The 5 Most Beautiful Road Trips Through Germany

5-Day Road Trip Through Southern Germany

• Start and end point: from Frankfurt to Munich
• Stops: Frankfurt – Würzburg – Rothenburg ob der Tauber – Nördlingen – Munich

In the mood for a little storybook Germany? Then this road trip through southern Germany is perfect for you.

You start in Frankfurt and pass through plenty of charming towns on your way to Munich. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dinkelsbühl, and Nördlingen all have a cool historic-town vibe, colorful half-timbered houses, and really great food. And of course there’s plenty of beer too.

You can cruise along the Romantic Road for a large part of the route if you’d rather skip the highway — sounds good, right?

Starting in Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a super modern city to start in. The skyline is really something. But there are also plenty of beautiful historic sights, like the Römer town hall and the Eiserner Steg bridge.

You can check out a few of the highlights, take a boat tour in Frankfurt, and in the evening sip a cocktail along the Main riverfront with a view of the glittering skyline.

Highlights in Frankfurt:

• Sachsenhausen, with its cool cobblestone vibe
• Skyline
• Römer
• Eiserner Steg

Our hotel pick: The Blasky – an affordable place to stay with a great location in Sachsenhausen and stylish rooms.

Stop in Würzburg

Drive time: 1.5–2.5 hours

Next up is Würzburg. But before you reach the city, you can make a quick detour to the wine village of Sommerhausen. It has a lovely little old quarter and sits right in the middle of the vineyards.

In Würzburg you’ll have an amazing view of the vineyards too — especially if you grab a wine to go on the Alte Mainbrücke. From here you can also see the fortress sitting on a hill right in the middle of the city.

Highlights in and around Würzburg:

• Sommerhausen
• Alte Mainbrücke, with the Brückenschoppen
• Fortress
• Residenz, with its enormous ceiling fresco

Our hotel pick: Motel One Würzburg – the location is fantastic, right between the Residenz and the historic center. The rooms are really modern and the value for money is great too.

Stop in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Drive time: about 1 hour

The next stop on your road trip through southern Germany is Rothenburg ob der Tauber. You’ve almost certainly seen the old town in photos. And it really is incredibly beautiful! The downside is that it can get a little touristy because of that.

But you can still stroll through the historic district at a leisurely pace and soak up the charming architecture. The town is also ringed by its old city wall, which you can walk along too.

Rothenburg is known for its Schneeballen, by the way. They’re quite dry, but they’re a classic. Best to split one with someone.

Highlights in Rothenburg:

• Old town, with colorful half-timbered houses
• Old city wall
• Schneeballen

Our hotel pick: Mittelsmeier Alter Ego – not right in the old town, but the rooms are really cool and come with rain showers. You’re only a 2–3 minute walk to the old town.

Stop in Nördlingen

Drive time: 1–1.5 hours

Nördlingen is the only town where the city wall is completely walkable all the way around. And you should definitely give it a try — walking the full circuit is seriously cool.

The town just has this great laid-back medieval vibe, with a lovely old town, few tourists, and cute restaurants. If you’re up for it, you can also take a short detour from here to Wallerstein. There’s a castle on a rocky viewpoint with views over the Ries.

On the way to Nördlingen, you can easily make a stop in Dinkelsbühl. It’s right on the route and has one of the best-preserved historic centers in Germany, complete with cobblestones, half-timbered houses, and towers.

Highlights in and around Nördlingen:

• Old city wall
• Daniel Tower of St. George’s Church
• Wallerstein

Our hotel pick: 2nd Home Hotel – a cool hotel near the city wall with a fantastic breakfast.

Ending in Munich

Drive time: 1–1.5 hours
Munich is definitely more than just Oktoberfest and beer — even if the beer here really is excellent. You can cheer on the surfers at the famous Eisbach wave in the English Garden, kick back in a beer garden, stroll through the old town around Marienplatz, or snack your way through the Viktualienmarkt.

And if you want to tack on an extra day or two to your Germany road trip, Munich puts you just one hour from Starnberger See and the mountains.

Highlights in and around Munich:

• English Garden, with the Eisbach wave and beer gardens
• Old town around Marienplatz
• Starnberger See
• Mountains

Our hotel pick: Hotel MIO – stylish décor and great value for money for the old town.

5-Day Road Trip Around Leipzig

• Start and end point: from Dresden to Naumburg
• Stops: Dresden – Leipzig – Quedlinburg – Weimar – Naumburg

This second road trip takes you on a nicely laid-back journey right through the heart of Germany. You’ll see a mix of old-town charm, culture, and natural highlights.

You start in baroque Dresden, wander through creative Leipzig, and visit lesser-known spots like Quedlinburg, Naumburg, and Weimar. This route is perfect if you’re in the mood for beautiful historic towns, cafés, castles, and vineyards — without getting overrun by crowds.

Starting in Dresden

Dresden has so much to offer. It’s the perfect city to kick off your road trip.

Make sure to check out the famous Semperoper and the Zwinger. Beyond those, there are several other impressive baroque structures worth seeing, like the Frauenkirche and an incredible number of palaces.

In the evening you can stroll along the Brühlsche Terrasse. From the terrace you get an amazing view of the historic landmarks.

Highlights in and around Dresden:

• Semperoper
• Zwinger
• Frauenkirche
• Palaces
• Brühlsche Terrasse

Our hotel pick: Hotel Indigo – ideally located right in the old town, with a totally stylish and cozy feel.

Stop in Leipzig

Drive time: 1.5–2.5 hours

Your next destination is Leipzig. There’s just something creative and laid-back about Leipzig — if you can say that about a city. You’ve got cool trendy neighborhoods with bars and street art, plus a few historic sights like the Monument to the Battle of the Nations and the Mädler Passage to check out as well.

Your best bet is to start at the central Augustusplatz with the Panorama Tower, which offers an unbeatable vista. From there, just wander through the neighborhoods at your own pace, and save the Barfußgäßchen — Leipzig’s bar-lined street — for the evening.

Highlights in Leipzig:

• Augustusplatz
• Panorama Tower
• Monument to the Battle of the Nations
• Mädler Passage
• Barfußgäßchen

Our hotel pick: Townhouse – a stylish hotel right in the center. The value for money is excellent.

Stop in Quedlinburg

Drive time: 1.5–2 hours

Quedlinburg is one of the most beautiful small towns in Germany. So of course it has to be included in any list of the best road trips through Germany.

Quedlinburg doesn’t have any one big standout sight. Here, the entire old town is basically the attraction. It’s packed with thousands of half-timbered houses — you just can’t get enough of them. Even the market square is surrounded by them. You really couldn’t ask for a better setting for lunch or dinner.

If you want to see something beyond the charming old town, head up to the collegiate church on Schlossberg hill. From there you also get a great view over the town.

Highlights in Quedlinburg:

• Old town, with the half-timbered houses
• Market square
• Collegiate church

Our hotel pick: Best Western Hotel Schlossmühle – the hotel selection in Quedlinburg isn’t huge, but at the Best Western you’ll stay in a nice, modern hotel right next to the collegiate church.

Stop in Weimar

Drive time: 2–2.5 hours

On the way to Weimar, we recommend making a detour to the Teufelsmauer. It’s a cool rock formation in the Harz that really looks like someone built a massive wall that crumbled away over time.

In Weimar, instead of natural highlights, you’ll find tons of cultural ones. After all, Goethe, Schiller, and Bach all lived here. The Goethe-Schiller Monument is not to be missed, and while you’re at it, you can also visit the homes of both men. After that, be sure to stop by the Duchess Anna Amalia Library with its more than 1 million works.

Highlights in Weimar:

• Goethe-Schiller Monument
• Homes of Goethe and Schiller
• Duchess Anna Amalia Library

Our hotel pick: You can treat yourself and stay at the Hotel Elephant, where both Schiller and Goethe were once guests, or book the Grand Hotel Russischer Hof for excellent value for money.

Ending in Naumburg

Drive time: about 1 hour

The drive to the last stop on your Germany road trip is so short that you could easily take a small detour and visit the Buchenwald Memorial. The memorial is deeply moving and historically significant.

Once you arrive in Naumburg, make sure to visit the cathedral. It’s incredibly impressive. After that, you can wander through the old town with its little alleyways, or grab a bike and take a relaxed ride along the Saale Cycle Route.

If you make it out to the Saale-Unstrut wine region, you can even do a little wine tasting right there on the spot.

Highlights in Naumburg:

• Naumburg Cathedral
• Old town
• Saale Cycle Route

Our hotel pick: Spechtnest – a cool apartment with two bedrooms. Perfect if you’re doing your road trip through Germany with kids.

1-Week Road Trip Through Northern Germany

• Start and end point: from Bremen to Wismar
• Stops: Bremen – Cuxhaven – Hamburg – Lüneburg Heath – Lübeck – Travemünde – Wismar

Northern Germany is always a great idea! That’s why we put together a route for a scenic drive through the north too.

It all starts in Bremen. From there you head east, breathe in fresh sea air in Cuxhaven, enjoy the endless nature of the Lüneburg Heath, and head to the Baltic Sea for a mudflat hike or some beach time.

Starting in Bremen

Your very first stop in Bremen has to be the Bremen Town Musicians. Non-negotiable. The square where the statue stands is also a lovely little spot in its own right.

Nearby, you’ll find the Bremen Loch. Drop a coin into the drain and animal sounds will play. It’s a particular highlight if you’re doing the road trip through Germany with kids.

Beyond that, Bremen has points of interest like the winding Schnoor quarter and the Schlachte Weser Promenade. The promenade is especially great in the evening for a relaxed drink.

Highlights in Bremen:

• Bremen Town Musicians
• Bremen Loch
• Schnoor quarter
• Schlachte Weser Promenade

Our hotel pick: MEININGER Hotel Bremen – great transportation connections and affordable rooms for couples, families, and solo travelers.

Stop in Cuxhaven

Drive time: 1–2 hours

On the way to Cuxhaven, you can stop in Fischerhude and Bremerhaven first. Fischerhude is a small artists’ village, and in Bremerhaven you can check out the enormous harbor.

Cuxhaven sits idyllically among the North Sea dunes. The wide Duhnen beach is the most beautiful spot. From the Alte Liebe viewing platform you get the best view of the sea. And if you want to get even closer, you can go on a mudflat hike.

Alternatively, a ferry runs from Cuxhaven to the North Sea island of Helgoland. You could easily spend a whole day on the island with its famous Lange Anna rock. Ferries are available through Reederei Cassen Eils. They depart from Cuxhaven to Helgoland between 9:30 and 2 p.m., and return between 3:30 and 6 p.m.

Highlights in and around Cuxhaven:

• Duhnen beach
• Alte Liebe
• Mudflat hike
• Helgoland

Our hotel pick: Das Oswald’s Boutique Hotel – set in a green location between the Döse and Duhnen beaches. The hotel is decorated with great attention to detail in a boho style.

Stop in Hamburg

Drive time: about 2.5 hours

Next up is Hamburg. The city is simply stunning and has a ton to offer. Your best bet is to leave Cuxhaven early so you get as much out of Hamburg as possible.

In Hamburg you can check out the Elbphilharmonie, wander through the Speicherstadt and HafenCity, and spend your evening in the Schanzenviertel or at a musical.

We also really recommend a harbor boat tour in Hamburg, or if you want something a bit more unique, a canoe trip on the Alster. That’s one of our favorite things to do in Hamburg.

Highlights in Hamburg:

• Elbphilharmonie
• Speicherstadt
• HafenCity
• Schanzenviertel
• Musicals
• Harbor boat tour

Our hotel pick: Henri Hotel – stylishly decorated and right in the center. Perfect if it’s your first time in Hamburg.

Stop in the Lüneburg Heath

Drive time: about 1 hour

After all those cities, it’s time to head into nature. The Lüneburg Heath is the perfect place to enjoy it — especially if you’re planning your Germany road trip during the heather bloom in August.

But the heath is beautiful even when it’s not in bloom. You can hike up Wilseder Berg and enjoy the panorama over the heath, or walk through the Totengrund valley. You’ll find great trails on Komoot. The little heath village of Undeloh is a great spot to take a break and grab a coffee.

Highlights in the Lüneburg Heath:

• Heather bloom (early August to early September)
• Wilseder Berg
• Totengrund
• Undeloh

Our hotel pick: Schmucke Witwe – every room is modern and lovingly decorated with motifs from the Lüneburg Heath. It’s located on the southeastern edge of the heath.

Stop in Lübeck

Drive time: 1.5–2 hours

Your next stop is the medieval city of Lübeck. The old town sits on an island. Walk through the Holstentor to enter the old town — that way you take in Lübeck’s most iconic landmark right away.

In the old town you can wander through the narrow alleyways and admire the beautiful buildings. It’s also worth joining a vault tour at St. Mary’s Church. On the two-hour tour you’ll see the nearly 130-foot-high vaults from above and can look out over the old town and the surrounding area.

Highlights in Lübeck:

• Holstentor
• Old town island
• St. Mary’s Church

Our hotel pick: Fisher’s Loft Hotel – a stylish hotel in an old Rococo warehouse with outstanding reviews.

Stop in Travemünde

Drive time: 0.5 hours

After Lübeck it’s back to the water — this time the Baltic Sea. Fittingly, Travemünde has a lovely beach to offer. It’s a great spot to slip a beach day into your road trip.

And if you want to see a bit of the town too, visit the old lighthouse or the Passat — a museum ship in Travemünde’s harbor.

Highlights in Travemünde:

• Beach
• Old lighthouse
• Passat

Our hotel pick: Deutscher Kaiser – right on the harbor. The beach is only about a 15-minute walk away and breakfast is delicious.

Ending in Wismar

Drive time: about 1 hour

On the last day of your road trip through Germany, you arrive in Wismar. What we love most about Wismar is the old harbor with its fish sandwich stands and colorful fishing boats. It’s a great spot for photos.

After that, grab a coffee on the market square and in the evening head out to the Wendorf Pier to watch the sunset over the sea.

Highlights in Wismar:

• Old harbor
• Market square
• Wendorf Pier

Our hotel pick: Hanse House Wismar – a modern, newly opened hotel in a historic townhouse. You’ll be staying right between the old harbor and the market square.

1-Week Road Trip Through Southern Germany

• Start and end point: from Schwäbisch Hall to Mittenwald
• Stops: Schwäbisch Hall – Stuttgart – Tübingen – Lake Constance – Füssen – Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Mittenwald

This one-week road trip through southern Germany gives you a real feel for the region — with half-timbered houses, Alpine panoramas, and castles.

Along the way you can take a dip in Lake Constance and explore charming little towns.

Starting in Schwäbisch Hall

You kick off your one-week road trip through Germany in the charming little town of Schwäbisch Hall. The old town is packed with half-timbered houses, you can stroll along the Kocher River, and photograph the grand outdoor staircase in front of St. Michael’s Church on the market square.

If you have time for a short detour, make sure to visit the Comburg Monastery complex as well. From the old monastery fortress you get a wonderful panoramic view.

Highlights in and around Schwäbisch Hall:

• Old town, with lots of half-timbered houses
• Market square
• Comburg Monastery complex

Our hotel pick: Gasthof Goldener Adler – a cool hotel right on the market square. Make sure to look up at the ceiling — you might get one of the rooms with decorative painted ceilings.

Stop in Stuttgart

Drive time: about 1.5 hours

After the small town of Schwäbisch Hall, you’re heading straight to a cool big city: Stuttgart. The city is famous for its car manufacturing — a visit to the Mercedes-Benz Museum is practically a must. If that’s not your thing, you can also hang out at Schlossplatz, do some shopping, and people-watch.

For sunset, put the Grabkapelle auf dem Württemberg on your radar — it’s a short drive outside the city. The view over the city from that hilltop at golden hour is seriously beautiful.

Highlights in Stuttgart:

• Mercedes-Benz Museum
• Schlossplatz, with the Königsbau
• Grabkapelle auf dem Württemberg

Our hotel pick: Rioca Stuttgart Posto 4 – a stylish hotel with hanging chairs and cool wallpapers.

Stop in Tübingen

Drive time: about 1 hour

On the way to Tübingen, you can plan an intermediate stop in Esslingen. Enjoy the sweet old town, the view from Esslingen Castle, and the vineyards surrounding the city before continuing on to Tübingen.

The historic center of Tübingen, with its colorful houses, is at least as beautiful as Esslingen’s. And it has a cool bonus: you can glide along the Neckar in punting boats just like in Venice. In the evening, grab some wine and snacks and have a picnic on the green Neckar Island.

Highlights in Tübingen:

• Old town
• Hohentübingen Castle
• Punting on the Neckar
• Neckar Island

Our hotel pick: Hotel Metropol – modern, clean-lined rooms at a very good price-to-value ratio.

Stop at Lake Constance

Drive time: 2–2.5 hours

You’ve already checked out three cool cities. Now it’s time to slow down and enjoy Germany’s nature. That’s where Lake Constance comes in perfectly.

At Lake Constance you’re completely free to do whatever you like. You can simply lounge at a lido and relax, explore towns like Konstanz or Friedrichshafen, go out on the lake by boat, or go hiking.

We recommend checking out Konstanz, then stopping at Germany’s oldest inhabited castle, and wrapping up the day at a lido — Strandbad Eriskirch, for example.

Highlights at Lake Constance:

• Lake Constance
• Konstanz
• Lidos
• Meersburg Castle
• Hiking

Our hotel pick: RIVA – the hotel is right on Lake Constance in Konstanz and even has a pool.

Stop in Füssen

Drive time: 2–2.5 hours

The standout attraction in Füssen is obviously Neuschwanstein Castle. Plan at least a photo stop here — your best bet is to leave Lake Constance very early to get there before the bus loads of tourists arrive.

The other things to see in and around Füssen are a bit more low-key. These include the impressive Lechfall, the charming old town, and the Hopfensee lake. You can take those in at a leisurely pace after Neuschwanstein.

Highlights in and around Füssen:

• Neuschwanstein Castle
• Lechfall
• Old town
• Hopfensee

Our hotel pick: annes*glück – sweet little apartments with mountain views.

Stop in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Drive time: about 1 hour

It’s not a long drive to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. That gives you plenty of time to explore the area.

Get splashed in the famous Partnach Gorge, ride the gondola up to the Zugspitze — or hike up if you have a bit more time and stamina. And stroll down the Historic Ludwig Street.

If you have time left over, a quick detour to Eibsee is absolutely worth it. The lake with the Alpine panorama in the background is quite a sight.

Highlights in and around Garmisch-Partenkirchen:

• Partnach Gorge
• Zugspitze
• Historic Ludwig Street
• Eibsee
• Hiking

Our hotel pick: Werdenfelserei – this hotel is just wow. The Alpine panorama, the pool, and the stylish rooms are a genius combination, but it doesn’t come cheap. You can save a bit more at the Aurikel.

Ending in Mittenwald

Drive time: about 0.5 hours

And just like that, your one-week road trip through Germany is coming to an end. Mittenwald is your final stop.

Treat yourself one last time and stop in at the rustic Gasthof Alpenrose. Refreshed and fueled up, make sure to check out the old town with its Lüftlmalerei-painted houses and take a short trip to the Leutasch Gorge with its cool suspension bridge.

Highlights in and around Mittenwald:

• Gasthof Alpenrose
• Old town, with the Lüftlmalerei-painted houses
• Leutasch Gorge

Our hotel pick: Hotel Bichlerhof – a sweet property with stylish décor and even a pool.

14-Day Road Trip Across All of Germany

• Start and end point: from Hamburg to Leipzig
• Stops: Hamburg – Lüneburg Heath – Cologne – Traben-Trarbach – Tübingen – Lake Constance – Munich – Regensburg – Dresden – Leipzig

With our 14-day road trip through Germany, you take things a little slower. Instead of moving to a new city every day, you spend two days in some places.

But you still get to travel through all of Germany, taking in the rugged coastline in the north, relaxed wine regions in the west, stunning mountains in the south, and charming little old towns in the east. Excited yet? Then let us walk you through the route in detail.

By the way, you can start at any stop you like. If you’re coming from Leipzig and heading north, we’d just recommend doing the Lüneburg Heath before Hamburg.

Starting in Hamburg

It all starts in Hamburg. You’ll spend the first two days of your trip here so you can really experience the city.

Check out the gorgeous Elbphilharmonie, take a harbor boat tour through Hamburg, and admire the narrow waterfront buildings — or head to the Speicherstadt and HafenCity for some great photos.

For the evening, we recommend drinks in the Schanzenviertel and a musical. Die Heiße Ecke and The Lion King are especially worth it.

Highlights in Hamburg:

• Elbphilharmonie
• Speicherstadt
• HafenCity
• Schanzenviertel
• Musicals
• Harbor boat tour

Our hotel pick: Henri Hotel – stylishly decorated and right in the center. Perfect if it’s your first time in Hamburg.

Stop in the Lüneburg Heath

Drive time: about 1 hour

After Hamburg it’s time to head into nature. The Lüneburg Heath is especially worthwhile between early August and early September, when the heather is in bloom and the whole heath glows in shades of purple. Pretty cool, right?

Of course, the Lüneburg Heath is worth a stop on your Germany road trip outside of heather season too. You can climb Wilseder Berg and enjoy the view, or hike through the Totengrund valley.

Highlights in the Lüneburg Heath:

• Heather bloom (early August to early September)
• Wilseder Berg
• Totengrund
• Undeloh

Our hotel pick: Schmucke Witwe – every room is modern and lovingly decorated with motifs from the Lüneburg Heath. It’s located on the southeastern edge of the heath.

Stop in Cologne

Drive time: about 4 hours

For the next leg you’re best off getting an early start, since it’s a longer drive. You’ll spend two days in Cologne anyway, but more time in such a cool city never hurts, right?

In Cologne, you obviously have to start with the Cologne Cathedral. It’s incredibly impressive both inside and out. You can climb the south tower for €8 and enjoy the view from the top. After that, head to the old town with the Alter Markt and the Hohenzollern Bridge with all its love locks.

And since you have two days in Cologne, you’ll likely have time left over to take a boat trip through Cologne and visit one of Cologne’s brewhouses. A Kölsch tasting is of course part of the deal.

Highlights in Cologne:

• Cologne Cathedral
• Alter Markt
• Hohenzollern Bridge
• Boat trip
• Cologne brewhouses

Our hotel pick: 25hours Hotel The Circle – one of our favorite hotels in the old town. The rooms are super stylish and modern, and the value for money is really good.

Stop in Traben-Trarbach

Drive time: about 2 hours
Traben-Trarbach is a pleasant contrast to Cologne — peaceful and set right in the vineyards. You can explore the old town with its Art Nouveau villas, and you definitely shouldn’t miss a guided tour of the wine cellars beneath Traben-Trarbach or a wine tasting at one of the local wineries.

You can also take a great walk through the vineyards and combine it with a visit to the Grevenburg Castle ruins. Barely a wall is still standing, but it looks really cool, and from up here you get a great view of the Moselle.

Highlights in and around Traben-Trarbach:

• Old town, with the Art Nouveau villas
• Vaulted cellars beneath Traben-Trarbach
• Vineyards
• Grevenburg Castle ruins

Our hotel pick: Hotel Goldene Traube – a new boutique hotel lovingly run by a young couple. You get modern, stylish rooms and great value for money.

Stop in Tübingen

Drive time: about 3.5 hours

The drive to Tübingen is a bit longer again. But a relaxed afternoon there is all you really need. You can stroll through the old town and take a punting boat ride on the Neckar — think gondola rides in Venice. Pretty cool, right?

Then wind down the evening with a relaxed picnic on the green Neckar Island.

And if you set off early enough or still have time to spare, we recommend a detour to Hohentübingen Castle. The castle itself isn’t that spectacular, but from up there you get a wonderful view over the city.

Highlights in Tübingen:

• Old town
• Hohentübingen Castle
• Punting on the Neckar
• Neckar Island

Our hotel pick: Hotel Metropol – modern, clean-lined rooms at a very good price-to-value ratio.

Stop at Lake Constance

Drive time: about 2 hours

We recommend two days at Lake Constance as well. That way you can actually spend a few hours just relaxing in nature during your road trip. Find a nice lido to lounge at, grab a bike for a little tour, or take a trip into the mountains.

If you can’t get enough of cities and sightseeing, we recommend Konstanz and Meersburg Castle — Germany’s oldest inhabited castle.

Highlights at Lake Constance:

• Lake Constance
• Konstanz
• Lidos
• Meersburg Castle
• Hiking

Our hotel pick: RIVA – the hotel is right on Lake Constance in Konstanz and even has a pool.

Stop in Munich

Drive time: about 2.5 hours

Your next stop is Munich. In the Bavarian capital you can chill in the English Garden and watch the surfers on the Eisbach wave, stroll through the old town around Marienplatz, or — if you still haven’t had your fill of lakes — take a day trip from here to Starnberger See.

Check if there’s a cool event at the Olympic Park in the evening. It’s definitely worth treating yourself to a great concert, an outdoor movie, or festival tickets. You can also listen to concerts from the Olympiaberg completely for free — something lots of locals do in summer.

Highlights in and around Munich:

• English Garden, with the Eisbach wave and beer gardens
• Old town around Marienplatz
• Olympic Park
• Starnberger See
• Mountains

Our hotel pick: Hotel MIO – stylish décor and great value for money for the old town.

Stop in Regensburg

Drive time: 1.5–2 hours

It’s not a long drive from Munich to Regensburg. The city isn’t as big as Munich, but it has a lot to offer — starting with the Stone Bridge, the heart of Regensburg.

From the bridge it’s just a few minutes’ walk to St. Peter’s Cathedral. Around the cathedral you’ll find charming beer gardens, little boutiques, and really good ice cream shops. Oh, and don’t forget to grab a bratwurst at the Wurstkuchl on your way. It’s the oldest bratwurst stand in the world.

Highlights in Regensburg:

• Stone Bridge
• St. Peter’s Cathedral
• Wurstkuchl bratwurst stand

Our hotel pick: Hotel Goldenes Kreuz – a super centrally located old-town hotel. In the morning you can look forward to a delicious à la carte breakfast.

Stop in Dresden

Drive time: about 3.5 hours

The drive to Dresden is a longer one again. But don’t worry — we’ve planned two days in the city especially for that reason.

On your first day, start by exploring the city. The old town alone keeps you very busy. It’s packed with historic buildings: the famous Semperoper, the impressive Zwinger with its beautiful gardens, and of course the Frauenkirche. You can also visit countless palaces and stroll along the Brühlsche Terrasse.

For your second day, we recommend a trip to Saxon Switzerland. It’s about an hour’s drive away and absolutely stunning with its Elbe Sandstone Mountains and the Bastei Bridge.

Highlights in and around Dresden:

• Semperoper
• Zwinger
• Frauenkirche
• Palaces
• Brühlsche Terrasse
• Saxon Switzerland

Our hotel pick: Hotel Indigo – ideally located right in the old town, with a totally stylish and cozy feel.

Ending in Leipzig

Drive time: 1.5–2.5 hours

Leipzig is the last city of your road trip through Germany, and you’re going to make the most of it.

Your best starting point is Augustusplatz. The square is already flanked by great buildings like the Panorama Tower. From there, head into the old town and check out the Mädler Passage — a really cool shopping arcade. And make sure the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, a bit outside the city center, is on your list too.

Then wrap up the evening in the Barfußgäßchen, where restaurants and bars line up one after another.

Highlights in Leipzig:

• Augustusplatz
• Panorama Tower
• Mädler Passage
• Monument to the Battle of the Nations
• Barfußgäßchen

Our hotel pick: Townhouse – a stylish hotel right in the center. The value for money is excellent.