Bavaria is the largest state in Germany. It’s located in south-east Germany and is renowned for its pristine and varied countryside featuring picturesque lakes, stunning mountain panoramas, lush valleys, scenic forests and charming villages.

Southern Bavaria is home to two of Europe’s most popular hiking regions - the Bavarian Alps and the Alpine Foothills. Fortunately, walking trails in Bavaria are easy to access thanks to the extensive network of public transport. The best time for hiking in Bavaria is between April and October.

The Bavarian Alps form a natural divide along the border with Austria. This enables some excellent cross-border alpine and mountain hiking options covering both Bavaria and Austria. One such option is the fascinating Salzalpensteig trail which traverses 230 kilometres over 18 stages between Chiemsee Lake in Bavaria and Obertraun in Austria. This low mountain route leads walkers into the historic Salzkammergut (salt springs and salt mines) area. Other highlights include Herrenchiemsee Castle as well as the beautiful lakes of Chiemsee, Konigsee and Halstattersee.

The King Ludwig Way is one of the best-known multi-day walks in the Alpine Foothills area. It is a 127 kilometre trail which is usually undertaken in six stages. This marvellous track provides memorable alpine valley walking whilst also showcasing some of Bavaria’s most significant architectural sites including Hohenschwangau Castle and the Wieskirche pilgrimage church. The star of the show is Neuschwanstein Castle which was commissioned by King Ludwig II in the nineteenth century and later inspired the fairytale “Sleeping Beauty” Castle in Disneyland.

There are many other established multi-day walks in Southern Bavaria featuring a variety of hiking terrains.

Assistance and further information:

• For assistance in undertaking the King Ludwig Way, the Salzalpensteig or any other walks in Bavaria, click the button below.

• For information on other walks in Germany, click the button below.