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Munich Beer Experience
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Munich History & Culture
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Andechs & Munich
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Munich Beer Garden - Dinner Evening
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Tours of Bavaria
Oktoberfest Best of Bavaria
Oktoberfest Best of Bavaria 2027 13 Nights
sold Out
08 Sep 2027 - 21 Sep 2027
Stops
Rothenburg ob der Tauber Rothenburg ob der Tauber Bamberg Füssen Füssen Füssen Berchtesgarden Salzburg Berchtesgarden Munich Munich Munich Munich Munich
Truly Bavaria's Best: Experience the medieval village of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, plus the Royal Castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, a local Viehscheid celebration, the Eagle's Nest, a day in Salzburg (Austria), and Herrenchiemsee Palace. The trip culminates with BOTH Oktoberfest Parades in Munich and two visits to Oktoberfest!
$ 4135 p.p.
$ 4460 for single
$ 4460 for single
Truly Bavaria's Best: Experience the medieval village of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, plus the Royal Castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, a local Viehscheid celebration, the Eagle's Nest, a day in Salzburg (Austria), and Herrenchiemsee Palace. The trip culminates with BOTH Oktoberfest Parades in Munich and two visits to Oktoberfest!
Our price includes Breakfast & Dinner daily, all ground transportation, 2 drinks at dinner, 2 Oktoberfest reservations (with 2 liters per person there), and all tours as described. You just need to purchase your own airfare to Munich. With us, you will experience the rich culture of Bavaria while learning about the history and origins of the many traditions. We do Oktoberfest for adults!
Departing from Munich airport at 11:00 AM, we drive north 2.5 hours to the small village of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. One of the best known towns with its medieval wall intact, our family owned and operated hotel is located inside the wall.
In the early evening we gather for a memorable Franconian meal, Sauerbraten. Since this is wine country, it's a great time to sample the wine produced by the owners of the hotel. The Silvaner grape is the primary choice in the region, and you can discover for yourself why it's the white wine of choice for so many - including Pope Benedict and England's former queen.
Sleep in and enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel, followed by an orientation tour of this remarkable medieval town. During your free time, visit St. Jakob Church to see the famous Tilman Riemenschneider Blood Altar, or explore the Medieval Crime Museum and the Reichsstadt Museum. In the evening, we enjoy another great Franconian meal at Hotel Glocke. Before dinner, we’ll take part in an exclusive wine tasting with the hotel proprietor’s husband. Herr Thürauf produces his own local wines from the Silvaner grape and has made a name for himself redeveloping heirloom varieties—his passion for the craft makes this an incredible highlight of our stay.
After breakfast at Hotel Glocke, we board our bus for a 90-minute journey to the historic city of Bamberg. We visit the Bamberg Cathedral, home to the famous "Bamberg Knight" (Bamberger Reiter), and take in Cathedral Square before descending into the heart of the city. Virtually untouched in WWII, Bamberg maintains its status as a UNESCO World Heritage City. Lunch is planned at Schlenkerla immediately following our city tour. Famed for its Rauchbier (smoked beer) and the classic Bamberg Onion, it is the ultimate Franconian pairing!
After our late lunch, enjoy a free afternoon exploring Bamberg's charming timbered alleys or checking out one of the city's many other historic craft breweries! Mahrs and Keesman definitely make that list!
Packing up our things, we drive a good stretch of the Romantic Road on our way south to the Alps. We will make a long stop at Kloster Andechs for lunch. Known to locals as "the Holy Mountain," it offers a beautiful Rococo church along with fantastic Schweinehaxe and world-class Doppelbock beer. After a hearty lunch, we continue south and stop off for a brief visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Wieskirche. Once in Füssen, we check into our hotel in the quiet spa district, where most rooms at Hotel Ruchti offer balconies facing the Alps.
This morning we venture into the countryside to witness the traditional festive cattle drive (Almabtrieb or Viehscheid)! We head across the Austrian border to the small alpine village of Nesselwängle in the Tannheimer Tal. If the dairy cattle make it through the summer season on the high pastures with no losses, they are gussied up in grand fashion with large ceremonial bells and elaborate flower bonnets. The village sets up a lively beer garden along with local food offerings for us to enjoy as the decorated herds process through the town. After the cows come home, we take the other way around the mountain range and stop at the Post Hotel in Nesselwang for dinner.
Awake to a traditional German breakfast, complete with freshly baked goods and strong, dark coffee. Today we set off to explore the legendary castles of King Ludwig II. We start our study of this enigmatic monarch at his childhood residence, Hohenschwangau Castle. Rebuilt by Ludwig's father, King Maximilian II, this neo-Gothic palace is where the young prince spent his formative years immersed in romantic legends.
Just across the valley sits his own dreamlike creation—the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle. We tour both castles to see how his early childhood inspired his grand architectural vision. Afterward, we return to Füssen to enjoy a relaxing afternoon exploring its historic Old Town.
After a hearty breakfast, we head east through the Bavarian Alps toward Berchtesgadener Land. Our first adventure takes us deep inside the mountain at the historic Salzbergwerk (Berchtesgaden Salt Mine). A small miner's train carries us underground to enjoy two wooden slides and the stunning beauty of a subterranean salt lake.
Afterward, we visit Enzianbrennerei Grassl, Germany's oldest gentian distillery, to sample traditional mountain spirits crafted here since 1692. We then check into our hotel near the shores of Lake Königssee, nestled right inside the National Park. Dinner tonight will be served on the lakefront, located just a short, flat walk from our hotel.
After breakfast, we travel just a few miles to the Obersalzberg, the mountainside that once served as a southern headquarters for Nazi officials and now acts as the transit point for visits to the Eagle's Nest (Kehlsteinhaus). We ride to the summit to tour this historic site while taking in sweeping panoramic alpine views.
Next, we cross the border into the Austrian city of Salzburg. We'll explore the historic center of Mozart's birthplace and enjoy free time for shopping and wandering. Join me at Sporer for some traditional house-blended Schnapps, Café Fürst for the original Mozartkugeln, or Café Sacher for authentic Sacher Torte and coffee. For dinner, we gather at Salzburg's famous Augustiner Bräustübl Mülln—grab a stoneware stein off the shelf, rinse it at the fountain, and have it filled straight from the wooden barrel for a truly authentic Austrian beer hall experience!
If weather allows, ride the Jennerbahn cable car all the way to the top of Jenner Mountain for sweeping panoramic views across the Alps, and either hike down halfway with Scott or take the cable car back down. If the weather doesn't cooperate, you can opt for shopping with Vonia or relax at the local spa and sauna center in downtown Berchtesgaden.
In the afternoon, we take to stunning Lake Königssee! We board an electric boat for a peaceful 40-minute cruise out to the famous peninsula of St. Bartholomä. This historic pilgrimage church, set against the backdrop of the majestic Watzmann mountain face, is the iconic symbol of Berchtesgadener Land. Dinner tonight is planned at Jenner-Kaser—a cozy alpine hut nestled at the foot of Jenner Mountain, located within easy walking distance of our hotel.
This morning we take our leave of the Alps as we return toward the Bavarian capital of Munich. En route, we stop at Lake Chiemsee, affectionately known as the "Bavarian Sea." A quick boat ride brings us to Herreninsel, home to King Ludwig II’s grand Herrenchiemsee Palace—his stunning tribute to Versailles. We enjoy a guided tour of the lavish palace interior, followed by lunch on the island before taking the boat back to the mainland. Arriving at Hotel Alter Wirt, we check into our rooms and enjoy an evening at leisure. As one of Munich's premier organic hotel-restaurants, the regional food at Alter Wirt is downright amazing!
Wake up late and linger over the organic breakfast at Alter Wirt. Today is the opening day of Oktoberfest, and we'll watch as the tent hosts (Festwirte) and traditional beer horse drays make their grand procession to the Wiesn (Einzug der Festwirte und Brauereien). After the parade, we break off to explore the city. Founded in 1158, Munich has a rich history spanning the First, Second, and infamous Third Reich.
Our walking tour through Munich's Old Town covers all these eras—medieval architecture, historical anecdotes, and insights into local culture. We begin in the heart of the city at Marienplatz. After hearing the chiming of the famous Glockenspiel, we set off to see the Neues and Altes Rathaus (New and Old City Hall), the iconic Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Lady), and Munich's vibrant open-air market, the Viktualienmarkt. We also trace part of the route of Hitler's failed Beer Hall Putsch of 1923, see where he attended his first DAP (German Workers' Party) meeting, and visit the site of his first major public address. As we walk, we will discuss the historical personalities who shaped the Bavarian capital into the city it is today.
Dinner tonight is at the storied Weisses Bräuhaus, with plenty of Schneider Weisse beer to go around!
At 10:00 AM, the massive Trachten- und Schützenzug (Costume and Riflemen's Parade) begins! This world-famous procession features over 9,000 participants: traditional marching bands, historic shooting clubs, falconry groups, coopers, and vibrant heritage societies from across Bavaria and Europe.
After the parade, we'll grab lunch in one of Munich's beautiful beer gardens. Tonight, it's our turn to join the fest! In the late afternoon, we make our way to the Wiesn (Oktoberfest grounds). Our reserved seats await us in the balcony of the iconic Augustiner-Festhalle. It will be an unforgettable evening feasting on crispy rotisserie chicken (Hendl) and fresh Augustiner wooden-barrel beer while singing along with the live brass band!
After breakfast, we'll depart around 9:30 AM and head straight to the Oktoberfest grounds at the Theresienwiese. We'll stroll past the many rides and food stands before the festival really gets humming. At 11:30 AM, we take our reserved tables in Box 3 inside the Augustiner-Festhalle. Widely known as the friendliest tent with the best beer at the Wiesn, the team here always takes fantastic care of us for the afternoon!
After our tent session, we will show you around the grounds and give you time to explore the classic rides and attractions. We also strongly recommend visiting the Oide Wiesn (Old Oktoberfest) for traditional brass music, Schuhplattler folk dancing, Dirndldrehen, and even some good old-fashioned Goaßlschnalzen (Bavarian whip-cracking)!
All good things come to an end, and now it's time to head home! Munich Airport (MUC) is located about 35 miles north of Hotel Alter Wirt. Depending on your personal flight schedule, you will make your own way to the airport. A private taxi can easily be arranged through the front desk, or you can take the tram and S-Bahn, which run to the airport terminals every 10 to 20 minutes.
If you haven't had enough of Bavaria yet, consider extending your stay and joining us as we head north to Franconia for our Beer Lovers' Trip! Safe travels and auf Wiedersehen!
