I've been trying to decide how to get from Munich to Garmisch (for a 2 night stay in Garmisch as a base to explore the castles, etc.) in June. I've checked out some rental car websites (Nova, Autoeurope, Europcar)for a 2 day period and I was shocked at the prices. Approx. 180 Euros for 2 days? Is this the norm? Please advise? Would it be easier to just take the train from Munich to Garmisch?

Rentals for less than 3 days are usually very expensive You could certainly take the train, but then you would be limited in getting around to see the sights near Garmisch/
Partenkirchen. How are you getting to Munich? If you could rent a car for 3 days you'd have the best of both worlds: cost and convenience.

Underhill, thank you for your response. We're actually flying into Munich and plan on staying there for a couple of nights. I guess we'll have to opt for the train to Garmisch if the prices are that high.

Charmkins- Try picking up the car at a location other than the train station or airport to reduce the cost. Also, stick shifts are much cheaper. I rented from Avis for a day last year for about 50 Euros to drive from Munich to Frankfurt.
A car will give you so much more flexibility to see Garmisch, Fussen, Reutte, Wies Church, Ettal, Oberammergau, Lindau, and Andechs Monastery. It is very difficult to see that much using public transportation in several days.
Lift a for me at the Hofbrau House ..

Well, now that Kenny has mapped out your entire itinerary for you...normally I would advise using rail BUT in this case you'll find yourself moving more or less in an East-West direction once you get to Garmisch and to do that effectively (for the castles, etc.) you really would be better off with a car since the trains basically run North-South in this region.

I will be renting a car in Munich for 10 day usage return to Munich for $385 (38.50/day) I beleive it will be a VW Passat(manual shift-A/C) or similar. I will pick it up downtown (not train station) and return to airport. I used Kemwell 1-800-678-0678. Hope this helps.

Before you decide on a car rental company, go to the following website:

http://gemut.com/

Try them for a car rental. They guarantee to beat anyone else's rate. They are kind of like independent insurance agents: they search around for the cheapest rate for you. They are very helpful and answer all your questions promptly. And KennyL is right: try to pick up downtown if possible. The airports in Germany charge a 17% tax on car rentals.

hi zeus and vacaluvr. i was wondering how far is downtown munich from the train station. we have to catch the only daily train from munich to florence early tuesday morning. so, we'll have to return the car and then head to the train station. any suggestions?

charmkins- I have returned cars at the Munich train station. The return garages are a block or so away. Be sure the desk in the train station is open if you have a very early train. Or else turn it in the nite before and catch the U-bahn to the Bahnhof for your early train in the morning, assuming you are staying in Munich the nite before. And if you turn the car in the nite before, there may be a rental return desk near (or in ) the hotel you are staying. (Hertz at the Holiday Inn North, for example)That way you don't have to drive all the way to the Bahnhof to turn in your car.

KennyL - the daily train from Munich to Florence leaves at 9:30am. I checked some car rental websites and most opening times are at 7am. This might sound a bit too much, but we figure on leaving Garmisch early morning (say 5 - 6am) and get into Munich by 7am (not sure as to the exact travel time between the two cities is). Then, from "downtown Munich" to the train station (not sure where downtown Munich is). Trying to go with the downtown Munich car rental companies if they offer the better price. The other option is to do like you say - to just drive back to Munich on Monday evening and check into the hotel there. That's the safer choice. I just have to contact Hotel Uhland and see if they have availability for that last night.

any chance you would want to keep the car a few extra days, and drive all the way to the Italian border and drop it off & catch a train? then you'd really see a whole bunch.

I took the tain from Munich to Garmisch last June. It was a piece of cake. You pick up the train at the airport and it takes you into the center of Garmisch. Unless you need a car once you get there, this is a great way to go.

charmkins- since you are not familiar with downtown Munich and the location of the Bahnhof, perhaps a better choice for you would be to drop the car off in Garmisch the nite before your trip to Florence. Then catch the train from Garmisch to Munich around 7 AM the next morning and you will arrive at the Munich train station around 8 AM without worrying about the traffic in Munich. There shouldn't be a drop-off fee to return the car in Garmisch.

"Unless you need a car once you get there, this is a great way to go."

This quote says it all. You will want a car when you get there.

My wife and I have done this area many times over 34 years. The mountain drives are great, the scenery is great and the flexibility of having a car to see the sights is worth the expense.

My vote is to get the best deal you can on a rental car, drive down there and have fun. Skip the trains!