Munich

The trains S8 and S1 both go to the airport from Marienplatz S-Bahn station, but be careful because the S1 line splits into two separate trains at "Neufahrn" just before the airport so be sure that you are riding in the section that is actually going to the airport, which is always the last part of the train. If you find yourself in the wrong car, just wait until Neufahrn and change into the last part of the train.

The Bayern Ticket is an amazingly cheap way to do day trips from Munich. With it you can travel anywhere in Bavaria on the regional trains all day only from 9AM weekdays. It costs €28 for a group of up to 5 people, and €20 for a single (http://www.bahn.de/p/view...). Make sure you buy it from the machines as there is a €2 surcharge if you buy it from the ticket office. There is also the Schönes Wochenende Ticket which is valid everywhere in Germany and even a fair way into the Czech Republic, but it is only valid at weekends. It costs €37 for a group of up to 5 and is also restricted to the regional trains.

Dachau

and Starnberg make for great day trips. Starnberg offers a great lake, where the King Ludwig II and his psychiatrist mysteriously drowned.

Andechs Monastery

If you miss the Oktoberfest, it is worth travelling to the holy mountain of Andechs. It's a monastery up a hill from the Ammersee. Take the S8 from Munich to Herrsching and then either hike up the hill or take the bus. When you are there have a look at the old monastery church and the gardens before focusing on the excellent beer and Schweinshaxen in the beer garden or in the large beer hall. Makes a great day trip which can also be combined with some swimming the Ammersee. The hiking trail is unlit, and a good 30-45 minutes. After dark, a flashlight is mandatory.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

at the foot of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze. About 1.5 hours by regional train from the Munich Hautpbahnhof or by car via Autobahn. The rack railway train to the top of the Zugspitze leaves regularly from the Garmisch-Partenkirchen railway station.

Salzburg

Austria, is an easy day trip from Munich. Trains run from the main Munich station just about every hour, and take about 1.5 hours. The Bayern Ticket is valid all the way to Salzburg.

Nuremberg

It was here that the some of the leaders of the Nazi regime faced justice. Nuremberg offers a lot of history for visitors. Comment by a "local": when asking for it, preferably use the German name Nürnberg, the English name Nuremberg is usually unknown.

Füssen

is nestled in the Alps of southern Bavaria. A train from Munich's main station will take about two hours with one transfer at Buchloe purchase the Bayern-Ticket option mentioned above which is valid for the train and bus journey to the castle. The town is famous for King Ludwig II's "fairy-tale castle" Neuschwanstein. It also houses the castle where Ludwig II grew up Hohenschwangau. If you go there, buy a combined ticket for both castles. Neuschwanstein is a must-see, but Hohenschwangau is historically more interesting, and the tour is so much better. Not only because there are fewer tourists and ergo more time, but also the guides are more knowledgeable and speak better English. There's a third castle, Linderhof, but it's further away and difficult to reach without a car about 1h drive, passing through Austria. If you have a rental car, it's definitely worth the trip, and the trip itself is spectacularly beautiful, landscape-wise.

Oberammergau

is a small town of unusual houses with brothers Grimm fairy-tale paintings on the walls.

Bad Reichenhall

A lovely spa town near Munich.

Nordlingen

A beautiful medieval town in a meteorite crater surrounded by a 14th century wall. Along the Romantic Road.

Chiemsee

Bavaria's largest lake with a castle on an island named Herreninsel built by King Ludwig II, and a monastery built on the other island, named Fraueninsel is only one hour away.