Munich and Salzburg are neighbors linked by rails and rivers, Baroque domes and Alpine ridgelines. Over seven days, you’ll trace stories from medieval guilds to Mozart’s genius, from visionary kings to sobering WWII history—without rushing. Expect cobbled lanes, concert halls, biergartens, and mountain views that look painted by hand.

Munich, capital of Bavaria, grew from a monastery market to the “city of art and beer,” famous for Marienplatz’s Glockenspiel, the 1516 beer purity law, and Oktoberfest. Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage jewel, was a prince-archbishopric that nurtured music: Mozart was born here, and The Sound of Music stamped its gardens and lakes into popular imagination.

Practical notes: Cash is useful alongside cards; trains between cities are fast and frequent. Bavarian cuisine leans hearty—roast pork, pretzels, dumplings—while Salzburg’s kitchens do elegance with schnitzel, lake fish, and sweet nockerl. For international and intra-European transport and tickets, compare options on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains).

Munich

Munich pairs grandeur and gemütlichkeit. Start at Marienplatz beneath the neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus, then wander to the Residenz, the Wittelsbachs’ lavish palace. When the sun stretches long, locals head to the English Garden, where riverside lawns, beer gardens, and the Eisbach wave create a citywide backyard.

Food here tells stories: centuries-old breweries pour Helles under chestnut trees; at Viktualienmarkt, stalls sell mountain cheese, mushrooms, and the city’s best potato creations. Contemporary kitchens—think seasonal, hyper-local—round out the scene.

• Top sights: Marienplatz and Glockenspiel, Munich Residenz and Treasury, Frauenkirche, Asamkirche, English Garden (Seehaus, Chinese Tower), Pinakotheken museums, BMW Welt and Olympic Park.
• Great coffee & bakeries: Man Versus Machine (roastery-class espresso), Café Frischhut (hot schmalznudel), Standl 20 (Viktualienmarkt filter coffee).
• Classic eats: Augustiner-Keller (beer garden institution), Schneider Bräuhaus (wheat beer and weisswurst), Der Pschorr (Alpine beef, Bavarian staples), Dallmayr (historic delicatessen, light lunches).
• Where to stay (Munich):
  • Hotel Bayerischer Hof – historic grand hotel with spa and rooftop views.
  • Holiday Inn Munich - City Centre – S-Bahn downstairs, walkable to museums.
  • Motel One München-Sendlinger Tor – stylish, central, good value.
  • Euro Youth Hotel Munich – budget-friendly near Hauptbahnhof.
  Browse more: Hotels.com Munich | VRBO Munich
• Getting there & around: Fly into MUC and connect by S-Bahn S1/S8 (~40 min, ~€13) or taxi (~35–45 min). For flights and trains, check Omio (flights) and Omio (trains).

Salzburg

Salzburg’s Old Town is a scroll of baroque façades beneath Hohensalzburg Fortress. Getreidegasse’s wrought-iron merchant signs recall its trading heyday, while church spires and the Salzach River frame an undeniably romantic skyline.

Music permeates everything: Mozart’s Geburtshaus, festival halls, and palace salons host concerts most nights. The surrounding Salzkammergut lakes and the Bavarian Alps beckon with crystalline water and cliff-backed meadows.

• Top sights: Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mirabell Palace & Gardens, Mozart’s Birthplace, Salzburg Cathedral, St. Peter’s Abbey, Hellbrunn Palace, Museum der Moderne on Mönchsberg.
• Local flavors: Salzburger Nockerl (soufflé dessert), lake char and trout, schnitzel, and sweet stops at Café Bazar and Café Tomaselli.
• Where to stay (Salzburg):
  • Hotel Goldener Hirsch, a Luxury Collection Hotel – heritage gem on Getreidegasse.
  • Hotel & Villa Auersperg – boutique feel with rooftop spa garden.
  • Hotel Sacher Salzburg – riverside elegance, famed for Sacher torte.
  • MEININGER Hotel Salzburg City Center – budget-friendly with modern rooms.
  Browse more: Hotels.com Salzburg | VRBO Salzburg
• Getting there & around: Munich–Salzburg trains run ~1h30–1h50; advance fares often €20–€40. Book on Omio (trains). Salzburg is walkable; buses cover hills and Hellbrunn.

Day 1: Arrive in Munich, Old Town First Impressions

Morning: In transit. Aim to land by midday at MUC.

Afternoon: Check in, then stroll to Marienplatz for the 5 p.m. Glockenspiel. Pop into the soaring Frauenkirche and the gilded jewel-box Asamkirche (a short walk on Sendlinger Straße). Snack through Viktualienmarkt—try Caspar Plautz (inventive potato plates), Fisch Witte (Nordic-style fish soup), or a pretzel and Obatzda at the beer garden.

Evening: Classic Bavarian welcome at Augustiner-Keller under chestnut trees—order roast pork with potato dumplings and an Augustiner Helles from wooden barrels. Nightcap at Schneider Bräuhaus with a wheat beer and apple strudel.

Day 2: Royal Munich, Museums, and the English Garden

Morning: Coffee at Man Versus Machine (hipster-perfect flat whites), then tour the Munich Residenz and Treasury—mirror-lined Ancestral Gallery, jeweled crowns, and the Renaissance Antiquarium. Swing by Dallmayr delicatessen for a pastry-to-go.

Afternoon: Art lovers: pick one Pinakothek (Alte for Old Masters, Neue for 19th-century, or the Pinakothek der Moderne). Alternatively, head to BMW Welt & Museum and the 1972 Olympiapark for architecture and skyline views from the Olympic Tower.

Evening: Wander the English Garden at golden hour; dinner at Seehaus by the lake (fish dishes, Bavaria-meets-Mediterranean). If you’re curious about beer culture, try a DIY mini-hop: Hofbräuhaus for oompah atmosphere, then the cozier Der Pschorr for slow-raised Alpine beef and local schnapps.

Day 3: Neuschwanstein & Linderhof – the Fairytale Castles (Full-Day Tour)

Spend the day with King Ludwig II’s masterpieces in the Alps. This small-group VIP tour handles transport, tickets, and storytelling—so you can savor frescoes and mountain panoramas without logistics.

Premium Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof VIP Tour from Munich

Tip: Wear comfy shoes; paths to Neuschwanstein are uphill. If the Marienbrücke viewpoint is open, it’s the iconic photo angle.

Day 4: Dachau Memorial, Neighborhoods, and Modern Munich

Morning: Visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial with an authorized guide. It’s solemn, essential, and handled with care; the tour uses local trains and buses from Munich.

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site Tour from Munich by Train

Afternoon: Light lunch back in the city at Dallmayr Bar & Grill or Viktualienmarkt. Explore Glockenbachviertel boutiques and cafés or the design-forward Werksviertel-Mitte (street art, Container Collective, Aussichtspunkte).

Evening: Dinner near Gärtnerplatz at Zum Alten Markt (regional specials) or contemporary seasonal plates at Mural (reserve ahead). End with a digestif at Bar Gabanyi (piano bar meets whiskey lounge).

Day 5: Train to Salzburg, Fortress and River Views

Morning: Depart Munich Hauptbahnhof for Salzburg Hbf; Railjet/Eurocity trains take ~1h30–1h50. Advance fares often €20–€40. Book on Omio (trains). Check in and drop bags.

Afternoon: Cross the river to the Old Town: Getreidegasse (wrought-iron signs), Mozart’s Birthplace exterior, and the Salzburg Cathedral square. Take the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress; the museum’s princes’ rooms and the terrace views are superb.

Evening: Dinner at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium (documented since 803). Order lake fish or the braised beef with root vegetables; finish with Salzburger Nockerl if you’ve saved room. Night stroll along the Salzach and the love locks of Makartsteg.

Day 6: Sound of Music Scenes, Mirabell Gardens, and a Mozart Evening

Morning–Afternoon: Trace filming sites from The Sound of Music and learn about the real Von Trapps; the tour blends city stops with lake country scenery.

The Original Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg

Back in town, wander Mirabell Gardens—the Pegasus fountain, vine tunnel, and balustrades will look familiar. Coffee at 220° Rösthaus (single-origin brews, excellent cakes).

Evening: Ride the funicular to the fortress for dinner with a view and live music—an atmospheric way to hear Mozart where he’s most at home.

Best of Mozart Concert and Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg

Day 7: Slow Salzburg Morning and Departure

Morning: Breakfast at Café Bazar (river views, Viennese coffee service) or historic Café Tomaselli. Browse Linzergasse for artisanal gifts. If time allows, take the lift up Museum der Moderne Mönchsberg for one last panorama.

Afternoon: Depart from Salzburg Hbf or Salzburg Airport. For onward trains and flights, compare schedules and prices on Omio (trains) and Omio (flights). If returning to Munich for a flight, trains are ~1h30–1h50 from Salzburg to Munich Airport via Hbf (~€25–€45 depending on routing).

Evening: If you have a late departure, early dinner at Die Weisse (house-brewed wheat beer, schnitzel) or Bärenwirt (crispy fried chicken, bread dumplings) before you go.

Practical Pointers

• Reservations: Book castle and concert tours early (peak May–October and Advent weekends). Popular restaurants in both cities fill fast on weekends.
• Cash & tipping: Cards widely accepted; carry small cash for markets. Round up or add ~5–10% in restaurants if service was good.
• What to pack: Layers, compact umbrella, comfy walking shoes. For castle day, a warm layer even in summer—mountain weather shifts quickly.

From Munich’s royal avenues to Salzburg’s fortress skyline, this itinerary blends headline sights with neighborhood flavors and scenic rail journeys. You’ll leave with postcards of the Alps, melodies in your head, and a palate tuned to pretzels, pastries, and lake fish.