Bavaria
3
Day Itinerary •
Germany
Three days in Bavaria and Munich reveal the finest combination of royal excess, Alpine grandeur and traditional Bavarian culture in Germany. The extraordinary Marienplatz and Viktualienmarkt, the world's greatest science museum, the surfers of the English Garden, the most famous castle on earth at Neuschwanstein, the baroque gardens of Nymphenburg and the sobering history of Dachau are all within reach of a single Bavarian base. This route covers the full sweep of Bavaria from Munich's extraordinary city culture through Ludwig II's fairy-tale Alpine castles to the baroque gardens of Nymphenburg and the Alpine resort of Garmisch. Three days that reveal why Bavaria is the most visited and most extraordinary region in Germany.
Best Time To Visit
April to October
Getting There
Fly into Munich (MUC), excellent rail connections
Getting Around
MVV public transport, Bayern-Ticket for day trips
Budget Per Day
Approx 95 to 385 EUR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, some Alpine walking
DAY 1
MUNICH
MORNING
MUNICH MARIENPLATZ AND THE VIKTUALIENMARKT, THE HEART OF BAVARIA
Munich's Marienplatz is the most extraordinary city square in southern Germany, its extraordinary neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus with the famous Glockenspiel carillon, the medieval Altes Rathaus and the Marian Column of 1638 giving it a grandeur unlike any other Bavarian city centre. The adjacent Viktualienmarkt, Munich's daily outdoor food market since 1807, is the finest open-air food market in Germany with extraordinary Bavarian cheese, bread, meat and produce stalls. Entry free. Train/Travel: 20 min walk
MIDDAY
THE DEUTSCHES MUSEUM, THE GREATEST SCIENCE MUSEUM IN THE WORLD
The Deutsches Museum on its island in the Isar is the largest science and technology museum in the world by exhibit floor area, its extraordinary collections of mining, aviation, shipping, chemistry and musical instruments spread across 73,000 square metres giving the finest museum experience in Munich. The replica coal mine in the basement and the extraordinary aviation hall with original WWI and WWII aircraft are both remarkable. Entry approx 15 euros. Train/Travel: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
THE ENGLISH GARDEN AND THE EISBACH SURFERS
Munich's English Garden at 3.7 square kilometres is larger than Central Park and the finest urban park in Germany, its extraordinary Chinese Tower beer garden, the Japanese tea house and the extraordinary artificial Eisbach wave where surfers ride a standing wave in the middle of the city year-round making it the finest afternoon destination in Munich. The beer garden at the Chinese Tower holds 7,000 people. Entry free.
đź’Ž HIDDEN GEM
The Alter Sudlicher Friedhof old cemetery near the Sendlinger Tor is the most extraordinary hidden garden in Munich, a former municipal cemetery closed in 1944 and now a park of extraordinary mature chestnut trees, elaborate 19th-century tombstones and the graves of extraordinary Bavarians including Max von Pettenkofer and the Lenbach family. The combination of extraordinary monumental sculpture and the dappled shade of the chestnut canopy makes it the finest hidden place in central Munich. Entry free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Luitpold, Maximilianstrasse The finest historic cafe in Munich since 1888. Outstanding Bavarian breakfast and extraordinary cakes. | Lunch: Viktualienmarkt stalls Outstanding market lunch. Fresh Obatzda cheese, pretzels and Weisswurst from the market vendors. | Dinner: Augustiner-Keller, Arnulfstrasse The finest traditional beer hall in Munich. Outstanding Bavarian food and Augustiner Lagerbier vom Holzfass.
DAY 2
NEUSCHWANSTEIN
MORNING
NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE, THE MOST FAMOUS CASTLE IN THE WORLD
Neuschwanstein is the most extraordinary castle in the world, the fantasy palace built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria between 1869 and 1886 that inspired Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. Its extraordinary white limestone towers above the Pöllat gorge, the extraordinary throne room with its Byzantine golden mosaics, the singer's hall and the unfinished interior of Ludwig's unfinished dream make it the most visited site in Germany. Entry approx 15 euros. Book online months ahead. Train/Travel: 2 hours train and bus
MIDDAY
HOHENSCHWANGAU CASTLE AND THE ALPSEE, LUDWIG'S CHILDHOOD HOME
Hohenschwangau Castle below Neuschwanstein is the most extraordinary royal childhood home in Germany, the yellow castle where Ludwig II grew up surrounded by murals of medieval German legends that shaped his obsessive vision. The extraordinary Alpsee lake below both castles, with its extraordinary reflections of the castles in the clear Alpine water, is the finest natural landscape in the Allgau Alps. Entry approx 20 euros. Train/Travel: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
FUSSEN AND THE FINEST MEDIEVAL TOWN IN THE ALLGAU
Fussen at the end of the Romantic Road is the finest small medieval town in Bavaria, its extraordinary Hohes Schloss with its extraordinary trompe l'oeil facade painting, the High Gothic basilica of St Magnus and the extraordinary frescoed streets of the Altstadt making it the finest hidden town near Neuschwanstein. The Lech waterfall at the edge of town is extraordinary. Entry to castle gallery approx 7 euros.
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The Wieskirche pilgrimage church in a meadow near Steingaden is the most extraordinary rococo interior in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, its extraordinary white and gold stucco, the extraordinary trompe l'oeil ceiling frescoes by Johann Baptist Zimmermann and its extraordinary remote location in an Alpine meadow with cowbells audible outside making it one of the most beautiful buildings in Germany. Entry free. The approach through the meadow is extraordinary at dawn.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel Muller, Hohenschwangau Outstanding Bavarian breakfast below Neuschwanstein. Book early to secure the castle view table. | Lunch: Schlossrestaurant Neuschwanstein area Outstanding Bavarian lunch in the Alpsee Bergwelt restaurant above the valley. | Dinner: Zum Hechten, Fussen The finest traditional restaurant in Fussen. Outstanding Allgau trout and local venison.
DAY 3
NYMPHENBURG AND THE ALPS
MORNING
THE NYMPHENBURG PALACE AND GARDENS, MUNICH'S ROYAL SUMMER RESIDENCE
Nymphenburg Palace is the most extraordinary baroque palace in Munich, its extraordinary 600-metre facade, the Amalienburg hunting lodge by Cuvillies within the park, the extraordinary Museum of Royal Carriages and the formal canal garden giving the finest royal experience in Bavaria after Neuschwanstein. The Palace is a 20-minute tram ride from the city centre. Entry to palace approx 15 euros, park free. Train/Travel: 30 min tram
MIDDAY
DACHAU CONCENTRATION CAMP MEMORIAL, THE FIRST NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMP
Dachau opened in March 1933 as the first concentration camp of the Nazi regime, its extraordinary documentary museum, the reconstructed barracks, the crematorium and the remarkable memorial chapel giving the finest and most thorough account of the concentration camp system available in southern Germany. The site is 30 minutes by S-Bahn from Munich. Entry free, audio guide approx 4 euros. Train/Travel: 45 min S-Bahn
AFTERNOON
THE BAVARIAN ALPS AND GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN
Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the foot of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain at 2,962 metres, is the finest Alpine resort town in Bavaria, its extraordinary Partnachklamm gorge accessible year-round, the extraordinary Olympic ski stadium from 1936 and the Zugspitze cable car giving the finest high-altitude experience in Germany. The Partnachklamm gorge walk is extraordinary in all seasons. Entry approx 6 euros.
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The Zugspitze summit at 2,962 metres by the extraordinary Bayerische Zugspitzbahn cog railway from Garmisch is the most extraordinary mountain experience in Germany, the cog train ascending through extraordinary alpine meadows and glacial tunnels to the summit with its extraordinary 360-degree view over four countries. The Zugspitzplatt glacier at the top is retreating rapidly and should be seen soon. Cable car and cog railway return approx 60 euros. The summit at dawn before the cable cars start is extraordinary by ski.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Nymphenburg, palace grounds Outstanding breakfast at the palace cafe before the crowds arrive. Local honey and Bavarian bread. | Lunch: Dachau town cafe Simple lunch in Dachau town. Allow enough time for the full memorial visit before lunch. | Dinner: Wirtshaus in der Au, Munich The finest traditional Bavarian restaurant in Munich. Outstanding Schweinsbraten and home-made Spatzle.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
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🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
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🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Munich, Nights 1 and 3 Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski or Bayerischer Hof. Approx 150 to 400 euros per night. Hohenschwangau or Fussen, Night 2 Hotel Muller or Hotel Sonne. Approx 80 to 180 euros per night. Budget Wombat's City Hostel Munich or Jaeger's Hostel. Approx 25 to 55 euros per night.
Top Tips
1. Neuschwanstein timed entry: book at neuschwanstein.de months ahead in summer. Sold out weeks in advance.
2. Viktualienmarkt: arrive before 9am for the finest selection. The market closes at 6pm Monday to Saturday.
3. Wieskirche: go on a weekday morning. The interior in dawn light streaming through the south windows is extraordinary.
4. Dachau S-Bahn: S2 from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Dachau, then bus
726. Journey approx 45 minutes total.
5. English Garden beer garden: bring cash. The Chinese Tower Biergarten is cash only and serves Hofbrau.
6. Bayern-Ticket: 29 euros covers all regional trains in Bavaria for one day. Buy at DB ticket machines.
Total Budget
95 to 380 EUR/day