Bavaria tours: castles, cities and national parks
Bavaria extends over about 70,540 square kilometres, with Munich as its capital. The state is divided into seven administrative regions, and both the Danube and the Main pass through it.
Neuschwanstein and Linderhof
At Neuschwanstein Castle, work on the Gateway Building finished in 1873. By mid-1884 the interiors of the Palas were largely finished. Public visits to the castle began on 1 August 1886.
Georg von Dollmann built Linderhof Palace for Ludwig II from 1870; the palace and its park were completed by 1880. Its Venus Grotto dates from construction in 1876 and 1877.
A private day trip from Munich to Neuschwanstein and Linderhof lasts 10 hours and includes a professional driver who speaks English, a modern private vehicle with air conditioning, transport between the sites and an itinerary that can be customised.
Munich day trips
The private day trip from Munich to Innsbruck and Swarovski World takes 11 hours and 30 minutes, with private transport from Munich and fuel, tolls and parking included.
A private tour from Munich to Dachau Concentration Camp lasts 5 hours and includes a modern vehicle with air conditioning and a driver who speaks English.
Munich: history and walking tours
Munich's official foundation date is recognised as 14 June 1158. The city staged the Summer Olympics in 1972, and its Olympic Park was developed for those Games. The Frauenkirche serves as both a cathedral and a parish church, with Gothic architecture dating to the 15th century. The English Garden occupies an area of 375 hectares within Munich.
The self guided Munich walking tour with audio commentary lasts 3 hours and includes an audio tour app, 21 commentaries in English, French and Spanish, an interactive 3D map with live geolocation and offline access. Access has no expiry date, and sharing across multiple devices for families and groups is included.
Bamberg and other heritage sites
Bamberg gained World Heritage status in 1993. The Würzburg Residence and its Court Gardens joined the World Heritage List in 1981. Regensburg's Old Town, together with Stadtamhof, received World Heritage recognition in 2006.
The margravial couple commissioned Bayreuth's Opera House, which was built between 1746 and 1750. The Margravial Opera House received World Heritage recognition in 2012.
A self guided audio walking tour of Bamberg with a GPS map takes 1 hour and 40 minutes, including app access, 20 audio commentaries in multiple languages, a GPS route map, coverage of 20 landmarks and offline access after downloading.
National parks and the Bavarian Alps
The name Bavarian Alps refers collectively to several ranges within the Northern Limestone Alps. In the Berchtesgaden Alps, 8,600 hectares received plant protection district status in 1910. Established in 1921, the Königssee Nature Reserve directly preceded Berchtesgaden National Park. The national park designation took effect on 1 August 1978.
Bavarian Forest National Park was inaugurated on 7 October 1970. Its protected area amounts to 24,250 hectares.
Bavarian history and food
Wittelsbach rule in Bavaria lasted 738 years, beginning in 1180 and ending in 1918. The kingdom dates from 1806. The monarchy ended with Kurt Eisner's proclamation of the People's State of Bavaria on 8 November 1918. Weißwurst and Leberkäse are among the foods associated with Bavarian tradition.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is the capital of Bavaria?
Bavaria's capital is Munich.
When did Neuschwanstein open to visitors?
Visitors were admitted from 1 August 1886.
Is there a day trip from Munich to Neuschwanstein and Linderhof?
The private day trip to Neuschwanstein and Linderhof from Munich lasts 10 hours.
When did Bamberg receive World Heritage status?
Bamberg received that recognition in 1993.
Which foods are part of Bavarian tradition?
Examples include Weißwurst and Leberkäse.
