Salzburg and Munich: Six Fantastic Days in the Heart of Europe

Yesenia Rodriguez and Audrey Colley Evans: Salzburg and Munich

Yesenia Rodriguez and Audrey Colley Evans took their first trip overseas together, exploring Salzburg, Austria, and Munich, Germany, for six days of fun in Central Europe. They both enthusiastically agreed that the walkability of each city, great food, and sense of community stood out as highlights and would strongly recommend these destinations to first-time travelers.

Six Days in Salzburg and Munich

Day One: Salzburg

Yesenia

We took a walking tour on the first day, and I loved exploring Salzburg on foot. It was so nice to actually walk somewhere and see these versus being in the car. I would recommend a walking tour to all first-timers because it will help you get acquainted with the area. Our guide was fantastic; we learned plenty of fun tidbits about the city. We must have walked for a solid two hours. I think he saw us and thought, ‘You guys are young; you guys can walk,’ and so we did.

Audrey

Our guide showed us all the major sites, like Mozart’s birthplace and Mirabell Palace, a Baroque-style landmark with incredible gardens. What’s most important is that he instilled a spirit of curiosity in us that stayed with us for the whole trip. Everywhere you turn in Salzburg, even if it just looks like a random alley, is a place to explore. There’s always something to do or somewhere to eat and drink. Also, taking a tour on the first day is an excellent way to get over that jet lag and get moving on your first day.

Day Two: Salzburg

Audrey

On the second day we had some time to explore on our own, so we went to Hohensalzburg Fortress, which overlooks the city. You can hike up or take the funicular, and there’s a Christmas market inside the fortress. It was such a neat little surprise because we couldn’t see it from the outside. There’s also a museum, which details the fortress’s history, and I was amazed to learn that part of it is 1,000 years old.

Yesenia

We walked around and explored Salzburg the next day. There are not many vehicles in the city, and the views are incredible. Salzburg was spectacular. I’d go back to walk around and take in the mountains. It was so peaceful, and I’m a mellow person, so the vibe appealed to me a lot.

Day Three: Munich

Yesenia

We took the train from Salzburg to Munich on the third day. It took two hours and was a lot easier to navigate than we thought it would be. The signage is in English and German, and the platforms are well-marked. Once we arrived in Munich, we checked into the Hotel Concorde, which is centrally located in Munich’s Old Town, before heading off to Hofbräuhaus, one of the most famous beer halls in the city. It’s massive and very cool. They have a table reserved for local elders, who dress up in traditional clothes, and a beer stein locker. There’s a lottery for guests, and if you win it, you can keep your stein locked up. I thought it was an interesting concept.

Audrey

I like beer, and I found plenty of options at Hofbräuhaus, like Paulaner and Hofbräuhaus Hell, which is a light lager. I would call Hofbräuhaus an assault to the senses in the best possible way, because there’s so much going on; so many smells and sounds. In numerous places in Munich, including Hofbräuhaus, there are large groups of people, but it feels warm and welcoming because there’s such a strong sense of community. I liked that.

Day Four: Munich

Audrey

One of my favorite parts of Munich was the city gates. Seeing them is like learning where Munich came from. We saw them on the city tour we took on the fourth day, and our guide was an expat, so he had a lot of insight from an outsider’s perspective. We learned about the history of the city gate and how Munich was founded, but my favorite thing was learning about the Isartor City Gate clock, which goes backwards because ‘time runs differently in Bavaria.’ I thought it was so fascinating and a lot of fun. What I loved about Munich is that you’ll get all the things: outstanding food and beer, excellent wine, but the heart of it is the welcoming nature of the community.

Yesenia

We also did the Munich Christmas market tour, led by a local woman. She was hilarious and so knowledgeable. During the tour, she kept pointing up to the Frauenkirche, which is the tallest church in Munich, and during the trip, she’d quiz us about where the church is. Everything is so close to that pivotal point, and since I knew where it was, I never got lost. Also, Munich is easy to get around. Many people speak English, and there’s multilingual signage. Plus, Google Maps worked well there, so I felt comfortable walking through the city and knowing exactly where I was going.

Day Five: Munich

Yesenia

On the fifth day, we saw four hotels. Most of them were within walking distance of the city center, and they were all completely unique. One, called Easy House, had a different movie star in each room. In the evening, we went on another Christmas market tour with our local guide from the previous day, and it was so fun to see it through her eyes. Plus, I think when you take tours with locals, you get more of an authentic, insider experience, so I enjoyed that.

Audrey

We toured hotels today, and it got me thinking about a meaningful conversation that you need to have before you travel: what’s more important, spacious American-style rooms or location? Many of the hotels on the outer edges of the city center had larger accommodations, but it wasn’t as easy to get to the main attractions. When you’re traveling, it’s good to know what you need to set proper expectations.

Day Six: Munich

Audrey

On the sixth day, we took an Uber to Dachau, a half-hour drive from Munich. Traveling there was easy, and I think it’s completely fine to go by yourself unless you really want a tour guide. Dachau was not an extermination camp, but you do still see cremation centers and things like that, so it’s a good idea to prepare yourself. I think that plenty of travelers shy away from places like Dachau, but I’m very glad I did it. That afternoon, we had the Bavarian Food and Beer Tour. I was surprised because I used to be a bartender, and I felt like I knew a decent amount about beer, but there’s so much to learn in terms of purity laws and what can be considered an authorized Munich beer. I didn’t expect that at all.

Yesenia

If you only have a limited amount of time at Dachau, I’d visit the museum last. Audrey and I love history, and we wanted to read everything, so we spent almost all our time going from room to room. There are barracks and memorials on the property, and if you’re on a time crunch, you’ll have to rush them. Later, we sampled some Bavarian food and beers, and I have to say, I loved the beer in Germany. At home, I’ll have a beer if I’m out with a particular crowd or at a baseball game, but the beer in Germany is so special, and I’m sad I can’t find it back home.

Six Days of Adventure in the Heart of Central Europe

For Audrey and Yesenia, their adventure in Austria and Germany exceeded all expectations, and they each offered up some outstanding tips to make the journey as stress-free as possible. Yesenia notes that Salzburg is a very cash-heavy city and recommends visiting an ATM before setting out on the town. She also advises travelers to embrace their inner curiosity and check out winding streets and alleys because you’ll never know what you’ll find around the next corner.

Audrey agrees, noting that scheduling some time to wander will enhance your trip in big ways. She notes that while you should absolutely plan the must-dos of your trip, leaving flexibility in the schedule will give you that breathing room to make a last-minute decision or spend some time visiting a fantastic hidden gem cafe.