Munich Questions
 

Can you suggest interesting things for an art history major to do on a Monday(when all art museums are closed) ?

Also, we'd like to rent a car and take a one day excursion out of Munich and into the Austrian countryside, do you have any suggestions? Salzburg and Innsbruck have been recommend but are there any Austrian backroads in that area?

even though it does not have much to do with art history, i'd highly recommend Mike's Bike Tours (http://www.mikesbiketours.com/index_munich.html). I took the tour back in '98 and had a blast. Plus, it ends at a beer garden (very fun if you're into that sort of thing).

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Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

why a car? the autobahn from Munich to Salzburg/Innsbruck is alot of traffic jams and road construction while nonstop trains get you to Innsbruck and Salzburg in a short time :)

I vist Salzburg, Wien, St Antons, Hallstat, Innsbruck, etc. several times a year via air from USA to Frankfurt then train only (no autos) to Austrian distinations, for both business and pleasure.

I agree with chrissxb, please consider the wonderful train systems in Germany and Austria. Check out travel guides by folks like Rick Steves Rick www.ricksteves.com , Fodors www.fodors.com/ , Lonely Planet http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldgui...nations/europe and the great train reference site, www.seat61.com.

Remember, trains run on time, from city center to city center, no problems with expensive parking, otherwise driver gets to see everything, relatively inexpensive (if you think petro is priced high here....), road taxes, etc.

Just my personal opinion.

I am sure you will have fun whatever you decide to do.

Cheers

I think you would have answered your own question if you had stopped with the first two words of the your following sentence :)

One possibility is to head down to the twin cities of Garmisch-Partenkirchen on the German/Austrian border. You have the A95 most of the way without the heavy traffic on the A8 (Munich/Salzberg/Innsbruck). Just outside of Garmisch is the Zugspitze, the highest peak in the Bavarian Alps as well as the Parnaklennham Gorge on the edge of town.

If you want to have some fun on the rural roads, you can skirt Garmisch and the Zugspitze enroute to Reutte and then up to Neuschwenstein Castle. Alternatively, head south through the mountains on B2 and down into Innsbruck, a wonderful little city. It's about 2 hours Munich-Innsbruck depending on traffic and where you are going. Note that this latter route keeps you on secondary highway so a traffic decal is not necessary (you have to have a decal for driving on the A-bahn in Austria)

I just hate the German Autobahn - its no more fun. too much traffic, too many trucks and permanent road construction. (and I live 3km from German border, I use it very often)
while I agree that - if car needed - A95 beats A8 - no doubt here :)

The Neue Pinakotheke is actually open on Mondays (it closes on Tuesdays). The museum visit won't take an entire day, but you can use the extra time to explore the Schwabing neighborhood and see not only the cool cafes and shops around the University but also the "Jungendstil" (German Art Nouveau) buildings from the turn of the century.

In addition to the Neue Pinakothek on Monday, you could also visit churches and examine non-museum art & architecture -- for example, the Asam Church (Asamkirche) in the Sendlinger Str. is quite something for high baroque.

And I'm with several the others on the Autobahn -- avoid it and just take the train to Salzburg (first choice) or Innsbruck.

Be sure not to miss the Lenbachhaus -- some cool art there & not as high profile as the Pinakotheken.

Have fun; that's a great area.

Question - decal for driving on Austrian roads
 

Did not mean to steal the thread. Is an Austrian decal needed for travel from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Obermoos (Route 187) to Reutte (Route 179) to Fussen? Thank you for the heads-up.

Echoing Telfes, don't miss the Lenbachhaus - incredible Blaue Reiter collection (tons of Kandinskys, Klees, Marcs, Marcke, Münther, etc.) & usually another interesting travelling exhibit, plus original rooms from when the house was inhabited by the Lenbachs - surprise!

My favorite museum in Munich, by far...

While you're at the Neue, please visit one of my favorite paintings - it's by Waldmüller - Young Farmlady with 3 Children in Window - Jünge Baüerin mit drei Kindern in (im ?) Fenster - please forgive my Deutsch! Didn't do so well on the grammer part... That painting just touches me.

which can be preview by clicking here :)

Danke Schoen! (Sorry, no umlauts on this PC!)

Question. Can I use the Bavarian single day pass to get to and from airport and Salzburg and two people can use one pass? My research indicates yes but I want to be sure cause seems to good to be true...TIA

I just did this route last fall and no decal needed. It's my understanding that a decal is only necessary for the autobahn (Austrian of course).