Our take on the 6 Best Cities To Visit In Bavaria definitely outlines why the south-eastern province of Bavaria is quintessential Germany. With amazing alpine architecture, stunning scenery, and enough beer to satisfy even the most experienced of travelers, Bavarian culture is some of the most varied in Germany and indeed, in Europe.
Bavaria is the largest state in Germany in terms of land, so if you’re planning on visiting this region, you’ll have a lot of choices when it comes to finding exciting and interesting things to do.
While Munich is often a “must-see for travelers”, there are so many other cities in Bavaria that don’t get enough attention from visitors and we outline them here for you in the below list of 6 of the Best Cities in Bavaria, all of which definitely deserves a place on your German Travel Itinerary.
We hope you enjoy the read!
Visiting Augsburg, Germany
Around 30 minutes drive from Munich sits Augsburg, the third-largest city in Bavaria. Easily earning the title of one of the best cities to visit in Bavaria, Augsburg is full of things to do to occupy your time.
For history buffs and architecture lovers alike, the Roman-built Augsburg Cathedral, and lavishly decorated town hall are unmissable.
Right next door to the town hall, you can find incredible views over this Bavarian city. The Perlachturm, Augsburg’s famous landmark, has a 70ft tower which is open from Easter to November for anyone looking to gain a birds-eye view of the surrounding city and countryside.
Visiting Regensburg, Germany
First settled in the stone age, once occupied by the Romans, and situated on the Danube river, Regensberg is a great city to visit in Bavaria even if you aren’t arriving by cruise, as many tourists to the city do.
The city’s medieval old town attracts visitors from all over the world, who want to take a look at the old Corn Market, town hall, and the finest gothic church in all of Bavaria, the Regensburg Cathedral. This old town area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most visited places in Germany.
For a relaxing afternoon out, why not take a slow boat (with guided tour included) to the German Temple of Fame, Walhalla. The beauty of this neo-classical Greek-inspired building is mesmerising to say the least.
Visiting Ingolstadt, Germany
A little further south on the Danube sits Ingolstadt: famous as the home of the Audi factory, popular ice hockey and football teams, and as the main setting for Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’.
Enjoy a tranquil visit to the award-winning revitalisation project, the Klenzepark, before embarking on a tour through Ingolstadt’s many museums, including the Anatomical Institute, and the Museum of the Bavarian Army.
With activities to occupy every visitor, Ingolstadt is certainly one of the best cities to visit in Bavaria.
Visiting Nuremberg, Germany
The second-largest Bavarian city after Munich, Nuremberg is easy to reach by car and train and is packed with things to see and do.
Why not start your day off exploring the Bavarian city’s cobbled alleyways and timber homes in the city’s historic Marketplace, the Hauptmarkt? Is this similar to Munich’s Viktualienmarkt, only you can be the judge. Surrounding the Hauptmarkt in the Nuremberg Old Town (Altstadt in German) is one of the largest pedestrian shopping zones in Europe.
Here you can take part in the tradition of touching the fountain’s golden rings to give you good luck on your holiday. Then, head to one of the most popular destinations in the region, Nuremberg Castle (Kaiserburg Castle), to experience how the Holy Roman Emperors lived their day-to-day life in the city.
Finally, finish your day in one of the best cities to visit in Bavaria, with a walk along Karolinenstraße where you find modern shopping that meets ancient architecture. The famous Saint-Lorenz Church and plenty of eateries can be found here, or, for something a bit more nefarious, maybe complete the self-guided tour (Leaflets available in English) of the underground dungeons (Lochgefängnis Prison).
Visiting Freising, Germany
Freising is almost in Munich being so close to the Munich Airport but offers so much to the visitor that it is well worth the time and effort to visit.
This compact city has a vibe that is so different from Munich that you might think you’re in a different country altogether.
With loads of natural attractions and a very diverse yearly calendar of art, music, and cultural festivals, Freising in Bavaria is a destination that’s very easy to get to from Munich and has something for everyone to enjoy.
Take the train from Munich Haupbahnoff with ease and wander the town at your own pace by taking one of the very informative free city walks as provided by the Freising Council.
Read our full blog post entitled Freising: A Historical & Cultural Bavarian Journey Of Discovery
Visiting Landshut, Germany
To finish the list of the 6 Best Cities To Visit in Bavaria, Landshut is just an hour’s drive northeast from the Munich Flughafen and offers a multitude of great ways to spend your time.
With a city center showcasing much of the Gothic architectural style of the middle ages, Landshut is by far the smallest city on our list. The town is overseen by the medieval Trausnitz Castle and features the tallest church in Bavaria. The River Isar winds its way through the city and plays a prominent part in almost all the summer affairs of the city.
Landshut hosts an incredible festival every four years known as the Landshuter Hochzeit. The celebrations are held in honour of the 1475 marriage of George of Bavaria and Jadwiga Jagiellon, daughter of the Polish King Kasimir IV. Jagiełło. More than half a million people attend the festival in this small city of only around 75,000 inhabitants.
Best Cities To Visit In Bavaria, Germany, Other Mentions
Our list above primarily focuses on cities with close proximity to Munich. However, there are obviously many more cities in Bavaria and you’d be remiss not to visit some of these if you plan on spending a long period of time in this southern German State.
- Bamburg
- Würzburg
- Fürth
- Aschaffenburg
- Bayreuth
- Kempten
We hope you enjoyed our list of the 6 Best Cities To Visit in Bavaria, and if you did, then why not check out our other article on the 5 Best Towns To Visit In Bavaria.
Take care, happy travels, and have a great day!
