Germany · Bavaria
Bavarian Alps travel guide
Fairytale castles, lakes and Alpine villages
Neuschwanstein Castle. Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons
Germany's southern edge rises into the Alps, with painted villages, turquoise lakes and King Ludwig II's dreamlike castles, Neuschwanstein most famous of all.
Füssen and Garmisch-Partenkirchen are the main bases, with walking in summer and skiing in winter. Munich is two hours away.
What Bavarian Alps is known for
- Neuschwanstein
The castle that inspired Disney.
- Zugspitze
Germany's highest peak.
- Skiing
Garmisch slopes and winter sports.
- Painted houses
Frescoed fronts in Oberammergau.
Top things to do in Bavarian Alps
Where to stay in Bavarian Alps
Best time to visit Bavarian Alps
Best value: Apr, Sep–Oct. June to September for hiking; December to March for snow.
- Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
- PeakBusiest, highest prices
- QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
Getting there and around
About 1h 30m from London to MUC, and flights from most UK airports.
Trains from Munich reach Füssen and Garmisch. A car helps for lakes and villages.
Good to know
- Neuschwanstein sells out in summer.
- Mountain weather changes fast.
- Bayern tickets give a day of regional trains for groups.
Bavarian Alps FAQ
Can I visit Neuschwanstein from Munich?
Yes, as a long day trip.
Is it good in winter?
Yes, for skiing and snowy castles.
More places in Germany
BerlinCity · Berlin
MunichCity · Bavaria
HamburgCity · Hamburg
CologneHistory · North Rhine-Westphalia
Black ForestNature · Baden-Württemberg
Back to the Germany travel guide + Add Bavarian Alps to your bucket list