Set off from a campervan hire in Munich and explore the Alps, the Bavarian countryside, or neighbouring Austria at your own pace with Indie Campers. Visit fairytale landmarks like Neuschwanstein Castle, hike alpine trails in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, or cross borders with ease for a multi-country adventure. Choose a campervan from our California, Active, or Comfort range with unlimited kilometres, one-way travel options, and thoughtful extras like snow chains, outdoor furniture, or bedding and towel kits to make your journey comfortable in every season. Backed by a Europe-wide fleet and 4.8-star reviews, Indie Campers helps you road trip through Germany and beyond with confidence.
Our Road Trips Itineraries
Munich's geography creates a routing problem that only a campervan solves efficiently. The Bavarian Alps, Lake Constance, the Austrian lake district, Salzburg, and the Romantic Road are all within 150 to 402 km of the city, but none cluster neatly enough for a hotel-based itinerary. A campsite at Garmisch-Partenkirchen puts you at the base of the Zugspitze for an early ascent. A pitch at Camping Grafenlehen puts you at the Königssee boat dock before the first tour-boat queue forms. A night at a Chiemsee campsite gives you the sunrise over Bavaria's largest lake from your vehicle door. None of that is replicable from a Munich hotel room.
The route that makes the clearest case for a campervan from Munich is the Bavarian Lakes Circuit: south on the A95 to Garmisch (145 km), east along the Deutsche Alpenstraße to Schliersee and Chiemsee (approximately 193 km), then north via the A8 back to Munich (145 km), roughly 483 km in a loop passing five alpine lakes, three distinct mountain ranges, and one of Europe's oldest scenic drives. The hotel-based equivalent requires four different towns and four separate check-ins. The campervan version requires three campsites bookable from one account.
Here's what sets Indie Campers apart from other Munich hire companies:
Unlimited kilometres — Drive from Munich to Berchtesgaden and back, then up the Romantic Road to Würzburg, without monitoring a daily cap. Most Munich competitors impose 200-300 km/day limits; Indie Campers does not cap at all.
One-way hire across 100+ locations — Pick up in Munich, drop off in Zurich, Vienna, Venice, or Berlin. No return driving required. The Munich-to-Venice one-way through the Brenner Pass (740 km, 4 hours 30 minutes via A8/A12/A22) is one of the most direct Alpine crossings in the network.
Spring (March-May)
Temperatures: 4-18 °C
Snow retreats from the Alpine foothills in March and April, but the Zugspitze and trails above 1,500 m remain snow-covered until late May or early June. The Viktualienmarkt fills with spring produce from late April. Maibaumaufstellen (Maypole raising) takes place in Bavarian villages on May 1st, if your route passes through any small Bavarian town, stop for it. Campground availability is good; most sites run at 30-50% capacity outside Easter weekend. Book 4-6 weeks ahead for peak spring weekends.
Best for: Hikers targeting Alpine trails before summer crowds arrive; photographers seeking snowcapped peaks above spring-green valleys.
Skip if: You are planning high-altitude trail days in March or early April — conditions above 1,500 m are still alpine winter.
Summer (June-August)
Temperatures: 16-28 °C
The most popular window for Bavarian campervan trips, with all trails open, all lakes swimmable, and Bavarian beer gardens running at full capacity. Campgrounds at Berchtesgaden and Garmisch-Partenkirchen fill by Thursday night on summer weekends, book 3-4 months ahead for July and August pitches. Königssee boat queue times in August can reach 90 minutes without a timed ticket; book online at seenschifffahrt.de.
Best for: Families with school-age children; hikers targeting high-altitude routes; lake swimming.
Skip if: You want to avoid peak crowds at Neuschwanstein, Königssee, and Berchtesgaden, all three are at maximum capacity in July and August.
Autumn (September-October)
Temperatures: 8-20 °C
3 to 5 Days
Bavarian Highlights Loop (approx. 499 km, 4 days)
Alpine Lakes Short Loop (approx. 290 km, 3 days)
Fuel Stations
Average fuel price: €1.75-1.90/litre diesel; €1.80-1.95/litre petrol/E10.
LPG/Propane Refill
Age and Licence Requirements
Minimum hire age: 21 years.
EU licence holders: A full EU driving licence is valid in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland without additional documentation.
International visitors (non-EU): An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended alongside your national licence. Germany does not legally require an IDP for all nationalities, but the absence of one has complicated insurance claims in practice. Obtain your IDP from your home country's automobile association before departure, it is not available at German airports or hire counters.
Credit Card and Deposit
A credit card in the primary driver's name is required at pickup. Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted. The security deposit is held on the credit card at pickup — the amount varies by vehicle class and selected protection plan. Confirm the exact deposit amount during the booking process.
National Park and Attraction Passes
Germany has no unified national park pass equivalent to the US America the Beautiful Pass. Entry to Berchtesgaden National Park and the Bavarian Forest National Park is free, no entry fee applies.
In Austria: The Großglockner Hochalpenstraße scenic alpine road charges €36/vehicle (cash or card at the gate; no pre-booking required). Individual Austrian national parks are free to enter.
Reservation Systems
Speed Limits
Speed cameras (Blitzer): Fixed camera positions are published legally in German navigation apps. Mobile radar traps are not pre-announced. Automated school zone enforcement operates in parts of Munich.
Road Conditions
campervan hire: €700–1,800 (varies by vehicle size and season; Oktoberfest week adds 30–50% across all categories; book 3–4 months ahead for July/August to lock in lower rates)
Fuel: €150–320 (diesel approx. €1.85/L; typical weekly distance 700–1,448 km ÷ 10L/100km = 70–90 litres; alpine grades add 10–15% to consumption)
LPG/Propane: €20–50 (if a mid-trip refill is needed; fill before entering the Bavarian Forest interior or upper alpine valleys where coverage drops)
Tolls: €0–90 (€0 on all German Autobahn for campervans under 7.5t; add €9.90 for the Austrian 10-day vignette; €11 each way for the Brenner Pass if heading to Italy; CHF 40 for the Swiss annual vignette if crossing into Switzerland)
Campgrounds: €140–420 (€20–60/night × 7; Stellplätze via Park4Night at the low end €5–15/night with no hookups; full-hookup alpine sites near Garmisch and Berchtesgaden at the high end)
Food: €200–500 (self-catering from Kaufland or REWE approx. €40/day; mixed cooking and dining out approx. €70/day; beer garden evenings plus restaurant meals €100+/day per person)
Activities: €50–250
Munich → Zurich (531 km, 3 hours via A96/A1) — Cross Lake Constance at the Allgäu shore and enter Switzerland near St. Gallen. Swiss vignette required (CHF 40). The Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen are 48.3 km off-route north — the largest waterfall in Europe by volume, and worth the detour if you have not seen it.
Munich → Vienna (740 km, 4 hours 30 minutes via A8/A1) — Cross into Austria east of Salzburg. The Salzkammergut lake district (Hallstatt, Gmunden) sits directly on this route — add a night without significant detour. Austrian vignette required (10-day, €9.90).
Munich → Venice (740 km, 4 hours 30 minutes via A8/A12/A22) — South through Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass (toll: €11 each way), then descend through South Tyrol. Stop in Bolzano for the Ötzi the Iceman Museum (€13/adult) before reaching Venice Mestre. Park at Camping Fusina (GPS: 45.4158° N, 12.2499° E) and take the 30-minute ferry to the Venice island (€7 each way).
Munich sits at the northern base of the Bavarian Alps, which makes it the only major European city where you can pick up a campervan in the morning and be parked at the foot of Germany's highest mountain, a UNESCO-listed castle, or a glacial Alpine lake before lunch. No other city in the Indie Campers European network puts the Zugspitze (145 km), Neuschwanstein (209 km), Berchtesgaden National Park (241 km), Lake Constance (322 km), and Salzburg (233 km) within a single morning's drive in five different directions. You are not choosing between mountains or history, lakes or cities, Munich gives you all of it within a radius that makes sense as a road trip, not a travel itinerary.
What is singular to a Munich start is the Bavarian Lakes Circuit: a 483 km loop south through Garmisch-Partenkirchen, east along the Deutsche Alpenstraße past Schliersee and Tegernsee to the Chiemsee, and back north to Munich on the A8. No other city in Germany anchors this route. The five alpine lakes, three mountain ranges, and one of Europe's oldest designated scenic drives are connected by roads that work for campervans, with Stellplätze and campgrounds positioned at regular intervals throughout. Drive it in four days or stretch it to seven. Either way, it is a route you can only run properly if you start here.
The morning of pick-up, get to the Viktualienmarkt when it opens at 8:00 a.m. Load the cooler with Bavarian cheese, dried meats, and fresh Brezel from the stalls before the tourist groups arrive. Walk five minutes to the Eisbach wave at the edge of the English Garden and watch surfers queue for a 10-second ride on a canal in the middle of a city, it runs in February as reliably as it runs in July. Then collect the vehicle and take the A95 south. The Alps are visible from the motorway within 20 minutes of the city limits.
Basic Protection Plan included — Covered from day one. Additional protection upgrades (Super Relax, Tyres & Glass) are available at booking, worth considering for alpine routes where road debris and steep descents add wear.
Flexible cancellation available — Cancel up to 31 days before pick-up without penalty.
Book now, pay later option available — Reserve your Munich vehicle today; full payment is not due until closer to the departure date.
Best for: Photographers, walkers, and anyone wanting Alpine scenery with 30-40% fewer visitors than July.
Skip if: You have not booked campsites well in advance and your dates cross an Oktoberfest weekend.
Winter (November-February)
Temperatures: -5 to 5 °C
Bavaria's Christkindlmarkt season runs from late November through December 23rd. Munich's market on Marienplatz has records dating to 1642. Garmisch-Partenkirchen operates as a ski resort through the winter; a small number of campgrounds stay open for ski-season visitors. The Deutsche Alpenstraße has multiple closed sections in January and February. Winter campervan travel in Bavaria requires a vehicle with rated heating and a pre-planned itinerary of confirmed open campsites.
Best for: Christmas market season in Munich and surrounding Bavarian towns; ski-adjacent overnight stays near Garmisch.
Skip if: You are planning any high-altitude driving or trail activity — most alpine routes are seasonally closed.
The most popular months for Munich campervan hire are June, July, and August.
7 to 10 Days
Bavarian Alps and Austrian Lakes Circuit (approx. 1,127 km, 8 days)
14 Days or More
The Alpine Arc — One-Way Munich to Venice (approx. 2,253 km, 14 days)
Germany's campervan waste infrastructure runs primarily through the Stellplatz network rather than campgrounds.
Driving Culture
The Autobahn left-lane rule is not advisory: staying in the left lane while not actively overtaking is illegal under §7 StVO and will prompt immediate flashing from vehicles behind. Right lane always; left only when passing; return immediately after overtaking.
Roundabouts in Germany: traffic inside the roundabout has right of way. Yield on entry, this catches drivers from right-hand-drive countries where the dynamic is often reversed.
Horn use is minimal by European standards. Germans flash headlights rather than use the horn; using the horn without cause is technically fineable under §16 StVO.
Pedestrian crossings (Zebrastreifen): drivers must stop, it is legally mandatory, not discretionary, once a pedestrian steps onto the crossing.
campervan-Specific Notes
Height: Standard navigation does not account for campervan roof height (typically 2.9-3.2 metres). Input your vehicle's height into Google Maps or use a dedicated app with bridge clearance data. Munich city centre car parks have clearances of 2.0-2.4 metres, none are accessible by campervan.
Length: Most Bavarian campsite approaches accommodate campervans up to 7-8 metres. Vehicles over 7.5 metres should verify individual approach roads in advance, particularly in alpine valleys where the final approach involves tight bends.
Propane/LPG: LPG is not restricted in standard German road tunnels. In Austria, some tunnels restrict propane canisters in vehicles without adequate ventilation, check specific tunnels before routing. The Karawanken Tunnel (Slovenia border) prohibits LPG in vehicles without proper ventilation.
Parking: Munich city centre street parking is metered at €3-4/hour with 2-4 hour limits, not practical for overnight campervan use. For city day access, use P+R (park and ride) facilities at outer U-Bahn stations: Fröttmaning (U6), Messestadt West (U2), Haar (S-Bahn). For overnight: use a Stellplatz.
Wildlife: Deer and wild boar crossings are active at dawn and dusk along forest roads south of the city and throughout the Bavarian Forest. The A8 near Holzkirchen and the B307 near Miesbach have documented deer crossing corridors. Reduce speed to 129 km/h on unlit rural roads at night.
Legal Notes
BAC limit: 0.05% for licensed drivers; 0.03% for drivers under 21 or with less than two years on licence. Random breath tests are conducted in Germany without requiring reasonable cause.
First-offence DUI: from €500 at readings above 0.05%; licence suspension from 0.05-0.159%; criminal charge from 0.16% and above.
Parking: €0–50 (Stellplätze €5–15/night; city centre campervan parking in Munich not practical due to 2.0–2.4 m clearance limits; P+R at outer U-Bahn stations €2–5/day)
Total estimates:
Budget: approx. €1,300 — Compact vehicle, all self-catering, Stellplätze and lower-cost Bavarian campsites, German-only routing with no Austrian or Swiss crossings, free attractions (English Garden, national park entries, Wieskirche exterior, Partnachklamm if in season)
Mid-range: approx. €2,100 — Mid-size vehicle, mix of cooking and restaurant meals including one or two beer garden evenings, mid-price Bavarian campgrounds with hookups, Austrian vignette included, Zugspitze cable car and Neuschwanstein tickets
Premium: approx. €3,600+ — Larger motorhome, frequent dining including Augustiner-Keller and alpine restaurant stops, full-hookup sites throughout, Austrian vignette plus Brenner Pass toll or Swiss vignette, all major cable cars and palace entries included
Bavaria sits in the mid-to-high range of the Indie Campers European network for campsite costs, driven by strong domestic demand from June through August. The biggest cost variable is how far south or west you travel: a route contained entirely within Germany costs significantly less than one crossing into Switzerland, where campsites average 20–30% higher and the CHF 40 vignette has no short-term alternative. Oktoberfest week is the single biggest price spike on the Munich calendar, campsite rates within 80.5 km of the city can double, and campervan hire prices follow the same curve.
Munich → Frankfurt (644 km, 3 hours 30 minutes via A9) — Direct Autobahn north; the most straightforward domestic German one-way. Nuremberg (274 km from Munich) is worth a half-day stop: old town walk and the Documentation Center for the Nazi Rallies.
In general, a special licence is not required to hire our campervans in Munich. However, a valid driving licence is required to operate our vehicles. For some non-EU citizens, a IDP is required, in addition to their home country's driver's licence. Other considerations such as a valid vehicle licence to the vehicle type (manual or automatic) will also be required. For more information regarding our licence requirements read this.
Yes, our campervans are pet-friendly. Just make sure to purchase the extra cleaning service during your booking. This service includes professional anti-allergic cleaning after your trip. Please note that only one pet is allowed per motorhome, and it must weigh no more than 30kg. Keep in mind, we are not responsible for any legal fees related to travelling with your pet. For marketplace bookings, check the "vehicle rules" section for the pet-friendly icon to confirm if pets are allowed in that specific vehicle.
The number of people who can sleep in our campervans will depend on the size of the vehicle and the model. In general, our class C motorhome models can sleep up to 4-8 people, whereas our class B motorhomes can sleep up to 2-4. For cars with a rooftop tent, around 2 people can sleep in this vehicles. More details on our models and sleeping capacities can be found here.
If you are travelling in a campervan, motorhome or caravan around Munich, it is important to understand official camping rules of the country you are visiting. As natural areas are generally protected by laws, using an official campsite or designated overnight parking area is highly recommended. This helps protect local communities and ensures you can all enjoy safely. Read more safety tips and protocols here.
We offer three protection plans to cover incidents and damages during your hire period. All Indie Campers motorhomes come with insurance for third-party vehicles and property damage (valid insurance will depend on the country). For marketplace vehicles, insurance options may vary based on the host.
Learn more about our protection plans here.
Yes, our search filter allows you to find a campervan near your location using a 60km radius system. This means depending on the location you are searching from, you will be able to find an Indie campervan hire pick-up centre near you.
Yes, a selected number of Indie Campers campervan hire in Munich include unlimited kilometres, allowing you to explore freely and make the most of your road trip! Please note that unlimited kilometres applies exclusively to Indie Campers campervans and is subject to responsible use.
Our Road Trips Itineraries
“Tiron was fantastic during pick up and drop off. He provided me with a great amount of detail and help. The van was exactly as required and met my needs perfectly. I look forward to visiting Tiron, and the Munich crew again in the future. ”
“Everyone and everything was amazing thank you”
“Excelencia no atendimento....equipment 10”
Campervans, Motorhomes & Campervans for Every Kind of Traveller
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