Oktoberfest 2026 closed yesterday, on 4 October. If you didn’t make it, or went and wondered what else the region has, here’s the good news: most of Bavaria has no closing date. The beer halls pour every day, the Alps sit just south of Munich, and one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns is a short drive north. Let’s take them in turn.

Munich: the beer hall isn’t just for the festival

As Rick Steves puts it, you can have the Bavarian beer-hall experience in Munich any day of the year. No tents, no queues, the same music and pretzels at a far gentler pace.

• Hofbräuhaus. The world-famous one. Touristy and aware of it, but worth a visit even if you’re not drinking.
• Viktualienmarkt. The open-air market in the centre, good for a quick lunch on your feet.
• Englischer Garten. One of Europe’s biggest city parks, full of locals, bikes and, yes, even surfers.
• Andechs Monastery. Just outside the city: a Baroque church, hearty food and a beer many rate as Bavaria’s best.

For a more sobering stop, the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial is on the edge of the city and needs half a day.

The Bavarian Alps: castles, lakes and meadows

Roughly 90 minutes to two hours south of Munich, Germany’s most picturesque corner begins. The usual base is Füssen, a handy small town near the castles.

• Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. King Ludwig’s fairy-tale castle and his boyhood home. Neuschwanstein can only be visited on a guided tour. Tickets are sold online; any left over are sold at the Hohenschwangau Ticket Center for the same day only, while they last. In short: book ahead.
• Mary’s Bridge (Marienbrücke). The spot for the castle photo everyone has seen.
• Tegelberg. A cable car to a summit of about 1,700 metres, and a luge track in summer.
• Wieskirche. Germany’s greatest Rococo church, with a stunning interior.
• Linderhof and Oberammergau. A small, exquisite “mini Versailles” and a village of painted façades and woodcarving.
• Zugspitze. Germany’s highest mountain at around 2,960 metres, reached by cable car or cogwheel train.

Coming from Greece, the contrast with our own mountains is striking: green pasture high up the slopes, cowbells and villages that look freshly painted.

Rothenburg: a medieval town after dark

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is about two hours north of Munich and the best-known stop on the Romantic Road. In the Middle Ages it was one of Germany’s largest towns, back when Munich and Berlin were barely on the map. Today it’s considered the country’s best-preserved walled town, with half-timbered houses, cobbled lanes and walls you can walk.

The practical point: around 2 million people visit each year, but most only for a few hours. Stay one night inside the walls. Once the coaches leave and the lamps come on, the place changes completely. If you like evening walks with a story, look for the Night Watchman tour.

A 5–7 day road trip from Munich

The flight from Athens to Munich takes about two and a half hours. Pick up a car at the airport and drive a loop.

• Day 1. Arrive, collect the car, evening in a beer hall.
• Day 2. Munich: Viktualienmarkt, Englischer Garten, Hofbräuhaus. Optional Dachau or Andechs.
• Day 3. South to Oberammergau and Linderhof, overnight in Füssen.
• Day 4. Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau, Marienbrücke, and Tegelberg if the weather holds.
• Day 5. Stop at the Wieskirche, then north along the Romantic Road to Rothenburg. It’s the longest drive of the trip, so start early.
• Day 6. Rothenburg: the walls in the morning, a slow afternoon, an evening stroll.
• Day 7. Back to Munich for your flight.

With five days, drop the second Munich day and merge days 3 and 4. With more, add the Zugspitze.

When to go

October after the festival is a good time: the city returns to its normal rhythm and the Alps turn autumn colours. Bear in mind that the mountains get cold early and some outdoor activities are summer-only. And if you’re already thinking about next year, our Oktoberfest guide will be waiting.

Want us to put it together?

At Penguin Travels & Tours we can build you a Bavarian road trip with flights, car hire and places to stay that make sense, from a hotel in Füssen to a night inside Rothenburg’s walls.

Is Bavaria still on your wish list? Stop by our office in Kalamata (Vasilissis Olgas 4) or call us at +30 27210 80701.