Where to stay in Bavaria? Our favourite regions and cities.

Bavaria impresses with its versatility. In addition to adorable little towns like Augsburg, Passau, Bamberg, and Bayreuth, adorned with centuries-old buildings in their historic quarters, which are nowadays experiencing dynamic development thanks to the influx of young students, you can find larger, no less historical important cities like Regensburg, Würzburg, Nuremberg, and the main metropolis Munich. To help you find the best places to stay in Bavaria we have selected a number of especially beautiful and authentic hotels and holiday homes in Bavaria:

Our top 5 regions in Bavaria: 

1. Berchtesgaden is located in southeastern Bavaria and is known for its breathtaking mountain landscapes and nature. The Berchtesgaden National Park is one of the oldest nature reserves in the Alps and offers a unique flora and fauna. The highlights of the region include Lake Königssee, the Watzmann East Wall, and the Almbach Gorge. The region is ideal for activities such as hiking, skiing, and cycling.

2. Chiemgau is located right next to Berchtesgaden and is known for the largest lake in Bavaria, Lake Chiemsee. In addition to relaxed boat trips and many excellent restaurants on the promenade, you will find charming villages and towns such as Bad Reichenhall, Traunstein, and Prien am Chiemsee. Treat yourself to a good time in the beautiful Chiemsee Chalet, wonderfully located on the foothills of the Alps and not far from Lake Chiemsee.

3. The Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest) is a region in eastern Bavaria and is known for its untouched nature and diverse wildlife. As the oldest national park in Germany, with ski resorts and hiking trails, the Bavarian Forest is definitely worth a visit. We recommend one of our stylishly furnished Bayerischer Wald holiday homes or our personally tested wellness hotels in the vicinity of the Bavarian Forest.

4. The Allgäu in southern Bavaria is known for its majestic mountains, picturesque valleys, and idyllic lakes. Many popular tourist destinations such as Oberstdorf and Füssen are located here. A dream place for all hikers and ski enthusiasts. Stay in dreamy country houses surrounded by wide mountain landscapes, such as the picturesque Ansitz Hohenegg.

5. Franconia is the northernmost region of Bavaria and enchants with its historic towns and vineyards. Many charming towns such as Bamberg, Würzburg, Nuremberg, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber are located here, where you should definitely try the famous Nuremberg sausages and regional beer. Stay in a stylish self-catering apartment with traditional charm in a historic town or one of our small boutique hotels.

Our top 3 cities in Bavaria: 

1. Munich is the capital of Bavaria and known for the annual Oktoberfest and its beer gardens. It is an important hub of regional architecture and culture. Be sure to visit Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, and the Pinakotheken and visit the English Garden or the Olympic Park for a breathtaking sunset. There are many accommodation options - we have selected the most beautiful boutique hotels in Munich for you.

2. Regensburg is the largest city in eastern Bavaria and known for its well-preserved medieval old town, through which the Danube river flows. The city boasts a rich history and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to visit the St. Peter's Cathedral, the Stone Bridge, the Thurn and Taxis Palace, and the Walhalla. Regensburg is also known for numerous music festivals and city festivals, such as the Regensburg Citizen Festival or the Jazz Weekend.

3. Nuremberg is located in Middle Franconia and offers a wide range of medieval history, art, and culture. Here, you'll find many famous landmarks, such as the Imperial Castle, the Albrecht Dürer House, and the Nuremberg Christmas Market. There are numerous small hotels and beautiful vacation homes in the city and its surroundings.

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.

Culinary delights of Bavaria

The Bavarian kitchen is known beyond its borders for its excellent, hearty traditional dishes. Just think about those “gemütliche Restaurants", the fresh Weißwürste, bread dumplings (Semmelknödel), onion cake and fish on the stick (Steckerlfisch). Deserts such as sweet dumplings (Germknödel) and Zwetschgendatschi, a flat plum cake will make you ask for more. Every city also has its own specialties, such as Nuremberg gingerbread, Allgäuer mountain cheese, or Franconian bratwurst. A Bavarian snack with pretzels and beer in one of the many beer gardens or mountain huts is simply a must-do for a vacation in Bavaria.