Alps Trip + Italy: 9 Day Version

I have done this route 2x now. A short version and a longer version. This is for the longer version.

Summary:

• Day 0: Flight from Newark
• Day 1: Arrive in Munich
• Day 2: Chill day in Munich
• Day 3: Neuschwanstein & Eibsee
• Day 4: Innsbruck
• Day 5: Top of Innsbruck
• Day 6: Travel to Lake Como with a stop in Zurich
• Day 7: Lake Como: Como
• Day 8: Lake Como: Ferry Day (Menaggio, Bellagio, Varenna)
• Day 9: Milan and fly home

Detailed Itinerary

• Day 0: Flight from Newark
  • Flight at 5:45pm from EWR (Newark Airport)

• Day 1-2: Arrive and chill in Munich
  • Arrive at 7:10am in Munich
  • Take either the S8 or S1 from Munich airport to the city. It is about 30-50 mins depending on where you are going. Make sure to buy train tickets before getting on the train as they frequently check tickets on this route
  • You can usually check in early to hotels but they may charge you 20 EUR (totally worth it in my opinion)
  • Relax and walk around Munich: Marienplatz (at 11am or 12pm because that is when the Glockenspiel goes off!), Eisbach to watch the surfers, walk around English Garten as it is Europe’s largest urban park
  • Höfbrau for dinner
  • Pick up rental car 2nd night so that tomorrow you can hit the road right away

• Day 3: Neuschwanstein & Eibsee
  • Leave for Neushwanstein around 9am (1.5 hr drive)
  • Don’t drive in the left lane on the Autobahn (Autobahn is a network of highways in Germany where there are no speed limits in some areas) people drive really fast
  • Park in parking lot 2, parking lot 4 will probably be full and its a short walk to the shuttle
  • Shuttle costs 5 EUR per person round trip, I’ve done this both times I went
  • Once you get on the shuttle walk to the bridge, probably will be a long line but it goes fast
  • Shuttle back down and grab a bite to eat
  • Head to Eibsee by 1-2pm (takes 1 hr)
  • Park at Eibsee and then walk the loop
  • Best view is across on the bridge
  • Leave by 4pm, return the car in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and stay there overnight

• Day 4-5: Innsbruck
  • Head to the train station of Garmisch-Partenkirchen
  • Takes 1.5hr to get to Innsbruck main station
  • Enjoy the scenic train ride through the Alps
  • Drop things off at hotel
  • Head toward the water and walk around center city
  • Highly recommend “Top of Innsbruck” cable car ride, can have lunch on top of the mountain

• Day 6: Travel to Lake Como with a stop in Zurich
  • Leave for Zurich from Innsbruck main station at 7:37am
  • Arrive in Zurich a little before 12pm
  • Store luggage in the lockers at Zurich main station
  • Walk around city center, try Rivella soda, fondue, Lindt chocolate
  • 5:30 take the train rest of the way to Lake Como

• Day 7-8: Lake Como
  • Book a boat tour or take the ferry to Menaggio, Bellagio, Varenna
  • Link to Get Your Guide 1 hr boat tour: https://gyg.me/1aAmQyiX
  • OR for the ferry get to the ticket booth in Como at 7am
  • Purchase the all day flex pass and take the high speed boat to Menaggio first
  • Slow boat to Varenna
  • Slow boat to Bellagio
  • Slow boat home to Como (from Bellagio)

• Day 9: Milan and fly home
  • Leave for Milan around 8am (takes 50 mins)
  • Leave luggage at station in Milan (ground floor in the corner, you pay per item)
  • Take metro from Milan main station to Duomo
  • Explore that area before heading back to Main station to pick up your things and go to MXP airport (2 airports in Milan make sure you go to the one you booked, probably MXP)