October is prime time for a Munich and Salzburg escape: cool, leaf-tinted days, hearty seasonal food, and—if your dates align—the world’s most famous beer festival. Expect golden parks, lively beer gardens, and mountain villages with smoke curling from chimneys. Crowds thin after early October, but the energy stays high.

Munich evolved from a medieval monastic market town into the Bavarian capital of arts, science, and gemütlichkeit. Think gilded palaces, cutting-edge museums, and brewery traditions stretching back centuries. Salzburg, a Baroque jewel on the Salzach River, carries the grace of Mozart’s music into every square and café, with a fortress standing watch above terracotta rooftops.

Practical notes: October temperatures hover around 45–60°F (7–16°C). Pack layers and a compact umbrella. Reserve popular restaurants and Oktoberfest tents where possible; otherwise, go early. Cards are widely accepted, though small stalls may prefer cash. Sunday shop closures are common in both Germany and Austria.

Munich

Munich balances royal grandeur with everyday warmth. Start at Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus’s famous Glockenspiel, then wander to the Viktualienmarkt for artisan snacks. The Englischer Garten offers miles of paths and surprise surfers on the Eisbach; the Kunstareal museum quarter could fill days on its own.

Top sights include the Residenz and Treasury, the Deutsches Museum (science wonderland), the trio of Pinakothek art museums, BMW Welt & Museum, and Allianz Arena tours for football fans. If your timing hits late September–early October, the Theresienwiese becomes a city-within-a-city for Oktoberfest. Otherwise, Munich’s beer culture thrives year-round in storied halls and leafy gardens.

• Where to stay (central and well-connected): Altstadt-Lehel for walkability; Maxvorstadt for museums and cafés; Glockenbach/Isarvorstadt for nightlife; Schwabing for classic boulevards. Browse stays on VRBO Munich or compare hotels on Hotels.com Munich.
• Getting in: Fly into Munich (MUC) or arrive by train. Check flights and rail options on Omio (flights to/from Europe) and Omio (trains in Europe). Central Munich (Hauptbahnhof) is about 40 minutes from the airport via S-Bahn.
• Food & drink highlights: Wirtshaus in der Au (bread dumplings and roast pork), Schneider Bräuhaus (wheat beers and Bavarian classics), Augustiner-Keller (shaded beer garden), Dallmayr Delicatessen (gourmet snacks), Café Frischhut (schmalznudel pastries), Man Versus Machine (third-wave coffee), Zephyr Bar (inventive cocktails).

Salzburg

Salzburg is compact, romantic, and richly layered. The clifftop Hohensalzburg Fortress crowns the skyline; below, the Old Town’s Getreidegasse hides wrought-iron signs and Mozart lore. Gardens at Mirabell reveal formal symmetry framed by mountain silhouettes.

Music threads through everything—from cathedral acoustics to intimate palace concerts. Day trips tempt in every direction: Berchtesgaden and Königssee for emerald waters and jagged peaks; Hallstatt for lakeside beauty; or the Untersberg cable car for sudden altitude and sweeping views.

• Where to stay: Altstadt (romance and history) or Neustadt (easy access to Mirabell and the station). See VRBO Salzburg and Hotels.com Salzburg.
• Arriving from Munich: Frequent Munich–Salzburg trains take ~1h30–1h50, usually €20–€35 if booked in advance. Search and book via Omio (trains in Europe).
• Food & drink highlights: Café Tomaselli (historic coffeehouse), Café Bazar (river-view breakfasts), 220 Grad and Kaffee-Alchemie (specialty coffee), Bärenwirt (crispy Backhendl), St. Peter Stiftskulinarium (claimed oldest restaurant in Europe; try Salzburger Nockerl), Augustiner Bräu Mülln (vast beer hall), Die Weisse (wheat beer and hearty plates), Gasthof Goldgasse (modern Austrian).

Day 1: Arrive in Munich, Old Town Stroll, and Bavarian Welcome

Afternoon: Land in Munich and check into your hotel/apartment in Altstadt-Lehel or Maxvorstadt. Drop your bags and walk to Marienplatz for the late-afternoon light on the Neues Rathaus; if you catch the Glockenspiel, all the better. Snack across the street at the Viktualienmarkt—try Caspar Plautz for creative potato dishes or grab a cheese plate from Tölzer Kasladen.

Evening: Book dinner at Wirtshaus in der Au for signature knödel (spinach, beet, or bacon) and slow-roasted pork with crackling—classic, comforting, and perfect for a fall evening. After, pop into Schneider Bräuhaus for a Schneider Weisse Aventinus (malty, warming) or walk to Hofbräuhaus to experience its 16th‑century history, brass bands, and communal tables.

Night: If you want a nightcap beyond beer, Zephyr Bar in Glockenbach shakes some of the city’s most creative cocktails. Turn in early to adjust to the time zone and be fresh for tomorrow.

Day 2: Royal Munich, Markets, and the Englischer Garten

Morning: Coffee and a warm schmalznudel at Café Frischhut, then tour the Munich Residenz and Treasury—gilt-laden rooms, the Antiquarium hall, and jewels that chart Wittelsbach power. Swing by Dallmayr Delicatessen for a mid-morning pick-me-up or picnic provisions.

Afternoon: Head to the Kunstareal: choose the Alte Pinakothek for Old Masters or the Pinakothek der Moderne for design and contemporary art. Lunch at Occam Deli (New York deli spirit, Bavarian produce) or Café Ella at the Lenbachhaus for a museum-side bite.

Evening: Wander through the Englischer Garten to the Chinesischer Turm beer garden; if it’s chilly, Seehaus by the lake offers cozier indoor seating. Dinner under chestnut trees at Augustiner-Keller or head indoors to Zum Augustiner for gravity-fed wooden-barrel beers and hearty plates.

Day 3: Oktoberfest (If In Season) or Munich Beer Culture Deep-Dive

Morning: If your dates overlap Oktoberfest (typically late Sept–early Oct), arrive at Theresienwiese by late morning to find space at Augustiner-Festhalle or Hacker-Festzelt (“Himmel der Bayern”). Order roast chicken, giant pretzels, and a Maß (liter) of festbier. No reservation? Go early weekday daytime. Otherwise, begin with the Beer & Oktoberfest Museum (Sterneckerstrasse) to trace the fest’s history.

Afternoon: Continue tent-hopping or, for the non-fest route, tour a brewery (Paulaner am Nockherberg often offers guided visits—check schedules). Sample obatzda and sausages at the Viktualienmarkt beer garden, and browse Tracht shops like Angermaier for traditional attire.

Evening: Dinner at Ratskeller München beneath the Rathaus (vast menu of regional specialties) or Haxnbauer for slow-turning pork knuckles with a crackly crust. For dessert, stop by Der Verrückte Eismacher for playful, seasonal ice cream flavors, then sip at Schumann’s Bar am Hofgarten—an institution for classic cocktails.

Day 4: Day Trip to Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau

Morning: Depart Munich Hauptbahnhof by train to Füssen (about 2 hours) and transfer to the bus for Hohenschwangau. Reserve Neuschwanstein tickets in advance for timed entry. Fuel up with coffee at Man Versus Machine before you leave, or grab pastries for the train.

Afternoon: Tour Hohenschwangau (Ludwig II’s childhood home) then Neuschwanstein’s theatrical chambers. Walk to Marienbrücke for the iconic cliffside view—especially dramatic with fall colors. Late lunch at Schloss Bräustüberl Hohenschwangau for Alpine fare before returning to Munich.

Evening: Back in Munich, keep it easy with dinner at Ayinger am Platzl (excellent lagers; try the schnitzel or seasonal venison). If energy remains, stroll past the Nationaltheater and along Maximilianstrasse’s arcades lit up at night.

Day 5: Train to Salzburg, Mirabell Gardens, and Local Classics

Morning: Take a morning train from Munich to Salzburg (~1h30–1h50; typically €20–€35 when booked early). Compare departures and prices with Omio (trains in Europe). Check in near the Altstadt or Neustadt. Explore Mirabell Gardens—peg your camera to the Pegasus fountain with the fortress perfectly framed.

Afternoon: Cross the Makartsteg bridge (love locks, city views) to Mozart’s Birthplace on Getreidegasse. Coffee and cake at Café Bazar, a writers’ haunt with terrace views of the fortress and river.

Evening: Dinner at Bärenwirt for golden, crispy Backhendl (fried chicken), potato salad, and a pint. Then raise a stein at Augustiner Bräu Mülln—choose your stone mug, rinse it at the fountain, and fill up in a vaulted hall that hums with local life.

Day 6: Berchtesgaden and Königssee Alpine Day Trip

Morning: Hop the 840 bus from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden (about 45 minutes) and continue a short ride to Königssee. The electric boats glide over emerald water to St. Bartholomä; listen for the trumpet echo off sheer rock walls. Boat tickets are typically from ~€22 round-trip.

Afternoon: Lunch on the lake: try smoked trout at Gaststätte St. Bartholomä or fresh fish at Echostüberl near Schönau. If conditions and season allow, consider the Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) for sweeping views, or hike short trails along the lakeshore for fiery larch and beech leaves.

Evening: Return to Salzburg for dinner at Die Weisse—order a yeast-cloudy Hefeweisse, kasnocken (cheesy dumplings), and a side of sauerkraut. Cap the night with a riverside stroll past lit-up church spires.

Day 7: Fortress, Old Town Farewells, and Departure

Morning: Espresso at 220 Grad or Kaffee-Alchemie, then ride the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress for panoramic views. Explore the courtyards and museum, then descend to St. Peter’s Abbey and its ivy-draped cemetery—serene and photogenic.

Afternoon: Pick up original Mozartkugeln at Café Konditorei Fürst (the blue-silver ones) and grab a quick Bosna sausage at Balkan Grill Walter in a tiny Getreidegasse passage. Head to the station or airport for your afternoon departure. Search your return flight or onward train with Omio (flights) and Omio (trains).

Evening: —

Practical Tips & Seasonal Notes

• Passes: The Munich Card or CityTourCard can discount transit and attractions; the Salzburg Card (from ~€31/24h) covers many sights plus public transport and is ideal for a fortress-and-museums day.
• Oktoberfest basics: Reservations help but aren’t mandatory midday on weekdays. Bring cash for tips and snacks. Traditional attire (Dirndl/Lederhosen) is optional but adds fun; buy or rent from reputable shops.
• Weather & packing: Layer up, waterproof shoes, compact umbrella, and a light down or wool layer for evenings.
• Getting around: Munich’s U/S-Bahn network is extensive; Salzburg is walkable with efficient buses. Taxis and rideshares are widely available in both cities.

Hotels and apartments book quickly in early October—secure stays in central areas for easy walking to key sights: VRBO Munich, Hotels.com Munich, VRBO Salzburg, and Hotels.com Salzburg. For transport, compare times and fares on Omio flights and Omio trains (plus Omio buses if needed).

In one week, you’ll toast in Munich’s historic beer halls, wander palaces and parks, and then shift to Salzburg’s Baroque lanes and mountain horizons. October’s palette makes every view richer—from Marienplatz’s spires to the glassy sheen of Königssee. Prost and servus to a fall journey you’ll talk about for years.