We explored so many incredible places while road-tripping through Bavaria for two weeks.

Our practical Bavaria itinerary below gives you an idea of how much you can reasonably see in 14 days.

Bavaria is our go-to German state. It's full of amazing places and a bit under two hours from our home! Admittedly, we've never really had a chance to spend more time there - until now. We just got back from a two-week road trip around Bavaria, discovering all of its highlights and must-see spots. With our heads full of memories, Lucie and I carefully crafted the ultimate version of our Bavaria itinerary.

That's also the answer to your burning question: how do we know this Bavaria itinerary works? Because that's essentially the exact route we took when exploring this remarkable German state. That's always our aim: to make our guides as practical as possible so you can use them in the real world. As with all our itineraries, there will inevitably be small (or even big) variations beyond our control.

We have no clue when you're landing in Munich (you might start your journey in Berlin, Stuttgart, etc.), if you want to spend a few days in the Bavarian Alps (totally worth it!), or how you want to get around (road trip, trains, etc.).

That's why we encourage you to make as many adjustments as you want, but we suggest keeping this route's core intact. It really showed us the best of Bavaria, from Holy Roman Empire and WW2 history and Alpine scenery to smoked beer and schnitzels (okay, that one is for you; we're more familiar with them than we'd like to admit here). Happy planning!

Pretty much every trip to Bavaria starts (or ends like it was in our case) with a visit to Munich.

7 Days, 10 Days, or 2 Weeks in Bavaria?

One of the essential questions we had to figure out before the trip was: how many days should we actually spend in Bavaria? We put some thought into it (well, not that much since it was a pretty spontaneous decision due to Lucie's work) and outlined the itinerary for a two-week trip.

If you like geography, we have a small fun fact for you: Bavaria is just slightly smaller than Czechia (70k vs. 78k square kilometers)! The similar size of both places was one of the reasons why we came up with two weeks. And boy, those 14 days in Bavaria just flew by unbelievably fast, and if there was one thing we learned from this trip, it was that we could easily spend another week or two in Bavaria and still not get bored.

But we also understand that many travelers just want to see the main highlights (and then continue to other must-see cities like Vienna, Prague, and Budapest) or simply can't afford to spend that much part here. That's why we make suggestions throughout the post that can help you shorten this adventure!

7 Days in Bavaria

If we had only a week in Bavaria, this is what we'd do. We would stay in Munich for two days. On the first day, we'd explore Altstadt + Munich Residence (maybe BMW Museum or Nymphenburg). On the second day, we'd spend the morning at the Dachau Memorial and the afternoon at Regensburg.

The third day would be all about Nuremberg. The fourth and fifth days would be either Bamberg, Wurzburg, or Rothenburg (pick two you like the most).

The sixth day is the Fussen area, including Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau, Linderhof, etc. And on the final, we'd take a cable car to Zugspitze and return to Munich.

Even with just seven to ten days, you can cover a lot of Bavaria.

10 Days in Bavaria

The 10-day version of our Bavaria itinerary would closely follow the 7-day route. The start of the trip would be about the same. The first day is the Munich city center. The second is BMW Welt+Museum or Nymphenburg in the morning and Dachau in the afternoon.

We'd spend a whole third day in Regensburg and a fourth in Nuremberg (since there's more to see and do in Nuremberg, you could leave Regensburg in the afternoon and arrive in Nuremberg in the evening, but that's optional). The fifth day is Bamberg, the sixth is Wurzburg, and the seventh is Rothenburg.

This leaves us with three days in the Bavarian Alps. On the eighth day, we'd visit the Neuschwanstein area, and on the ninth day, we'd explore Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Zugspitze. On the final day, we'd venture to Berchtesgaden to see either Konigssee or the Eagle's Nest.

Essential Tips

This itinerary is pretty clear, but first, let's go over how to get around, which way to travel, and a few weather tips.

Get Around

Despite being the largest German state, Bavaria is fairly compact and easy to navigate. The driving distances between all destinations were surprisingly reasonable, and we never spent more than an hour or two on the road each day. The longest leg of this trip is the three-hour drive from Garmisch to Berchtesgaden.

Even though we think that Bavaria is a perfect destination for a road trip, it also has a great public transport network. And as there are mostly cities on our itinerary, you can reach most destinations by a combination of trains and buses. We would stick to train travel whenever possible as this mode of transport is usually faster and more convenient than buses.

Clockwise or Counter Clockwise: Does it matter?

We planned this particular itinerary as a circular road trip with Munich as the starting/ending point. Bavaria isn't Wild Atlantic Way or Ring Road, destinations with stunning coastlines, which convinced us to pick the side of the road closer to the ocean for the views. Since there are practically no other obstacles like one-way roads, ferry rides, etc., it doesn't matter if you're going clockwise or counterclockwise.

We did the loop counterclockwise, mainly because Regensburg was closest to our home, and we wanted to save Munich for the last. But that was just because we didn't fly in.

Weather in the Bavarian Alps

We'd like to add that we outlined the 'ideal' route for days 11 to 14. By this time, you make it to the Bavarian Alps, and though the breathtaking scenery beckons you to explore, the weather might work against you. We suggest to keep this part of the trip as flexible as possible.

There's really no point in hiking to Eagle's Nest or taking the Zusgpitze cable car on a rainy/cloudy day, but remember, you can always tour Linderhof, Herrenchiemsee, take a salt mine tour, or visit Salzburg (and its great museums).

If the Bavarian weather takes a turn for the worse, don't panic! We've added some extra days to help you adjust.

We visited Bavaria in the spring, and it snowed on the day we visited Neuschwanstein.

Arrival Day: Munich

Think of Day 0 as the day you get to Munich: Arriving in the evening? Enjoy some local food (schnitzel, wurst, and a beer are probably not the best choice on this day) and get a good night's sleep (check our tips to battle jet lag). For morning arrivals, this will be Day 1, so check into your hotel and jump into exploring.

It took us just under three hours to get to Regensburg (even though we departed from Ceske Budejovice and not Prague this time), which is significantly less than if you're flying into Germany from New York or Sydney. The thing is that you might be tired after such a long-haul flight. Take it easy, especially on the first day. If you feel well-rested, that's great; we covered that option too. Now, we dive into the practical stuff.

Munich Airport

The start of your trip to Bavaria starts not surprisingly at the Munich Airport. You might have heard that Germany has a great public transport network, so now it's time to see if this claim holds up. Getting from Munich Airport to Munich City Center is very easy, convenient, and cheap (if you use public transport).

Train: The S-Bahn train, precisely the S1 and S8 lines, connects the main international airport (Flughafen Munchen) with Munich Hauptbahnhof (the central station about a 10-minute walk from the famous Marienplatz). The journey takes approximately 40 minutes; the ticket costs around €13 for adults (bookable online).

Our tip: S1 and S8 trains make stops at Karlsplatz, Marienplatz, Munich East, and other spots, so there is no need to hop off at the central station if your hotel's nearby.

You can take S-Bahn train from the airport to Munich's city center.

Bus: Another budget-oriented option is the Lufthansa Express Bus, which runs between the airport and Munich Hauptbahnhof every 20 minutes. The ticket costs €12 and the ride takes about 45 minutes. You can book a Lufthansa Express Bus Ticket online if you want.

Taxi: You can always get to Munich's city center by taxi, though this option is pretty expensive (around €100), so we would rather save some money and stick to the S-Bahn (unless you can split the taxi fare with someone). You can book a taxi from MUC to the city center here.

Accommodation in Munich

Munich has loads of fantastic hotels, and you'll easily find one that fits your budget. Since we're focusing on the itinerary and not where to stay, let's keep it brief.

Hotel MIO and Platzl Hotel are lovely hotels in the Altstadt. Euro Youth Hotel Munich is a great hostel near Munich Hauptbahnhof (the main central station about a kilometer from Marienplatz). If you seek luxury, this area is home to the beautiful Sofitel Munich Bayerpost. We stayed in the modern Moxy Hotel near Ostbahnhof.

Day 1: Munich's Altstadt

The first day in a new city/country can always be a bit challenging, but Munich is pretty welcoming for first-timers, so you don't have to worry about it that much. The plan for the first day is simple: explore the historic part known as Altstadt (German word for Old Town) and some cool spots within 10 or 20 minutes from here. We're planning to spend three days in Munich, so you can adjust the first two days however you like.

Marienplatz is Munich's central square, so we'll start here. After you admire the Old and New Town Hall's architecture and maybe catch the Glockenspiel clock show, it's time to move on. You should definitely see Frauenkirche, a 15th-century cathedral known for its twin towers, and maybe take an elevator to the viewing deck to see Munich from above (it was okay even on a rainy day).

If you're hungry, visit Viktualienmarkt, a lively market with fresh produce and local food (try pretzels), or the famous Hofbrauhaus (a tourist pub with beer, schnitzels, etc.). Those who want to stay active can walk for hours in English Garden, one of the largest urban parks in the world.

After lunch, it's time to visit the incredible Munich Residence, the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach family. We hope you got your energy back after lunch because the self-guided tour through Munich Residence grants you access to 130 rooms! The good news is that you've got your next two to three hours all figured out.

Touring the enormous Munich Residence was an incredible experience.

Museum lovers can visit Deutsches Museum, one of the world's largest museums of science and technology, or head to Kunstareal, which is basically Munich's museum district (home to the Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek, and Pinakothek der Moderne). And that's about everything you can see in central Munich. Now, the hardest decision you must make is how much time you need for the rest of Munich.

Our tip: You won't have time to see all the museums, so you need to pick one. We squeezed in both the Munich Residence and Deutsches Museum in a day, and it was totally doable.

Day 2: Olympic Park + BMW Welt and Museum + Nymphenburg and Schleißheim Palaces or Museums

Munich is huge - it's the third-largest city in Germany, after all. So, connecting all the places outside the city center can be challenging. Plus, we're planning the second day without knowing your preferences, so here's a rough outline. Feel free to tweak it as you like. You might know that Munich is home to the iconic car manufacturer BMW, so that's the place where we're heading first. There are actually two sites we can explore: BMW Welt and BMW Museum. Thankfully, they're right next to each other and really easy to get to by S-Bahn.

It doesn't matter which one you visit first (we started with the Welt as that's where we parked). BMW Welt is a futuristic building that's worth seeing even if you're not into BMW cars. The inside is basically one giant showroom with modern BMW cars (but also Minis, Rolls Royce, bikes, etc.), restaurants, and more cool architecture. The BMW Museum, which you'll find just across the street, is all about the company's history, plus it has tons of really cool cars on display.

You can't visit Munich without making a trip to the BMW Museum.

Right next to the BMW sites is another of Munich's must-see places - the Olympic Park, which hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics and later was repurposed into a huge recreational area. It's basically a huge green park with a big lake, rolling hills, a 291-meter tower (with an observation deck), and a huge stadium with 70.000 seats (now mostly used for concerts).

That was something from more recent history, but now it's time to travel a bit further back; nothing too crazy, though, just the 17th century.

Nymphenburg Palace is a beautiful Baroque palace with extensive gardens. It's easily accessible by tram 17 from Marienplatz or by bus 180 if traveling from BMW Welt/Olympic Park. If you want to enjoy more Baroque architecture, you can always visit Schleißheim Palace, though this one is a bit further. Take a S-Bahn (line 1) from the city center to Oberschleißheim; the palace is just a short walk from there.

Explore Dachau and Regensburg on the Same Day: We promised tips to shorten the itinerary, so here's the first one. You could theoretically combine some of these places with Dachau (which we'll visit tomorrow) and practically save a full day. With that extra day, it's your call. We'd likely make our way to Regensburg. It's a gorgeous city and has some really cool spots around.

Day 3: Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial + Regensburg

The third day takes us to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, about 30 kilometers northwest of Munich's city center. If you haven't picked up your rental car yet, now is the time. Our tip is that you can actually rent a car in Dachau to avoid driving around Munich (just take an S1 train from the central station to Dachau Bahnhof).

Dachau was the first concentration camp established by Nazi Germany in 1933.

No matter how you choose to get there, the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial is a must-do. We made a list of the best day trips from Munich not long ago, and Dachau was literally the first place we recommended.

KZ Gedenkstatte Dachau (that's the official name in German; KZ abbreviation stands for Konzentrationslager) was the first concentration camp in Germany that was in use between 1933 and 1945. It was initially intended to hold just political prisoners opposing the Nazi regime but quickly expanded to imprison other groups like Jews, Romani, homosexuals, etc. It's estimated that up to 200,000 were imprisoned in Dachau, with more than 40,000 murdered there during its existence.

Today, Dachau is a memorial site, a large museum, an educational center, and a somber reminder of atrocities committed by Nazis. We spent around four hours in the complex, but the museum contains so much information one can spend a whole day there (be warned that reading about Dachau's history and everything that happened there is overwhelming).

What you do for the rest of the day depends on when you leave Dachau. If it's still around noon, we have a little tip for you.

Kelheim: Getaway to Liberation Hall and Weltenburg Monastery

There's a small town called Kelheim, about 20 kilometers before you reach Regensburg. We're not here for the town but want to visit the Liberation Hall and Weltenburg Monastery. The 19th-century Liberation Hall, which commemorates the victory over Napoleon in the Wars of Liberation, is truly impressive both from the outside and inside (plus we climbed to the upper level for even more spectacular views). Weltenburg Monastery is one of the oldest breweries in the world, and their Weltenburger Barock Dunkel (dark beer) was pretty good. The monastery sits on the Danube River and can also be reached on a cruise from Kelheim (it goes through the stunning Danube Gorge).

Weltenburg Monastery was a nice side trip on our way to Regensburg.

We also had time to visit the Walhalla Memorial (a Greek-styled monument filled with busts of famous Germans). Since it's a bit out of the way, you probably won't have time for it.

Anyway, the next stop is Regensburg. If you're looking for accommodation, check out our post on the best hotels in Regensburg.

Or just check out Hotel Orphee and Hotel Rosi, a lovely hotels situated in central Regensburg.

Driving Directions: In the afternoon/evening, leave Dachau and follow A93/A9 for about 120 kilometers until you reach Regensburg (it takes about 80 minutes). You can also make a detour to either Kelheim (Liberation Hall and Weltenburg Monastery) or Donaustauf (Walhalla).

Day 4: Regensburg

Regensburg was the first proper stop on our Bavaria trip (not counting the drive across the National Park Bayerischer Wald and the lovely stretch of Autobahn around Deggendorf), but for you, it's already Day 4. If you've arrived in the afternoon, you've probably had the chance to discover some of Regensburg's beauty. If not, now is the time.

Regensburg was built by Romans around the 2nd century CE as Castra Regina, a large military camp on the shores of the Danube River. Later, the city rose to great prominence in the Holy Roman Empire. And somewhere along the way, Regensburg turned into one of the most beautiful cities in Germany.

We could spend hours and hours walking around Regensburg's Altstadt.

So what's there to see and do in Regensburg? Well, the UNESCO-listed Altstadt is the ideal place to kick off your day. We'd see the usual attractions like St. Peter Cathedral, Salzstadel, and David and Goliath Mural, and then take a guided tour at Thurn and Taxis Palace (we had just an English audio guide, and it was so so).

Regensburg also has some interesting museums. Document Kepler is a small museum dedicated to Kepler's work (you might still remember three major laws of planetary motion from high school). House of Bavarian History is all about this German state. If you're tired, just take a Regensburg Sightseeing Cruise and enjoy the views.

In the afternoon, we would cross the Danube River over the Old Stone Bridge (which is very similar to our Charles Bridge) and explore the Stadtamhof district (also part of UNESCO). Evening is the perfect time to discover all of the pubs, cafes, and restaurants Regensburg is renowned for (well, probably not all of them).

Driving Directions: From Regensburg, we followed A3 for about 120 kilometers all the way to Nuremberg and made the trip in roughly 80 minutes.

Day 5-6: Nuremberg

Before the trip, we knew some basics about Nuremberg from school (books, TV documentaries, etc.), but it was mostly just WW2 history or geography facts, and all these sources sort of never mentioned how beautiful the city actually is. Despite the fact that Nuremberg was heavily damaged during WW2 (it was one of the symbols of the Nazi regime), it's also been painfully restored since then (reading about the Women of the Rubble is quite fascinating).

Nuremberg is our favorite city in Bavaria.

Today, the combination of medieval, modern, and WW2 history makes Nuremberg one of the most interesting cities in Germany, at least in our view. Whether you'll feel the same is up in the air, but one thing's for sure: Nuremberg has loads to see and do. The first thing you should do is to walk around the Altstadt (Old Town): it's filled with medieval architecture (plus it has towers, walls, and gates), half-timbered houses (Weissgerbergasse is a great photo spot!), Gothic churches (St. Lorenz Church), lively squares (Hauptmarkt with Beautiful Fountain is a must-see), cobblestone streets, various museums (Albrecht Durer's House), and stone bridges spanning the charming Pegnitz river.

Above it all towers the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg, an impressive fortress from the Holy Roman Empire times you've got to check out next. We booked the ticket that included a self-guided tour of the Palace (basically a museum), a short guided tour of the Deep Well (47 meters deep), and a speedy (we were late) climb to Sinwell Tower for the panoramic views of the city.

Nuremberg WW2 History and Museums

We might be a bit biased here, but we absolutely think you should spend two days in Nuremberg. You can absolutely see Nuremberg in one day, but you simply won't have enough time for the museums and WW2 history, which quite frankly make a trip to Nuremberg so captivating.

Luckily, Nuremberg has great hotels. We stayed at an affordable place called Park Inn by Radisson Nurnberg. Scandic Nurnberg Central and Karl August are also great options.

It's possible to see smaller museums like Albrecht Durer's House, the DB Museum, and Fembo House on day one (we would definitely do that). We had to visit the Germanisches Nationalmuseum (or see this one instead) since it houses the world's oldest globe, the Erdapfel, which was made by Martin Behaim from 1490 to 1492 (so, no Americas yet!).

Visiting the Memorium Nuremberg Trials was an unforgettable experience.

Now the two must-see museums in Nuremberg when it comes to WW2 history are Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds (museum + actual rally grounds) and Memorium Nuremberg Trials (the very site where Nazis stood trial for their war crimes). Both museums hold a wealth of information, and you could spend hours and hours there.

Our tip: Nuremberg's history museums are heavy on information, so break up your museum visits over two days!

Optional Day 6: Bayreuth or Coburg or Bad Kissingen

If you find all the WW2 history and museums a bit boring, there are a few places within a short drive from Nuremberg that we liked and that you can explore instead of staying in the city on the second day.

Our tip: We discovered that Bayreuth and Coburg are fairly small and can be explored on the same day (at least if you focus on the highlights). If you do just the Margravial Opera House and Coburg Veste, you will be able to reach Bad Kissingen on the same day to relax in the thermal pools.

Bayreuth

Despite its small size, there are surprisingly plenty of things to see and do in Bayreuth. We started our day in Bayreuth with a visit to Hermitage, a beautiful palace complex (with lovely gardens) positioned a bit outside of the city. Once we got to Bayreuth and parked, we went right to the UNESCO-listed Margravial Opera House. The inside of this baroque theater was simply incredible, just like the modern museum housed in the same building. We also had some extra time to visit the New Palace Bayreuth (stunning Palm Room). There was also the Richard Wagner Museum (unfortunately, we didn't visit) and the Wahnfried House where Wagner lived (he was also buried there).

Driving Directions: Bayreuth can be reached in about 70 minutes via A9 from Nuremberg.

Coburg

The main reason we made a detour to Coburg was that we wanted to see the majestic fortress protecting the town since the 15th century (the first records are from 1056, though). We visited the Coburg Veste first and then spent some time exploring the town of Coburg - we saw Marktplatz and Schloss Ehrenburg and had a Coburger Bratwurst (that's a sausage).

Our tip: Coburg is a fairly small town, so you don't need to spend more than half a day there. We would definitely try to make it at least to Bad Kissingen in the afternoon/evening.

Driving Directions: Coburg is connected with Nuremberg via A73. The journey takes about 80 minutes.

Bad Kissingen

Since we're halfway through, now's a good time to take it easy, unwind, and relax. The UNESCO-listed spa town Bad Kissingen, with its healing mineral springs and wellness facilities, is perfect for that. We happened to visit Bad Kissingen on a particularly cold and rainy day (the outdoor spas were incredible!), but we think you'll appreciate some sauna time or specific treatments in any weather.

What's the easiest way to indulge in a healing experience? Either stay in a hotel with spa facilities (Parkhotel CUP Vitalis, Hotel Frankenland, etc.) or visit KissSalis Therme Bad Kissingen (an amazing thermal spa complex; we absolutely loved the outdoor spa experience and the grotto area). You can sample the mineral springs for free at Brunnenhalle and Wandelhalle - both of which are beautiful, classicist-style buildings.

Driving Directions: Bad Kissingen is less than two hours from Nuremberg (follow A73, A70, and A71). If you're thinking about doing both Coburg and Bad Kissingen in a day, they're 80 minutes apart.

Day 7: Bamberg

Dubbed Franconian Rome, Bamberg is a city that sticks with you. Think of UNESCO World Heritage (medieval architecture with cobblestone streets at every turn) that was built on seven hills (like Rome), with a rich history (former Prince-Bishops' seat) and great breweries (Rauchbier, unfiltered lagers, etc.).

Since you only have one day in Bamberg, here's our suggested itinerary to make the most of your time. We'd start early in the morning (before tourist sites open) and walk uphill to enjoy the views. It's a pretty steep climb but well worth the effort. Then, we'd head straight to Michaelsberg Abbey, a prominent 11th-century Benedictine monastery with Baroque architecture (unfortunately, the church was closed for renovations when we were there).

We had to try the traditional smoked beer when wandering around Bamberg's Altstadt.

Then we'd return to Domplatz, which is home to several of Bamberg's must-see attractions. You can visit them in any order; we visited the Bamberg Cathedral first, then self-toured Neue Residenz (don't forget to see the Rose Garden for roses and views), and skipped Alte Hofhaltung.

Our tip: If time allows, you could walk to Altenburg (or drive or cycle), a medieval castle about two kilometers from Domplatz. The castle grounds are free to enter; there's just a small admission to a 33-meter tower.

Then we'd probably make a short stop at Schlenkerla, a historic pub with a brewery famous for its smoked beer. Only a short walk from here is the Altes Rathaus, one of the most iconic buildings in Bamberg. Its fresco-covered facade is stunning, and the building sits right above the river, which is really awesome. You can actually walk inside and see Sammlung Ludwig, a lovely porcelain collection. There's also Little Venice, which is only a short walk from here. This historic fishermen's district is now Bamberg's most famous photo spot (unfortunately, that's it).

There are a few more places to explore if you still have extra time, like Hainpark (a big park between the left and right arms of the Regnitz River, great for walks) or Gruner Markt (a small pedestrian zone with cafes, shops, and lovely Neptune Fountain). You can also explore one of the museums - Natural History Museum, Diocesan Museum, etc. - though you probably won't have time for it. Of course, that's not all. You still have an opportunity to explore the numerous pubs and breweries Bamberg is famous for (Brauerei Faessla, Brauerei Spezial, or Brauerei Ambrausianum, etc.).

Where to Stay in Bamberg? Wurzburg is a hot spot for tourists, and it has some fantastic hotels. Best Western Hotel Bamberg and Altstadthotel Messerschmitt are our top picks.

Driving Directions: Bamberg is just a 45-minute drive from Nuremberg via A73.

Day 8: Wurzburg

Our next stop is Wurzburg, one of the Franconia's largest cities. It's best to start early as your first visit to Wurzburg might be a lot to take in - don't worry, the city is very tourist-friendly.

Our first steps brought us to the impressive Marienberg Fortress, the original seat of Wurzburg's Prince Bishops. The trail to the castle entrance was great but a bit steeper than we wanted for a morning stroll. It's a large complex, so it's entirely up to you how you spend your time there - you can just walk around, enjoy the architecture and views, or take a guided tour.

Then we headed back to the city, crossed the historic Old Main Bridge (Mainbrucke) from the 12th century, and continued toward the Old Town (you might have already been here, depending on the location of your hotel).

Speaking of accommodation, it's easy to find a good hotel in Würzburg - our top picks are Motel One Wurzburg and AC Hotel by Marriott Wurzburg.

The views of Wurzburg's Altstadt from Marienberg Fortress were stunning.

Our tip: Another lovely spot worth seeing is Kappele, a beautiful Rococo-style church about two kilometers from Marienberg Fortress (it's a bit closer if you start at Mainbrucke). The pilgrimage church is worth seeing for its frescoes, and since it is also on the hill, there are more Wurzburg views.

Once you're in Wurzburg's Altstadt, you have a bunch of options for what to do next. Wurzburg Cathedral, Markplatz, and Hofkirche can be easily explored before visiting the Wurzburg Residence, the city's crown jewel. The UNESCO-listed Baroque palace, built during the 18th century by the Prince-Bishops of Wurzburg, is where you should head next. Once we arrived there, we took a guided tour so we could understand the magnificent frescoes by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo a bit more. Afterward, we self-toured the remaining rooms of the palace and walked around the beautiful palace gardens (free to enter). By the way, the palace was heavily damaged during WW2 and has been meticulously restored since then.

Now, remember that Bamberg is a beer city? Well, Wurzburg is renowned for its wine. The easiest way to learn about Wurzburg's wine is to head to Weingut Juliusspital, Burgerspital, or Hofkeller. They have wine restaurants, wine tastings, guided tours, and, not surprisingly, a great wine (Silvaner is popular here). That's just the tip of the iceberg - there are plenty of restaurants with local Franconian wines scattered around the city (plus, you'll find vineyards and wine estates outside Wurzburg).

If wine is not your thing, you can always walk along the Main River. That was actually one of our favorite things to do in Wurzburg - we could enjoy more views of the Marienberg Fortress and River Main and also see some cool places like the Old Crane (which once played a big role in the city's trade).

Our tip: If you think this itinerary is city-heavy and deciding between Bamberg and Wurzburg (or just want to shorten your trip), we don't have a simple answer. Both cities are great - Wurzburg's got that big city feel, but Bamberg is more intimate (if you can say that about a place with tons of tourists). Now it's up to you - we trust we've shared enough info to help you choose.

Driving Directions: From Bamberg, follow A70 for about 60 kilometers until you reach Wurzburg. It takes about 60 minutes to travel between both places.

Day 9: Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is way smaller than Wurzburg, so it might be surprising that we plan to spend a whole day there. Don't worry; we've got plenty of solid reasons to back up our plan. For starters, you could spend hours just wandering around the historic part of the town.

The town center is filled with half-timbered houses, narrow cobblestone streets, tiny squares, and medieval structures - it's just gorgeous (and a paradise for photographers like myself). You should definitely see St. Jakobskirche (main church), Plonlein (you might already know it from Instagram), or the Marktplatz (main square). We roamed around this area for several hours during the day and then went back over our steps after dark.

We were glad we decided to stay and explore Rothenburg even after dark.

There are also a couple of museums worth seeing - Medieval Crime Museum (well, the name is quite self-explanatory) and Rothenburg Museum (this one is also pretty cool since it's housed in a Dominican convent). While you're still within the town center, you should sample the Schneeball, Rothenburg's signature pastry (we thought it was a bit dry and crumbly; coffee went well with it).

Now comes the fun part we've intentionally left out at the start: the historic part of Rothenburg ob der Tauber is surrounded by largely intact medical walls, gates, and towers. And you can walk the walls - it's about four kilometers in total - for free. Our favorite parts of this 'trail' were the Spital Bastion, Castle Garden, well, and the walk itself.

Crowds in Rothenburg: We happened to see Rothenburg without crowds, and it was a very enjoyable experience. However, the historic part of the town gets extremely busy during the peak season, so embrace yourself with some patience.

If you want to stay active, take a walk downhill to the Tauber Valley and see the cute Toppler Castle and an interesting Double Bridge. One of the most popular activities in Rothenburg is the Night Watchman Tour. This guided walking tour starts only after dark, which is a big reason to spend a night in Rothenburg - we stayed at the lovely Hotel Eisenhut. If tours aren't your thing or you want to save some money, we had a blast wandering the medieval streets in the evening on our own.

Our tip: If you're tight on time but want to see Rothenburg, visit it in the morning and head to Augsburg in the afternoon. Or, spend your day in Würzburg and check out Rothenburg in the evening (we'd probably pick this option).

Driving Directions: Rothenburg ob der Tauber is about a 50-minute drive from Würzburg via the A7.

Day 10: Augsburg

It's time to explore Augsburg, and we'll cut right to the chase - this city is a bit different from the rest of the bunch. Well, maybe not right off the bat - it still has a lovely Altstadt, some pretty old and cool buildings (cathedral, Rathaus, Weberhaus, etc.), museums, etc. However, the two main attractions in Augsburg are the UNESCO-listed water management system and the social housing project.

Augsburg became a wealthy and important city during the 15th and 16th centuries, largely thanks to the influential Fuggerei family. They focused on banking, trading, and mining but also created a project to provide affordable housing for the needy citizens of Augsburg. Since 1516, the Fuggerei has offered low-cost housing for Augsburg citizens. It's hard to believe, but the rent hasn't changed in over 500 years! This unique community is now open to visitors (besides the houses, it has a few museums and a WW2 bunker). For a small fee, you can visit and learn all about it. It might not be your usual tourist spot, but we think it's a really cool place to check out!

Where to stay in Augsburg? Sadly, hotels in Augsburg are much pricier than the rent at Fuggerei, but you can still find reasonably priced accommodation. We stayed in conveniently located ibis Augsburg Koenigsplatz (nothing extraordinary, but the price was decent). Leonardo Hotel Augsburg also looked good.

We'll continue with the Augsburg's waterworks, which are, quite frankly, a marvel of engineering. There are several ways to explore it: water fountains and Lech Canals are right in the city (500 bridges and more than 77 kilometers), while most hydroelectric power plants are outside the city. You can explore the canals on your own, while the power plants are only accessible with guided tours (some are not open to the public, though).

We found Augsburg, with its waterworks and social housing, to be a cool spot to explore.

There are 22 sites to check out: besides the Lech Canals, we'd go to see Hochablass (the Lech River weir) and Eiskanal (the white-water rafting canal). Both sites are near each other, around 5 kilometers outside the city center, so we'll check them out on our way out.

Museums

Before you leave, there are still a few places worth seeing, like Schaezlerpalais, Leopold Mozart Haus, or MAN Museum. These are not your typical must-sees, but they are perfect for exploring when you have some extra time.

Bamberg, Wurzburg, Rothenburg or Augsburg? Augsburg is a pretty cool spot to check out, so if you need to make some cuts, you could always drop one of the Bamberg, Wurzburg, or Rothenburg trio.

Driving Directions: It takes about 90 minutes to tackle the 100-kilometer trip between Augsburg and Fussen; the only call you need to make is whether to drive today or leave it for tomorrow. We stayed in Augsburg overnight (cheaper hotels) and drove to Neuschwanstein in the morning. Or you can make the journey on the same day and get a bit more sleep in the morning.

Optional Day 10: Legoland Germany

If you bring your kids along, we have a feeling they might not find the whole water management system and social housing concept as exciting as we did (or just really love Lego bricks). In this case, you can change your plans and head out to Legoland Germany, one of (if not) the most popular attractions in Bavaria for families with kids.

Mythica Maximus was our favorite ride in Legoland.

The Lego-themed amusement park has some really cool rides (Mythica Maximus was fun) and attractions (the Factory was awesome, as well as the Miniland, a giant Lego city).

It's a cool spot to visit; just know it's geared toward families, so the attractions are pretty mellow (if you're into big coasters, the rides here will probably bore you). The main downside is that a day in Legoland with your kids can be quite pricey.

Legoland and Augsburg in One Day?: You could also spend the day in Legoland and the afternoon/evening in Augsburg - this might be a great idea if you're visiting Legoland without kids.

Driving Directions: If you spend the whole day in Legoland, then you can actually stay in the overpriced on-site hotel (though it looks like a medieval castle Lego set) or drive to Fussen/Hohenschwangau. From Legoland, just follow A7 toward Fussen. It takes around 80 minutes to travel the 150-kilometer stretch.

Day 11: Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau

It's time for an adventure in the Bavarian Alps! Next stop: Fussen and its gorgeous castles - Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. There's lots to see and do around Fussen, but it's mostly these two castles that bring the crowd to this area.

Neuschwanstein Castle

We visited first the Neuschwanstein Castle, the fairy-tale castle built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, which you probably know as the Disney Castle (it was used as an inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland). We did the guided tour first thing in the morning to avoid crowds (not that it was that necessary on a freezing day in mid-April), but the famous Marienbrucke (a bridge where you can snap the most iconic photo of Neuschwanstein) was closed due to icy conditions.

Hohenschwangau Village

So we headed back to the village and walked around the Alpsee while waiting for our time slot at Hohenschwangau. Alternatively, you could visit the Museum of the Bavarian Kings (it's along the way) if you prefer history over nature (it's not necessary, as you'll learn all the essentials during the guided tours).

Hohenschwangau Castle

So finally, it was time to tour the Hohenschwangau Castle, once a ruined fort was rebuilt by King Maximilian II, Ludwig II's father. While Hohenschwangau isn't as eccentric as Neuschwanstein (one could say it's even a bit ordinary), it's worth seeing (plus we enjoyed the guided tour a lot more).

Fussen

Then we drove to Fussen, a lovely medieval town with a tiny historic center, and Hohes Schloss (yep, another castle). It's really tiny, so an hour or two should be enough. You could theoretically also see Linderhof, but we'll leave it for another day. We've packed a lot into today (if you still have energy, there's always the UNESCO-listed Wieskirche on the way to Linderhof).

As for where to stay overnight, you have a few options. You can either stay in Fussen - Hotel Sonne and Best Western Plus Hotel Fussen are really good - and drive to Linderhof in the morning or find a hotel somewhere along the way. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is not ideal as you would need to retrace your steps (30 minutes one way), but villages like Oberammergau or Ettal would be fine.

Book Your Tickets in Advance: All the places on this list are popular tourist destinations, but only Neuschwanstein Castle is the one where we strongly recommend booking your tickets in advance (even in the off-season). The guided tours at Neuschwanstein fill up fast on certain days, even weeks ahead. Don't underestimate it. If you want to be extra prepared, you should also book tickets for Hohenschwangau Castle ahead of time.

Driving Directions: Fussen is about 60 minutes from Linderhof (via B17 and B23). Garmisch-Partenkirchen is less than 30 minutes from Linderhof.

Day 12: Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Linderhof Palace

Start your morning by heading to the incredible Linderhof Palace. A few moments earlier, we used the word eccentric, but it's the Linderhof's interiors that really give this word its proper meaning (together with opulence or lavishness).

Linderhof Palace

Linderhof was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria (yes, the same guy who commissioned Neuschwanstein), who found inspiration in Louis XIV (French king who, among other things, built the Palace of Versailles), and it shows. We did the guided tour at Linderhof, and while it was short (the palace is surprisingly small), it was quite entertaining. Plus, it was the only way to see the wildly/richly decorated rooms.

Linderhof is set in a lovely park, which you can explore as long as you want (or at least until 6 PM when it closes), but by now, you should probably start making your way toward Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Feel like going for a hike?: Keep in mind that Linderhof opens at 9 AM (10 AM in the off-season). If you'd rather hike in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, feel free to skip the Linderhof and head straight there.

We took a guided tour of Linderhof Palace to see its lavishly decorated rooms.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

A 30-minute drive brings us to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, one of Germany's most famous resorts. There are quite a few things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirche, but we came here to take a cable car to Zugspitze, at 2962 meters, the highest mountain in Germany.

Zugspitze

Since you don't have time for any of the challenging hiking or climbing trails to Zugspitze summit, make your way to Eibsee, where you'll find the cable car station (you can drive there by car. The 10-minute cable car ride might be short (and pricey!), but the two-kilometer altitude difference between the stations makes it unforgettable! Or you can take a scenic cogwheel train from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Zugspitze plateau (about 2600 meters asl), and from there, a Gletscherbahn cable car takes you to the summit.

Either way, once you reach the summit, you'll be overwhelmed by the views - they're spectacular (at least if it's not cloudy!). One of the coolest activities is the Glacier Tour with professional guides. Zugspitze has two glaciers - the third one lost its status due to global warming - so you can be sure to learn more about the world of glaciers and climate change. They also have a Cable Car Tour, which is perfect for those who want to learn more about, well, cable cars. Both tours are available only in summer.

Eibsee

After you return back to the valley, you should still have enough time to walk around the Eibsee. The 7-kilometer Eibsee Rundweg combines crystal-clear waters of the alpine lake with the views of Zugspitze - it's an easy yet incredibly rewarding trail.

Can't get enough of these views? Another popular place is the AlpspiX, a viewing deck made of two intersecting metal footbridges (also accessible by a cable car).

The Garmisch-Classic

Now the thing about the Garmisch-Partenkirchen area is that there are a few more mountains - Alpspitze, Kreuzeck, Hausberg, or Mount Wank - with tons of amazing hiking trails, but we don't have time for it. Sure, you could stick around another day (well, if you want, just do it!), but we're not done yet - we've got an ace up our sleeve, so let's head to Berchtesgaden.

Getting to Berchtesgaden: It takes at least two and a half hours to get from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Berchtesgaden via A8 and B472.

Day 13: Konigssee and Salt Mine

Konigssee is the crown jewel of the Bavarian Alps. Even though we sort of knew what to expect from the photos, the alpine scenery of the Berchtesgaden Alps literally took our breath away. So, here's what you can do at Konigssee in one day. Pretty much every trip to Konigssee starts with a scenic boat ride to St. Bartholomew's Church, the iconic landing point with a beautiful church surrounded by steep mountains (and a trailhead to the popular Eiskapelle hike).

We enjoyed the alpine scenery of Konigssee from a boat (and also hiked to Obersee).

Once you're done here, take a boat to another landing point, Salet, the furthest point of Konigssee. You can stay here and enjoy the stunning views, but we recommend a short hike to Obersee, a small alpine lake with emerald waters and more mountains. From Obersee, you should also hike to Rothbach Waterfall, Germany's highest waterfall!

After you return to the village, there's still plenty more to see. If you're looking for an easy, family-friendly hike from the village, Malerwinkel Viewpoint is your best bet. If time allows, you can also take a Jennerbahn Cable Car to the top of Jenner Mountain for more spectacular views or drive back to Berchtesgaden and visit the salt mine (Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden).

Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden

Both choices are cool, but we'd probably go for the salt mine since it differs from what you've seen so far. The guided tour was fun (it's also great for families with kids) - we had to wear protective overalls, took a train ride, zoomed down a miner's slide, and rafted across a lake 130 meters underground.

We stayed in Berchtesgaden (no need to drive anywhere today, as tomorrow's starting point is just a 10-minute drive from here.), which has a tiny Altstadt and amazing views of Watzmann massif.

We eventually spent a night in Hotel Schwabenwirt, but Hotel AlpinaRos looked good, too.

There's also the amazing Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden in Obersalzberg (right next to tomorrow's starting point), but it's pretty expensive.

Can You Do Konigssee and Eagle's Nest in One Day? Another time-saving tip we can share with you is that you can definitely see both Konigssee and Eagle's Nest on the same day (it's totally doable if you take the bus to Eagle's Nest). The question is, what are you going to do with that extra day? See the Optional Day 14 below.

Getting to Dokumentation Obersalzberg Parking: Parking at Dokumentation Obersalzberg is just five kilometers from Berchtesgaden (via B319), so save this trip for tomorrow morning.

Day 14: Eagle's Nest and Dokumentation Obersalzberg

Kehlsteinhaus, commonly known as the Eagle's Nest, is a chalet nestled atop an 1800-meter-high mountain. It was once Adolf Hitler's retreat, who used it for social and diplomatic meetings. Today, it's one of the most popular attractions near Berchtesgaden, and since we're already in the area, it's definitely worth seeing.

Eagle's Nest

There are two ways to get there. We picked the harder one and hiked to Eagle's Nest from the Dokumentation Obersalzberg via a nice 7-kilometer trail (one-way) with an elevation gain of 700 meters. It's super rewarding but fairly time-consuming (we spent about five hours there).

Or you can just take a shuttle bus that will drop you off below Kehlsteinhaus (from here, it's just a short elevator ride to the top). The shuttle bus also departs from Dokumentation Obersalzberg; just be warned that the tickets are quite pricey (that was also one of the reasons why we hiked).

We visited Kehlsteinhaus on a sunny day, and the views from the top were incredible.

Dokumentation Obersalzberg

After returning back to the main parking area, we strongly recommend visiting the Dokumentation Obersalzberg. Eagle's Nest offered stunning views, but we were surprised to find very little information there. Well, everything we wanted to know about this area - Berghof, Kehlsteinhaus, extensive bunker system, U.S. Army, etc. - was right in this museum. The most incredible part of the Dokumentation Obersalzberg experience is that the museum has a huge bunker!

Since this is our last day in Bavaria, it's time to return to Munich (presumably the airport). We're not done yet, as we still have a few tips for you, so stay tuned.

Getting to Munich Airport: Berchtesgaden is about 200 kilometers from Munich Aiport (it's about the same whether you're leaving from Eagle's Nest or Konigssee), and the journey takes about two hours.

Optional Day 14: Salzburg

Yeah, we know Salzburg is not in Bavaria. In fact, it's not even in Germany (it's in Austria if geography of Central Europe isn't your strong suit). But that doesn't matter. It's just 20 kilometers north of Berchtesgaden.

If you've seen enough of the Alps or the weather is not on your side, we'd recommend visiting Salzburg (not that you get rid of the Alps, as they literally surround the city). Salzburg is mostly known as the City of Mozart but has some other nicknames like City of Music or Rome of the North.

We started our day at Mirabell Palace (gardens + Marble Hall) and then headed to Mozart Geburtshaus (the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the museum dedicated to his life and work). Our next steps brought us to the beautiful Residenzplatz..

By the way, the whole historic center of Salzburg is absolutely gorgeous - no wonder it's been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Then, we spent a few hours at DomQuartier, a massive complex of historical (and Baroque) buildings, including State Rooms, Residenzgalerie, St. Peter's Museum, and Cathedral Museum. It's enormous, and you could practically stay for a full day here.

Despite being located in Austria, Salzburg is a great addition to every Bavaria trip.

However, we still have to see the main attraction of Salzburg, the Hohensalzburg Fortress. This huge medieval fortress sitting atop Festungsberg mountain (we cheated a bit and took a cable car to the top) was definitely the highlight of our visit (the views were amazing, but the museum was also fine).

Our tip: You're exactly two weeks on the road, and if you feel a bit tired, you can do the Salt Mine Tour in the morning and then drive to Herrenchiemsee Palace, the third palace built by King Ludwig II.

Departure Day: Munich Airport

And this is the end of our 1200-kilometer journey (and 8000+ words-long post)! Hats off to you! Well, we can't speak for you (you haven't actually been there yet), but for us, Bavaria was one of the best road trips we've ever done. There was something very familiar about the whole adventure that really cemented it in our memory.

We knew Bavaria was beautiful, but we thought this would be a relatively regular road trip - nothing extraordinary. After all, Bavaria is just across the hills (aka Sumava Mountains). For us, the idea of going to Germany isn't as thrilling as road-tripping the Canadian Rockies or driving through Australia, but here we are. So, before Martin gets all sentimental, it's time to wrap it up.

If you traveled by car, returning it is a quick process - and then you're ready to go. If not, you already know how to get back to the Munich Airport by S-Bahn (S1 or S8). If you're catching a morning flight, there are several hotels at Munich Airport that offer comfortable stays - Novotel Munich Airport and Hilton Munich Airport are the most convenient options.

If you have any questions, leave us a comment below. And as usual, safe travels!

Travel Insurance

We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.

Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.

SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.

Travel smarter and safer!

Travel Resources

Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.

Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.

Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.

We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.

Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.

Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.

Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.

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Our EPIC 2-Week Bavaria Itinerary (Including Munich)