Road Trip through Bavaria in Southern Germany

Are you looking for a scenic road trip, with fairytale castles, cute villages, amazing views, and a touch of adventure? Well then, we planned the ideal itinerary for a road trip through Bavaria in Germany.

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The Free State of Bavaria is situated in the south-east of Germany. This German state is famous for the Oktoberfest, Sleeping Beauty’s castle and the Bavarian Alps. It also has the 3rd largest city in Germany, Munich, which is the capital of Bavaria. The city of Munich is a good reason to go to Germany. It is a vibrant city with a rich history. Besides Munich, you have the city of Nuremberg where the trials of WWII war crimes were held. Beyond the cities, Bavaria is full of breathtaking landscapes, with plenty of mountains, lakes, and great hiking spots.

The best way to visit Bavaria is by car, although there is plenty of public transportation. With a rental car, you can choose your route and capture the most scenic places. Here you will discover all the places you need to go to have a fantastic Road trip through Bavaria.

Top attractions in Bavaria

Munich

We advise you to start your trip in Munich, it has the second-largest airport in Germany, so it’s pretty easy to fly in and out. It is very easy to rent a car from the airport with several options for rental agencies.

As we mentioned before, Munich is the most important city in Bavaria. Although it is one of Europe’s oldest cities it was completely destroyed in WW II (90%+). It is nearly totally reconstructed, so all the historic buildings that look ancient are only 60 years old. You will need at least 2 or 3 days do visit Munich. During your stay in Munich you should visit:

<img-full” src=”/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Marienplatz-Munich.jpg” alt=”Marienplatz” width=”800″ height=”600″> Marienplatz

Marienplatz

In the old town (reconstructed) where you will find the Rathaus (town hall) and the Glockenspiel tower (a tower with a clock show of wooden figures moving).

Englischer Garten

Englischer Garten is the main city park of Munich, with river rapids where people frequently surf and do other sports.

Viktualienmarket

The farmers market, the ideal place to go shopping or even go eat.

Nymphenburg Palace

A baroque palace, situated 6 km north of the city center, with beautiful interiors and surrounded by a huge park.

Hofbrauhaus am Platzl

The most important and oldest pub in Munich, famous for hosting several Nazi meetings in the festival room.

BMW Welt and BMW Museum

Munich is the birthplace and the headquarters of BMW. Its museum is a fun place to see and learn more about cars.

Furthermore, Munich is full of cool pubs and beer gardens. Bavaria has a strong tradition of beer-producing with a great variety of brands. As you probably know beer is a big deal in Germany. Every year in September and October occurs the famous Oktoberfest, where thousands of people unite to celebrate and drink beer.

Dachau Concentration Camp

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial is very close to Munich (16 km) and definitely a place you should include in your itinerary. Although it is a sad place to visit we highly recommend it. This is one of the first Nazi concentration camps and was used for forced labor. It is a place where you will learn and understand a new perspective of WWII. We advise you to do the official tour with an official guide, so you can learn and absorb the history around you.

Neuschwanstein

The Neuschwanstein castle is one of Germany’s most famous castles, it was the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland. The castle is amazing, surrounded by hills and forests. It looks like a fairytale castle. It is situated in the south of Germany very near the Austrian border. The castle was built in the 19th century by King Ludwig of Bavaria. It has 200 rooms but only 15 were concluded. Inside the castle, every room is luxurious with a touch of eccentricity. Right next to Neuschwanstein is the Hohenschwangau castle, Kings Ludwig’s parent’s summer residence which is also a must-visit. Depending on the season of the year you should book in advance due to the huge influx of tourists to the castles.

Linderhof Palace

Linderhof Palace is also a castle constructed by King Ludwig, although more humble in comparison to Neuschwanstein it is fascinating. It was inspired by Versailles and is extravagantly decorated. Surrounded by marvelous gardens it even has an artificial grotto with a warm lake inside, made for King Ludwig. This Palace is close to the Neuschwanstein, about 44 km, so it is on your way.

Fussen

Fussen is a city near the Austrian border and the Neuschwanstein castle. It is a cute picturesque city replete with typical German houses. The city it is known for its violin making. It even has a museum with one of the largest collections of historic violins and lutes. The city It is a good spot to spend the night during the road trip through Bavaria. The city is also the end or the start of the Romantic route in Germany.

Zugspitze

Zugspitze is the highest mountain in Germany (2,962 m) and should be included in your road trip through Bavaria. In winter it is the ideal place to ski, while in Summer you can hike or even relax in the resort. You can go to the summit by cable car and enjoy the breathtaking views. From the top, you can view the Alps and 4 countries. It has plenty of activities to do, perfect for adventure and nature lovers.

Berchtesgaden National Park

Berchtesgaden National park is one of Germany’s most beautiful parks, or even Europe’s. The park has two main attractions: Königssee and Obersee, two mesmerizing lakes. The National Park is designated as a UNESCO Biosphere reserve and has plenty of trails. One of the top things to do in the park is to catch a boat on lake Konigsee. The boat tour has 2 stops, one at St Bartholomew’s church and the other at the end of the lake, where, after a small hike, you can visit Obersee lake. You will need at least a day to explore the park.

Eagles Nest (Kehlsteinhause)

The Eagle’s Nest is close to Berchtesgaden National park, it is a site with great historical significance. Kehlsteinhause is a building erected by the Nazis on top of the Kehlstein mountain that is 1834 meters high. Nowadays the building is a restaurant and a museum owned by a charity trust. On the site, you will discover a fantastic view of the Alps. It is a curious place that you should try to visit.

Nuremberg

If you still have time in your itinerary you should go to Nuremberg. This Bavarian city is situated only 170 km north to Munich. It’s famous for the war crimes trials after WWII. Besides this striking event, the city has an impressive medieval fortification and castle that is well worth visiting.

When is the best time to visit Bavaria?

The fantastic thing about Bavaria is that it is beautiful all year round, even in winter with the snow. Though the best time to go to Bavaria in our opinion is in Autumn, the landscape just is overcome with the different colors. Making everything look magical and beautiful. In winter you will have fewer tourists in the main attractions, particularly the castles/palaces.