow us down much!

Along the direct train line from München to Zürich (where you switch trains for Luzern) there are not too many spots that I’d call worthy of a trip interruption, but two of them are: Lindau and St. Gallen. Google each and read up on them, you’ll see why.

If you take the fast EuroCity EC 196 train at 07:03 from München Hbf (Hauptbahnhof = principal central station), you’ll stop for a minute or two at Buchloe, Memmingen, then Lindau, Bregenz, St. Margrethen, St. Gallen, then four more before you get into central Zürich.

About the luggage - I’m not sure about Lindau, but St. Gallen has what’s called Gepäckaufbewahrung (luggage storage) at the station.

So take your pick - Lindau for the scenic lakeside beauty mostly, St. Gallen for the history and the architecture mostly.

Schedules etc at www.bahn.de and www.sbb.ch