Getting Around

Holidays by Destination Europe Germany Bavaria Getting Around 

At more than 70,000 sq km Bavaria is the largest of Germany's federal Lander so you will enjoy it more if you pick a smaller area to explore on any one holiday. Public transport is good and reliable.

Car

A car will offer more flexibility, roads are toll free, and it is generally easy to get around. The lack of autobahn speed restrictions offers an extra pleasure for some drivers, though the high speeds and often heavy traffic both on and off the motorways might prove a little demanding for others.

For more details visit 'See More Driving' which includes Family Fun among its themes.

Children to four years must have their own special seat and up to 12 years must have special cushions or booster seats. Set belts are mandatory both in the front and the rear.

Rail

Deutche Bahn
The UK wesite or German

Trains in Germany, as you would expect, are efficient and well run (town transport and rail networks inter-link well) and Children under 14 travel free when accompanied by parents or grandparents.
Foreign tourists can buy special passes such as the German Rail Pass (GRP). These are also valid on the Europa Bus lines and boats on the German rivers.
With a Landerticket up to five can travel the whole country for a fixed price using all the local trains. While many regional tickets entitle the holders to free or cut price admission to amusement and theme parks, museums etc.
In Bavaria a Bayern-Ticket is around €25, valid on all local trains including into Austria (Salzburg), and certain buses, for up to five people travelling together or for parents (or one parent) travelling with any number of their children under 15.

Bike

A brochure called Discovering Germany by Bike covers around 50 routes throughout the country long with details of German Rail's Train and Bike service and bike hire (hotline (0870) 243 5363), but broadly a bike can be taken on almost every regional train in Germany.
There is more cycling information at fahrradreisen . Most spa resorts for example offer bikes for hire, and there are also hire operations are around 370 railway stations throughout the country, including in Bavaria, at favourable rates.
There are 6,000km of dedicated cycle tracks throughout Bavaria, often following tourist routes like the romantic Road, rivers or lakeshores. Bett und Bike lists places to stay when travelling by bike.