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Bavaria Germany: Places to Visit, Mountains, Lakes & Travel Guide

Bavaria is a large region, and there is much more to it than Munich and Neuschwanstein Castle. Head south and the landscape changes fast. Cities give way to small towns, lakes and, near the Austrian border, the Bavarian Alps.

You can spend a few days in Munich, drive through the mountains, hike around Königssee or stay in one of the smaller Alpine towns. Bavaria also works well for a road trip, especially if you want to combine cities with time outdoors.

This guide covers the main places to visit in Bavaria and helps you decide where to go, how to get around and how much time to spend in each area.

Places to Visit in Bavaria

Bavaria is bigger than it may look on a map. Trying to see Munich, Füssen, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Berchtesgaden in a couple of days means spending a lot of your trip on the road.

It is better to pick a few places that fit the kind of trip you want.

For cities and history, Munich and Nuremberg are good places to start. If you are coming for mountains and hiking, look farther south towards Berchtesgaden, Königssee, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Allgäu.

Some of the main places to visit are:

• Munich
• Königssee
• Berchtesgaden
• Neuschwanstein Castle
• Garmisch-Partenkirchen
• Füssen
• Nuremberg
• Bamberg
• Rothenburg ob der Tauber

You can build a short trip around one or two of these places or connect several of them on a longer drive through Bavaria.

Königssee

Königssee is a mountain lake in Berchtesgaden National Park, close to the Austrian border. It is surrounded by steep mountains, and there is no road running around most of the shore.

The usual way to see the lake is by boat. Boats leave from Schönau am Königssee and travel south across the lake.

You can get off at St. Bartholomä or stay on the boat to Salet. From Salet, a walking trail leads to Obersee, a smaller lake hidden behind Königssee.

If you do not want to take the boat, there are walks around the northern end of the lake. Malerwinkel is one of the easiest viewpoints to reach on foot.

Our Königssee travel guide covers the boat trip, parking, hiking routes and other things to see around the lake.

Berchtesgaden National Park

Königssee is part of Berchtesgaden National Park, but the park is much larger than the lake itself.

This southeastern corner of Bavaria is surrounded by Austria on three sides. The landscape is mostly mountains, forests and deep valleys, with trails ranging from easy walks to long mountain hikes.

You could visit Königssee as a day trip, but staying for a few days gives you much more time to explore the area.

Berchtesgaden is a useful base if you want restaurants, shops and transport connections nearby. Schönau am Königssee puts you closer to the lake and many of the local walking routes.

The Bavarian Alps

The Bavarian Alps stretch along the southern edge of Germany. This is the part of Bavaria to focus on if mountains, lakes and hiking are the main reasons for your trip.

Berchtesgaden is in the southeast. Garmisch-Partenkirchen lies farther west, while Füssen and the Allgäu region are good options if you also want to visit castles and smaller Alpine towns.

In summer, you can hike, visit lakes or drive between mountain villages. In winter, many of the same places become bases for skiing and other winter activities.

Distances can also be longer than expected. If you want to spend time in the Alps, it makes more sense to stay there for a few nights instead of travelling back and forth from Munich each day.

Munich

Munich is the capital of Bavaria and the easiest starting point for many trips through the region.

There is plenty to see in the city itself, so you can spend two or three days here before moving on. Munich also has good rail and road connections with other parts of Bavaria.

The Alps are south of the city, and several lakes and castles can be reached on day trips.

But if most of your plans involve hiking or exploring the mountains, move closer to the Alps. You will spend less time travelling and have more flexibility during the day.

Castles in Bavaria

Neuschwanstein is the castle most people associate with Bavaria. It sits near Füssen, close to the Austrian border, and is often combined with a visit to nearby Hohenschwangau.

But it is not the only castle or palace worth seeing.

Linderhof Palace is another popular stop in southern Bavaria. In Munich, you can visit the Residenz, the former royal palace in the centre of the city.

If Neuschwanstein is high on your list, plan ahead. It gets busy, especially during summer and other popular travel periods.

Hiking in Bavaria

You do not need to be an experienced hiker to walk in Bavaria.

There are short paths around lakes, forest trails, easy routes to viewpoints and longer hikes high in the mountains. Cable cars also make it possible to reach higher areas without spending hours climbing.

Berchtesgaden, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Allgäu all have a large choice of trails.

For longer mountain hikes, check the forecast and current trail conditions before leaving. Weather in the Alps can change during the day, even when conditions look good in the morning.

Getting Around Bavaria

Whether you need a car depends on where you plan to go.

For Munich, Nuremberg and other cities, public transport is usually enough. Trains connect the main cities, and buses cover many smaller towns and tourist areas.

A car becomes more useful once you start moving between lakes, mountain towns and rural areas. It also gives you more freedom to stop along the way or change plans during the day.

For an Alpine road trip with several stops, having a car is often the simpler option.

When to Visit Bavaria

The best time to visit depends on what you want to do.

Late spring and summer are good for hiking, lakes and spending long days outside. This is also when many mountain trails are easier to access.

Early autumn can work well too. The days become shorter, but it can still be a good time for walking and visiting towns.

Winter is a different experience. Christmas markets take over many town centres before Christmas, while the Alpine areas become winter sports destinations.

There is no one month that works best for every trip. Pick your dates based on the places you want to visit and what you plan to do there.

Planning a Trip to Bavaria

For a first visit, do not try to cover the whole of Bavaria.

If you want a city trip, spend a few days in Munich and add one or two day trips.

If you are coming for mountains and nature, go south and stay there. Berchtesgaden, Schönau am Königssee, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Füssen all work as bases for different parts of the Alps.

For Königssee in particular, staying near Berchtesgaden or Schönau am Königssee makes things much easier. You can start early, take the boat across the lake, walk to Obersee and still have enough time to explore without rushing back to Munich.

As we publish more guides, this page will link them together and help you plan different parts of a trip through Bavaria.