Bavaria Tips

From late September through early October each year, hoards of revelers flock to Munich for one the world’s largest beer bashes. Begun in 1810 to honor Bavarian Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, the festivities have taken on a life of their own – with parades, rides for children, and, of course, beer gardens. Put your reservations in early for the biggest beer garden, the long-established Hofbräu-Festzelt tent (011-89-448-96-70; www.oktoberfest.de/en).

Though Munichers are more than willing to accommodate English speakers, Bavaria’s outlying villages are more traditional. While picture signage abounds, it may help to have a German phrase book handy.

Renting a car gives you freedom to explore Bavaria at your own pace (and it doesn’t hurt that the roads are in excellent condition). With locations throughout Germany, and much of the rest of Europe, Sixt (www.e-sixt.com) offers cars of all sizes and levels of luxury at competitive rates.

If you’re in the market for a luxury car, buy it at the BMW Welt (museum) and pickup center. The tax break practically pays for your entire trip and the pickup package includes an all-European driver’s license good for up to two weeks. So take it for a spin on the Autobahn before having it shipped home and pulling it into your garage.

The autobahn is well known for not having speed limits, so be careful! Many cars on the highways are not high-performance vehicles, and they may impede your progress for a time. Keep in mind that it’s strongly forbidden to pass on the right side in Germany.

Most of Bavaria’s villages and towns have their own tourism boards and are happy to arrange for one of the locals (or an American expat) to show you around. Take advantage of these small, personalized tours to make sure you see all you want to. www.bayern.info

Germany is famous for its sausage and schnitzel, so if you have contrary dietary needs, be prepared for limited options (all restaurants have salads at very least). After all, man does not live by soft pretzels alone (even with mustard!).

With so many cobbled streets and narrow passageways, the older parts of Bavaria are excellent for walking treks – so wear comfortable shoes. Many towns include forts and churches set high on hills, so be prepared to climb a bit as well.

Though there’s not much nightlife outside of Munich, the new Sightsleeping program gives Bavaria an after-dark edge. Be sure to check out the unique accommodations offered in this hand-selected set of hotels, from old castles to contemporary Feng Shui-certified hotels. www.sightsleeping.com

Not just a destination for planes, this modern, easily navigable airport also offers a shopping mall, hotel, beach volleyball court/ice skating rink (seasonal), and the world’s only airport-based brewery. www.munich-airport.de