Explore Germany

Take on the Roadtrip to Munich

A road trip through Europe exploring all our great continent has to offer is thrilling in any season; seeing the flower fields of Holland bloom in the springtime, exploring the wine routes of France in the summer, strolling the tree-lined streets of Amsterdam as the leaves fall in the autumn or driving through the fairytale routes of Germany in the winter to see snow covered castles are all delightful road trips. There’s really something for everyone in Europe and travelling in your car gives you the freedom to explore at your leisure.

With beautiful driving routes punctuated with castles, hills and picturesque towns, Germany is the ideal place for a road trip and Munich is the destination on everyone’s lips.

The Bavarian capital is a melting pot of culture and history with its many museums and theatres and its eclectic mix of architecture.

It’s so easy to get to Munich in your car with DFDS too, with our overnight crossings to Amsterdam. Pack up your luggage (with no limits – so you can bring as much as you like), drive onto a DFDS ferry and be in Amsterdam the next morning. Either head straight to Munich or take your time visiting some other cities, towns and countryside along the way. It would be a shame not to!

For inspiration of places to visit on your road trip to Munich, read on…

Amsterdam

Start your road trip with a visit to Amsterdam. The Dutch capital has so much to offer, with its medieval architecture, winding canals and range of museums. The city’s parks are beautiful in all seasons to stroll through or explore on two wheels like a local. A canal cruise is a great way to see the city from its famous waterways and sauntering into the city’s cafes and bars lets you sample their culinary delights. Bitterballen washed down with Dutch beer is always a winner or if you fancy something sweet, traditional Dutch pancakes do the trick. Visit the central Dam Square then venture to a street just behind to Wynand Fockink, a tasting tavern which over 70 Dutch liqueurs and genevers which are served in a traditional tulip glass.

Cologne

Head south into Germany and visit the 2,000 year old city, Cologne, which sits on the banks of the Rhine river. With its gothic cathedral, sweeping river views and waterside chocolate museum, it’s a delight for the senses. Spend the day exploring the city, passing through the medieval city gates to the 12th century City Hall and the grand Cologne Cathedral, which took over 600 years to build! Enjoy some shopping in the independent boutiques on Rudolfplatz and as night falls, embrace the vibrant nightlife in the city. If you visit between November 11 and Ash Wednesday, you can enjoy one of the largest street festivals in Europe, Cologne Carnival, during which time parades, stage shows and performances across the city take place. The height of festivities take place the week before lent, with masqueraded parades and street celebrations.

Frankfurt

Photo credit: Carandoom

Known as a green city, over 50% of Frankfurt consists of protected green areas, making it a pleasant place for a stroll. Palmengarten is one of three botanical gardens in Frankfurt and is an oasis of calm in a busy city. If you fancy a picnic in the park, stop by Kleinmarkthalle, an indoor market in the centre of the city with a range of authentic German produce.

On Saturdays it’s worth a visit to Schaumainkai for Frankfurt’s largest flea market where you’re sure to find some unique treasures. On non-market days, there are a number of museums in this area to visit.

Frankfurt was also the home of Anne Frank and her family before they fled to Amsterdam to escape the Nazis. You can see their home as well as hundreds of other homes around the city where Jews were taken from during the Holocaust. These are marked with ‘stumbling stones’, silver plaques on the ground beyond the front door of the home, signifying the place where people stumbled before being taken away.

With over 30 museums across the city, including the Museum of World Cultures and the Historical Museum Frankfurt, there’s plenty to see in the city, come rain or shine.

Romantic Road

Drive south of Frankfurt and start the Romantic Road at Würzburg, home of the 18th century Residenz Palace and abundance of gothic and baroque architecture. It has also made wine since the middle ages so know a thing or two about it. Take a tour of one of the many vineyards in the area and buy some local Riesling to take home with you.

Head to Rothenburg and pick up a traditional German Christmas ornament at Käthe Wohlfahrt or The Christmas Museum which is open all year round for seasonal festivity and decoration. It’s also worth stopping by a local bakery to try to local pastry schneeball, a deep fried dough shaped like a snow ball and covered in either sugar or chocolate – delicious!

The next stop on the Romantic Road is Dinkelsbühl. Visit the colourful 17th century gabled houses in the city centre, Rothenburger Tor which has served as a gate to the city for over 600 years and stroll through Stadtpark which exists where the moat of a castle used to be.

On the final drive towards Munich, visit one of Germany’s oldest cities, Augsburg, and climb the 258 steps to the top of the watchtower to overlook the beautiful city from 70 metres high.

Before arriving in Munich, stop by one of the oldest castles in Germany, Harburg Castle, and find out about its rich history.

Munich

See some classic art in one of the city’s galleries such as Alte Pinakothek which houses works from famous artists such as Dürer, Ruben and Raphael or enjoy some ancient Roman and Greek art at the Glyptothek.

Munich also has a strong music scene, from classical music to rock and everything in between. It also supports emerging musicians – every day the city hall gives permissions to 10 musicians to perform in the streets around Marienplatz, giving visitors the chance to hear new, local music while strolling the city.

If you’re there in May, August or October, a visit to Auer Dult, one of Munich’s oldest markets, which has taken place since 1905 is a must. With 300 stalls selling handmade crafts, household goods, local foods as well as carnival rides and puppet shows for children, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon and you can find some really unique mementos to take home with you.

Another brilliant festival which takes place in Munich is Tollwood, a performing arts festival which takes place over three weeks in July and three weeks in December. Olympia Park is transformed with live music, circus acts and a range of performances which celebrate culture and the environment. Plus, over 70% of the events and attractions are free!

If you’re visiting at Christmas time, the festive markets are a delight and offer a range of unique Christmas gifts, local glühwein and delicious street food.

A visit to Munich wouldn’t be complete without the mention of Oktoberfest, the largest beer festival in the world! From the end of September to early October the city welcomes over 6 million visitors and serves beer from the six major breweries of Munich. Over 7 million litres of beer is consumed at Oktoberfest and the festival has been going for the last 200 years!

With all that beer, you’ll need some food to soak it up. The Bavarian speciality of white sausage is served all over Munich and complements German beer perfectly. They are often served with sweet mustard and freshly baked pretzel – yum!

As night falls, you can enjoy the vibrant nightlife of Munich sampling some of its 100 night clubs and thousands of bars and restaurants.

For a roadtrip with sweeping scenery, captivating cities, delicious food and amazing experiences, Amsterdam to Munich will deliver. Plus, travelling in your car with DFDS means you can take things at your own pace, shaping your trip to suit you.

Discover Europe by road for an experience like no other!

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