Finally, after a depressingly long hiatus from traveling in Europe, I’ll be back on the European continent for a short stint in the Bavaria region of Germany!
I’ve always felt very, very close to my German ancestry (even though it’s only 25% of my heritage) so I’m ultra excited to finally visit Germany.
From what I’ve seen, heard, and read about Germany, there are essentially countless ways to go about visiting. Like all countries, different regions have different sights, histories, and experiences to offer visitors. What’s more, two travelers could visit the same city or region in Germany and have completely different expectations and experiences.
So, out of all of the options available to me, why did I choose Bavaria?
It boils down to this: Bavaria is quintessential Germany. It’s lederhosen, biergartens, and Bratwürste. It’s snow-capped mountains, fairy-tale forests, and rolling green meadows. It’s alpine towns, historic palaces, and quaint scenery. At least, that’s what my guidebook tells me, and that’s what I fully expect to encounter.
I’ll be leaving this Thursday (July 2nd), and returning home on Sunday the 12th. Make sure to stay up-to-the-minute with my travels via my Instagram!
Here’s the route I’ve mapped out for my trip:
And, to put it in perspective, here’s exactly where that route is located within Germany:
So yes, Bavaria is just one small region of Germany, and I’ll be missing out on many others during this trip. I won’t get to see Berlin, or Hamberg, or Dusseldorf, or Dresden, or Cologne.
But, there is SO much I will get to see, that my head is practically about to explode from excitement!
Although Bavaria is just one small piece of the entire country, I honestly wouldn’t be willing to sacrifice one bit of the Bavaria trip I’ve planned out to make room for anything else. It just looks THAT freaking amazing. Plus, that just means I’ll have to make a return trip to Germany one day to check out what I missed. Sacrifices ain’t all bad, people!
So, what’s on the itinerary?
Munich
Duh, you can’t travel to Bavaria without visiting the region’s capital city. I’ll be spending a few days here, taking my time exploring the Altstadt, sampling some local brews in a beer garden or two, and trying to finally find some kind of German cuisine that appeals to me.
Fussen
I’ll be using a rental car for the remainder of the trip, as I make my way through various towns in the alps. First on the list is Fussen, where I’ll see the famous Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Next on the list is beautiful Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which will be my home base for several nights. I plan to explore a few of the small alpine towns in the region, as well as the major sights like Linderhof Palace, Ettal Abbey, and the Zugspitze.
Berchtesgaden
I’ll then move on to Berchtesgaden, where I fully expect to become SO moved by the scenic landscapes that I will just burst into song and dance a la The Sound of Music. I’ll be continuing my obsession with adorable alpine towns by seeking out villages such as Ramsau, pictured below, and also spending some time on Lake Konigssee.
After I leave Berchtesgaden, I’ll head back to Munich, making a stop at Herrenchiemsee Palace along my route.
I’m a bit nervous about driving this route on my own, but I absolutely love having a car to explore new places, since it makes it so easy to get off the beaten path and get lost in new and unique areas.
Oh, and did I mention yet? THIS IS MY VERY FIRST SOLO TRIP ABROAD. I have been waiting for literally years to make the leap into solo travel, and I’ve finally plucked up the courage to make it happen. Wish me luck!
Have you traveled through Bavaria? What was the best part of your trip? Share your secrets with me!
That looks like such a fun trip! We’re planning on going to Bavaria next year, so I can’t wait to hear all about your trip!
Ashley Lillis recently posted…A Garth Brooks Weekend
I’ll definitely be posting a lot about it when I get back! I’m so excited!!
I’m SO jealous! This will be an amazing trip, looks absolutely beautiful!!
Have so much fun! Garmisch-Partenkirchen looks adorable and props for going solo. I don’t think I’m quite brave enough for that yet! haha
Katy recently posted…#LoveWins
Oh wow! This is going to be such an amazing experience! I can’t wait to hear all about it. You’re leaving so soon!
Emily S recently posted…Monthly Reads
During my last trip to Deutschland, we had a day trip to Berchtesgaden and Lake Konnigsee, and let me tell you, YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO LOVE IT. Bring your walking/hiking shoes and just get lost on the several hiking trails there. It’s such an idyllic place among the mountains. I was happy just standing by the lake and watching everything around me.
Tales of a Mauritian recently posted…Where I disappeared to these last few weeks
You’re so right–I think that was honestly my favorite part of the entire trip. I was in awe of how beautiful it was! Can’t wait to write about it 🙂
Ahhh so amazing! I spent my senior year of high school in southern Germany and LOVED it. It must be one of the prettiest regions of the world! (though I tend to say that about a lot of places, haha)
Silvia @ Heart My Backpack recently posted…Ferry to Paradise – aka The Bay of Kotor
Hi there! I found your blog via Amanda from A Dangerous Business.
I live in Berlin and even though you’re not going to make it down here, you are still going to have such an amazing time.
I’ve been living in Germany as a British expat and it has been wonderful. Bavaria is beautiful and the people do burst into song (after a few large beers LOL). Have a great trip. 🙂
Victoria@ The British Berliner recently posted…I’m a fashionista, so I pucker my lips, twirl my skirt, and put on my kitten heels to attend the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin – Spring/Summer 2016!
Hi, thanks for your comment! I just got back from my trip and am catching up on blog stuff now, and let me tell you, I was TOTALLY tempted to burst into song 😉 It was just as amazing as I had hoped!
Can you believe I have never seen The Sound of Music? Shocking! How did the solo travel go? Are you hooked now? 😉
Camille recently posted…Wanderlust Instagrammy Awards: Bolivia in 30 Amazing Pictures
Haha my boyfriend has never seen it either, and when I was telling him about my trip I was like “oh my gosh, they actually filmed parts of Sound of Music in this place that I’m going!!!” And he was just like, “Um, cool…? What’s that about again?” 😐 And it was great, I think its safe to say I’m totally hooked!!
Sorry to bombard you with comments today, but I am totally loving your blog! I am about 75% German and have been wanting to visit for a while. It somehow gets pushed to the back burner because of cost, but I am so glad for you that you went on this trip. And I am so glad I get to read the posts about it too. Ha! How did you find driving to be in Germany? That’s always something I find super interesting about other countries.
Amanda | Chasing My Sunshine recently posted…US Road Trip Stop: The Grand Canyon
I totally get what you mean–I’ve been wanting to visit Germany for forever, and finally got around to making it a priority! I honestly loved it SO much. And driving really wasn’t too scary–although, I was pretty nervous since it was my first time driving abroad. I’m actually planning to do an entire post about driving there, so keep an eye out!
I used to actually get more anxiety when traveling – mostly worrying about not speaking the language, knowing the local customs, etc. But after a while, it just began to fade and it made me a more mellow, go with the flow sort of guy.