Driving in Bavaria
When international tourists picture travelling in Germany, they generally think of things like: crystal clear glacial lakes, beautiful old cities, stunning medieval castles, large tracts of pristine deciduous forest, lederhosen, and the towering peaks of the Alps, not to mention Oktoberfest . What you may not realise however is that most states in Germany only offer one or two of these attractions at the most. If you want to see everything in one region during one trip, you really have to plan a road trip though the country’s most popular holiday destination, Bavaria.
Most Bavarian road trips begin in Munich, the states stunning capital, and the real heart and soul of the region. Here, you have the option of: visiting the former royal palace, known as the “Residenz”, home to the Residenz Museum; wandering around the “Englisher Garten”; checking out the city’s numerous galleries, museums and breweries (definitely recommended!), eating your way through the plethora of great restaurants Munich has to offer; or even heading to the Oktoberfest depending on the time of the year that you choose to travel.
From Munich, serious road trippers should then make their way south to the Bavarian Alps, which are debatably the most beautiful area in the country. Small alpine townships such as Garmish-Partenkirchen and Berchtesgaden dot the landscape, with each settlement offering something new, unique and exciting. The Alps are also the winter destination, if you’re interested in skiing or snowboarding.
The Partnach gorge situated just south of Garmisch-Partenkirchen is certainly one of the absolute must-see summer attractions in the Alps region however, owing to the amazing gorge walk, which will lure you alongside raging rapids, and through spectacular rock formations and waterfalls. If you’re interesting in seeing Zugspitze highest mountain in Germany, in addition to some stunning glaciers, you also need not travel far, as the towering Wetterstein Mountain Range (of which Zugspitze is a part) lays mere hop skip and jump from Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
After marvelling at the absolute magnitude of Zugspitze (and maybe even taking a climbing tour if you’re feeling athletic) you should then consider heading roughly 70 kilometres west to see the stunning Neuschwanstein Castle near Fussen. This 19th century architectural wonder is guaranteed to impress, as it really looks as though it was torn from the pages of a fairy-tale with its towering steeples and spectacular hilltop location. You should be vigilant driving in within view of the castle however, as other ogling drivers may force you to test your holiday car hire excess insurance if you’re not on your toes (from personal experience).
From Neuschwanstein the next leg of your journey should definitely include the 353 kilometre “Romantic Road”, which runs from Fussen in the south to Wurzburg in Bavaria’s northwest (or vice versa depending on where you wish to begin). While there are a huge number of must-sees along the Romantic Road, the Pilgrimage Church of Wieskirche, located approximately 5 kilometres from Steingaden is certainly a highlight. You should also make sure that you visit the medieval fortress in Wurzburg once you arrive, as this stunning 17th century riverside structure is absolutely awe-inspiring!
In short, if you choose to explore Bavaria by car, you are guaranteed to be wowed by the quality and quantity of sights and attractions on offer. You will also see much more of Germany, and learn more about the German culture then travellers who decide to see the country via organised tours, which usually only stop at the well-known attractions and overlook smaller townships and sights.
Greg is a keen driver and car holiday enthusiast who loves travelling around Europe; country to country observing new cultures and finding new adventures.