Bavaria and its regions
The federal state in the south of the Federal Republic can be divided into four popular tourist regions:
Munich-Upper Bavaria with the seat of government Munich
Eastern Bavaria with the administrative districts of Lower Bav aria (seat of government Landshut) and Upper Palatinate (seat of government Regensburg)
Franconia with the administrative districts of Upper, Middle and Lower Franconia (seats of government: Bayreuth, Ansbach and Würzburg)
Allgäu/Bayerisch-Schwaben with the seat of government in Augsburg.
Each of these regions is characterised by popular areas, sights or cities. There is something here from every travel region!
That's Bavaria: gentle alpine pastures and rugged mountains. We reveal the best travel tips
Bavaria's top excursion destinations at a glance
Here is a list of 10 categories. Behind it are the best excursion destinations in the city and in nature. There's definitely enough for a short break - but we also have the right tips for a day trip or a long weekend.
The most exciting cities
The most beautiful lakes
The highest mountains
Easy mountain hikes for the whole family
The most impressive castles
The most exciting caves
The top excursion destinations
The biggest folk festivals
The most beautiful Christmas markets
Great hotel and accommodation tips
Map: Bavaria's most beautiful holiday destinations at a glance
Here you will find an overview of the most beautiful and popular holiday attractions in Bavaria:
Bavaria's most exciting cities
Munich
There's a lot to discover in Munich , the capital of Upper Bavaria. You should plan at least one long weekend to explore the top sights in Munich.
Munich's city centre with the Marienplatz, the New Town Hall and the world-famous Glockenspiel is absolutely worth a visit. Only a stone's throw away from Marienplatz you will find the Viktualienmarkt. At the market you'll find vegetables, fruit, cheese, sausage, antipasti, handicraft stalls, flower pavilions and bakers - and lots of Bavarian specialities. The Frauenkirche is just as much a must-see as the English Garden, the Old Peter and the Hofbräuhaus.
One of the highlights is also BMW World at the Olympiapark. Since 2007, BMW fans have been able to experience the brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, BMW Motorrad and everything about motor sports, innovations and technology in the museum. BMW World is one of the most visited sights in Germany. It's clear that a detour is not to be missed.
Munich also has more than 1000 beer gardens. The largest is the Royal Hirschgarten with around 8,000 seats. Here you can find the most beautiful beer gardens in Munich. And here we reveal even more exciting sights in Munich.
Nuremberg
In Bavaria's second-largest city, Nuremberg - located in the administrative district of Central Franconia - you should plan at least one full day for the many sights of the Historic Mile, such as the Toll Hall, the City Hall, the Imperial Castle and the underground rock passages.
In addition to the Historic Mile, there are exciting attractions such as the Documentation Centre of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, the Germanic National Museum and the trendy Gostenhof district.
Here we reveal all the top sights in Nuremberg for an unforgettable holiday in Bavaria.
Augsburg
With a population of around 300,000, Augsburg is Bavaria's third-largest city. If you're only interested in the top sights, one day is enough to explore the city. The most famous tourist attractions include the Fuggerei, the imposing Rathausplatz with its even more imposing town hall and Augsburg Cathedral. Find even more sights in Augsburg here.
Even more exciting cities in Bavaria
In addition to the three largest cities in the Free State of Bavaria, there are of course more exciting cities in Bavaria that are ideal for a weekend trip. These include Regensburg, Würzburg, Bamberg, Rosenheim and Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Bavaria has many exciting cities to offer - here's a look at Regensburg
Bavaria's most beautiful lakes
Here we have an article on the blog that is guaranteed to tell you all the important info. So be sure to check out the most beautiful lakes in Bavaria! There are also great tips for excursions. Our top 10 Bavarian lakes are:
Königssee (Berchtesgadener Land)
Obersee (Berchtesgadener Land)
Alpsee (Ostallgäu)
Eibsee (Garmisch-Partenkichen)
Hintersee (Berchtesgadener Land)
Walchensee (Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen)
Chiemsee (Rosenheim & Traunstein)
Schrecksee (Upper Allgäu)
Hopfensee (East Allgäu)
Rießersee (Garmisch-Partenkichen)
Included, for example, is the famous mountain lake Königssee. Another of the most famous and breathtaking lakes is Lake Chiemsee. By the way, you will also pass by here if you cycle along the Wasserradlweg Oberbayern. We can definitely recommend that, too!
And for Franconia, one of the most famous regions in Bavaria, we have also summarised the 9 most beautiful lakes here.
Lake Chiemsee is one of the most famous lakes in Bavaria and a popular excursion destination.
The highest mountains
Bavaria is home to some of the most beautiful and highest mountains in Germany. This is because they include not only the Bavarian Alps and the Alpine foothills, but also the low mountain ranges of eastern Bavaria and the Swabian and Franconian Alps.
Bavaria's and Germany's highest mountain is the Zugspitze at almost 3000 metres. Here you can find a check of 6 different tours to the Zugspitze - including not only routes for experienced mountaineers, but also for beginners. By the way, here's an overview of the ten highest mountains in Germany, all of which are in Bavaria. And here we reveal the top sights in the Bavarian Alps.
The view from the Zugspitze. To experience the evening at almost 3000 metres above sea level, you should definitely spend a night in the Münchner Haus
The Hochfrottspitze, the highest German peak in the Allgäu Al ps and Swabia, is a proud 2649 metres high. In Berchtesgadener Land, the Watzmann is the highest mountain at 2713 metres.
In addition, there are many great peaks in the low mountain ranges such as the Großer and Kleiner Arber in the Bavarian Forest with almost 1400 metres each and the Schneeberg in the Upper Franconian Fichtelgebirge - ideal mountain tours for the whole family.
Ski and snowboard fans can of course also make ideal use of the Bavarian mountains. The Großer Arber, for example, is home to one of the 6 most beautiful ski areas in Bavaria! And if you feel safer without boards on your feet, you can now look forward to the perfect mountain hikes.
⭐ Recommended travel guides for your holiday in Bavaria
One of these travel guides offers the ideal overview of Germany's largest federal state. However, if you want to visit a specific region, a more detailed guide might be better!
Easy mountain hikes for the whole family
There are many easy to moderately difficult hikes in the Munich area. Some of the most popular mountain hikes around Munich include:
Hike to the Jochberg in the Bavarian Pre-Alps.
Hike to Herzogstand and Heimgarten in the Bavarian Pre-Alps
Hike to the Wallberg in the Tegernsee Mountains
Hike on the Rotwand in the Schliersee mountains
Hike on the Wendelstein in the Mangfall Mountains
Hiking on the Kampenwand in the Chiemgau Alps
Also popular are the Berchtesgadener Land - click here for 18 easy (family) hikes in Berchtesgaden - and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where we have collected 15 great hikes.
The easy hiking highlights for the whole family in Berchtesgaden include the Malerwinkel circular trail at Königssee and the Almbachklamm gorge. In and around Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the easy family hike through the Partnachklamm gorge, around the Eibsee lake and the easy mountain tour up the Hoher Kranzberg are among the classics. Adrenalin is guaranteed on the via ferrata on the Alpspitze and on the Mittenwald high trail.
Of course, don't miss the long and sweaty hike up to the Zugspitze via Gatterl, which is also suitable for beginners with a little preparation and possibly the help of a mountain railway. Here you can find all six tours to the Zugspitze.
Here we tell you about the right equipment for mountain hiking for beginners.
Surefootedness is necessary on the hike to the Zugspitze in any case.
The most impressive castles
Probably the most famous castle in Germany is also in Bavaria. Neuschwanstein Castle(website, Google Maps) not only served Walt Disney as a model for his fairytale castle at Disneyland in California, but is also absolutely unique in other ways. For us, it is definitely one of the 50 most beautiful castles and palaces in Europe.
Other magnificent Bavarian buildings are also on this list. For example, the Rosenberg Fortress(website, Google Maps) in Kronach in the very north of Bavaria or the Burghausen Castle(website, Google Maps). At 1051 metres, it's even the longest castle in the world!
And four of our 24 most beautiful castles in Germany can also be found in Bavaria. In addition to Neuschwanstein Castle, there is Linderhof Castle(website, Google Maps) in Upper Bavaria, the magnificent New Herrenchiemsee Castle(website, Google Maps) on the largest island in Lake Chiemsee and Nuremberg Imperial Castle(website, Google Maps), which towers high above the historic city in Franconia.
The Kaiserburg is the top sightseeing attraction in Nuremberg.
Nymphenburg Castle in Munich and Falkenstein Castle near Pfronten in Allgäu, Germany's highest castle ruin, are also famous. Less well-known, but by no means less impressive, are, for example, the Würzburg Residenz, Johannisburg Castle in Aschaffenburg and Ehrenburg Castle and the Veste in Coburg.
⭐ General information and details as well as an overview map can be found on the extensive website of the Bavarian Palace Department.
The most exciting caves
Franconian Switzerland is a true paradise for all cave explorers, with over 1000 caves. The largest and probably best known is the Teufelshöhle Pottenstein(website, Google Maps), closely followed by the Maximiliansgrotte in Veldensteiner Land(website, Google Maps). Incidentally, the largest stalactite in Germany is located there.
⭐ Tip for all hikers: On the Hirschbacher Höhlenrundweg(website) or the Plecher Höhlenweg(website) you will pass numerous caves.
The next beautiful dripstone cave is a little further south in the Upper Palatinate. The Schulerloch in Kelheim(website, Google Maps) can only be visited on guided tours and is also used for various events and concerts because of its acoustics.
Finally, in the Allgäu region there are two other exciting underground sites. One is the Sturmannshöhle ( website, Google Maps), the only gap cave in the Allgäu, which is the subject of numerous myths and legends. A thundering stream also runs about 300 metres underground. And then there is the Erlebniswelt am Grünten near Burgberg(website, Google Maps), a complete museum village around old ore mines.
Also in southern Bavaria, at Walchensee, is the Angerlloch. This is an active water cave where four-hour guided cave tours are offered (website). At least as exciting is the Schellenberg Ice Cave in Berchtesgadener Land(website, Google Maps) as the only accessible ice cave in Germany.
The top excursion destinations
One of the most popular holiday regions in Bavaria is Berchtesgadener Land. That's why we've summarised the top 25 sights in Berchtesgaden once again here. And here are the 9 most beautiful photo spots in Berchtesgadener Land.
The top highlights in Berchtesgadener Land include:
Boat trip on the Königssee (with Obersee).
Malerwinkel & Rabenwand
Jenner
Watzmann
Berchtesgaden Salt Mine
Old salt works
Gentian Distillery Grassl
Klausbach Valley
Hintersee
Enchanted Forest
⭐ We show you the most beautiful photo spots throughout Bavaria in the article about 50 great places to take photos.
A particularly exciting tip in Upper Bavaria is the Grassau high moor. It is also called Kendlmühlfilze and is now a large nature reserve with a moor and salt museum in a former brine station. Interesting for all cyclists: Grassau lies on the Wasserradlweg Upper Bavaria.
The Wasserradlweg is one of the top highlights in Bavaria and takes you to many interesting places by bike.
The Bavarian Forest is also always a highlight. How about a tour through the primeval forest with a real ranger? We can also give you tips on what to do in the Bavarian Forest when it's raining. The article on the 18 most important sights will give you a first overview. Must-do in the Bavarian Forest: the treetop path in Neuschönau(Google Maps), which is one of the 15 most beautiful treetop paths in Germany.
A guided tour with a ranger through the Bavarian Forest is a highlight for young and old.
For those interested in history, we recommend, for example, the Documentation Centre Nazi Party Rally Grounds in Nuremberg(website, Google Maps) and the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial(website, Google Maps). These are just two of the historical sites in Germany that you can find in Bavaria.
If you're travelling by car and want to combine several sights and regions at once, the Romantic Road(website) from Würzburg to Füssen (to the top sights in Füssen on CitySeaCountry; great cycling tours around Füssen on Recommendable) is the way to go. On Germany's oldest and most popular holiday route, you'll cross the Tauber Valley, reach places like Rothenburg ob der Tauber or Augsburg and even pass Neuschwanstein Castle.
Finally, a great tip for families with children: LEGOLAND Deutschland(website, Google Maps) is located in Günzburg between Ulm and Augsburg. Thanks to its numerous attractions and rides, the park is one of the most popular attractions in Germany.
Legoland is a popular destination in Bavaria - Photo: Legoland
The biggest folk festivals
Bavaria is home to the largest folk festival in the world. And even if you haven't been there yet, you certainly know the Munich Oktoberfest (→ website). It is affectionately known as the Wiesn because it takes place on Munich's Theresienwiese. The famous event attracts more than 6 million visitors from all over the world every year.
The Munich Oktoberfest is the largest folk festival in the world.
The Erlangen Bergkirchweih(website), which always takes place around Whitsun, and the Regensburg Dult(website) in May and September are also very well-known. The traditional Bamberg folk festival is the Sandkerwa(website), which is celebrated for 5 days in the entire old town. Hence the name, because the Kirchweih - in dialect Kerwa - takes place around the historic Sandstraße.
Other major folk festivals in Bavaria are the Gäubodenvolksfest in Straubing, the Karpfhamer Fest, the Nürnberger Volksfest, the Augsburger Plärrer, the Würzburger Kiliani-Volksfest, the Michaeliskirchweih in Fürth and the Schlappentag in Hof.
The most beautiful Christmas markets
Bavaria also has a lot to offer at Advent. Three Bavarian Christmas markets are among the 15 most beautiful in Germany. First and foremost, of course, is Nuremberg's famous Christkindlesmarkt(website).
Nuremberg is world-famous for its Christkindles Market
Also not to be neglected are the Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn und Taxis Castle(website) in Regensburg and Augsburg's Christkindlesmarkt(website) on the beautiful Rathausplatz. By the way, the Coburg Christmas Market(website) in my home town is just as magical - even Oprah thinks so!
We have also sorted Bavaria's most beautiful Christmas markets by region. Click here for the respective articles for Upper Bavaria, the Upper Palatinate and Franconia.
The romantic Christmas market at Thurn und Taxis Castle is a winter highlight
Great hotel and accommodation tips
To start with, we have some great hotel tips in the Allgäu for you. One is the luxurious Hotel Tannenhof on Lake Constance and the other is the idyllic Haubers Naturresort. You can read the details in the respective article!
Then there are two great romantic hotels in the northwest: the Romantik Hotel Neumühle ( check prices here*) with four stars directly on the Franconian Saale and the Romantik Hotel Markusturm ( check prices here*) in medieval Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Here, modern meets old - the historic hotel was built as early as 1264.
In the very south of Bavaria we have two exciting wellness destinations. The Spa & Resort Bachmair Weissach ( check prices here*) is only three minutes by car from Lake Tegernsee and impresses with a huge and wonderfully designed wellness landscape. The Klosterhof - Alpine Hideaway & Spa ( check prices here*) in Berchtesgadener Land, on the other hand, is only 15 minutes from Salzburg and has at least as many offerings.
A little further north in the middle of the state is the 4-star BLOCK Hotel & Living ( check prices here*) in Ingolstadt. It is super modern but also cosy and scores with individually furnished rooms. The Schlossparkhotel Mariakirchen ( check prices here*), which also has four stars, looks like a fairytale castle from the outside and impresses with its simple interior design and its own brewery.
And finally, in beautiful Upper Franconia, there is the Hotel and Restaurant Am Fichtelsee ( check prices here*). Bright and beautifully furnished rooms meet a wonderful view of the lake and the surrounding forests. By the way, the Fichtelsee is one of the most beautiful lakes in Franconia!
A different kind of overnight stay - the most unusual accommodation in Bavaria
After these rather classic hotels, I now have a few selected tips and accommodation options of a somewhat different kind for you.
In the very south, for example, there is the perfect address for pure luxury: the YachtHotel Helvetia Spa- und Wellnessdomizil ( check prices here*) not only offers accommodation directly on Lake Constance, but also the possibility of renting a motor or sailing yacht. In the Höllschlucht forest ropes course, on the other hand, you can go high up: here you can sleep in the portaledge in the tree or the rock face(website). Only the Zugspitze is (almost) even higher: there is a fascinating igloo village(website).
In the east of Bavaria lies the unusual tower at Schedling Castle ( check prices here*) with lovingly furnished holiday flats. The Hotel Victory Therme Erding ( check prices here*) is also located there - it is a reconstruction of the HMS Victory and gives you the feeling of staying on a ship or in a Venetian palace. You can slow down perfectly at the idyllic Hofgut Hafnerleiten(website).
And there are also several exceptional addresses in the north of the province. The Prison Hotel Fronfeste ( check prices here*) in Amberg, for example, lives up to its promise - it is located in a historic prison and has several exciting themed rooms. Nuremberg Youth Hostel ( check prices here*) also takes you back to the Middle Ages and is housed in an impressive castle.
At the end of our hotel tips, we go high up again: the tree house hotel Seemühle scores not only with beautiful tree houses, but also with a natural lake and a sauna(website).
Culinary delights - typical Bavarian cuisine
Bavarian cuisine is very down-to-earth and goes back to simple, peasant dishes. Meat and roasts, dumpling dishes and pastries are therefore still typical. Thanks to former aristocratic connections, Bavarian cuisine is also related to Bohemian and Austrian cuisine.
Traditional dishes include potato and sausage salad, white sausage with pretzels and sweet mustard, roast pork with bread dumplings or wedding soup as a starter. Desserts such as yeast dumplings with vanilla sauce or apple strudel are popular. For a snack, people like to eat various spreads such as Obazda - a spicy mixture of different types of cheese.
You simply have to try Germknödel when you go on holiday in Bavaria.
Of course, there are also regional specialities. These include numerous varieties of bratwurst, such as the Bratwurstkipferl in Regensburg, the Coburg Bratwurst or the small Rostbratwurst in Nuremberg.
The Nuremberg Rostbratwurst is one of the best-known specialities of the Franconian metropolis.
Bavaria would not be complete without beer and the many beer gardens. But there is also a wide variety of schnapps and - above all Franconian - wines.
The huge beer garden at the Chinese Tower in Munich. Beer gardens are a tradition in Bavaria
Facts and figures
Bavaria is the only German state that has a share of the Alps
With almost 18 million inhabitants, only North Rhine-Westphalia has more inhabitants than Bavaria with around 13 million
FC Bayern Munich is the sports club with the most members in the world
The Purity Law for Bavarian beer of 1516 is the oldest food law in the world
