Bavaria Tours & Trips
4.6 stars on(9,255 reviews)- Choose from 200+ Bavaria tours
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Table of contents
- The best Bavaria tour packages
- What people love about Bavaria Tours
- Travel Bavaria your way
- Best tour companies for Bavaria tours
- Popular Bavaria Cruise Ships
- Discover Bavaria tours for every budget
- Bavaria tours for every type of group
- Top Bavaria travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit Bavaria
- Contact our Bavaria travel experts
- What our customers ask about Bavaria Tours & Trips
The best Bavaria tour packages
Compiled by
MelissaBavaria travel expert at TourRadar
8 Day Munich including Nuremberg, Salzburg, Rothenburg & Neuschwanstein Linderhof
5 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The visit was well organized and communicated to us. The team keep us informed on our daily schedule.”
David, traveled in March
From Leonardo Hotel München City Center, Bavaria unfolds before you. Wander through Neuschwanstein Castle ($37), climb medieval Rothenburg's walls, and marvel at Nuremberg's Imperial Castle. Daily breakfast and expert-guided excursions included.
Duration 8 days Destinations Munich, Nuremberg, Salzburg, Dachau, Rothenburg ob der Tauber Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator STM Tours LLC From $2,703
7% Off- NZ$2,514You save $189
Munich Oktoberfest - Hotel & Hostel Packages
5 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“All we wanted was access to Oktoberfest with like-minded people, from a German/local perspective.”
Neese, traveled in September
Munich's Hauptbahnhof area serves as the gateway to Bavaria's heart. The Oktoberfest tents welcome visitors from 10am-10:30pm, while Frauenkirche and Hofbräuhaus feature on €40 beer walks. Day trips to Neuschwanstein Castle cost €80, with optional €35 bike tours to the Chinese Beer Garden.
Duration 3 days Destinations Munich, Dachau Age Range Ages 18+ Operator Euroadventures From
7% Off- NZ$869
Discover Bavaria's treasures from Maritim Hotel Munich, exploring Marienplatz and the Royal Residence. Journey through scenic landscapes to Neuschwanstein Castle near Füssen, with expert guides sharing regional history. Includes daily Bavarian breakfast.
Duration 4 days Destinations Munich, Schwangau Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator STM Tours LLC From $1,231
7% Off- NZ$1,145You save $86
Oktoberfest Munich (3-Star Hotel Senator)
76 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“I had a wonderful time in the armbrustschützenzelt. The hotel is in perfect and very short distance to the Octoberfest entrance.”
Michael, traveled in September
Hotel Senator in Munich puts you minutes from Bavaria's legendary festival. Premium tent seats at Hofbräu and Armbrustschützenzelt await, along with daily breakfast, beer and meal vouchers. Expert guides ensure authentic cultural immersion.
Duration 4 days Destinations Munich Age Range Ages 18+ Operator Thirsty Swagman From
7% Off- NZ$2,706
Oktoberfest (Start Munich, 4 Days)
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Great way to experience Oktoberfest with amazing company! Very close accommodation to the Oktoberfest.”
Maneesha, traveled in September
Munich's Theresienwiese grounds host Bavaria's greatest festival. The celebration features 14 distinct beer tents, including the 11,000-capacity main pavilion. A centrally-located hostel provides convenient accommodation near all festivities.
Duration 4 days Destinations Munich Age Range Ages 18-35 Operator Contiki From
7% Off- NZ$1,575
What people love about Bavaria Tours
- Munich Oktoberfest - Hotel & Hostel Packages
Did Oktoberfest with Euroadventures (second weekend of the festival at the end of September 2017 - though in this review it only gave me the option of "Oktoberfest 2018"). What an experience! Honestly one of the most fun weekends of my life. Munich and the festival can't be put into words. Everything was great about the trip from the accommodations (nice, clean, modern hostel with really easy access to Oktoberfest only about 10 min. to get there), fun offered tours like a beer walking tour of the old town (we had included beer during the tour), to visiting the Dachau concentration camp. Beyond that our trip leaders took us to the Oktoberfest, showed us the best tents, what to eat, what the drinking songs were and even drank a bit with us. We had plenty of free time to enjoy Oktoberfest but also had options to see things in Munich when we wanted. Really a great trip!
- 8 Day Munich including Nuremberg, Salzburg, Rothenburg & Neuschwanstein Linderhof
Overall it was a great tour and we got to see a lot of places and learn history of the areas visited. The transportation to the different locations was good and pretty much on time each day. Because there was a separate guide each day the total number of people each day varied and because of the number of people to was hard to hear the guides at times. I think the tour could have been broken up differently as there was a lot of walking involved. I think it would have been better to have the first 2 days broken up between the other days. So you would have a little more time to recover from the previous days tour. So maybe put them in days 3 and 5, because these days were only half day or less in length. As far as our hotel stay the hotel (Leonardo City Center) itself was really nice, but we were disappointed in the continental breakfast we had each day. The food was lukewarm to cold and the variety was a little weird. But the staff was friendly and helpful with any of our needs. So overall I gave the tour 5 Stars and thank the STM Staff and the Tour Guides for a wonderful experience.
- Oktoberfest Munich (3-Star Hotel Senator)
Best accom location you could hope for, seriously! Fantastic tour guides that just want to have a good time too, felt more like friends all drinking together instead of strangers on a tour. Perfect tour! Highly recommended for those who love a drink with genuinely great people.
Travel Bavaria your way
Explore a wide diversity of river cruises through Bavaria. We have 36 cruises that vary from 5 days to 12 days. With the greatest number of departures in November, this is also the most popular time of the year.
See all River Cruise toursBavaria has some really excellent hiking options that suit different fitness levels. The trails between Tegernsee and Schliersee lakes are particularly popular with our travelers - you get forest walks that lead to traditional alpine beer gardens where the mountain views make that cold beer taste even better. If you're staying in the Bavarian Alps & Lakes area, the mountain town of Bayrischzell makes a great base. You can mix up your days between proper hikes and taking the cable car up to spots like Taubenstein. For a proper challenge, the Via Alpina route to Aueralm will get your heart pumping, while Lake Spitzingsee has gentler paths perfect for easier days. Our customers often tell us their favorite moments come from stopping at old monasteries and mountain huts along the way - there's nothing quite like refueling with local specialties after a good walk.
Cycling through Bavaria lets you see the lakes, mountains and villages in a completely different way. Our cyclists who've done the Lake Constance to Königssee route say it's fantastic, though they suggest getting hybrid bikes instead of regular ones - the terrain changes quite a bit. You'll pedal through medieval Meersburg, pass by Friedrichshafen where the Zeppelin was born and head into the Bavarian Alps. Another nice option follows the Romantic Road from Augsburg to Lake Ammersee, with stops at places like Andechs Abbey - it's got both a beautiful Baroque church and really good beer. Around Tegernsee and Schliersee, the lakeside routes keep things manageable with 12-15km daily rides, plenty of swimming spots and lovely mountain views.
See all Bicycle toursBavaria's explorer tours really shine with those popular 8-day trips that give you proper time in each location. You'll get to know Nuremberg's Imperial Castle and walk those medieval streets, where market squares have been trading for over 700 years. Our travelers tell us they love how these tours mix the big attractions with local spots - one guest mentioned their Munich hotel was perfectly placed for getting around each day. The itineraries take you through Salzburg's Old Town (a UNESCO site), let you explore Rothenburg's medieval architecture and bring you face-to-face with Neuschwanstein Castle. Most tours include time at Dachau Memorial, which helps visitors understand Bavaria's complex past.
More travel styles:
Best tour companies for Bavaria tours
Popular Bavaria Cruise Ships
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Discover Bavaria tours for every budget
Bavaria's budget festival tours really hit the mark for travelers keeping costs in check. Most people go for the Munich Springfest and Oktoberfest packages with camping setups - it's simple but does the job perfectly. The campsites create this great social buzz, and our customers love that breakfast is included along with help getting to and from the beer halls. You get all the essentials - transport tips, meals and the camping equipment you'll need to enjoy the German beer festivals properly. The unlimited beer and sangria package gets lots of positive mentions for value, though quite a few guests suggest packing warm clothes since evenings can get chilly. Getting to the festival grounds takes about 10 minutes, so you can easily bounce between the beer halls and your campsite whenever you need.
For a premium take on Bavaria, the luxury tours deliver something special. The Le Meridien in Munich - a proper 5-star hotel - serves as your base for Springfest and Oktoberfest. You'll get your own reserved spots in the main beer tents and vouchers for traditional German meals. Beyond festival season, the upscale Bavaria tours mix stays in historic buildings with carefully chosen experiences. Our guests particularly like the private UNESCO site walks, special access castle tours and personal wine tastings in cellars that go back centuries. These tours really nail the balance - you get deep cultural experiences without the crowds, plus access to places and local experts that most visitors don't see.
Bavaria budget tours
Bavaria tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Group
83 tours in BavariaExplore a wide diversity of group tours through Bavaria. We have 83 adventures that vary from 3 days to 12 days. With the greatest number of departures in September, this is also the most popular time of the year.
Small Group
6 tours in BavariaSmall-group tours in Bavaria deliver personal experiences through cycling past mountain lakes, celebrating at festivals, and uncovering medieval towns. The 8-day cycling journeys take you along quiet forest paths and meadows with e-bikes, combining scenic routes with guided visits to UNESCO sites like the Wieskirche. Our Munich festival tours keep groups intimate, mixing beer hall festivities with cultural walks through Frauenkirche and historic neighborhoods. Local guides share insider tips about the best Oktoberfest tents and teach traditional songs, while securing spots away from crowded tourist areas. Our customers often tell us how these smaller groups let them explore at their own rhythm - whether cycling through the Allgäu's gentle hills or taking boat trips on Lake Tegernsee. Tours balance structured activities with free time, so guests can explore market squares or discover hidden beer gardens in towns like Bad Tölz. Travelers frequently note how the intimate group size allows stays in distinctive properties, from historic castles to lakeside hotels and also charming inns that larger groups simply can't access.
Private / Personalized
129 tours in BavariaEnjoy the exclusivity of our Private Bavaria tours, tailored to your own group, preferences and pace with over 129 itineraries to choose from.
Top Bavaria travel itineraries to fit your plans
Munich's quick 3-day tours focus on Oktoberfest and Springfest - they're perfect if you want to experience the festivals without a long trip. The hotels are right by the festival grounds, so you can join the beer hall fun and still get proper rest. You'll walk through Munich's old town with guides who show you the Frauenkirke, famous Glockenspiel and also Dachau Memorial. Our travelers often mention how useful it is having someone explain the drinking songs and point out the best beer tents. Some tours add bike rides through Munich or trips to Neuschwanstein Castle for extra sightseeing.
Week-long Bavaria tours come in two flavors - bikes or culture deep-dives. The cycling routes head out from Munich through Forstenrieder Park, taking you to lakes like Starnberg and also Ammersee. You'll cycle 15-40km each day, with plenty of swimming spots and beer gardens to break up the ride. The culture-focused tours explore Nuremberg, Rothenburg and also Würzburg, really getting into medieval Germany. Our customers love how the tours mix guided portions with free time - they can wander markets and find local restaurants on their own after getting their bearings.
Ten days in Bavaria lets you properly sink into the region's culture and landscapes. Popular routes begin in Bamberg's UNESCO old town and follow the Main River through wine country to Frankfurt. You'll visit Volkach with its welcoming wineries, Miltenberg with its half-timbered houses and also several riverside towns. Other routes explore Bavaria's lakes from Munich through Murnauer Moos nature reserve to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, including a cogwheel train ride up the Zugspitze. Our travelers say these longer trips give them time for both the main sights and quiet moments in small villages.
Demographics
Our solo travelers find Bavaria's guided tours give them just the right mix of structure and independence. The Munich-to-Garmisch walks are particularly good - you'll follow Empress Sissi's old paths through Maisinger Gorge to Lake Maising and end up at perfect swimming spots surrounded by mountains. Many customers mention how much they enjoy having group activities but also personal space. The Munich to Salzburg bike routes work really well too - you're on your own during rides but have company at dinner. People traveling alone especially like the paths through Bad Tölz and around Lake Tegernsee, where the routes are clear and towns welcome individual visitors.
Couples choosing Bavaria tend to go for tours that mix romantic locations with active days out. The Bavarian Alps and Lakes tour really delivers - you'll walk together through alpine meadows to places like the Neureuth Alpine Beer Garden, where lake views make for perfect picnics. The Bodensee to Königssee routes are popular too, with cycling past castles and nights in carefully selected hotels. Our couples often mention loving how the tours balance riding time with relaxation, especially around Bad Reichenhall where you can visit thermal spas after cycling.
Young adults really go for Bavaria's festival tours, especially during Springfest and Oktoberfest. The festival camping tours nail the social side - you'll meet people from all over at breakfast before heading to beer halls together. Lots of guests love the group dinners back at camp, sharing stories from their day. For those wanting culture with their celebrations, some tours mix Munich's festivals with city walks and important historical visits to places like Dachau. The Tegernsee hiking routes draw younger travelers too, with proper challenging climbs up to spots like the Rotwandhaus and beer gardens to relax afterward.
Senior travelers really appreciate our well-organized cultural tours that balance history with comfortable pacing. The 8-day Munich tours work particularly well, with day trips by comfortable train to Nuremberg's Imperial Castle and Salzburg's UNESCO sites. Our older guests like how these tours start with orientation walks then give free time to explore independently. The Christmas Market tours fit seniors nicely, mixing cultural sites with festive atmosphere and manageable walks. The feedback often highlights practical details - hotels are always in good locations and guides share deep historical knowledge.
Bavaria works really well for families - we've got tours that mix culture with outdoor activities everyone can enjoy. The Altmühltal Panorama Path gets it just right with easy riverside hikes past interesting rock formations that get kids excited about nature, while parents appreciate how the daily distances make sense. Kids love climbing towers and walking castle walls, which several tours include. For families with older children, the Christmas Market tours combine Mozart's Salzburg, mountain scenes and holiday traditions. Our customers tell us the winter tours linking Munich's markets with Nuremberg day trips hit the sweet spot - there's enough going on to keep everyone interested but enough downtime to stay relaxed.
- Solo Travelers118 tours All tours for Solo Travelers
- Couples118 tours
- Young Adults (18 - 39)13 tours
- Seniors (50+)24 tours All tours for Seniors
Best time to visit Bavaria
- Fall / Autumn 2025
Autumn brings Oktoberfest - Bavaria's biggest celebration. Our guides know all the ins and outs, from securing good beer tent spots to teaching traditional drinking songs. Premium packages include hotels by the festival grounds and guaranteed seats in main tents. Beyond the festival, autumn countryside tours showcase rich fall colors. You can join bike rides past harvest-time villages or walking tours through Munich's old center, where our customers say cooler temperatures make exploring much better. Local experts running these tours really know their way around - they'll point you to beer halls where Munich residents actually go and help you find authentic food away from tourist spots. Based on what our travelers tell us, you'll find mixed experiences with Stoke Travel's Oktoberfest packages. While quite a few people enjoy their unlimited drinks policy and party atmosphere, the basic amenities like food quality and campsite cleanliness could use some work according to recent feedback. If you're looking for a more reliable option, Euroadventures tends to get consistently good reviews, especially for their hostel choices in Munich and also their city walking tours. They seem to have their logistics sorted out well for the busy Oktoberfest season. For day trips and shorter experiences around Munich, both Radius Tours and Thirsty Swagman come up frequently in positive comments from past guests. While they're not as widely known as some larger operators, they've built a solid reputation for Munich-based tours through good service and also attention to detail. The key difference seems to be in the accommodations and overall organization - while Stoke Travel offers a more festival-style experience with camping, Euroadventures focuses on proper hostel stays which many travelers find more comfortable during the cooler Oktoberfest season.
- November 2025 popular 20 tours
- Winter 2025 / 2026
Bavaria's winter comes alive with Christmas market tours linking Vienna, Munich, Salzburg and also Innsbruck. Our customers love how we mix guided walks with enough free time to explore markets at their own pace. You'll find yourself warming up with Glühwein while browsing wooden stalls full of handmade toys and local treats. In Munich's Marienplatz, the Town Hall's Glockenspiel chimes above the festive market scene. The UNESCO-listed Old Town in Salzburg takes on a special charm in winter - local experts share forgotten Advent customs as you explore. Many travelers tell us they particularly enjoy Lucerne's intimate Christmas market at Franziskanerplatz, joining locals for traditional Swiss celebrations and steaming cups of mulled wine.
- popular 17 tours
- Spring 2026
Spring kicks off with Bavaria's Springfest and walking tours in full bloom. Our Munich camping packages next to the festival grounds create this great social atmosphere - travelers often mention making new friends over breakfast before heading to beer halls together. The hiking routes around Tegernsee really come into their own this season. You'll follow forest trails leading to spots like the Neureuth Alpine Beer Garden, where mountain views meet proper Bavarian hospitality. Our Munich cultural tours combine city walks with trips to Nuremberg's medieval streets and Salzburg's baroque architecture, with spring lighting making castle photography especially good.
- 77 tours
- popular 92 tours
- Summer 2026
Summer opens Bavaria's lakes and mountains for proper outdoor exploration. The Munich to Salzburg bike routes follow rivers and lakes, with plenty of swimming spots to cool off. You'll cycle through Bad Tölz's historic merchant paths and past Lake Chiemsee's island palaces. Our hiking tours make good use of the full cable car schedule - ride up to places like Taubenstein for high trails with clear Alpine views. Cultural tours mix city walks with stops at beer gardens, baroque churches and fairy-tale castles. Summer evenings in beer gardens really capture Bavaria's social spirit, according to our travelers.
- popular 96 tours
- 92 tours
- 93 tours
Contact our Bavaria travel experts
Laura
Expert in Bavaria at TourRadar
Laura is one of our seasoned Bavaria Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Bavaria tours answered!
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+64 4888 0182What our customers ask about Bavaria Tours & Trips
What Can You Experience in Bavaria's Local Culture and Where?
Bavaria's local culture is incredibly rich and welcoming to visitors. You can absolutely join in at Oktoberfest in Munich it's massive with 14 main beer tents and the biggest one holds about 11000 people running through September and October. Get into the spirit by wearing traditional dirndl or lederhosen it really adds to the experience. The villages are great too where you'll find authentic folk dancing at local festivals with live music playing and plenty of regional food to try.
What Natural Areas Can You Visit Outside Bavaria's Cities?
The natural areas in Bavaria are stunning especially the Bavarian Alps where you'll find Zugspitze Germany's highest peak. There's a cable car that takes you right up there and the views are just incredible. Lake Königssee in Berchtesgaden National Park is another must-see you can take these really peaceful boat rides around the lake with mountains towering all around you it's pretty spectacular.
What Are the Best Alternative Routes Through Bavaria and Why Do People Love Them?
The Romantic Road is just fantastic for seeing the real Bavaria. It takes you through these beautiful medieval towns like Rothenburg ob der Tauber which is famous for its Christmas markets and historic charm. Travelers really love it because you get away from the big tourist spots and see authentic Bavarian life. Our cyclists who've done the 14-day Bodensee - Koenigssee tour always tell us how much they love discovering the little towns and local experiences along the way.
How Can You Get Around Bavaria?
Getting around Bavaria is pretty straightforward. The trains connect all the major cities like Munich Nuremberg and Salzburg and they run really efficiently. For smaller towns and villages you can hop on local buses they're great for day trips. If you want more freedom to explore especially around the Alps and rural areas renting a car is definitely worth considering.