Southern Germany
Bavaria
A first trip through Bavaria for UK travellers: Munich as your base, the day-trip to Neuschwanstein everyone gets wrong, real train and bus times to the Alps and the castles, and what a week actually costs in pounds.
In short
Bavaria at a glance
Bavaria is the Germany most UK first-timers actually want — beer gardens, the Alps and the fairytale castles — and almost all of it works as day-trips from Munich without a hire car. Base yourself in central Munich, use the Bayern-Ticket on the regional trains, and you can reach Neuschwanstein, the Alps at Garmisch and Nuremberg's old town each in under two hours one way. Allow 4–5 nights to do Munich plus two or three big day-trips at a relaxed pace; a week lets you add the Romantic Road or the Bavarian lakes.
Bavaria is the Germany most British first-timers are actually picturing — beer gardens under chestnut trees, the Alps as a backdrop and a castle that Disney borrowed. The good news is that almost none of it needs a hire car. Base yourself in central Munich, treat the city as a hub, and the three things people come for — the beer halls, Neuschwanstein and the high Alps — are each a single regional-train day-trip away, all covered by one cheap Bayern-Ticket.
The mistake nearly everyone makes is Neuschwanstein. It looks like a quick spin from Munich on the map, but it’s a two-hour train to Füssen, then a bus, then a sweaty walk uphill, and the timed castle ticket sells out — so people turn up on spec and either queue for hours or miss it entirely. Book the slot online before you fly, set aside the whole day for it, and don’t try to pair it with the Alps on the same outing. Do that, lean on the trains rather than a car, and Bavaria is one of the easiest regions in Europe to get right.
Towns & places in Bavaria
The route
A relaxed Munich-based loop that reaches the three things people come to Bavaria for — the city, the castles and the Alps — without ever needing a car. Times are one-way from Munich Hauptbahnhof on regional trains; the Bayern-Ticket covers all of it and gets cheaper per person in a group.
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Days 1–2
Munich
Base here for the whole trip. The Marienplatz glockenspiel, the Viktualienmarkt, a beer garden in the Englischer Garten and the Residenz palace fill two easy days. The U-Bahn and trams cover the city on one ticket — no car, and don't stay out by the airport.
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Day 3
Neuschwanstein
The fairytale castle, and the most-botched day in Bavaria. It's about 2h by regional train to Füssen, then the 73/78 bus (~10 min) to Hohenschwangau, then a steep 30–40 min walk up. Book the timed castle entry ticket online before you travel — same-day tickets routinely sell out. Allow the full day.
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Day 4
The Alps at Garmisch / Zugspitze
About 1h20 by regional train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, then the cog railway and cable car up the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak at 2,962m. The Partnachklamm gorge is the cheaper, weather-proof alternative if the summit's clouded in. A clear-day-only outing — check the forecast the night before.
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Day 5
Nuremberg
About 1h by ICE or ~1h45 on a regional train. The walled medieval old town, the Imperial Castle and the sobering Nazi-era documentation centre and rally grounds make a full, contrasting day. In December this is the home of Germany's most famous Christmas market.
Where to base yourself
Pick one or two bases rather than moving every night.
Munich (Altstadt / Ludwigsvorstadt)
£££ premiumThe best and really only base for a first Bavaria trip — every day-trip leaves from Munich Hauptbahnhof, and the Altstadt puts the Marienplatz and beer halls on your doorstep. Ludwigsvorstadt by the station is cheaper and handy for early train departures but rougher at night. Munich is Germany's priciest city for beds, so book early.
Best for: First-timers, day-trips by train, beer halls
Füssen (for Neuschwanstein)
££ mid-rangeA small Alpine town at the foot of the castles, worth one night only if you want to be first up to Neuschwanstein before the Munich day-trippers arrive, or are continuing along the Romantic Road. Quiet, pretty and limited on evening options — most travellers do it as a day-trip instead.
Best for: Beating the castle crowds, Romantic Road start
Garmisch-Partenkirchen (for the Alps)
££ mid-rangeA proper Alpine resort town at the foot of the Zugspitze, good for a night or two if you want hiking and mountain air rather than a single day-trip. Best in summer for walking and winter for skiing; less to do in the shoulder seasons.
Best for: Hiking, skiing, mountain scenery
Getting around Bavaria
For a first Bavaria trip you don't need a car: base in Munich and use the regional train network for the day-trips. The Bayern-Ticket is the key — one day's unlimited regional trains, U-Bahn, trams and buses across the whole state from €17 for one person, with each extra traveller adding only a few euros, so a group of four pays well under €10 each. It's valid from 9am on weekdays (all day at weekends) and covers the Neuschwanstein, Garmisch and Nuremberg runs, though not the faster ICE. Inside Munich, the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram and bus run on one ticket (around €4 a single, cheaper on a day pass). From Munich Airport, the S1 or S8 S-Bahn is €14.30 to the centre in 40–45 minutes. Rent a car only for the Romantic Road or the rural lakes and Alps beyond the rail towns — never for Munich itself, where the Umweltzone low-emission zone needs a windscreen sticker and parking is dear.
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Bavaria FAQs
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