Things to do in Bavaria

Bavaria is the largest German state, some 70,500 square kilometres, and no single base covers it. Munich anchors the south. Most tours in Bavaria leave from there, either south toward the Alps or north toward Franconia.

South of Munich

Ludwig II died in 1886 with two of his three palaces unfinished. All three now sit on the UNESCO list.

• Neuschwanstein. 120 km from Munich, above Füssen. The foundation stone was laid in 1869.
• Linderhof. About 95 km out. The smallest of the three, and the only one he saw finished.
• Herrenchiemsee. 87 km southeast, on an island in the Chiemsee. Begun in 1878 as a copy of Versailles.
• Berchtesgaden. 155 km southeast. The Königssee boats have been electric since 1909. The Kehlsteinhaus, the Eagle's Nest, stands at 1,834 metres.
• Salzburg, Hallstatt and Kufstein. Across the Austrian border, sold as private-car days. Salzburg is 147 km out, Hallstatt about 210.

North of Munich

• Dachau. About 20 km northwest. The first regular Nazi concentration camp opened here in March 1933, and the memorial site is free to enter.
• Augsburg and Ingolstadt. About 70 and 80 km out.
• Regensburg. 125 km northeast. The medieval old town came through the war largely intact and has been on the UNESCO list since 2006.
• The Romantic Road. Harburg, Dinkelsbühl and Rothenburg lie northwest. Rothenburg is about 250 km out, nearly three hours each way.
• Nuremberg. The base for Franconia, an hour north of Munich by ICE.

How it is sold

Most of it is a private car and driver. It is priced per vehicle, not per head. A day by car runs several hundred euros, split by however many ride in it.

Group departures run to Neuschwanstein and Linderhof, and to Berchtesgaden. Seats start well under a hundred euros.

Practical

• Weather. Munich reaches 25C in July and 4C in January. The Alpine foothills near the castles run cooler.
• Neuschwanstein tickets. Visits are guided only and last about half an hour. Book online ahead, because the small same-day quota goes on sale at 8:00 and is usually gone by late morning.
• The climb. From Hohenschwangau it is a 30 to 40 minute walk up to the castle. A shuttle bus or carriage runs in season.
• Day length. A Neuschwanstein day by car takes six or seven hours door to door, and about nine with Linderhof.
• Eagle's Nest. Open from early or mid-May to late October or early November, weather permitting.