Munich to Munich: Bavaria in Five Days — Beer, Alps & Fairytale Castles
Bavaria is the Germany of postcards — the beer halls, the Alps, the castles perched on hillsides, the villages where every window box is bursting with geraniums. Five days is the perfect amount of time to get beneath the surface. You’ll explore Munich’s beer gardens and museums, stand beneath Neuschwanstein’s turrets, hike in the shadow of the Zugspitze, wander the romantic streets of medieval towns, and taste your way through one of Europe’s great food regions. This loop itinerary starts and ends in Munich, with a rental car giving you the freedom to explore the countryside at your own pace. Budget: €600–900 per person, all in.
5-Day Itinerary Overview
Route: Munich (Day 1–2) → Füssen / Neuschwanstein (Day 3) → Garmisch-Partenkirchen / Alps (Day 4) → Munich via Rothenburg (Day 5) — loop
Best for: Couples, solo travellers with a rental car, first-time Bavaria visitors, lovers of nature and culture
Budget: €600–900 per person (excluding international flights)
Direction: Loop from Munich — south to the Alps, west via the Romantic Road, return to Munich
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Munich — Beer Halls & Baroque
Arrive in Munich and drop your bags. Start with the Viktualienmarkt for a market lunch — grab a Leberkässemmel and a Radler from one of the beer stalls (€6–8 total). Wander to Marienplatz for the 12:00 Glockenspiel show, then climb Alter Peter (St. Peter’s Church tower, €3) for the classic view of the city with the Alps on the horizon. Afternoon: explore the Residenz, the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs (€10, allow 2 hours). The Antiquarium — a 69-metre-long Renaissance hall lined with 16th-century paintings — is one of the most stunning rooms in Europe.
Evening: head to the Augustiner-Keller beer garden under the chestnut trees. Order a Mass of Augustiner Edelstoff and a Schweinshaxe (pork knuckle). This is the real Munich beer experience — locals, families, and travellers all sharing long wooden tables.
Accommodation: Munich city centre — hostel dorm €30–45, budget hotel €70–110
Entry costs: Alter Peter €3, Residenz €10, Viktualienmarkt free
Day 2: Munich — Parks & Palaces
Morning: Rent a bike (€12–15/day) and cycle through the Englischer Garten. Watch the surfers on the Eisbach wave, visit the Chinesischer Turm beer garden for a mid-morning pretzel, and find the secluded Monopteros temple for a view over the park. Cycle to the Schwabing district for lunch — this bohemian quarter is full of student-friendly cafés and independent bookshops.
Afternoon: Cycle along the canal path to Nymphenburg Palace (5 km, 20 minutes). The palace gardens are free to explore — the Badenburg with Europe’s first heated indoor pool (1720s) is worth the extra €4. Cycle back via the Hirschgarten, Munich’s largest beer garden (8,000 seats), for a late-afternoon radler. Evening: dinner in the Glockenbachviertel, Munich’s LGBTQ+ quarter, known for its laid-back bars and excellent international food scene.
Transport: Bike rental €12–15/day (best way to explore Munich)
Entry costs: Englischer Garten free, Nymphenburg Palace grounds free (palace interior €12)
Day 3: Neuschwanstein Castle & Füssen
Pick up your rental car (or take the train) and head south to Hohenschwangau (1.5 hours). Pre-book your Neuschwanstein Castle tour for 11:00. Visit the castle interior (35-minute guided tour, €17.50), then hike up to Marienbrücke (10 minutes from the castle) for THAT view of the castle against the Alps. Hike down to the Alpsee — the emerald lake at the foot of the castle hill — for a picnic lunch (€6–8 from Füssen supermarket).
Afternoon: Visit Hohenschwangau Castle (€15, 1 hour), Ludwig II’s childhood home — it provides context that makes Neuschwanstein even more poignant. Drive 5 minutes to Füssen and explore the medieval old town, Hohes Schloss (Füssen Castle), and St. Mang’s Abbey. Evening: enjoy dinner at a traditional Gasthaus in Füssen — try Kässpätzle (cheese noodles) with a local wheat beer.
Accommodation: Füssen — guesthouse double €55–80, hostel dorm €25–35
Entry costs: Neuschwanstein €17.50, Hohenschwangau €15 (combined ticket €31.50)
Day 4: Garmisch-Partenkirchen & the Alps
Drive from Füssen to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (1 hour) through stunning alpine scenery. Take the Zugspitze cable car up to Germany’s highest peak (2,962 m) — the panoramic view over four countries is spectacular. The cable car ride itself is an experience, climbing 1,945 metres in 10 minutes (€62 return, but worth every euro). Spend 1–2 hours at the top — the panorama terrace, the glacier, and the chapel at 2,600 m.
Afternoon: Drive 20 minutes to the Partnachklamm gorge — a 700-metre-long dramatic ravine with a walkway carved into the rock (€6). The path follows the roaring river through narrow canyon walls that rise 80 metres above you. Return to Garmisch for dinner — the town has excellent Gasthäuser serving local Bavarian specialities. Try the Steinbier — beer brewed with hot stones — at the Brauhaus Garmisch.
Accommodation: Garmisch-Partenkirchen — guesthouse €60–100, hostel dorm €30–40
Entry costs: Zugspitze cable car €62, Partnachklamm €6
Day 5: Romantic Road to Rothenburg & Return
Drive from Garmisch north along a section of the Romantic Road to Rothenburg ob der Tauber (3 hours). This is Bavaria’s most famous medieval town — a perfectly preserved walled city that looks like it hasn’t changed since the 16th century. Walk the city walls (free), visit the Medieval Crime Museum (€7 — morbidly fascinating), and climb the town hall tower for the view over the red rooftops (€4).
Afternoon: Have lunch at a traditional bakery in the market square — try the Schneeballen (a crumbly pastry unique to Rothenburg) for dessert. Drive back to Munich (2.5 hours) via the A7 autobahn — keep an eye out for the “no speed limit” sections. Return the rental car and head to the airport or extend your stay.
Transport: Car rental ~€35–50/day + fuel ~€50–60 for the trip
Entry costs: City walls free, Medieval Crime Museum €7, Town hall tower €4
Budget Summary: 5-Day Bavaria Itinerary
Estimated Total: €600–900 per person (excluding international flights)
- Accommodation (4 nights): €175–320 (mixed hostel/guesthouse)
- Car rental + fuel: €200–280 (€35–50/day + fuel)
- Zugspitze cable car: €62
- Neuschwanstein + Hohenschwangau: €31–48
- Other admissions: €30–50
- Food (5 days): €100–150
- Miscellaneous: €30–50
Best Season: May–September for hiking and beer gardens; December for Christmas markets; January–March for skiing
Recommended For: Couples, solo travellers with a car, first-time Bavaria visitors
Disclaimer: Neuschwanstein tickets MUST be booked online in advance. Zugspitze cable car is weather-dependent — check forecast before buying. The Romantic Road is scenic but slower than the autobahn; allow 3 hours for Rothenburg to Munich. Car rental requires a valid driver’s license and International Driving Permit for non-EU visitors.