Heavy congestion on roads ahead of the holiday - what other travel options are available?
Navigating Bavarian Summer Holiday Travel: Tips and Insights
Travelers planning trips during the Bavarian summer holidays of 2025 should be prepared for increased traffic and crowded transportation, especially around the start of August. This is when the six-week vacation begins, causing a surge in travelers heading to popular tourist destinations like the Alps and lakes.
The busiest routes include major highways (Autobahns) leading into Bavaria from northern and western Germany, with routes towards Munich and the Bavarian Alps (e.g., A8, A9) experiencing significant congestion during holiday weekends. Air travel also peaks, with Munich Airport, a hub for both domestic and international flights, seeing a drastic increase in demand. Train lines connecting Bavaria to major cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne also experience high usage due to vacationers preferring rail travel.
To navigate these busy periods, experts recommend traveling outside peak departure and return days, using real-time traffic and transportation apps to find less crowded travel times or alternate routes, booking train and flight tickets well in advance, and considering traveling during weekdays rather than weekends. For car travel, leaving very early in the morning or late at night can help bypass rush hours. Utilizing regional public transport links around tourist hotspots can also help avoid parking and traffic hassles.
Despite the concentration of travel by state-specific holiday start dates, the overall summer travel season extends over several months due to German federal states coordinating staggered holidays to spread out tourism and traffic loads. However, the first two weeks of August are expected to be the busiest, with long traffic jams, particularly on the first two holiday weekends and around the public holiday of Maria Himmelfahrt on August 15.
Many travelers will also be heading to neighbouring countries like Austria, Croatia, Italy, and Switzerland during the Bavarian summer holidays. The ADAC advises packing enough supplies and entertainment for bored children during travel, and warns of long traffic jams, especially on the A99, along the A8 between Munich and Salzburg, on the A93 at the border crossing Kiefersfelden, and before the border tunnel Füssen/Reutte.
Munich Airport expects more than 6.4 million travelers during the summer holidays from August 1 to September 15, with around 425,000 travelers expected over the first holiday weekend alone. Other airports, such as Nuremberg, also anticipate increased passenger numbers, with over 720,000 passengers expected during the summer holidays, an increase of ten percent compared to last year.
Travelers are advised to plan more time and bring patience, especially on Saturdays. Construction work is planned on various train routes, including between Rosenheim and Salzburg, as well as between Rosenheim and Kufstein, from August 1 to 18. Replacement buses will be used for local transport on some routes during the construction work, and many trains between Munich and Venice or Bologna will also be canceled from August 11.
The railway line between Regensburg and Schwandorf will be closed until August 22, with replacement buses running between the two cities. The journey between Regensburg and Schwandorf will take about 30 minutes longer due to the use of replacement buses. Memmingen Airport in Swabia expects a new record in summer holiday travel, with 540,000 travelers, with the biggest rush traditionally expected at the beginning of the holidays, especially on the first weekend.
Some sections of the trains in and out of Klagenfurt will be canceled during the construction work, and most of the long-distance traffic in and out of Vienna will be rerouted via Passau during the construction work. The ADAC expects many traffic jams around Munich and advises vacationers heading south to plan more time and bring patience.
In summary, to navigate Bavarian summer holiday travel well, plan trips outside the first two weeks of August, opt for early/late travel times, book transport early, and stay updated on traffic and train conditions. With careful planning and patience, travelers can make the most of their summer holidays in Bavaria and beyond.
- The surge in travelers during the Bavarian summer holidays of 2025 will not only affect road transportation, with Autobahns leading into Bavaria from northern and western Germany experiencing significant congestion, but also public-transit options like trains and flights, particularly around Munich Airport and train lines connecting Bavaria to major cities.
- In addition to traditional travel methods, many travelers may choose to explore lifestyle options, such as renting cars for their journeys, which could contribute to increased traffic on roads leading to tourist destinations like the Alps and lakes.
- As the automotive industry anticipates increased demand for car rentals during the Bavarian summer holidays, travelers may find it helpful to research and compare options to ensure they secure the best deals and vehicles for their travel needs.
- Considering the potential for long travel times and traffic jams during the summer holidays, travelers could also examine their itineraries and incorporate days dedicated to leisure activities like hiking or visiting museums to make the most of their Bavarian vacation experience.
