Bavaria (German: Bayern) is the largest federal state (Bundesland) of Germany, situated in the south-east of the country. It extends from the middle German hills down into the Alps. Bavarian folk culture has significantly influenced the international perception of Germany. Paradoxically, much of the region shares closer cultural affinities with its southern neighbours, Austria and Switzerland, than with other parts of the German Federal Republic. Common stereotypes associated with Bavaria often focus on traditional leather breeches (Lederhosen), various types of sausages, and a significant beer-drinking culture. Nevertheless, the federal state provides a diverse range of attractions and heritage for visitors that extends far beyond these traditional tropes. Along with the Rhineland and Berlin, it is Germany's most popular tourist destination, so expect long lines and high prices, especially in summer and in ski resorts in winter.
Regions
[edit]Old Bavaria (Altbayern)
[edit]Bavaria represents the quintessential image of Germany for many international visitors. The region is synonymous with traditional Lederhosen, the world-renowned Oktoberfest—held annually in September—and the distinctive blue and white skies that mirror the national colours. Iconic landmarks such as the fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle, alongside global brands like BMW and the sporting prestige of FC Bayern, further solidify Munich's reputation as a "world city with a heart."
Historically, this area has remained a primary fixture on travel itineraries, particularly for organised tour groups from Japan and North America. Whilst some may assume that such a popular destination has little more to offer than these well-known attractions, the region possesses a vast expanse of natural landscapes perfect for those seeking tranquility.
Munich remains a vibrant destination throughout the year, extending far beyond the festivities of the autumn. Whether visiting for the first time or returning as a frequent visitor, there is always a wealth of new experiences to be discovered within the Bavarian borders.
| Upper Bavaria (Oberbayern) The Bavarian heartland, where economic strength meets natural beauty |
| Lower Bavaria (Niederbayern) A region of wide, open farmland and vivid traditions |
| Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz) A densely wooded mountainous area, close to the Czech border |
This part looks and feels different from Bavaria "proper" (Altbaiern) and shares little history before the beginning of the 19th century when the many small and medium-sized (e.g. the margravedom of Ansbach-Bayreuth) territories as well as several self-governing Reichsstädte (such as Nuremberg or Rothenburg ob der Tauber) and dioceses (e.g. Würzburg) were absorbed by Bavaria in the course of the Napoleonic wars.
Franconia is culturally very diverse and includes one of Europe's best climbing areas outside the Alps with the Franconian Switzerland, as well as prime wine and beer producing regions and cozy medieval towns such as Würzburg, Bamberg or Forchheim.
| Upper Franconia (Oberfranken) An area best known for Richard Wagner and the Bayreuth Festival. It is also the region with the highest brewery density globally. |
| Middle Franconia (Mittelfranken) The industrial center of Franconia around the tri-cities of Nuremberg, Fürth and Erlangen |
| Lower Franconia (Unterfranken) The state's extreme north-west, with magnificent historic towns and cities. Some excellent wines are grown along the banks of the Main river |
Bavarian Swabia (Schwaben)
[edit]The cultural region of Swabia (Schwaben) maintains a distinct identity that transcends the administrative borders of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Despite this political division, shared traditions and a unique cultural character continue to define the area.
Swabians are widely regarded as industrious and pragmatic. This reputation for hard work is accompanied by a well-known commitment to thriftiness; indeed, within Germany, Swabians often feature in jokes as the archetypal penny-pinchers. This financial prudence frequently manifests in a strong preference for home ownership over renting, which is considered a hallmark of local success and stability.
The region is also synonymous with cleanliness. The Schwäbische Kehrwoche ("Swabian sweeping week") is a tradition of communal cleaning that ensures streets and residential buildings remain spotless. While this practice is often viewed with amusement or notoriety elsewhere in Germany, it remains a cornerstone of local civic pride.
Contrary to the stereotype of rigid discipline, Swabia contains historic towns with vibrant atmospheres. The local nightlife demonstrates that the population can be light-hearted, occasionally disregarding strict rules in favour of social enjoyment.
| Bavarian Swabia (Schwaben) The Bavarian part of the greater Swabia region, which extends well into Baden-Württemberg |
Cities
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- 1 Munich. (München) — the capital of Bavaria, known for the annual Oktoberfest and one of Europe's economic powerhouses.
- 2 Augsburg. — an important medieval city and the capital of Swabia
- 3 Bayreuth. — a festival city in Upper Franconia and home of the composer Richard Wagner
- 4 Bamberg. — historical town in Upper Franconia that is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in its entirety; also famous for its smoked beer (Rauchbier)
- 5 Landshut. – charming medieval city center, which is stage to the quadrennial Landshut Wedding re-enactment
- 6 Nuremberg. (Nürnberg) — a city of toys, famous for Christmas markets, a medieval castle towering over the old-town, the infamous Nazi Party rallies and the Nuremberg Trials against the main Nazi war criminals
- 7 Passau. - a small beautiful university town on the Austrian border
- 8 Regensburg. — the city on the banks of the river Danube (Donau), the center of which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List
- 9 Würzburg. — a wonderfully attractive university city in the northwest of Franconia
Other destinations
[edit]- 1 Bavarian Alps - the German part of the magnificent and rough mountain range
- 2 Berchtesgaden National Park — including the deepest lake in the Alps near Berchtesgaden
- 3 Bavarian Forest National Park — a mountain range and national park along the Czech border
- 4 Chiemsee — the largest lake within Bavaria, complete with a copy of Versailles and mountain backdrop
- 5 Franconian Lake District – the Lake District comprises seven lakes
- 6 Franconian Switzerland – castle ruins, hiking, canoeing, world class rock climbing
- 7 Neuschwanstein Castle — amazing romantic castle near Füssen, a small town rich in culture and art
- 8 Lake Constance (Bodensee) - biggest lake in Central Europe, shared by Switzerland, Austria and the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg
- Romantic Road — popular itinerary through the region past romantic castles and medieval villages
Understand
[edit]Bavarians are regarded as some of the most independent and tradition-oriented inhabitants of Germany. There is a profound loyalty to regional roots, and as the most autonomous of the German states, many residents prioritise their Bavarian identity over their national one. While common cultural associations involving beer, sausages, and traditional dress such as Lederhosen originated in this region, such customs are now primarily observed in rural areas—particularly towards the Austrian Alps in the south and the forests bordering the Czech Republic and Bohemia.
In contrast, contemporary Bavaria is highly metropolitan. The major urban centres are increasingly cosmopolitan, reflecting a move away from rural traditions. Although approximately 60 per cent of the population is nominally Catholic and tends toward more traditionalist social views than other parts of the country, the capital, Munich, serves as a liberal hub. The city host a significant international population, including a substantial English-speaking community. Consequently, it is often difficult to encounter residents of multi-generational Bavarian descent within the city’s boundaries.
Bavaria is bordered by the German federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Thuringia and Saxony in the west and north, as well as the Czech Republic in the east and Austria and Switzerland in the south.
History
[edit]Historically, Bavarians are Germans. Bavarians have often emphasized a separate national identity considered themselves "Bavarians". This feeling started to come about more strongly among Bavarians when the Kingdom of Bavaria joined the Protestant-Prussian dominated German Empire in 1871 while the Bavarian nationalists wanted to keep Bavaria as a Catholic and independent German state.
Franconia and in some respects Swabia still resent being lumped together with Bavaria, as they have their own cultural and religious heritage and traditions. As Franconia didn't become Bavarian until around 1806 (several small territories were annexed sooner or later than that date), the rest of Bavaria is often called "Alt-Baiern" (old Bavaria) and there is still a vocal group of Franconians that would rather separate from Bavaria, given the chance.
Tourist information
[edit]- Bavaria tourism website
Talk
[edit]Of course all Bavarians understand and most speak standard German. However, in southern Bavaria, outside of Munich, Bavarian or Swabian is the native language of many, which can differ dramatically from standard German. In the north Franconian is the traditional language. In the cities (including Munich) standard German is the local language, but Bavarian-speakers and Swabian-speakers typically do speak standard German as well (except possibly older people in the far south). The Swabian dialect remains a primary mode of communication in Swabia, where for many inhabitants, Standard German (Hochdeutsch) is effectively treated as a secondary language.
Visitors will find English widely spoken, as it is a mandatory subject in schools and a professional requirement within the tourism sector, but it is still a good idea to learn and speak some German.
Other foreign languages are taught in school, with French and Spanish being particularly common. University towns will have notable presences of foreign students, particularly from other parts of the European Union who usually speak several languages but not always German. Speakers of immigrant languages such as Turkish and Serbo-Croatian are also found in the bigger cities.
In university cities, there is a fair chance that someone (especially younger people) will speak (in descending order of likeliness) French, Spanish or Italian. On the very eastern edge of Bavaria, mostly Upper Franconia and Upper Palatinate, some people also speak Czech, or have at least had some course in it.
Get in
[edit]A Bavarian has held the post of German federal minister of transportation continuously since 2005 and it shows in the quality of long distance transportation infrastructure serving Bavaria.
By plane
[edit]Most international travellers will arrive at Munich Airport (MUC IATA), which is the sixth busiest airport in Europe with a large number of international and intercontinental flights. Other alternatives are the airports of Nuremberg (NUE IATA) and Salzburg (SZG IATA). Furthermore, Memmingen Airport (FMM IATA) is a destination for a number of low-cost airlines. Würzburg is also reasonably close (direct 1:25 hour ICE connections to the airport) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA IATA), Germany's busiest airport, Lufthansa's main European hub), that it might be best for some travellers to arrive there.
By train
[edit]From Berlin
[edit]With the completion of the high speed rail line between Nuremberg and Erfurt, the travel time on high speed ICE trains between Berlin and Munich has been reduced to about 4.5 hours, with 3 daily ICE Sprinters completing the trip in just 4 hours. Tickets can be had starting at €19 when bought in advance or up to €130 when bought immediately prior to departure or on the train.
From the rest of Germany
[edit]See Germany - Get around by train.
See also rail travel in Germany
The main routes Frankfurt-Nuremberg and Stuttgart-Munich are not yet upgraded for speeds higher than 160 km/h (99 mph) and 200 km/h (120 mph) respectively along much of their length, leading to comparatively long travel times. That said, the Stuttgart-Ulm line is being upgraded with a tentative opening date some time in the 2020s.
From Austria
[edit]There are plenty of long-distance trains (category EC, ICE and Railjet) from Vienna, Linz, Salzburg, Villach and Klagenfurt. If you travel in a group and want to save money, use a regional trains with combination of Einfach-Raus-Ticket and Bayern-Ticket.
From France
[edit]There is one daily TGV high-speed connection between Paris and Munich, via Augsburg, Stuttgart and Strasbourg. You can also buy through tickets with a change at Strasbourg, Stuttgart or Frankfurt for other departures if the direct train doesn't fit your plans
By night train (Nightjet)
[edit]After a long and precipitous decline, Deutsche Bahn finally abolished their night train brand "City Night Line" with the December 2016 schedule change. Thankfully for fans of sleeper trains, their Austrian counterpart ÖBB has bought up some assets and taken over some routes at the same time, now operating them under the name Nightjet with a couple of connections to / from Munich. Prices vary from regular seats to bunk beds of varying room sizes but early booking can get you surprisingly affordable rates. Nuremberg and Würzburg are also "on the line" but departure and arrival times are awkwardly in the middle of the night.
By bus
[edit]There are now several domestic bus routes in and out of Bavaria, as well as a couple of international routes (mostly serving the Balkans as well as countries from the former eastern bloc) that have already existed pre-2012. The Romantic Road is another route that has already been served by buses before 2012.
Get around
[edit]There is a distinct north-south divide regarding the quality and cost of transport infrastructure within the region. Whilst Munich and its surrounding areas benefit from one of the premier public transport networks in Europe, Nuremberg possesses the most expensive single ticket for urban travel. Furthermore, rural Franconia suffers from even greater neglect; numerous locations lack an adequate bus service, and many former railway lines have been abandoned.
By train
[edit]Trains are the main mode of transport for visitors since they easily connect towns with larger cities.
If you're travelling within Bavaria, you can purchase the Bayern-Ticket, which will give you all-day travel in regional trains (categories S, RB, RE and IRE) within Bavaria and even to the border towns of Salzburg, Reutte or Ulm. You can use it also for private trains and most of local buses and city transport. On working days the ticket is valid 09:00-03:00 the following day. On weekends it is valid from midnight.
There are variants of regional Bayern-Ticket (Aug 2024):
- Bayern-Ticket: €29 for one person, €10 for every additional person for up to a party of five. Valid from 9:00-3:00 the following day on weekdays, and from 0:00-3:00 the following day on weekends and public holidays.
- Bayern-Ticket Nacht: €27 for one person, €7 for every additional person for up to a party of five. Valid 18:00-06:00 the following day (07:00 if the following day is a weekend day or public holiday)
- Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket: €32 for one person, €10.60 for every additional person for up to a party of five - valid also in border regions of the Czech Republic. On Czech territory it is only valid in trains, not in buses.
- Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket: €46 for one person, €9 for every additional person for up to a party of five, allows travel on all regional trains in Germany.
For more information about regional tickets, see Rail travel in Germany#Tickets.
By car
[edit]Bavaria is well served by the German autobahn network. The main grid is made up by the north-south autobahn A 9, and the east-west autobahns A 3, A 6 and A 8. Going by car is sometimes the only way to get around, especially deep in Bavaria's rural and mountainous areas. In the countryside, roads are winding, tricky, and sometimes cut dramatically through farmland, but are otherwise EU-standardised and generally well-paved.
By bus
[edit]Intercity buses are mostly limited to longer distances than you'll commonly find in Bavaria, but they are a good option along the Romantic Road or for airport transfers.
By boat
[edit]The Main Donau Kanal links Kelheim in Lower Bavaria with Bamberg in Upper Franconia. There are cruises by major riverboat cruise operators even though the original purpose of this costly and controversial canal was freight.
See
[edit]Bavaria offers a wealth of destinations suitable for families and younger people. Notable landmarks include the medieval walled town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Herrenchiemsee Palace, King Ludwig II’s unfinished tribute to Versailles, situated on an island within the picturesque Chiemsee. Other significant locations include the historic cities of Nuremberg and Regensburg, alongside Bodenmais, which is renowned for its fine crystal. The world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle, frequently described as a "fairy-tale" fortress, that famously was the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
For younger visitors, the Playmobil FunPark in Zirndorf near Nuremberg and the indoor trampoline centres in Regensburg provide active entertainment. Additionally, the town of Riedenburg on the River Altmühl features a castle hosted by a falconry centre with daily displays.
Beyond the major attractions, many Bavarian towns contain historic features within their boundaries. Castle ruins, inhabited manor houses, local museums, caves, and disused mines offer opportunities for exploration that many tourists overlook. These sites often provide a more authentic experience than the standard guided tours found in larger cities, which frequently charge fees upwards of €20. Rather than paying for restricted access to a famous monument, visitors can often find rural fortifications that allow for free exploration and the discovery of undocumented features. Utilising a hire car to seek out these affordable or free locations often yields a more rewarding experience than visiting over-priced attractions that limit a visitor's freedom.
Do
[edit]The Bavarian Alps are Bavaria's main attraction for Doing things. There you can find skiing a snowboard resorts, which are very well maintained and not too expensive, though much smaller than those of neighbouring Austria and Switzerland. In summertime hiking and mountain biking is the sporty thing to do in Bavaria.
Traditional beer festivals offer an exceptional opportunity for cultural participation. While the Munich Oktoberfest remains the most globally recognised event, almost every city and village across Bavaria hosts its own festivities at least once annually. These local events are frequently regarded as more traditional, providing an authentic atmosphere often missing from larger commercial gatherings. Visitors can expect the same celebrated brewing culture, but typically benefit from lower prices, smaller crowds, and a more genuine sense of community spirit.
Eat
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Bavarian cuisine is the stereotypical German cuisine, famous for roast pork (Schweinsbraten), Bratwürstl sausages, Nürnberger Bratwurst (probably the smallest sausage in Germany), veal sausages (Weißwurst) eaten for breakfast, Leberkäse (a type of meat loaf), grilled pork knuckle (Schweinshaxe), as well as a variety of different dumplings (Knödel/Klöße) and potato salad (Kartoffelsalat). In the Oberallgäu, the south-westernmost part of Bavaria, the traditional food is Kässpatzen made with much Bavarian cheese.
Also, some restaurants have various seasonal specials based on what is available locally at that time. There can be specials like truffle dishes in the southern mountain areas, specialty mushrooms in the Upper Palatinate area, seasonal salmon dishes on the Danube and Altmühl area, local trout specials in all small villages, seasonal asparagus dishes, and occasional fresh wild boar and venison dishes during hunting season – Bavaria is a gastronomic wonderland, especially for the meat aficionado!
If you want to eat seasonally, then look for these things:
- Early spring: Wild garlic appears in many dishes. Look for "Frankfurt green sauce" on beef or white fish.
- Mid-April to mid-June is Spargelzeit. It will be easy to find asparagus dishes. White asparagus is a delicacy. You'll also see strawberry punch during this time.
- July and August is Zwetschgenzeit ("plum time") – the time for cherries, plums, and other stone fruits. Almost every bakery will offer Zwetschgendatschi (a thick layer of quartered plums on top of yeast dough or pastry) throughout the plum season, and many will offer several baked goods that feature plums or cherries.
- August to October is a great time for apples and mushrooms. Apples and pears appear in many baked goods as the stone fruits of summer fade away and the autumn fruits reach the market. The main mushroom season begins with chanterelles (Pfifferlinge) in August and ends with porcini mushrooms (Steinpilz). If you somehow tire of mushrooms during this season, then try to find Federweißer (young wine), which pairs well with an onion tart.
- Late fall and winter feature wild game with sauerkraut, potatoes or dumplings.
- The Christmas season comes with its own treats, including marzipan, candied almonds, mulled wine, and gingerbread. The strongly spiced Lebkuchen hearts, which look like large, thick, crisp gingerbread cookies with hard icing decorations, are available year-round in most tourist spots and larger bakeries. A small one will usually cost €4-5. During the Christmas season, it's easy to find soft, round Lebkuchen cookies in the bakeries as well. Nuremberg in particular is famous for its Lebkuchen as the wealthy trading town had easy access to the spices needed during the early modern era. In many cases the same business will be an ice cream parlor in the summer and a Lebkuchen shop in winter.
Drink
[edit]Beer
[edit]Bavarians love their beer. One of the most beloved is wheat beer (Weißbier), a cloudy, top-fermented beer brewed with malted wheat, which is commonly consumed earlier in the day with a Weißwurst and sweet mustard. It's good to know that there exists a special ritual with this beer: Normally it will be served in a special glass, called Weißbierglas. But if you get the empty glass and the bottle of beer, you have to fill it by yourself: in one step without dropping the bottle. Weissbier is more carbonated than most other beers and produces a lot of foam so it is not easy to fill without spilling something.
Bavaria could easily opt for the title of "Promised Land of Brewing". Not only is it home to Oktoberfest, the world's biggest beer festival, but also the highest brewery density in the world is in the north of the state, in Franconia. There, you can find a brewery in almost every village (it is sometimes very small and maintained among a few families). You can find a lot of local beer specialities, as for instance the Bamberger Schlenkerla (a beer with a taste of smoked bacon). So always try to stick with the local beers - especially tasty (and supposedly healthy) are the unfiltered beers (served only in pubs, because they don't store well for a long time).
In summer, you can generally find beer festivals everywhere: not only in the bigger cities but also in the smaller villages; be warned, however, that the beer there is normally served in 1 L ceramic glasses called Maß. The biggest beer festival certainly is the Munich Oktoberfest, followed twice a year by the Nuremberg Volksfest and Gäubodenfest in Straubing. Also very nice is Bergkirchweih in Erlangen. If you are touring Upper Bavaria in August, you shouldn´t miss Barthelmarkt in Oberstimm, next to Ingolstadt, which is one of the oldest traditional beer festivals in Bavaria. It´s still kind of a local insider tip. You will hardly find foreigners there. On Monday there is a big horse market and the beer tents open already at 05:30 and they are packed with people at 06:00.
The Bavarian beer garden (Biergarten) season commences in mid-April and extends well into October. The shade provided by ancient horse chestnut trees serves as a meeting point for individuals of all generations and social backgrounds, including professionals, labourers, locals, and tourists. These venues offer an environment for enjoying local beer and traditional Bavarian snacks. A notable tradition allows patrons to provide their own food, provided that beverages are purchased on-site.
In Franconia, these establishments are traditionally referred to as beer cellars (Bierkeller). Unlike the gardens of the south, these areas are situated directly above ancient underground storage caverns. Given their often idyllic, rural locations, the practice of placing tables atop these cellars to serve beer directly became a natural development. As many of these sites are located a considerable distance from urban centres, cycling is a preferred method of transport. This is partly due to the legal blood alcohol limit for cyclists, which is set at 0.13 per cent—a higher threshold than that applied to motor vehicle operators.
The majority of these establishments permit the consumption of external food, provided a drink is ordered. A popular choice is the Radler (literally ‘cyclist’), a mixture of beer and sparkling lemon-lime lemonade, favoured for being refreshing while maintaining relative sobriety. The culinary offerings typically focus on cold platters, such as the Kellerplatte (comprising various sausages and breads), Obatzda (a seasoned cheese preparation), or Handkäs mit Musik—a marinated cheese served with onions.
An increasing number of Bierkeller also offer warm food, including all the Franconian food listed above and in the Franconia article. Breweries in Franconia lists breweries, beer cellars, brewery museums.
Brandy
[edit]Germans generally make brandy out of everything; most common are the fruit brandies (Obstler) and the herb liqueurs (such as Sechsämtertropfen from eastern Upper Franconia). For a real Altbayern feeling, try Bärwurz, Kräuterwurz, or Blutwurz.
Wines
[edit]The north of Bavaria is famous not only for its beer but especially for its (white) wines that come in special bottles called Bocksbeutel (bottles with a big round yet flat belly). For a sweet treat, try ice wine (Eiswein), made from grapes that are allowed to stay until the first severe frost and then pressed and made into a very sweet wine.
Stay safe
[edit]Statistically, Bavaria is one of the safest regions (if not the safest) in Germany and maybe Europe. The biggest threat to your wallet are the (perfectly legal) high prices, and the beer drinking culture in combination with the easy availability of alcohol.
Significant distinctions exist between the Bavarian police and the constabularies of other German federal states. Whilst being found in possession of a small quantity of cannabis for personal use may not result in prosecution in Berlin, such an occurrence in Bavaria is likely to lead to serious legal consequences. Police visibility is notably higher in Bavaria, particularly within urban centres. This presence is attributed to the "law and order" philosophy of the governing CSU party, a more conservative social leaning amongst the Bavarian populace, and a general policy of deterrent through visibility. Although the force is characterised by high levels of integrity, officers are known for the strict enforcement of even minor regulations.
Public consumption of alcohol remains generally permitted, consistent with wider Central European customs, though municipal restrictions are increasingly being implemented in areas such as railway stations. The legal age for purchasing beer or wine is 16, whilst spirits require the individual to be 18; however, enforcement of these age limits can be inconsistent. In mid-sized towns where serious crime rates are low, police resources are often directed towards minor offences that might be overlooked in Berlin, such as cycling under the influence of alcohol or failing to use designated footpaths.
Whilst German police are armed and have seen increased militarisation following the security concerns of the 2010s, the discharge of firearms remains extremely rare. Physical force is more frequently deployed during political demonstrations or high-profile football matches, where riot police and mounted units are commonly utilised. In such scenarios, crowd control measures may include the use of batons, pepper spray, tear gas, or water cannons. Maintaining a distance from such confrontations is sufficient to avoid involvement, though the rigor of Bavarian policing remains a subject of public debate.
Some people may assume that Bavaria's more conservative nature means that the place is full of hateful people that reject outsiders. In reality, locals are welcoming to people from all walks of life. As with anywhere in the world, there will always be fringe racist comments and ethnic groups that will discriminate against each other, but overall you will never have to fear for your life because of your identity.
Go next
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