Austria and Germany - October 2021
I’ve wanted to visit the Bavaria region of Germany ever since watching this travel vlog created by Flying the Nest. After discussing with Yana, we decided to plan a trip and to mix in a bit of Austria as well. I’ve been to Austria previously and really enjoyed it, so I wanted to re-live some of those memories. This was our first international vacation since the COVID-19 pandemic started, so Yana and I were beyond ready to explore a different culture and cuisine. We ended up having a fantastic time and I’ve even recommended this itinerary to some of my family and friends.
Yana and I covered a lot of ground on this trip. We stayed in two different Airbnbs, which allowed for us to take a few day trips and to explore different areas. The first stay was a small studio in central Munich. We really enjoyed the location of this Airbnb - it was walking distance from many of the attractions in Munich. On our first day, we walked to the city center and did some of the more touristy activities such as visiting the Glockenspiel and English Garden. Then we mixed in a few day trips during the following days.
There are loads of day trip options from Munich, but we decided on two. The first being Neuschwanstein Castle and the second being Innsbruck, Austria. Neuschwanstein had been a bucket list item of mine for years, and the visit lived up to expectations. The castle is incredible and is built into a beautiful mountain range. The one bummer of our visit was that the bridge with panoramic views of the castle was closed due to construction. But overall it was still worth the visit. Our day trip to Innsbruck was enjoyable as well; the views from Munich to Innsbruck were gorgeous, so the two hour drive flew by. We drove around dramatic mountains, and through moody villages, leading us to stop every few minutes for pictures. Innsbruck itself was a bit smaller than I expected, but it was still fun to explore.
From Munich, we drove to our next next Airbnb in Berchtesgaden, Germany. This stay was the first thing that I booked in preparation for this trip. The view from the balcony was breathtaking. On the way to Berchtesgaden, we stopped for a few hours in Hallstatt, Austria. I had visited Hallstatt on a previous trip in high school, so it was great to revisit. Since we took this trip during shoulder season, there were not many tourists when we were there (it also helped that we visited in the morning on a rainy day). We really enjoyed walking the city and taking pictures without navigating through large crowds.
Berchtesgaden itself was a fun town - it felt to me like the German version of Breckenridge. Our stay was walking distance from restaurants and cafes, which was lovely. Berchtesgaden is just a few minutes from Lake Königssee, so we checked it out and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. It is absolutely stunning. Once you buy tickets, a boat takes you to a different section of the lake with ridiculous mountain views. There are restaurants and trailheads to check out at the boat stop, making it a perfect day trip option. This is a must do for travelers to Bavaria and I hope I get the chance to return again in the future.
Although the cuisine of Germany and Austria does not get the same hype as some of their neighbors (I’m looking at you France and Italy), the food we had was great. Yana and I had enjoyed a variety of dining experiences - from a liter of beer at the Hofbrauhaus, to having weisswurst at the base of a mountain. One restaurant that I highly recommend in Munich is called Servus Habibi, a Middle Eastern restaurant near the main tourist attractions. I enjoyed the kebabs so much that I ate there twice during our 4 days in Munich.
If you ever find yourself in Germany or Austria, I highly recommend that you try schnitzel, curry wurst, and strudel. Schnitzel is a main staple of German cuisine - it is a thinly pressed fried meat (usually pork). I ordered schnitzel a few times, and I enjoyed the variety of sauces and jams that it was served with. Curry wurst is also a can’t miss dish that you can find in the larger cities of Germany and Austria. Although curry wurst is not traditional, it is a great fusion of local sausages with seasonings from immigrant cultures. For dessert, strudel is the top dog in this area of the world. Yana and I enjoyed apple strudel the most, but there are other sweet and savory options too. Overall, the food was a major highlight of this trip!
For an area of the world that was high on my bucket list, this trip lived up to the lofty expectations. Bavaria has an authentic German feel, the food is great, and there is so much to do. Germany and Austria both have a great mix of vibrant cities and sleepy towns. And although we enjoyed Munich, I think the most enjoyable parts of Germany and Austria are outside of the main cities. The nature of Berchtesgaden blew me away and I encourage potential travelers to add it to their itinerary. Here’s to hoping I can visit again soon. Prost!
-DB
