Heads up: the Dinoland Katzenberg section below was a paid partnership, marked #advertisement on the original Instagram post. Passau and Achensee are not sponsored. Everything here is still real, verified information — but wanted to be upfront about which part was paid.
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Some day trips from Munich we've enjoyed – part 4 of an ongoing series. Three very different days out, all doable without a huge amount of planning: a dinosaur park, a historic river city, and a lake for swimming.
More than 90 life-sized dinosaur models, an interactive dino show, an explorer train, a play area, a water slide and a beer garden for the adults.
The basics:
Good to know: free parking, wheelchair accessible, accessible restrooms, baby changing room, free strollers (subject to availability), warm food until 4:30pm, dogs welcome on a leash.
Full current prices and time slots: official Dinoland ticket page – it runs on a time-slot system, so book ahead, especially on weekends. We couldn't confirm a simple public transport route for this one; if you don't have a car, check Upper Austria's public transport planner first.
Such a cute city and great to explore on foot. The Danube, Inn and Ilz all meet here, and the old town is small enough to wander entirely on foot – cobbled streets, the point where the rivers actually meet, and a hike up to the medieval fortress if you've got the legs for it.
Direct trains run from Munich Hauptbahnhof, tickets from around €17 – check DB Navigator for current times and prices.
Veste Oberhaus (the fortress): one of the best-preserved castle complexes in Europe – museum, observation tower, restaurant, even a youth hostel inside.
Often called the "Tyrolean Sea" – a turquoise lake that's genuinely swimmable in summer, with hiking and boat trips on top.
One more reason to make a full day of it: the Achenseebahn has run between Jenbach and the lake since 1889, and it's Europe's oldest cog railway still operated exclusively by steam – you can ride it up just for the views. If you'd rather walk, the hike out to the Dalfazer Wasserfall from Buchau/Maurach is a real highlight – about 35–50 minutes each way to the falls, longer if you continue up to the alm above it.
See the official Achensee tourism site for specific swimming spots and facilities at each village.
