Our insider tips for Bavaria
Bavaria is a region with many faces. The historic cities, castles and palaces, idyllic lakes and mountains, and culinary specialties make Bavaria a unique vacation destination. Let our personal travel guide for Bavaria inspire you to plan an unforgettable experience staying in one of our handpicked boutique hotels and guest houses the beautiful Bavarian region.
Historic towns and churches:
To see the most beautiful old town facades and historic churches, we recommend a trip to Dinkelsbühl. Here, you'll find a unique, almost completely preserved old town with city walls and the Gothic Münster St. Georg. Bamberg, another one of or favourites is even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its artistically designed old town and is affectionately called Franconian Rome. The Craftsmen's Courtyard in Nuremberg also impresses with its medieval flair. In Franconia, you'll find the typical half-timbered houses almost everywhere, such as the well-preserved Albrecht Dürer House in Nuremberg or the hillside Museum Tüchersfeld in the Franconian Switzerland. History enthusiasts should definitely not miss the Fuggerei in Augsburg during their visit to Bavaria. It is one of the oldest existing settlements in the world. In addition, a visit to the Bamberg Cathedral, which overlooks the city with its four imposing towers, or the Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers is worth it. Or maybe listen to an organ concert on one of the largest organs in the world in St. Stephan's Cathedral in Passau. Surrounded by three rivers and Italian architectural influence, Passau is also called Little Venice.
Castles and Palaces:
The list of castles and palaces in Bavaria is long. Of course, the world-famous, picturesque Neuschwanstein palace stands out, but that is not all that can enchant you about Bavaria. The Lindenhof Palace and Herrenchiemsee Palace, also built by King Ludwig, are just as impressive as the better-known Neuschwanstein palace and are reminiscent of the French Palace of Versailles. We also recommend the large Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, Weißenstein Palace between Bamberg and Nuremberg, the princely St. Emmeram Palace in Regensburg, and the beautifully located Johannisburg Castle on the river in Aschaffenburg. The most impressive castles are the high-altitude Burghausen Castle on the border to Austria, the medieval castle in Nuremberg, and both the Residence and the Marienberg Fortress in Würzburg, after their visit you definitely should taste the local wine, Schoppen, on the lively old Main Bridge.
Lakes and Mountains:
If you prefer to be out in nature, here are our recommendations for the most beautiful lakes and idyllic hiking trails in Bavaria. Again, it was not easy for us to make a selection because the offer is simply too large. The Eibsee, reminiscent of the Maldives, at the foot of the Zugspitze, is definitely a must-see and can be comfortably circumnavigated on foot in under two hours. If you want to see waterfalls and fjord landscapes, you should definitely travel to Lake Königsee. Here, a boat tour or a hike to the Jenner viewpoint is definitely recommended, or you can go swimming in one of the many natural pools. The directly adjacent Obersee in the Berchtesgaden National Park is somewhat smaller and less touristy and could also be like that in New Zealand. Our insider tip is the Weltenburger Enge - rent a kayak here and you could almost think you are paddling in the Grand Canyon. Other beautiful lakes in Bavaria include Lake Chiemsee with a view of the mountains, the clear but cold Walchensee, as well as the Schreckensee in the Allgäu, which with its valley location and deep blue water reminds one of the lake landscapes of Iceland, or the Saalachsee in Bad Reichenhall, where you also have a large selection of different thermal baths.
Countless dreamlike hiking trails and walking paths in forests characterize the Bavarian region. From Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze, to the historically significant Watzmann in the beautiful Berchdesgardenerland and the “grosse Arber” in the Bavarian Forest, to the flatter Fichtelgebirge and Murnauer Moos - almost everywhere in Bavaria you can at least go for a hike. Our favorite hiking trails are the hike to the Tegernseer Hütte, the child-friendly path to the Zipfelsbachfälle or the hike to Jochberg or Herzogstand near Munich. Especially for families, we can recommend hiking trails through impressive gorges with deep canyons and rushing waterfalls, such as the Patnach Gorge in Garmisch, Almbach Gorge in the Schellenberger Forest, or the Breitnach Gorge in Oberstdorf.
Finally, we would like to reveal our absolute highlight in Bavaria: Visiting one of the charming Christmas markets that traditionally take place in December, for example in Regensburg or Nuremberg, where you should definitely try a grilled sausage and mulled wine.
