Franconia Travel Guide

Most people who plan a Bavaria trip head straight for Munich and Neuschwanstein, and we get it, we've done that trip too. But northern Bavaria, the Franconia region, is where we ended up spending more time than expected, mostly as stopovers on longer drives, and it turned into one of our favorite pockets of Germany. This part of the country runs on wine and beer instead of the Alpine, lederhosen version of Bavaria you see in most photos, and the towns here get a fraction of the visitors.

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Würzburg:

A Baroque Palace and a Wine Town on the Main

Würzburg was a last-minute backup plan that turned into one of the best stops on our trip. The Würzburg Residence, one of Europe's great baroque palaces, anchors the town, and the old bridge over the Main is where everyone gathers at sunset with a glass of local wine. Read our full Würzburg guide →

Würzburg Travel Guide: Is It Worth a Stop in Bavaria?

We almost didn't make it to Würzburg. Here's what made this Franconian wine town worth the stop.

Where to Stay in Würzburg

The best places to stay in Würzburg, from walkable Old Town hotels to practical options outside the center.

One Day in Würzburg

Only have one day in Würzburg? Here's exactly how we spent one evening and one morning in town.

Where to Eat in Würzburg

From schnitzel near the cathedral to Franconian wine, here’s where we ate in Würzburg and what we’d order again.

An Old Town That Escaped the War Mostly Intact

We'd wanted to visit Bamberg for years, and it ended up being one of our favorite stops in Franconia. A UNESCO World Heritage old town built around a river, a smoked beer specialty called Rauchbier, and a castle hike with a view over the whole city. It's the one we'd send you to first if you only have time for one Franconia stop. Read our full Bamberg guide →

Bamberg Travel Guide

We loved Bamberg’s old town, smoked beer and hilltop castle. Here’s what made it worth the stop.

Where to Stay in Bamberg: Best Hotels in the Old Town & Beyond

The best places to stay in Bamberg, from hotels near the Old Town to practical options for a short stop in Franconia.

One Day in Bamberg: Our Perfect 24-Hour Itinerary

Only have one day in Bamberg? Here’s how we spent ours, from the Old Town and smoked beer to the walk up to Altenburg Castle.

Where to Eat in Bamberg

From Bamberg’s famous smoked beer to traditional Franconian food, here’s where we ate and the places we’d try next.

More from Franconia

We're still building out this region. A couple of things worth knowing about in the meantime:

Nuremberg is less than an hour from Bamberg by car or train, and we've been twice, though always as a short stop rather than a full visit. We don't have a dedicated Nuremberg guide yet, but if you're headed there around the holidays, our Christmas Markets in Germany guide covers its Christmas market. We're planning a proper Nuremberg-based trip around the holidays and will publish a full guide after that.

Already planning the rest of your Bavaria trip? Check out our Oktoberfest in Munich guide and Fall in Bavaria for the Alpine side of the region, or head back to our full Germany travel guide.

Know Before You Go: Franconia

Best Time to Visit
Late spring through early fall for wine gardens and outdoor seating, especially around local wine and beer festivals. December works well too if you're combining Franconia with Christmas markets in Nuremberg or Bamberg.

Currency
Euro (EUR)

Language
German. English is spoken in hotels and most restaurants in the towns covered here, though less consistently than in Munich or Berlin.

Getting Around
Würzburg, Bamberg and Nuremberg are all connected by direct trains, most trips under an hour between any two of them, which makes the region easy to cover without a car. If you're combining Franconia with a longer road trip, as we did, the A3 and A9 autobahns connect all three towns to Frankfurt and Munich.

Travel Tip
Reservations can be hard to come by on Sundays, when many restaurants either close early or fill up fast. Book ahead if you can, or plan to eat earlier in the evening.

Listen to Our Würzburg & Bamberg Episode

Want to hear more about our trip? In this episode of The getAwayZ podcast, we talk about exploring Würzburg and Bamberg, from drinking Franconian wine at the Würzburg Residence to walking the Old Main Bridge, trying Bamberg's famous smoked beer and hiking up to Altenburg Castle. We also share what we liked, what we'd do differently and whether these Franconian cities are worth adding to a Bavaria trip.

Or listen to the full episode here.