Monaco luxury guide: glam & supercar

Munich by Luxury Car: Exclusive Itineraries of Urban Sophistication, Alpine Lakes and Fairy-Tale Retreats

From the weather-worn copper dome of the Theatinerkirche to the bold silhouettes of the new Werksviertel district, Munich blends Central-European classicism with contemporary design like few other cities. Travellers at the wheel of a prestige automobile can, in the space of a couple of hours, traverse landscapes of striking variety: grand boulevards lined with couture, lake shores framed by beech forests, castles that seem lifted from an illustrated romance and alpine resorts lauded by the international press. Within a radius of roughly one hundred kilometres, Bavaria becomes an extended private lounge where each stop adds a facet of style, art and nature.

1. Maxvorstadt and the Altstadt—serial masterpieces and superlative shopping

The rectangle between Königsplatz and the Isartor harbours more than forty galleries and eighteen museums, concentrated in the Kunstareal, Munich’s “museum island”, where five millennia of art unfold across just a handful of streets. One wanders from 15th-century panels in the Alte Pinakothek to Cy Twombly canvases at Museum Brandhorst, pausing in the shaded courtyards of the Glyptothek or the rose gardens of Lenbachhaus. A short drive leads to Maximilianstraße, a scenographic avenue of Neo-Renaissance façades and houses of Chanel, Cartier and Dior, rightly viewed as the city’s most exclusive promenade. For a restorative interlude, ascend to the seventh floor of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof: the Blue Spa Terrace—275 m² of rooftop garden, heated pool and lounge sofas—reveals a 360-degree panorama over the twin spires of the Frauenkirche. Close by, the Charles Spa unfolds 800 m² of wellness, with a 15-metre indoor pool and tailor-made botanical therapies. Evenings might conclude with culinary artistry at three-Michelin-starred Atelier or with an opera performance at the Staatsoper, before returning along the Altstadt’s tranquil arteries.

2. Lake Tegernsee—lakeside charm and postcard panoramas

Fifty minutes south of Munich, pastures dotted with chalets give way to the turquoise expanse of Lake Tegernsee. The village of Rottach-Egern, with wooden jetties and whitewashed houses, hosts the Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt: five themed restaurants and a 3,000 m² spa directly on the water, offering circuits that range from aromatic cabins to infinity pools and herbal-alpine rituals. For a full embrace of the lake, board the Wallbergbahn cable car: in ten minutes it glides to 1,624 m, a natural balcony over Tegernsee and the first ridges of the Bavarian Alps. Summit paths lead to the tiny Wallberg Chapel or to take-off zones where paragliders soar. Lakeside, a two-kilometre promenade links Rottach-Egern to the village of Tegernsee, studded with antique shops, ceramic studios and chalet-style cafés. At sunset the waters blush rose-pink, mirrored in the polished coachwork of the waiting car.

3. Allgäu Castles—Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau and the realm of Ludwig II

South-westwards lies the country of Romantic dreams: the grassy slopes of Allgäu cradle Neuschwanstein, the Neo-Gothic fortress that inspired Walt Disney. Maria’s Bridge (Marienbrücke), suspended ninety metres above the Pöllat Gorge, has recently reopened and offers the definitive vantage point. Nearby stands Hohenschwangau, the king’s childhood residence, while the Museum of the Bavarian Kings recounts the saga of the Wittelsbach dynasty through immersive installations. Between the emerald Alpsee and dense conifer stands, boutique properties such as Villa Ludwig or Ameron am See combine retro wood panelling with terraces overlooking the lake. Restaurant Schloßküche serves fillets of alpine trout smoked on site and elderflower-scented desserts. Intuitive footpaths reach the Pöllatschlucht gorge or the ruins of Vorder- and Hinterhohenschwangau, where the valley appears at dawn in a veil of silvery mist.

4. Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Zugspitze—alpine resorts and high-altitude vistas

An hour’s drive south places one at the foot of the Zugspitze (2,962 m), Germany’s loftiest summit. En route, Lake Eibsee gleams like an emerald among larches and firs, its islets accessible by electric boat and encircled by footbridges tracing turquoise reflections. Ten kilometres east, in the Elmau valley, rises Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa & Cultural Hideaway, reborn in 2007 and chosen for the G7 summits of 2015 and 2022. Five discrete spas, cedar-wood Japanese onsen and infinity pools gazing onto alpine meadows alternate with an annual programme of more than two hundred concerts and readings. Guests may explore the glacier-carved Partnach Gorge or follow the scenic road from Grainau to Mittenwald, passing onion-domed churches, centuries-old alm huts and meadows bright with gentian.

5. Ingolstadt Village and the Audi Forum—sartorial flair and automotive culture

North of Munich lies Ingolstadt Village, member of the Bicester Collection: over one hundred international boutiques—from Prada to Etro, Tod’s to Jimmy Choo—present past collections at attractive reductions amid tree-lined avenues and temporary art installations. Seasonal menus based on produce from the Altmühltal region and personal-shopper services enhance the experience. A short distance away, the Audi Forum greets aficionados with the “museum mobile”: three levels tracing the Four Rings’ story from 1899 to the present, with heritage models and futuristic concepts rotating on suspended platforms. Guided tours through production facilities illustrate the latest paint processes and robotics, while the central piazza hosts design and innovation exhibitions.

Driverso - luxury excellence on four wheels

Whether gliding down Maximilianstraße at walking pace or navigating the shaded switchbacks around Lake Tegernsee, a luxury vehicle magnifies every Bavarian impression. Driverso offers executive saloons, high-performance coupés and flagship SUVs, delivered and collected at any preferred address with round-the-clock assistance. Perforated-leather seats, reference-grade audio systems and adaptive suspensions transform even the briefest hop into a moment of pure comfort; fairy-tale turrets, snow-capped ridges and a cultural heritage that shifts in an hour from Old Masters to cutting-edge wellness do the rest. The liberty to choose the next horizon, by the merest brush of an ignition button, is the true luxury of this Bavarian grand tour.