For many travellers, Munich is associated with Oktoberfest and not much else. It’s of course in this city where the world’s largest beer festival takes place, with hundreds of thousands of tourists descending on the city each autumn to drink and be merry.
But don’t overlook what else this city has to offer; as the capital of Bavaria, Munich has a quirky side like nowhere else. This is the Germany from the fairy tales, with majestic castles surrounded by forests, stories of evil sorcerers and kidnapped princesses, and prim villages set against a backdrop of spectacular mountain peaks.
Photo on Unsplash
When you feel like escaping into nature, it’s as easy as hopping on a train from Munich and jetting off into the countryside. From the nearby Alps to the stunning Danube plain, these are some of the most storied landscapes in the country, ripe for hikers looking to immerse themselves in Europe’s stunning natural landscapes.
And throughout it all, a sense of time and place that’s indescribable, with Bavarian cosiness and hospitality everywhere you go (locals have a word for it – Gemütlichkeit), which means steins of cold beer waiting for you at the end of a trail alongside hearty portions of delicious food and a warm welcome.
Photo on Instagram
If you’re in Munich or are looking for your next destination, make sure to take note of the following three trails in Bavaria, guaranteed to immerse you in the region’s incredible natural scenery and kick off a whirlwind fairytale romance with one of Germany’s most storied destinations.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Nothing quite says Bavaria like its most famous attraction, Neuschwanstein Castle. This incredible sight is lifted straight out of a fairy tale – even Disney based its castle in Sleeping Beauty on Neuschwanstein.
And while most travellers opt to simply visit the castle on a day trip, staying a while to go hiking in the area reveals some incredible views of the castle, with trails nestled amid mountains and forests near the German-Austrian border.
Photo on Unsplash
From the village of Hohenschwangau, a steep road called Neuschwansteinstraße leads up to the castle in around 30–40 minutes. Stop to look around inside the castle (advance booking required), and then continue up the trail higher into the mountains.
Photo on Instagram
In around 20–30 minutes you’ll come across the Marienbrücke footbridge, which dramatically spans a gorge with a waterfall. From here you’ll enjoy some of the best views of the castle, with the Alpsee lake below backdropped by the Bavarian Alps. The trail continues through a picturesque forest – it’s up to you how far you want to go before turning back.
Photo on Instagram
The Eibsee Loop
Another quintessential Bavarian destination is Lake Eibsee, a stunning body of turquoise water south of Munich. Best reached by car, it’s a popular spot for locals to get outside and enjoy some nature, with a relatively easy trail looping around the lake that can be completed in a couple of hours.
Photo on Unsplash
Following the 7-kilometre trail, at times you’ll be right next to the water, at other times enjoying a bird’s-eye view from above. Surrounding the water is a beautiful forest on the mountainous slopes with the peaks far above. In warmer weather, a jetty lets you jump in the lake, and a few beaches on the northern shore are ideal for relaxing and swimming.
Photo on Instagram
If you feel like taking a longer hike, you can also make your way to the lake from the nearby village of Grainau.
Along the Prinzenweg Trail
Photo on Unsplash
A favourite with locals in the area, this trail takes you up into the mountains between two towns south of Munich: Tegernsee and Schliersee, both of which sit on the edge of beautiful alpine lakes.
Photo on Unsplash
The mountainous terrain is stunning, offering views of the surrounding peaks and plains as well as the two lakes, forests, and the two valleys the towns sit in. The hike between the two towns takes between 3.5 and 4.5 hours, depending on your fitness level.
Photo on Instagram
The best part about this hiking trail is the fact that around halfway, the Gindelalm Mountain Hut welcomes you inside for lunch with traditional Bavarian food and steins of cold, frothy beer to wash it all down with.
It’s the perfect place to rest and recoup before finishing the rest of the hike.
This is Bavaria, after all, and no trip would be complete without trying the local delicacies.
Photo on Instagram
Read more about authentic travel experiences in Baltic Outlook.