Why Bavaria should be on your 2026 must-visit list
While arts and culture have always been a great reason to book a flight, travel in search of unique food and drink is also on the rise, as is astrotourism.
If you choose the right destination, there’s no reason to choose between the two – that’s exactly what Bavaria offers.
Germany’s largest state, Bavaria, has a wide offering of “everything”, Claudia Mitchell, partner and network manager at Bayern Tourismus Marketing, told Euronews Travel at the ITB Berlin travel fair.
“It has everything from nature to culture to picturesque towns and villages,” she said. “Plus, there’s always something going on. Even in winter, you’ll find traditional festivals and events.”
Stargazing without light pollution
Best known for its natural offerings, visitors head to the state for both the Bavarian Alps and the Bavarian Forest. But in recent years, visitors have enjoyed an added benefit of nature hikes: Far from cities, you don’t experience as much nighttime pollution, which makes stargazing possible.
The state has also worked to improve the visitor experience: in 2025, the Bavarian Forest Nature Park and the Bavarian Forest National Park were recognized as an international dark sky reserve after the state worked to reduce light pollution.
“There is so little light there, it’s really wonderful, it’s like a Sternenhimmel [starry sky] show more or less,” Mitchell said. “It’s really undisturbed by the city lights, and it’s beautiful.”
A beer tent at Oktoberfest – Cloth
Embrace Bavarian culture in breweries – and palaces
Even those who have never been to Germany will have heard of the state’s capital and largest city, Munich, and its annual Oktoberfest.
The city has a true love affair with beer, which is best enjoyed while wearing traditional clothing like the dirndl or lederhosen.
“It’s not that we put on our dirndl dresses and set up beer benches for a show for the tourists – the locals really go for it,” Mitchell said.
“There’s this resonance between locals and tourists, it’s like immersing yourself in Bavarian culture on vacation, and I think that’s really unique.
“It’s not that you sit alone in a traditional beer restaurant, you can always join people around the big tables and start a conversation. That’s what people remember, with the beautiful countryside and the really wonderful towns.”
To find out more in 2026, don’t miss the Bayerische Landesausstellung exhibition in Freyung.
Held each year in different cities, this year’s theme is music and visitors can learn about the history of different dances and the local customs associated with them.
Additionally, another element of Bavarian culture made headlines last year, with the designation of the palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Palaces include Neuschwanstein, the inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle, as well as Linderhof, Schachen and Herrenchiemsee.
The Christkindlesmarkt market in Nuremberg – AP Photo/Matthias Schrader – Copyright 2008 AP. All rights reserved.
365 days of festivals
While Oktoberfest is an obvious choice for visiting Bavaria, there’s no bad time to fly or train into the state.
Highlights include the Christmas markets, found in all major cities, as well as summer festivals where you sit outside on beer benches and soak up the atmosphere.
“We always recommend trying to participate or be present when there are Bavarian festivals, because then you can really immerse yourself in the culture,” Mitchell added. “That’s what makes Bavaria so special: the Bavarian lifestyle.”
