Bavaria attractions

A formal court garden built by Elector Maximilian I in the 17th century, the Hofgarten is one of Munich’s favorite parks. At its center lies an octagonal pavilion, known as the Diana Temple; covered arcades skirt the edges; and the landscaped grounds host games of boules and even tango dancing during summer.

A vast tract of untended land southeast of Nuremberg's medieval city center, the Nazi Party Rally Grounds were once the stage for some of Adolf Hitler's most infamous and dangerous speeches during the rise of the Third Reich. The nearby Documentation Center museum chronicles the terrors inflicted by the Nazi party during World War II.

One of Munich’s architectural landmarks, the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) encloses the city's central square, Marienplatz, and today serves as the center for city council activity. The building’s tower is now home to the Toy Museum, a childhood collection by filmmaker Ivan Steiger.

Built in 1664, Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg) was once the summer residence of Bavarian kings. One of the largest royal palaces in Europe and located on the outskirts of Munich, this magnificent complex boasts a dramatic baroque facade, lavishly decorated interiors, and an expanse of stunning gardens and lakes.

The Amalienburg palace is the former hunting lodge of Emperor Charles VII. Located on the expansive, scenic grounds of Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg), it is considered a fine example of European Rococo style.

If there’s one thing that the town of Harburg is known for, it's the magnificent 11th-century Harburg Castle—one of southern Germany’s oldest, biggest, and best-preserved fortifications. This sleepy Romantic Road town is loved for its fairy tale location in the Bavarian countryside, surrounded by forests and next to the River Wornitz.

Nuremberg’s Hauptmarkt is a bustling square in the center of the Old Town. Known for its market stalls selling fresh produce, crafts, and local goods, it’s also the setting of Nuremberg’s famous Christmas market. Notable landmarks include the Schönen Brunnen fountain and the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady).

Germany’s highest and most famous mountain, the snow-crowned Zugspitze rises to 9,717 feet (2,962 meters), towering above the Austrian border. In addition to hosting one of the country’s most popular ski resorts, the mountain offers spectacular views from the top via cable car (one of the highest in the world), cogwheel train, glacier lift, or simply hiking up and down its wild, demanding slopes.

Located on a hilltop over the Alpsee and Schwansee lakes, the Hohenschwangau Castle (Schloss Hohenschwangau) is a dramatic 19th-century fortress built by the king of Bavaria. Often overshadowed by its neighbor, the Neuschwanstein Castle, the Hohenschwangau is worth a visit for its dazzling interior decor and striking views of the Alpsee and surrounding mountains.

Being around 310 miles (500 kilometers) from the coast, the landlocked city of Munich is perhaps one of Europe's most unlikely surfing spots. However, surfers have been flocking to ride the city’s artificial Eisbach Wave since the 1970s. The continuous wave is about 3 feet (1 meter) high and the ideal spot for surfers to practice year-round.

St. Lorenz Church is a Gothic Lutheran building in Nuremberg’s Old Town that dates back to the 13th century. Despite being bombed during World War II, its rare artwork was protected, and its structure was restored. Travelers come here to see medieval altars and one of the world’s largest three-part pipe organs.

Home turf of Munich’s FC Bayern and TSV 1860 football (American soccer) teams, Allianz Arena is one of Germany’s largest sports stadiums. Built in 2005, it’s renowned both for its award-winning architecture—by Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron—and sports legacy as host to major events, such as a World Cup and UEFA Champions League Final.

With its glassy blue waters framed by jagged mountains and lush alpine meadows, King’s Lake (Königssee) is one of Bavaria’s most beautiful. The natural wonder lies within Berchtesgaden National Park, offering a majestic backdrop for hiking and cruises.

Modeled on Florence’s Loggia dei Lanzi, Field Marshals’ Hall (Feldherrnhalle) towers over the southern end of Odeonsplatz. Built during the 1840s, its three archways host bronze sculptures that honor Bavarian military heroes: Count Tilly, who fought Swedes; General von Wrede, who battled Napoleon; and the army from the Franco-German War.

Munich’s Beer & Oktoberfest Museum offers a glimpse into the history and culture of the city’s most beloved drink. Set inside Munich’s oldest townhouse—right in the city center—visitors will explore several floors of suds-related exhibits, showcasing everything from the Bavarian monks’ purity laws and the unique quality of Munich’s beer to the history of Oktoberfest and historical artifacts, like old beer steins and brewing equipment. Don’t miss the ground-floor pub, which serves plenty of wurst to go with samples of the city’s best brews.

Built in 1120, Imperial Castle of Nuremberg (Kaiserburg) was once a residence for kings of the Holy Roman Empire. Despite suffering damage over the years (especially during WWII), the castle has been carefully restored to showcase its original Gothic and Romanesque architecture.

Billed as the world’s largest technology museum, the Deutsches Museum is so vast that it takes over an entire island in the center of Munich. Six floors of exhibitions are devoted to topics like aviation, energy, and natural science, with hands-on displays and activities that make it fun and educational for all ages.

Driving along the Romantic Road is like flipping through a postcard book of Bavariaó: you'll see fairytale castles, picturesque medieval villages, and elegant walled towns all set against the dramatic backdrops of the Bavarian Alps and the Franconian vineyards. The 220-mile (355-km) tourist route runs all the way from Wurzburg in the north to Fussen in the south, passing through some of southern Germany's most scenic towns.

One of Germany’s most famous Renaissance artists, Albrecht Dürer lived in Nuremberg from 1471 to 1528. He created paintings, prints, etchings, and woodcuts, and now his idyllic half-timbered home is a museum. During a visit, it’s possible to see reproductions of Dürer’s work, and a workshop that showcases historical printing techniques.

Stretching along the Austrian border, the Bavarian Alps offer some of southern Germany’s most spectacular scenery. Think dizzying mountain roads circling vast lakes, forested peaks capped with fairy-tale castles, and picturesque medieval villages tucked away in alpine valleys.

The Bavarian State Opera (Bayerische Staatsoper) is a historic opera company in Munich that dates back to 1653. It hosts around 400 events every year, with 600,000 spectators, and the main headquarters are at the National Theater Munich on Max-Joseph-Platz in central Munich. Visitors come to see ballet, concerts, music recitals, and operas.

Located on an island on southern Germany’s Lake Chiemsee, Herrenchiemsee New Palace was commissioned in the late 19th-century by Bavarian king, Ludwig II. Designed to echo Versailles and pay homage to Louis XIV, the palace is one of the most lavish royal buildings in Germany.

Lake Chiemsee (nicknamed “the Bavarian Sea”) is a protected nature reserve and one of the largest lakes in Bavaria, covering an area of 31 square miles (80 square kilometers). Visitors come to the lake for water sports, hiking, cycling, and visiting nearby attractions such as Frauenworth Abbey and King Ludwig II’s Herrenchiemsee New Palace.

Munich's Old Pinakothek, or Alte Pinakothek, is an illustrious art museum displaying more than 800 works by European painters, dating from the 14th to the 18th centuries. Seek out the gallery specifically designed to showcase The Last Judgement by Peter Paul Rubens.

Dominated by a high-tech structure shaped like a cooking pot, the BMW Museum is located at the company’s Munich headquarters near the even more futuristic BMW Welt brand home. Inside you can find motorcycles and cars ranging from a retro 1928 jalopy through to “art cars” kitted out by the likes of Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons, and take a deep dive into a story that dates back to 1916.

Go behind the scenes at Olympiapark in Munich, home to the 1972 Summer Olympic Games. The vast complex is now an international events center, concert venue, recreational park, and sports venue. Thrill seekers may be interested in climbing to the roof of the stadium and abseiling on a zipline to the stadium lawn 130 feet (40 meters) below.

Schöner Brunnen—“beautiful fountain” in German—refers to a decorative fountain in Nuremberg’s main market square that dates back to the 14th century. The Gothic masterpiece is highly photogenic, with religious imagery and stone figures from the Holy Roman Empire. It also has a ring that people turn to for good luck.

With no permanent collection, the House of the Arts (Haus der Kunst) offers an ever-changing menu of contemporary art exhibitions featuring big international names alongside newer talents. Artists featured have included Andreas Gursky, Gerhard Richter, Louise Bourgeois, Robert Rauschenberg, and Gilbert & George.

The Neue Pinakothek forms part of an extraordinary concentration of art museums just outside Munich’s old town. The collection is largely 19th-century art, with an impressive showing of English works—Gainsborough, Turner, Constable—and an impressionist collection with works by almost all of the movement’s leading lights. Note: The Neue Pinakothek is currently closed for major renovations, with a reopening planned for 2029.

Stretching across the Danube River, the Old Stone Bridge is a restored medieval bridge in Regensburg that connects the city’s historical center with two of the river’s islands. Since the 12th century, this bridge has provided access to the islands of Upper Wöhrd and Stadtamhof and treated pedestrians with superb city views.