A 10-day scenic driving loop from Munich through the peaks of Tyrol, Bavarian castles, and Salzburg.
This 10-day road trip loops through southern Germany and the Austrian Alps. You fly into Munich, rent a car, and drive south into the mountains.
It is built for travelers who want to see the major castles and alpine passes without rushing. Having a rental car is mandatory here. The trains are excellent for city-hopping, but a car is the only way to reach the Wieskirche, the Highline179 suspension bridge, and the trailheads on your own schedule.
You cross the border into Austria on day five. The driving times are highly manageable, with no single leg taking more than two hours.
You fly out of Chicago O'Hare (ORD) on Lufthansa flight 437 at 15:35, landing in Munich (MUC) at 07:05 the next morning. The outbound flight takes about 8½ hours. Your return flight is Lufthansa 436, departing Munich at 10:00 and landing back in Chicago at 12:35 after about 9½ hours in the air.
| Leg | Flight | Route | Times (local) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outbound | LH 437 | ORD → MUC | 15:35 → 07:05+1 | 8h 30m |
| Return | LH 436 | MUC → ORD | 10:00 → 12:35 | 9h 35m |
Munich is Germany's wealthiest city and serves as the perfect launchpad for a Bavarian road trip. After landing, pick up your rental car and head straight to your hotel to drop off your luggage. Your first afternoon is about staying awake to beat jet lag. Walk to Marienplatz to see the Glockenspiel, then sit down for a heavy Bavarian dinner of roast pork and dumplings at Augustiner-Keller or Hofbräuhaus.
The next day takes you slightly out of the center to Nymphenburg Palace, the massive summer residence of the Bavarian monarchs. Spend the afternoon walking through the Englischer Garten. Stop at the Eisbachwelle to watch surfers ride the standing river wave before finding a beer garden for the evening.
Arrival & City Stroll
Arrive in Munich, pick up your rental car, and head to Marienplatz.
Palaces and Parks
Tour the opulent Nymphenburg Palace and walk through the Englischer Garten.
MOMA1890 Boutique Hotel is our top pick for its 4.5 rating and highly competitive $178 rate. If you want direct transit access, Hilton Munich City sits right above the S-Bahn station for $199. Novotel Muenchen City is a solid value option at $118 a night.
The drive south from Munich takes about an hour and a half. Make a point to stop at the Wieskirche on the way. It looks like a simple church from the outside, but the interior is an elaborate Rococo masterpiece. Once you reach Füssen, spend your first afternoon exploring the pastel streets of the Old Town and walking up to the High Castle.
Your second day is dedicated to King Ludwig II's legacy. Neuschwanstein Castle draws massive crowds, so you need to book your entry tickets weeks in advance. After touring the castle and getting the mandatory photo from Marienbrücke, walk down to the Alpsee lake. The loop trail around the water is much quieter and offers excellent views of the Alps.
The Romantic Road
Drive south to the alpine town of Füssen, stopping at the Wieskirche.
Fairy-Tale Castles
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle and hike the quiet loop trail around the Alpsee.
Hotel Sonne is our best overall pick at $242, located right by the Old Town with on-site parking. For a quieter retreat, hideauts hotels Der Rosengarten sits in a private park for $169. The Best Western Plus Hotel Füssen is a reliable historic option at $252.
Crossing into Austria via the Fernpass route takes about an hour and a half. Break up the drive by stopping at the Highline179, a massive suspension bridge spanning a valley between two castle ruins. Once you arrive in Innsbruck, park the car and walk the medieval Old Town to see the Golden Roof and the Hofkirche.
Innsbruck sits directly at the base of the Nordkette mountains. The next morning, take the funicular designed by Zaha Hadid from the city center up to the cable car station. You will be at 2,256 meters in under half an hour. In the afternoon, drive to Ambras Castle to see its famous Spanish Hall and armory collections.
Alpine Passes to Tyrol
Cross the Austrian border, walk the Highline179 bridge, and explore Innsbruck.
Top of Innsbruck
Take the Nordkette cable car up the mountain and tour Ambras Castle.
AC Hotel by Marriott Innsbruck is the best overall choice, offering spectacular mountain views for $164. Hotel Central is highly popular and features an on-site Viennese coffee house for $203. For a budget option, ibis Innsbruck is reliable and right by the train station at $187.
The two-hour drive to Salzburg briefly dips back into Germany. Stop at the medieval town of Kufstein along the way to ride the funicular up to the valley fortress. When you reach Salzburg, stretch your legs in the manicured Mirabell Gardens before dinner.
Salzburg is compact and best navigated on foot. Take the funicular up to the Hohensalzburg Fortress first thing in the morning to beat the major crowds. Spend the rest of the day wandering Getreidegasse, noting the wrought-iron guild signs, and touring the museum where Mozart was born.
Drive to Mozart's City
Drive to Salzburg with a stop at the medieval Kufstein Fortress.
Fortresses and Heritage
Explore the Hohensalzburg Fortress and walk Mozart's hometown streets.
Cocoon Salzburg is an excellent modern choice at a very reasonable $164 per night. NH Collection Salzburg City is perfectly located near the Old Town for $226. HYPERION Hotel Salzburg offers a luxurious 5-star experience near Mirabell Palace for $278.
The drive back to Munich takes about an hour and a half. Instead of driving straight through, stop at Lake Chiemsee and take a short boat ride to the island to see Herrenchiemsee, another of King Ludwig's palaces. Once back in Munich, drop your bags and head to the Viktualienmarkt beer garden. It is the perfect place to end the trip with a final pretzel and a pint.
Your departure day is strictly logistical. It takes about 30 minutes to drive to the airport. Follow the signs for rental car return before heading to your terminal.
Return to Bavaria
Stop at Lake Chiemsee on the drive back to Munich for a final beer garden visit.
Departure
Return your rental car at Munich Airport and fly home.
For this quick transit stay, MOMA1890 Boutique Hotel is perfect at $177. Hilton Munich City at $199 sits above the S-Bahn, making any morning transit incredibly straightforward. gambino hotel WERKSVIERTEL is a highly affordable modern option at just $127.
A rental car is strictly required for this itinerary. You pick it up at Munich Airport upon arrival and return it there before your flight home. The driving is highly manageable, with routes taking between 1½ and 2 hours. You must buy an Austrian Autobahn Vignette toll sticker at a gas station before crossing the border.
May, June, September, and October offer the best balance of open mountain roads and manageable crowds. Summer days are warm, but alpine evenings get crisp quickly.
Euros are used in both Germany and Austria. Credit cards work almost everywhere, but you need coin cash for rural parking meters and small alpine bakeries.
Yes, an International Driving Permit is highly recommended and often required by rental agencies. You can get one easily at your local AAA office before you leave. It acts as a standard translation of your US driver's license.
You need to purchase a physical or digital toll sticker known as a Vignette. Stop at a German gas station near the border to buy the physical sticker and place it on your windshield. Failing to have one results in steep fines.
Book them as soon as they become available for your dates, often weeks or months in advance. The castle strictly limits daily visitors. Walk-up tickets are rarely available during peak travel months.
City centers restrict street parking, but public garages are plentiful and clearly marked. Ensure your hotel has dedicated parking or a partner garage nearby to save time upon arrival.
Manual transmissions are the default in Europe. If you need an automatic, you must specifically request and reserve one when booking your rental car, as they sell out quickly and cost slightly more.