Southern Germany

Experience southern Germany - at your own pace

Pack the car and get the family together for a great self-drive holiday to southern Germany, where a wealth of surprises and beautiful experiences await. Here the family can find a wide range of options and experiences to suit all ages. The German Alps and the many beautiful deep green forests, hilly landscapes and lovely South German towns that abound with good gastronomy and German hospitality are an obvious destination if you are in your own car. The Moselle and Rhine rivers offer a wealth of vineyards and beautiful castles, as well as a wide choice of spa towns. Southern Germany offers every opportunity to combine active outdoor activities with relaxing spa life. The German Alps bordering Austria have good snow and there are wonderful ski resorts in Berchtesgaden such as Oberstdorf and on the glacier at Garmisch-Partenkirchen. There are also places where you can grab a bite to eat and drink while enjoying the view of the snow-capped mountains. The Alps are also an exquisite destination for hiking enthusiasts and there are a host of diverse and challenging mountain routes in stunning surroundings with mirror-clear lakes and rugged mountains as the backdrop.

When you're on a self-drive holiday in southern Germany, Stuttgart is definitely worth a visit. Located in Baden-Wuerttemberg, in the southwest corner of Germany, and perhaps best known as the home of Mercedes and Porsche and of course the 'Black Forest' better known as "Schwarzwald". Visit the exciting car museums but also the highest waterfall in Germany, which has a drop height of 163 metres and is located in Triberg, Alternatively, try a ride on a toboggan run, which resembles a rollercoaster, and hurtle down the mountainside - there's one at Gutach and another at Hasenhorn in Todtnau. In addtion, Stuttgart is one of the greenest cities in Germany filled with parks and green spaces. Drive along the Romantic Route that stretches from Würzberg to Füssen and discover the beautiful undulating landscape of Markelsheim with its many local vineyards.

One of the great experiences in the Alps, and easy to get to by car, is the fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein. It's probably the world's best-known castle and has inspired countless romantic stories.

North of the beautiful Alps lies one of southern Germany's great metropolises. Whether it's summer or winter, Munich is always an interesting and entertaining acquaintance. A fusion of the modern and the traditional, with colourful experiences for adults and children alike. The Oktoberfest needs no introduction, but whether you're a beer lover or not, a visit to the Hofbräuhaus is sure to wet your appetite for a 'Mass'. But it's not all beer and horn music. Kunstareal is located in the Maxvorstadt area, with Türkenstrasse, Schellingstrasse, Luisenstrasse and Karlstrasse. It's home to southern Germany's finest art museums, with the Alte Pinakothek, Museum Brandhorst, Neue Pinakothek and Pinakothek der Moderne. From the Neues Rathaus, just follow the cobblestones to the city's best shopping spots, which are also packed with pavement cafés and historic sights. Don't miss the 'Spielzeugmuseum', the eccentric toy museum that can bring out the child in even the most grown-up.

Southern Germany offers a wide range of options for the whole family when you're on holiday in your own car. It's much easier to cover a lot of ground for less money, and there's plenty to see and do. Pack your car and head off on a car holiday to the idyllic towns and beautiful spas that await you in Southern Germany, visiting the many sights and interesting cities at your own pace with the beautiful countryside and beautiful landscapes as a worthy travelling companion.