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Neuschwanstein Castle -

Bavaria's fairy-tale Schloss Neuschwanstein is widely recognized as the inspiration for Walt Disney's theme park castles. This was King Ludwig II's mountainside manor, and the setting couldn't be more magical.

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Bamberg -

Bewitching Bamberg is regularly voted one of Germany's most beautiful towns. Its old town maze of medieval streets and historic buildings certainly charmed UNESCO, which long ago declared the destination a World Heritage Site.

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Bamberg -

At the heart of Bamberg is its 13th-century cathedral, or Domberg as the locals call it. But visitors should also seek out Michaelsberg Abbey and the Altenburg, a castle that sits on the tallest of the seven hills overlooking the town.

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Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber -

Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber is one of Bavaria's best-preserved medieval towns, and certainly one of the most scenic. Blessed with picture-perfect streets lined by colorful half-timbered houses, this is by far one of Germany's favorite Instagrammable destinations.

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Dinkelsbühl -

Rothenberg is one of three medieval-era walled towns set on the Romantic Road, a driving route that also takes in Dinkelsbühl. The town is noted for its collection of color-splashed gabled properties.

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Nördlingen -

Following the Romantic Road also takes you to Nördlingen. This Bavarian gem of a destination is unique in that it's set within a 15-million-year-old meteorite impact crater, the Nördlinger Ries. The town's Saint George's Church is made of shocked quartz, sparkling micro-diamonds formed as a result of the impact and subsequently used in materials to build the church.

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Marienplatz -

Marienplatz is Munich's picturesque central square, one entire side of which is dominated by the spectacular neo-Gothic facade of the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall).

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Marienplatz -

One delightful feature of the New Town Hall is the glockenspiel. This large mechanical clock is famous for the figurines that twice daily reenact scenes from Munich's history, every morning at 11 am and at 5 pm March through October.

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English Garden -

Munich's premier green space, the Englischer Garten is one of the world's largest urban public parks. Created in 1789, the park's name refers to its English garden form of informal landscape. Its special attractions are Chinesischen Turm ("Chinese Tower)", a pagoda-like structure, and the Japanese Garden.

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Nymphenburg -

Schloss Nymphenburg and its lavish gardens should be explored at leisure. This commanding Baroque palace is situated in western Munich and served as the main summer residence for the former rulers of Bavaria.

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Nuremberg -

Nuremberg's Altstadt, its historic hub, is enclosed by sturdy weathered walls that date back in part to the 16th century.

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Nuremberg Castle -

Set within these ancient ramparts is the city's imposing castle, considered to be one of Europe's most formidable medieval fortifications.

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Linderhof Palace -

Another one of Ludwig II's sumptuous palaces, Schloss Linderhof is draped in lavish ornamentation and set in verdant grounds. The reclusive king used the palace as a retreat.

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Zugspitze -

On clear days, views from Zugspitze, Germany's tallest mountain, extend into four countries. Its 9,717-foot (2,962-m) eastern summit is reached by cable car from Eibsee-Seilbahn, or by the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn cog railway.

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Königssee -

The serenely beautiful Königssee is one of the most alluring of all Bavaria's natural wonders. The lake is similar to a fjord, surrounded as it is by the towering flanks of the Watzmann mountain range.

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St. Bartholomew's Church -

A distinctive manmade feature of the lake is the little pilgrimage church of St. Bartholomew's Church. Built in 1697, it's modeled on Salzburg Cathedral, replete with two onion domes and a red domed roof.

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Herrenchiemsee -

The tidy town of Prien is the departure point for a boat ride across Chiemsee, Bavaria's largest lake, to reach Herrenchiemsee, home to Ludwig II's Versailles-inspired castle. After enjoying a leisurely stroll around the island, join a guided tour of the castle to appreciate the interior, including the dazzling Hall of Mirrors.

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Frauenchiemsee -

Anchored in Chiemsee is the small island of Frauenchiemsee. It's just as popular with visitors as Herrenchiemsee, mainly because of the liquor produced by the Benedictine nuns who live in Frauenchiemsee's monastery.

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Regensburg -

Regensburg was founded as an imperial Roman river fort, in 90 CE. During the 1300s, it became an Imperial City within the Holy Roman Empire.

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Regensburg -

Lying at the most northerly point of the Danube, the city was an important hub of river trade in the Middle Ages, a period during which the iconic stone bridge was built, as well as the magnificent Cathedral of St. Peter, considered to be the finest Gothic church in Bavaria. The nearly intact medieval city center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Partnach Gorge -

Bavaria's dramatic natural wonders extend to the Partnach Gorge, a deep gully that has been incised by a mountain stream, the Partnach, in the Reintal valley, for millennia. Two hiking trails, one of them right along the river's edge, take you beneath towering rock walls, past tumbling waterfalls, crashing cascades, rushing rapids, and crystal-clear pools.

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Passau -

Located in Lower Bavaria, picturesque Passau is also known as the Dreiflüssestadt ("City of Three Rivers"), as the river Danube is joined by the Inn from the south and the Ilz from the north. Indeed, the rivers have quite literally shaped this enchanting destination.

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Passau -

Passau is notable for its Gothic and Baroque architecture. Dominating the old town is St. Stephen's Cathedral. The building's acoustics are perfect for its main attraction: the world's largest pipe organ. Also of interest is Oberhaus fortress and the Mariahilf church. But it's the Danube itself that beguiles, and Passau is the starting point for memorable Danube River cruises.

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Weltenburg Abbey -

There's good reason why the Benedictine monastery of Weltenburg is so popular. The abbey houses the oldest monastic brewery in the world. A restaurant and beer garden face the Danube and afford dramatic views of the Danube Gorge, which can be explored by boat. Alternatively, the more active can follow the footpath that snakes along the top of the ravine.

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Hohenschwangau -

Built by Maximilian II of Bavaria, Schloss Hohenschwangau was the childhood residence of his son, King Ludwig II. Recognized for its mustard-colored facade, Hohenschwangau overlooks the village of Hohenschwangau and stands near Ludwig's plush residence, Neuschwanstein Castle.

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Berchtesgaden National Park -

Located in the mountainous area south of the town of Berchtesgaden, this stunning national park is celebrated for its alpine scenery and, in particular, the three peaks of Schönfeldspitze, Watzmann, and Hochkalter. The park, a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, maintains an extensive network of trails and is pleasant on the eye at any time of the year.

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Bavarian Forest National Park -

Founded in 1970 as Germany's first national park, this verdant region of Bavaria is a mixed forest of Norway spruce and common beech. It's home to deer, wild boar, fox, otter, and countless bird species, but the prize wildlife draw is the Eurasian lynx. The elusive cat was reintroduced to the park in the 1990s.

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Wieskirche -

You could walk past the pilgrim church of Wies and not give it a second thought, such is its rather plain-looking facade. But peep inside and you're met by a sumptuous canvas of gilded rococo decoration that is quite simply breathtaking. This hidden ecclesiastical wonder is located in Steingaden, and is deserving of its UNESCO World Heritage status.

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Neuburg an der Donau -

Often overlooked by tourists, Neuburg an der Donau is nonetheless worth a detour for its massive medieval castle. Much of the building dates back to the 1500s. Interestingly, the castle's chapel is the oldest newly-built Protestant church in the world, having been consecrated in the 1540s. An engaging museum chronicles Neuburg's history.

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Garmisch-Partenkirchen -

Bavaria has long been a premier skiing destination, and the delightful alpine town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a favorite winter sports destination. For a creepy cultural diversion, explore the ruins of Werdenfels Castle. In the late 1500s, Werdenfels was the site of a series of grisly executions after dozens of townsfolk were convicted of witchcraft and burned at the stake or garroted.

Sources: (Lonely Planet) (Bavaria Travel) (Germany Travel)

See also: Hidden Europe—unique destinations offering unforgettable experiences

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