What are the most popular road trips and routes I can take?
No southern Germany road trip itinerary is complete without the famous “Romantic Road”:
Germany's Romantic Road
Are you looking for one of the most beautiful road trips in Southern Germany? The Romantic Road route has many highlights and passes through some of the most beautiful landscapes and fairytale towns in Germany.

On the 400 kilometers from Würzburg to Füssen in the Allgäu region, vacationers pass through some of Germany's most tranquil towns and landscapes. The vacation route lives up to its name: Not only the medieval castles and the magnificent Neuschwanstein Castle, which was intended as a retreat for King Ludwig II, are romantic. The many towns and inns also invite you to linger.
Here are some sights along the scenic route of the Romantic Road:
Have you ever heard of the charming town of Würzburg? The town centre and the Old Town of Würzburg impress with Gothic churches and the Würzburg Residence. The latter was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1981. The lively university town also offers a variety of quaint restaurants and pubs. Other sights include the Old Main Bridge, which crosses the River Main, and the Marienberg Fortress.
The route also takes you to the Celtic Tauber Valley, known for the festival of the same name (Taubertal Festival) and the romantic vineyards.
Are you into historic buildings, narrow streets and old city walls? Rothenburg ob der Tauber is located in the middle of the Central Franconian river landscape. Especially the medieval Old Town with its narrow, cobblestone streets makes it a popular tourist destination.
A well-known stopover on the way to Füssen is the third largest city in Bavaria: Augsburg. The Fuggerstadt served as a Roman army camp as early as 15 BC and is one of the oldest cities in Germany.
German Castle Road
This Southern Germany route covers a whole range of destinations on a great itinerary, with some of Germany's best castles along the way. This road trip takes you mainly through the southwest of the country.

One of the most traditional and well-known vacation routes, the Castle Road, founded in 1954, today connects more than 90 castles and palaces along its course. It runs for around 1,200 kilometers through tourist gems and famous towns steeped in history. Heidelberg Castle (a famous castle because it is the most iconic ruin in Germany) marks the beginning of the trip. Via Schwäbisch Hall, the journey continues to Rothenburg and Ansbach, to Nuremberg and Bamberg.
The romantic itinerary through a rich piece of German culture and history also touches charming landscapes with ever-changing scenery, be it the idyllic river valleys of the Rhine River, picturesque vineyards or bizarre rock formations. Nestled in these romantic landscapes, defiant castles, magnificent palaces, medieval towns and baroque residences lie like pearls on a necklace along the route, offering a journey through historical eras with the flair of days gone by.
A great and somewhat shorter alternative to this Southern Germany Road Trip:
The German Wine Route is one of the oldest vacation routes in Germany and runs through the wine-growing region of Palatinate, the second largest wine-growing region in Germany. Simply enjoy the local wine or take a guided tour with a wine tasting!
German Alpine Road
The German Alpine Road is a vacation route that leads almost exclusively through the Bavarian Alps in Germany.

The panoramic route is particularly fascinating for its surrounding countryside with its varied landscape of alpine meadows, hilly country, mountain peaks and lakes. Against the panoramic backdrop of the Bavarian Alps, this Southern Germany Road Trip route also passes through picturesque farming villages and historic towns.
This is an example of a Germany Road Trip itinerary for the Alpine Road:
- Start at Lake Constance and then pass through the Allgäu region to Füssen to Neuschwanstein Castle and Oberammergau.
- Continue your Southern Germany Road Trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Zugspitze (the highest peak in Germany).
- Afterwards, the Old Town of Bad Tölz and the Tegernsee Valley offer Bavarian inn tradition as well as top gastronomy.
- In Berchtesgaden, you can then visit the popular salt mine on your Germany itinerary.
- Finally, you can take a boat trip on the Königssee, which is possible all year round, as well as a tour on the Rossfeld Panorama Road into the Berchtesgaden mountains.
Germany's Fairy Tale Road
The German Fairy Tale Route is also a popular vacation and travel route in Germany. It runs from the Hessian Brothers Grimm town of Hanau in the Kinzig Valley over 600 km to Bremen in Northern Germany, the city of the Town Musicians of Bremen.
Experiencing the German Fairy Tale route means:
- Following in the footsteps of the Brothers Grimm and their fairytales, sagas and legends from the Main River to the sea.
- Enjoying the enchanting and varied landscape by car, bicycle or on a hike.
- Exploring historic half-timbered towns, magnificent castles and palaces full of history and fairytale stories.