Bavaria is Germany's largest state and the source of many of the country's postcard images: Alpine peaks and lakes in Upper Bavaria and around Berchtesgaden, King Ludwig II's castles in the Allgäu, half-timbered towns and wine country in Franconia, and the Danube and deep forests of Eastern Bavaria. Munich, the state capital, sits in the middle. Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze, is here, and the Würzburg Residence, the Wieskirche, the old towns of Bamberg and Regensburg and, since 2025, Neuschwanstein are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
This page gives you our top 10 sights in Bavaria, a one-day plan and a weekend itinerary, advice on getting there and when to go, and below that every Bavarian attraction in the tripto.de catalog. Opening hours and prices are on each attraction's page. Check them with the operator before you go, since many cable cars, boats and palaces cut back their hours in fall and winter.
Our picks for a first visit — each with a short reason why.
Castles
Schwangau
Neuschwanstein Castle in Schwangau, Bavaria, is the fairy-tale palace that King Ludwig II built above a gorge at the foot of the Alps, and it is one of the most visited sights in Germany. Begun in 1869 and never finished, it inspired Disne…
1. Ludwig II's dream castle above the Pöllat Gorge, a UNESCO site since 2025. You can only go inside on a 30-minute guided tour with a fixed entry time, so book online.
Old towns & squares
Munich
Marienplatz is the central square of Munich and the best place to start exploring the Bavarian capital. Framed by the ornate neo-Gothic New Town Hall, the Old Town Hall and the golden Column of the Virgin Mary, it has been the heart of the…
2. Munich's central square, home to the New Town Hall and its Glockenspiel. An elevator takes you up the 85-meter tower, with views to the Alps when the föhn wind blows.
Mountains & peaks
Grainau
The Zugspitze near Grainau is Germany's highest mountain at 2,962 m (9,718 ft) and one of the most rewarding day trips in the Bavarian Alps. The border with Austria runs across its summit, and on clear days you look out over a sea of Alpin…
3. At 2,962 meters, Germany's highest peak. Ride the record-setting cable car from Lake Eibsee or take the cog railway from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, about 75 minutes.
Lakes
Schönau am Königssee
The Königssee in Bavaria's Berchtesgaden region is one of the most beautiful lakes in Germany, a deep, emerald-green, fjord-like lake hemmed in by sheer mountain walls. Gliding across it in a quiet electric boat to the red-domed chapel of…
4. A fjord-like lake in Berchtesgaden National Park. Quiet electric boats stop at the Echo Wall for a trumpet solo, then continue to St. Bartholomä below the Watzmann.
Old towns & squares
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the picture-perfect medieval town many visitors imagine when they think of Germany. Its old town of half-timbered houses, towers and gates sits high above the Tauber River valley, enclosed by a nearly complete c…
5. Half-timbered houses, towers and a town wall you can walk along. Stay overnight inside the walls to see the Plönlein corner before the tour buses arrive.
Palaces
Würzburg
The Würzburg Residence is the grand Baroque palace of the former prince-bishops of Würzburg and one of the finest palaces in Europe. Together with its Court Garden and Residence Square, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.…
6. Balthasar Neumann's free-standing staircase under Tiepolo's giant ceiling fresco. A 30-minute tour is included with admission; the court garden and church are free.
Castles
Nuremberg
Nuremberg Castle (Kaiserburg Nürnberg) crowns a sandstone ridge above the old town of Nuremberg in Bavaria and is the city's defining landmark. From the early 12th century until 1571, every emperor and king of the Holy Roman Empire stayed…
7. Every Holy Roman emperor stayed here at some point until 1571. See the double chapel, the Deep Well and the view from the Sinwell Tower. Free for anyone under 18.
Old towns & squares
Bamberg
The Old Town of Bamberg in northern Bavaria is one of the best-preserved historic city centers in Germany and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. Built across seven hills and a river island, it blends medieval street plans with Baroqu…
8. A UNESCO site since 1993, with an old town hall built in the middle of the river, the Little Venice waterfront, an imperial cathedral and smoked beer.
Landmarks
Regensburg
The Stone Bridge in Regensburg (Steinerne Brücke) is the oldest surviving bridge in Germany and, together with the cathedral, the city's most famous landmark. Built in the 12th century, it carries walkers and cyclists across the Danube fro…
9. Germany's oldest surviving bridge, built in the 1100s across the Danube. It's car-free, open around the clock and frames the best view of the cathedral towers.
Theme parks
Günzburg
Legoland Deutschland Resort in Günzburg, Bavaria, is one of Germany's most visited theme parks and a top day trip for families with young children. Located right off the A8 highway between Munich and Stuttgart, it combines rides, shows and…
10. A theme park for families between Ulm and Augsburg, famous for its Miniland of cities built from Lego bricks. The 2026 season runs through November 8.
Start in Munich at Marienplatz in time for the 11 a.m. Glockenspiel, then walk two minutes to the twin-towered Frauenkirche. Entry to the church is free.
Climb the 306 steps of Old Peter, Munich's oldest parish church, for the classic view over Marienplatz. There's no elevator.
Places: St. Peter's Church (Alter Peter)
Pick up food at the market stalls and eat it in the beer garden, where bringing your own is allowed. The market is closed on Sundays.
Places: Viktualienmarkt
The former royal palace is the largest city-center palace in Germany. Plan at least two hours for the state rooms and the Treasury.
Places: Munich Residenz
Watch the surfers at the Eisbach wave, walk to the Chinese Tower, then head back to the Hofbräuhaus for dinner with a brass band.
Glockenspiel at 11 a.m., the cathedral, and lunch at the market.
Places: Marienplatz Frauenkirche (Munich Cathedral) Viktualienmarkt
The Wittelsbach family's state rooms and crown jewels. Visitors under 18 get in free.
Places: Munich Residenz
An afternoon in the park, then an evening at the city's most famous beer hall.
Take an early train to Füssen and a bus to Hohenschwangau. If you're driving, the Wieskirche, a rococo pilgrimage church with free entry, makes a good stop on the way.
From the ticket center it's a steep 30- to 40-minute walk up. Tours start on time, so leave a buffer. Backpacks and strollers aren't allowed inside.
Places: Neuschwanstein Castle
The yellow castle above the Alpsee where Ludwig II grew up. Tours run about 45 minutes; from October 16, they run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Places: Hohenschwangau Castle
By air: Munich Airport is the main gateway. S-Bahn lines S1 and S8 reach Munich Central Station in about 40 minutes. Nuremberg has its own airport, and Memmingen Airport is handy for the Allgäu.
By train: Munich, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Würzburg and Augsburg are on ICE high-speed routes. Regional trains run to the mountains, for example to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Füssen and Berchtesgaden. Germany's Deutschland-Ticket covers regional trains, S-Bahn and buses, but not ICE or IC trains. Heads-up: Deutsche Bahn is rebuilding the line between Obertraubling and Passau in the second half of 2026, so check for replacement buses.
By car: The main highways are the A3 (Würzburg–Nuremberg–Regensburg–Passau), A7 (Würzburg–Allgäu), A8 (Ulm–Augsburg–Munich–Salzburg) and A9 (Berlin–Nuremberg–Munich). In the old towns, use the parking garages at the edge of the center.
Summer is best for mountains and lakes. The Zugspitze cable car runs longer hours in July and August, and on the Königssee boats go all the way to Salet from late April to mid-October (in 2026, until October 11). Palaces and theme parks get crowded during Bavarian school vacations, so go early or on a weekday.
In fall, many sights close earlier and some lifts shut for maintenance: the Zugspitze is closed on several days in November 2026, with the ski season expected to start November 27, 2026. Legoland's regular season ends November 8, 2026. In December, Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt and the Christmas market on Munich's Marienplatz draw big crowds. Around Oktoberfest in late September, Munich hotels sell out early.
For a first trip, the classics are Neuschwanstein Castle, the Zugspitze, Munich's old town around Marienplatz, the Königssee, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and the old towns of Bamberg, Nuremberg and Regensburg. Art lovers shouldn't miss the Würzburg Residence.
A long weekend covers Munich plus a day trip to the royal castles. If you also want the Alps, with the Zugspitze and the Königssee, or the Franconian towns of Nuremberg, Bamberg and Würzburg, plan on about a week.
Yes. Take the train to Füssen and the bus to Hohenschwangau, then walk about 1.5 kilometers uphill from the ticket center. The castle can only be seen on a guided tour, so book a timed ticket online in advance.
Popular choices are Legoland near Günzburg, the cog railway or cable car up the Zugspitze, the boat trip with the trumpet echo on the Königssee, and the treetop walkway in Bavarian Forest National Park. Many state-run palaces are free for visitors under 18.
May through October, when cable cars, lake boats and beer gardens are all running. Cities like Nuremberg, Bamberg and Regensburg are also lovely during the Christmas markets. Some mountain lifts close for maintenance in November.
Munich's Marienplatz and English Garden, the Stone Bridge in Regensburg, the old towns of Bamberg and Rothenburg, and the Wieskirche are all free. The court garden and court church at the Würzburg Residence don't charge admission either.
Castles
Schwangau
Neuschwanstein Castle in Schwangau, Bavaria, is the fairy-tale palace that King Ludwig II built above a gorge at the foot of the Alps, and it is one of the most visited sights in Germany. Begun in 1869 and never finished, it inspired Disne…
Mountains & peaks
Grainau
The Zugspitze near Grainau is Germany's highest mountain at 2,962 m (9,718 ft) and one of the most rewarding day trips in the Bavarian Alps. The border with Austria runs across its summit, and on clear days you look out over a sea of Alpin…
Old towns & squares
München
Marienplatz is the central square of Munich and the best place to start exploring the Bavarian capital. Framed by the ornate neo-Gothic New Town Hall, the Old Town Hall and the golden Column of the Virgin Mary, it has been the heart of the…
Old towns & squares
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the picture-perfect medieval town many visitors imagine when they think of Germany. Its old town of half-timbered houses, towers and gates sits high above the Tauber River valley, enclosed by a nearly complete c…
Palaces
München
Nymphenburg Palace in Munich is one of Europe's grandest baroque palaces and was the summer residence of Bavaria's Wittelsbach rulers for two centuries. Its long white facade, ornate state rooms, King Ludwig I's famous Gallery of Beauties…
Museums
München
The Deutsches Museum in Munich is one of the world's largest museums of science and technology and one of the top things to do in Munich, especially with kids or on a rainy day. Set on an island in the Isar River just outside the old town,…
Palaces
Ettal
Linderhof Palace near Ettal in the Bavarian Alps is the smallest of King Ludwig II's royal palaces and the only major one he lived to see completed. Since 2025 it has been part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Neuschwanstein.…
Palaces
Chiemsee
Herrenchiemsee Palace on Herreninsel island in Lake Chiemsee is the largest and most expensive palace built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, a lavish tribute to Versailles in the Bavarian countryside. Reaching it by boat across the lake is pa…
Lakes
Schönau am Königssee
The Königssee in Bavaria's Berchtesgaden region is one of the most beautiful lakes in Germany, a deep, emerald-green, fjord-like lake hemmed in by sheer mountain walls. Gliding across it in a quiet electric boat to the red-domed chapel of…
Castles
Nürnberg
Nuremberg Castle (Kaiserburg Nürnberg) crowns a sandstone ridge above the old town of Nuremberg in Bavaria and is the city's defining landmark. From the early 12th century until 1571, every emperor and king of the Holy Roman Empire stayed…
Old towns & squares
Bamberg
The Old Town of Bamberg in northern Bavaria is one of the best-preserved historic city centers in Germany and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. Built across seven hills and a river island, it blends medieval street plans with Baroqu…
Palaces
Würzburg
The Würzburg Residence is the grand Baroque palace of the former prince-bishops of Würzburg and one of the finest palaces in Europe. Together with its Court Garden and Residence Square, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.…
Landmarks
Regensburg
The Stone Bridge in Regensburg (Steinerne Brücke) is the oldest surviving bridge in Germany and, together with the cathedral, the city's most famous landmark. Built in the 12th century, it carries walkers and cyclists across the Danube fro…
Churches & monasteries
Steingaden
The Wieskirche (Pilgrimage Church of Wies) near Steingaden in Upper Bavaria is often called the most perfect Rococo church in the world, and it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. From the outside it looks like a modest white…
Mountains & peaks
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
The Partnach Gorge (Partnachklamm) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is one of the most dramatic natural sights in the Bavarian Alps. For about 700 meters, the Partnach River squeezes through a limestone chasm up to 80 meters deep, and a walkway c…
Gardens & parks
München
The English Garden (Englischer Garten) in Munich is one of the largest urban parks in the world, covering 376 hectares (about 930 acres) between the old town and the Schwabing district. Locals come here to sunbathe on vast meadows, drink b…
Museums
München
The BMW Museum in Munich is one of the top things to do in the Bavarian capital for anyone who loves cars, motorcycles or bold architecture. Housed in a silver "bowl" next to BMW's four-cylinder headquarters tower and opposite BMW Welt, it…
Theme parks
Günzburg
Legoland Deutschland Resort in Günzburg, Bavaria, is one of Germany's most visited theme parks and a top day trip for families with young children. Located right off the A8 highway between Munich and Stuttgart, it combines rides, shows and…
National parks
Neuschönau
Bavarian Forest National Park is Germany's oldest national park and one of the wildest woodlands in Central Europe. Stretching along the Czech border in eastern Bavaria, it protects mountain forests around the peaks of Rachel, Lusen and Fa…
Historic sites & memorials
Augsburg
The Fuggerei in Augsburg is the world's oldest social housing complex still in use, and one of the most unusual things to do in Bavaria. Founded in 1521 by the merchant banker Jakob Fugger "the Rich," it still houses around 150 people in n…
Churches & monasteries
München
The Frauenkirche in Munich, officially the Cathedral of Our Dear Lady, is the city's best-known landmark and one of the first things to see on any visit to the Bavarian capital. Its twin brick towers with their rounded green caps have defi…
Palaces
München
The Munich Residenz is the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach dynasty and the largest city-center palace in Germany. For more than four centuries, Bavaria's dukes, electors and kings ruled from this sprawling complex in the heart of Mu…
Museums
München
The Alte Pinakothek in Munich is one of the world's great art museums, home to European Old Master paintings from the Middle Ages to the Rococo. In the city's museum quarter, the Kunstareal, you can stand in front of works by Dürer, Leonar…
Gardens & parks
München
The Olympiapark in Munich, built for the 1972 Summer Olympics, is one of the city's most popular green spaces and a landmark of modern architecture. Its sweeping, transparent tent roof, a lake, a hill made from wartime rubble and wide lawn…