We are flying into Munich on Saturday and will pick up a car on Monday. I am thinking about spending one night (or two) going to a town near Munich that is interesting(we have been to Munich a couple times) So far I have thought of Landshut, Bamburg, Regensburg, Passau, Nuremburg,Augsburg. My criteria is that it can be reached by train in under 2 hours. Does anyone have any recomendations??
Thanks.

My criteria is that it can be reached by train in under 2 hours.

That gives you a pretty large radius to your circle. I like the alpine areas so you could consider Oberammergau, Fussen, Bertschesgaden, or even Salzburg. If you wanted to go the other direction there is Rothenberg and Dinkelsbuhl. All of them are great places to spend a couple of days and well within your circle. I have heard that a Bavaria pass on the train saves you money and covers all those areas.

We are going to Switzerland on the Monday when we get the car so I probably rather not go to the Alps. Fusen would be nice though but its 2 1/2 hours. Rothenburg doesn't have direct train from Munich...its an hour from Nuremburg and Nuremburg is 1 hour 40 min. so thats close to 3 hours. I like all the places you mentioned but probably best to try somewhere else and closer.

If you haven't been to Salzburg you might want to investigate it. It is a charming town with lots to see and do and it is within a couple of hours on the train (Bavaria pass)from Munich.

I was just looking at Mikes bike tours and they have a full day to Fussen and the castle with bikes...That might be fun and then we could just stay in Munich the two nights. I also found a hotel in Landshut that has a shuttle from the munich airport. That might be good too. Has anyone been to Landshut and is there enough to see and do for one or two nights?

I found Regensburg to be very interestin and charming. I provides enough to keep you busy for two days. Well preserved old town, make a tour of the town hall, see the castle, the cathedral etc.

Have never been to Landshut, sorry.

I love Oberammergau and you can certainly "do" it in a day. If you go be sure to visit the RC church, the interior of which is an over-the-top marble and gold leaf/gilt extravaganza. After visiting a few of the MANY woodcarving shops and perhaps the Passion Play theatre, that's really about it IMO.

I think you'd find much more to occupy your time in some of the other towns/cities you've mentioned.

I'd opt for the charming town of Oberammergau, especially at this time of the year--all the Christmas things will be out in the stores, and even just looking is a lot of fun if you can resist some of the tempting offerings.

Oberammergau really brings back memories. I was there last on Sept 11. I was on a bus trip with my sister and the bus picked us up in Munich. The news had just broken about the trade center. We had the mandatory stop in Oberammerga. I am a New Yorker and was terribly upset. I didn't know what was going on and how my family was. We went into a carving shop and they had been listening to the news. They asked how we were since I had been crying. The shop keeper and her husband were very kind. They gave me a hug and offered their phone to call home. I was very touched. I can't say I remember anything about Oberammergau except for how kind that couple were.

cparris,
Bike tour to Fussen? Do you ride the bike from Munich or just straight up the hill to the castle?

I think that it would be nice to visit a Franken town if you are going on to the Swiss alps. I was assigned to Nuernberg for 2 years in the 80's and always enjoyed a day downtown, even if just to stroll around town and then enjoy a bratwurst from a stand with a gluhwein. It is a medieval city and can capture the imagination. Plus its tourism is not so overwhelming that you miss the feeling of being in a place still lived in by Germans.
Regards, Gary

I'm from Augsburg, and it is lovely. It's a 3000+ yr old Roman City. Things to see: the Golden room in the city hall, the Fuggerai (medeival Guild houses), Mozart's house, The Dom, etc.
It's a quick train ride from the Hauptbanhof in Munich, and you don't need a car.

For the bike trip with Mike's bike you take a bus to the area and then bike around swan lake, see the castle, have lunch near the alpine slide http://www.mikesbiketours.com/neusch...in_castle.html

Augsburg and Neuremburg are two good possibilities. My sister lived in Augsburg for a couple years and it is really close. Nuremburg seems to have alot to do. I love those brats from the stand.

Bamberg is an absolute gem of a small city. Very scenic (right on the Regnitz River; never damaged in the wary). Lots of history (both a Pope and Emporer buried there). Good beer, good food, friendly people, easy to get around--very walkable. We spent 3 wonderful days there a couple of summers ago.

But it does take about 2 hours and 20 minutes by train.

3000+ yr -> 2000 years (emperor augustus)
Fuggerai -> Fuggerei,

you're not from Augsburg mate ;-)

Take the ICE train from Munich to Nurnburg. Very fast, easy trip( if my recollection is correct, approx.90 minutes.) Have hot chestnuts, brats and gluhwein from the stands. Walk to the Burg, walk through the churches-Adam Kraft's work in St. Lorenz-the Albrecht Durer house, or the museum. Finish the day with an excellent coffee or Scokolade at the fancy pastry shop(Konditorei) on the square. No need to stay overnight-a nice long day trip.

misscarol -- I think they are going in the June timeframe. May not be the season for hot chestnuts and gluhwein, but brats are always in season.

Well, wait, if the post was 10/28/05 and they are leaving Saturday ( by my calendar the 29th) what am I missing here?

LOL. On another thread: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34687705

they are going over next summer.

OOps-perhaps brats and ein Radler would be more appropriate and refreshing!