I'm really pressed for time in this area. I've looked into many towns near Munich, and while they seen to have a lot of character they also seem very touristy. Most of the towns that I like are 3 to 4 hours away in Austria ie Alpbach, Ellmau etc. Can anyone suggest a nice town that isn't full of souvenir shops. A nice hotel would be appreciated too

Try Bad Tolz.

North of Munich, the Altmühltal. Eastern Tyrol to the south, and many many more. Tourists only go to the same places, not the best or most interesting. They don't go elsewhere, because (I believe) most only listen to other tourists with their standard program of Rothenburg, Berchtes gaden and Salzburg. Those places are nice and easy for tourists but far from being the most interesting. Besically this fortunately leaves some place to breathe for the rest of us.

Have a closer look at Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Hi celfan,

I spent a month in a small apartment in Mittenwald and thought it was perfect. It has a pedestrian center of town lined with shops & cafes. The town has a train station with good connections to GaP & Innsbruck. I spent the month enjoying hikes in the Karwendels. It's just ideal!

www.mittenwald.de

Have fun!

s

Seriously Germisch and Toelz are giving me the creeps. You don't go there, there are just too many tourists there! And it's boring. Make a real suggestion, celfan and others aren't going to go there anyway .
Und leise klingts aus dem Gehölz LMAA, ich bin aus Tölz...

And Mittenwald, come on, you can do better than that! At least the Germans...