9 Magical, Medieval German Cities for the Perfect Bavarian Day Trip
Nuremberg
Bavaria’s second largest city is full of stunning medieval architecture, incredible historic significance, and the most delicious traditional Bavarian food. Nüremberg is a beautiful old city you simply must see, especially during the Christmas season.
Reflections of the Church of Our Lady at Hauptmarkt Nüremberg, where the annual Nüremburg Christmas market is held.
Rothenburg ob de Tauber
Rothenburg is a fairytale so carefully preserved in all its medieval glory. This ancient walled city still has most of its original buildings, creating the perfect backdrop for local festivals both inside and out of the town center. And as with much of southern Germany, the resident’s pride for their home shows; beautiful decorations are displayed year-round throughout the town.
The Medieval town 0f Rothenburg ob de Tauber, a lovely stop along Germany’s Romantic Road, is known for its red roofs and translates to “Red Fortress Above the Tauber” river.
Würzburg
A lovely small city nestled in the epicenter of Franconian wine country, Würzburg hosts one of Europe's largest castles, Fortress Marienberg, on a hill overlooking the town center. We recommend you spend part of your time here enjoying a glass of wine on the Alte Mainbrücke overlooking the River Main.
Grab a glass of Silvaner, cross the Old Main bridge, hike up through the vineyards to the Fortress Marienberg, take a river cruise, and watch the sun set in Franconia.
Garminsch-Partenkirchen & Zugspitze
Garminsch, and its small neighboring villages, are all stunning little Alpine towns nestled below Germany's highest peak. Zugspitze Mountain is a sight to behold, but the turquoise-color of Lake Eibsee below makes for the best viewing spot of this heavenly mountain range.
At 2,962 meters above sea level, Zugspitze Mountain straddles the border of Austria. Visitors can take an epic gondola ride to the summit, where an annual Oktoberfest is held each year.
Munich
Known for Oktoberfest and as Bavaria’s largest city, Munich’s dazzling architecture, enthralling museums, and vibrant culture are second to none in Germany, or anywhere else for that matter. Be sure to plan for an extra day or two here to take it all in.
Marienplatz is Munich’s central meeting place that’s chock full of landmark buildings and history.
Regensburg
Often overlooked but never underwhelming, this underrated Danube delight sports a magnificent old town center deemed worthy of UNESCO acclaim.
Regensburg, once a little known city outside of Germany, is growing in international popularity but you can still find small town authenticity around every corner.
Kelheim
This magnificent small town along the Danube stands out by showcasing an ornate Napoleonic monument of the region’s history, the Befreiungshalle or “Hall of Liberation”. Kelheim is also home to one of the world's two oldest continuously operating breweries. Grab a weissbier and a traditional dumpling at Weltenburg Abbey, where monks have been artfully crafting beer for almost 1,000 years; since 1050 AD to be exact.
Schwangau
For real fairytale fans, plan a day trip to Schwangau if just to see the magnificence of one of Europe's most famous castles, Neuschwanstein Castle, nestled under the shadows of the Alps near the Austrian border.
Neuschwanstein Castle is among Germany’s most visited tourist attraction and while the site can get overloaded with visitors, the views are well worth the crowds.
Kallmünz
This miniature artist's village is lined with colorful facades, dotted with restaurants serving real, authentic Bavarian cuisine, beautifully framed by ancient castle ruins perched high on a hill above narrow streets. There are hundreds of towns in Bavaria like this, all unique and inviting in their own way.
Little known Kallmünz is a delight for those who fancy a leisurely stroll through a colorful medieval town with old cobblestone streets, situated on the banks of the Naab River.
Bonus: Walhalla Memorial
For a bit of a different experience, plan a day trip from Regensburg, Nuremberg, or Munich to see a stunning 1:1 replica of the original Greek Parthenon. Here you’ll find Germany’s cultural hall of fame sitting high above the winding Danube river, showcasing achievements and accomplishments of “politicians, sovereigns, scientists and artists of the German tongue.”
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