Lonely Planet, one of the world’s top publishers of travel guidebooks, has released its guide to “Best in Travel 2025” and among its top recommended regions to visit is the Free State of Bavaria, Germany.
“Hip modernity and cherished traditions, mathematical perfection and beer tent feasts – the Free State has an unmistakable, but often contradictory character,” writes Lonely Planet in a brief explanation about why Germany’s southern state was listed seventh among the world’s top regions to visit.
What to see in Bavaria?
Among Bavaria’s best known tourist attractions are the Neuschwanstein Castle of King Ludwig II, known for its fairytale aesthetic, and the region’s infamous beer gardens.
The 2025 guidebook recommends stopping for a beer at the Chinese Tower in Munich in particular, which might seem like an odd thing to come to Germany of all places to do but it is a sight to behold. While you’re at it you can enjoy plenty of other sights and activities to be found nearby in the city’s central English Garden.
Neuschwanstein and Alpsee in Bavaria. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand
No matter which biergarten you end up in, you can be sure that beer on tap will be some of the best in the world.
READ ALSO: 365 German beers – What I learned from drinking a different variety each day
Other Munich sights mentioned in the guidebook include Oktoberfest and the Allianz Arena, which is planned to host the Champions League final on May 31st in 2025.
Advertisement
Beyond Munich, the authors at Lonely Planet recommend taking a boat across the Königssee in the Berchtesgadener Land.
They also recommend Garmisch-Partenkirchen for mountain adventures, noting Germany’s highest mountain Zugspitze is found there along with the impressively narrow Partnach Gorge.
READ ALSO:
Other mentions
Beyond Bavaria, Germany scored one other mention in the “Travel Trends” section of the 2025 guidebook.
A notable travel trend for the coming year is visiting cities with spectacular drag shows, Lonely Planet suggests. Among them are cities like Bangkok and Sydney and Berlin.
Queer nightlife events occur year round in the German Capital city, but the guidebook calls attention to an event in November in particular – the Mx. Kotti competition, which is a drag beauty pageant where contestants compete for the title of King, or Queen, or Thing of Kreuzberg.
Another German-speaking region that received high-praise in the 2025 guidebook is the Swiss canton of Valais – home to Verbier, Zermatt and the Matterhorn.
Being a six hour drive from Munich, an enthusiastic traveller might consider looping both regions into a trip.
READ ALSO: Switzerland names its ‘most beautiful village’ of 2024
With reporting by DPA.
This post was originally published on here
