Beautiful Excursions in Bavaria: Locals Share Insider Tips

With an area of about 27,239 square miles, Bavaria is the largest federal state in Germany. This means there are countless excursion destinations, sights, and activities to discover. Often, tourists focus on big and well-known places like Munich and Nuremberg. No wonder: real insider tips usually come only from locals who know their area inside out.

That's why the Bavaria Tourism Marketing GmbH turned to locals who can share exciting and inspiring stories about Bavaria. The goal is for these so-called Bavaria Ambassadors to genuinely embody Bavarian culture and lifestyle and to have great tips ready. Many locals now take on this honorary position and are sharing wonderful excursion destinations with travelers. We'll introduce a few of these destinations here.

Jockl Kaiser from Nördlingen, for example, describes the castles and squares in his city as particularly worth seeing. 'There, guests can immerse themselves in local history,' he says. As interesting excursion destinations, the gourmet restaurateur from the Meyers Keller restaurant recommends Harburg Castle and Baldern Castle.

The old town and the intact city wall are also fantastic places. As are the Ries Crater Museum, the Bavarian Railway Museum, and the City Museum. However, his favorite spot is the Daniel, a 295-foot-high church tower. From the top, visitors have a beautiful view of the Nördlinger Ries. Particularly fascinating is the fact that Nördlingen is located in a geopark - a massive meteorite crater.

For those who prefer to hike through nature, the surrounding forests offer plenty of opportunities.

Winemaker Andi Weigand enjoys spending summer at the Main River: 'The Main Cycle Path is great for a bike tour, and the river always offers a refreshing cool off: just jump in at Würzburg or along the Main Cycle Path.' There are wonderful bathing bays between Würzburg and Frickenhausen. Alternatively, day-trippers can relax in the sun or barbecue on the Main meadow.

Those who want to explore the area should definitely visit the villages around Würzburg. Very worth seeing are, for example, Iphofen and Sulzfeld or directly next to Würzburg, Randersacker, and Veitshöchheim. 'There are many beautiful places nearby. I would just get in the car and drive around a bit,' recommends the Iphofener.

For a round tour, the many vineyards are a good choice. 'My personal favorite spot is on the Julius-Echter-Berg: Here you have a magical view over the Iphofen vineyards.' Additionally, the 'Terroir f' in the Iphofen region offers great views - these are wine viewing points overlooking the vineyards.

Innkeeper Muk Röhrl from Eilsbrunn runs the oldest inn in the world. The Röhrl guest house has been in his family since 1658 and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. To friends and day tourists, he recommends a hike to the Alpine Path to enjoy the view of Needle Peak, Yellow Rocks, and Laaber Valley. In Schönhofen, climbers will find a few climbing and bouldering walls.

In the Laaber Valley, you can also go for wonderful walks or bike rides. The Walhalla is well worth a visit. 'You get a fantastic view of the Danube Valley here. And when you are at the Danube, a boat trip to Weltenburg Monastery and through the Danube Gorge is also a great experience,' according to the innkeeper.

Travelers can also take another bike tour on the Pastor's Trail, which leads from Eilsbrunn towards Sinzing through a beautiful forest route.

'I like to visit Neufarner Berg in the Ebersberg district and look out onto Anzing from there. Although the hill is not particularly high, it offers a wonderful view of the town,' reveals Barbara Stadler from the Wirthaus-Boutique in Anzing near Munich. Additionally, a raft ride on the Isar from Wolfratshausen to Munich is something every tourist should experience. 'No guest should miss that,' she enthuses.

For art lovers, the innkeeper names the Loher-Haus in Anzing as a hidden gem - where exciting exhibitions are regularly offered. And in winter, the Christkindl markets in the region bring great joy to both young and old guests. 'I can particularly recommend one - we've been hosting a festive Christmas market around our inn for years.'

Abbess Laetitia Fech from Waldsassen Monastery believes that a visit to the Basilica, the library, the monastery garden with an environmental garden, and the guest house is essential for travelers. 'At Mitterhof, guests should definitely see the ostrich farm. Also beautiful are the Lourdes Grotto and the Trinity Church - the Kappl. From there, you have a superb view over the entire Abbey Land.'

As a real insider tip, she mentions the 207-mile-long pilgrimage route 'Via Porta'. It leads from Volkenroda to Waldsassen. From the monastery, a day trip over the Czech Republic to Maria Loretto and back is possible. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, border crossings might entail quarantine, so the meditation path in the region provides an alternative. It places hikers in the midst of nature.

The renovated Falkenberg Castle, the Luisenburg, and the Medieval History Park in Bärnau are also very worth seeing. If you're in need of a little wellness, be sure to visit the Sibyllenbad near Waldsassen.

Bad Kissingen also offers many attractions. These include the Regenten Building and Arcade Building, the Rose Garden with a multimedia fountain, the graduation tower, and the spa theater. 'The KissSalis Therme is very popular among guests,' notes the fountain lady Lisa Lausenmayer.

Worth a visit in particular are the varied cultural events like the 'Kissinger Summer' and the 'Kissinger Winterzauber', the 'Rosenball' in June, the 'Rakoczy Fest', 'Summertime', and the 'Kissinger Kabarettherbst'.

Regarding how events will be affected in the COVID-year 2021, only time will tell. The local is certain: 'This extensive program is important for a stay in Bad Kissingen, as these beautiful events benefit the soul.'

If you want to do something good for your body, you'll find a total of 22 water-treading and arm-bath basins for Kneipp therapy in the city area of Bad Wörishofen. The water therapy is said to boost the immune system by activating the metabolism and stabilizing circulation with a brief bath in the very cool water, which is between 16 to 17 degrees Celsius (about 61 to 63 degrees Fahrenheit).

Kneipp therapist Angela Hofer has two favorite basins she can recommend to tourists. 'One is a natural treading spot at the Wörthbach near the Erlöserkirche. Here, a simple railing has been built into the stream, putting you in the midst of nature - and I really like that.'

The other basin is about four kilometers away in the Dorschhausen district and is called 'Cold Spring'. 'It is really cold! Once you've walked around there, you have to get out of the water, it's that cold. But that's what I find so beautiful,' she enthuses about the opportunity to strengthen the immune system.

Travel Reporter