Plan A Road Trip In Bavaria, Germany

Welcome back to my blog! This week I will help you plan a road trip in Bavaria, one of Germany’s most beautiful regions. If you’re looking for a mixture of stunning alpine lakes, mountains, and some cultural stops in cities then this is the perfect destination for you.

Planning a trip can sometimes be a little bit daunting and overwhelming. There are so many things to consider and so much research to do that you might not know where to start. To help you with this task, I have compiled this blog with the different steps you will have to follow. Planning a road trip has never been easier!

STEP 1: DECIDE WHEN YOU WANT TO GO

The first thing you need to do is decide your travel dates. To do this, you have to consider two main things: when is the best moment to go and how many days do you need.

When is the best moment to visit Bavaria?

The answer to this question will depend on what activities you want to do while in Bavaria.

Winter: If you’re looking to do some skiing and other snow activities, then winter is the season for you.
Spring & Autumn: Late spring and early autumn are probably the best times to visit, the weather is not so warm and there are fewer people there. However, when you visit in these seasons, there is always the risk of rain. Also if you visit too early in the season, some of the hike trails might still be closed for safety reason.
Summer: The summer months are definitely a good option. Warmer and longer days are the best for nature activities. However, this is also high season which will mean more people there.

How many days do you need to visit Bavaria?

The number of days to visit Bavaria will also depend on what you want to do and see. No matter how much you try it is impossible to visit everything during a trip (unless you can spend several months there).

Keeping this in mind, I think a week or 10 days will allow you to get a good view

STEP 2: HOW TO GET TO BAVARIA?

Once you have decided on your travel dates, the second step is to choose how to get there. Most probably you will fly there, but you can also decide to make it a road trip if you are from Europe.

Book your flights

When visiting Bavaria, I recommend you book your flights to Munich International Airport. Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is the perfect place to begin your trip.

I would only recommend flying to another airport if you find a great deal.

Drive to Bavaria

While driving to Bavaria might not be your first option. If you live in Europe and plan to do a road trip, this could be an interesting option as well. It might not be as fast as flying but it would allow you to skip Step 3. Also, it is always more comfortable to drive your own car!

Documentation needed to enter Bavaria

If you are a citizen of any of the countries in the European Union, you can enter Germany with only your national ID. For any other nationalities always visit the official site of the country to have the latest travel requirements.

STEP 3: RENT A CAR

What is a road trip without a car?

Once you have booked your flights to Germany, it is time to rent a car.

A car is the best way to move around Bavaria and will grant you some flexibility when planning your itinerary and what to places to visit.

Most of the places we visited in Bavaria, could be reached by public transport. However, despite it being cheaper, you would lose quite a lot of time going from one place to another.

I always use RentalCars.com when booking a car for a trip.

STEP 4: GET SOME INSURANCE

When travelling through Europe I always make sure to have with me the European Health Insurance Card.

On top of that, even if you are a citizen of the EU, it is always important to get some insurance. Especially if you like a bit more adventurous vacations like me. This way you can enjoy your vacation knowing that you are covered no matter what happens.

STEP 5: DECIDE YOUR ITINERARY

Once you have your flights, method of transportation, and insurance, it is time to plan your itinerary. This will vary depending on which kind of holiday you are looking for. Bavaria is a mountain and hiking paradise for people that love being in nature. However, it does offer some other interesting activities.

Relaxing holidays in its mountain resorts: Why not relax and pamper yourself in Sloss Elmau? This amazing palace is the perfect retreat to spend some relaxing days in the heart of the mountains.
Cultural holidays: Spend some time visiting the vibrant cities of Munich, Nuremberg, or Augsburg.
Holidays in nature: Enjoy the wonderful hikes and beautiful alpine lakes, the Bavarian Alps have to offer.

For some inspiration on what to visit, check my blog post: 10-Day Bavaria Road Trip Itinerary.

STEP 6: BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION

Where you stay in Bavaria will depend on the itinerary you have decided in Step 5. I always book my accommodations either via Booking.com.

During the summer months, Bavaria is a popular destination so I recommend that you book your accommodation as soon as you have decided where you want to visit. This will give you more choices and affordable prices.

STEP 7: MAKE RESERVATIONS BEFORE HAND

Depending on what you want to visit, you have to consider booking your tickets in advance.

Some popular places like the boat to visit Konigsee have limited access to help preserve the natural habitat and they get sold out during the high season.

STEP 8: PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT BAVARIA

Another important thing to consider if you want to plan your road trip in Bavaria on your own is to research some practical information and tips to consider about the country you are visiting.

Language: The official language is German. However, tourism is a big contributor to this region so almost everybody speaks English.
Currency: The currency in Germany is Euros.
Cash and Credit Cards: In general, the use of cards is accepted almost everywhere. However, there might be some parking machines or mountain huts that do not accept cards so I always recommend having some cash available with you.
Safety: Bavaria is quite safe so you should not be very concerned during your visit. Maybe pay some extra attention for pickpockets if you visit bigger cities like Munich.
Electricity: Germany uses type C and type F plugs and operates with 230V.
Driving in Germany: Driving in Germany is also quite easy. The general speed limits are 90km/h on general roads and 50km/h within the city. As for highways or autobahns, the government recommends a maximum speed of 130km/h however, it is allowed to go as fast as want (no speed limit) on some sections of the highway.

STEP 9: PACKING YOUR SUITCASE FOR BAVARIA

What to pack in your suitcase will also depend on when you are visiting Bavaria or on what kind of holiday you are looking for. Here are some things you should not forget to put in your suitcase:

Swimsuit & Towel. Despite it not being a beach destination, during the warm summer months it is very common for locals to go for a swim in many of the beautiful alpine lakes in the region. Why not join them after a day of hiking in the area?
A hat or cap to protect you from the sun. Even in mountain regions, the sun can be quite strong, so a hat will protect you from an unwanted heat stroke.
Light and breathable clothing for the summer. This will also be a lifesaver during the summer months.
Warm layers if you’re not visiting during the summer months.
Hiking sturdy shoes if you are planning to enjoy some hikes.

STEP 10: HAVE FUN!

You’re all set, all you need to do is enjoy your trip and have fun!

And that’s it for my blog about how to plan a road trip in Bavaria. I hope you liked it and found it useful. Let me know what you thought in the comments!

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