- Mar 30
- 7 min read

The Tailor-Made Guide to Bavaria for Car Lovers

**Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Regardless of this, please be advised that all opinions expressed in this blog post are genuine and authentically my own.**

Author: Barry Pickard

The History of the Bavarian Car Industry

Historic Industrial-Design Museum

Audi Car Museum in Ingolstadt

Other Car Attractions in Bavaria

The Best Bavarian Scenic Drives

Conclusion

The History of the Bavarian Car Industry

When Karl Benz invented the first gasoline-powered automobile in 1886 in nearby Mannheim, it wasn’t long before the Bavarian auto-industry started to develop. With its roots as an iron foundry and machine factory, Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg (MAN) started commercial vehicle production in 1915 in Lindau on Lake Constance. This leading manufacturer of trucks and buses is now headquartered in Munich.

It was only a year later, in 1916, when Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) was established in Munich. Initially BMW was a manufacturer of aircraft engines, but after the Great War, it began turning out motorcycle engines, then in 1928, its first automobile.

Audi is also now synonymous with Bavaria and is headquartered in Ingolstadt, but it wasn’t until 1949 that Audi moved from its original East German bases (it was known as Auto Union at that point).

The Bavarian car industry experienced a period of rapid growth in the 1950s, with BMW and Audi quickly becoming leading world car manufacturers, well known for their high-performance luxury cars. Until today, where the Bavarian automobile manufacturing and supply industry employs over 500,000 people, generating over 100 billion euros in revenue.

Bavaria for Car Lovers

BMW Museum

The BMW Museum in Munich is a must-visit for car enthusiasts and fans of the iconic German automaker. Housed in a sleek, modern building, the museum offers a comprehensive look at the company's history, from its early days as an aircraft engine manufacturer to its current status as a leading producer of luxury vehicles. Visitors can see a range of vintage and contemporary BMWs, as well as learn about the brand's contributions to automotive design and technology.

Tailor-Made Top Tip: Take the escalator up through the beehive structure of the museum to find out BMW’s futuristic plans for their cars.

BMW Welt

Adjacent to the BMW Museum is BMW Welt, the company's flagship exhibition centre. Here, visitors can see the latest BMW models, test-drive the cars, and learn about the latest advances in automotive technology. There is also a café, restaurant, and a shop selling BMW merchandise, making BMW Welt a great place to spend a few hours, even if you're not a car enthusiast.

Tailor-Made Top Tip: There is a large multi-storey carpark at the Welt, which ensures that you won’t have any problems accessing the BMW facilities. Prices are reasonable, so you could consider keeping your car here while you check out the Olympiaturm (Olympic Tower), which is only a ten-minute walk from the Welt.

BMW Plant Tour

For those who want to see how BMW cars are made, a visit to the BMW Plant in Munich is a must. On a guided tour of the plant, visitors can see the production process for the BMW 3 Series, 5 Series, and 7 Series, from start to finish. The tour is a fascinating look at the cutting-edge technology and engineering that goes into every BMW and is sure to impress even the most jaded car enthusiast. Photography is not permitted but trust me when I say that you will be in awe of the production process.

Tailor-Made Top Tip: Plant tours are only available between Monday and Friday and are delivered in German or English, taking around two hours.

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Motorworld München

Motorworld München is a car enthusiast's paradise. It is a 75,000 square meter complex that houses over 30 classic and sports car dealerships, as well as a variety of automotive service providers, specialized workshops, stores, event locations, and restaurants.

Motorworld München is located on the site of the former Ausbesserungswerk der Deutschen Bahn, a railway repair shop that was built in the early 20th century. The complex has been carefully restored and preserved, and it now houses a huge collection of vehicles, including classic cars, sports cars, and motorcycles.

Tailor-Made Top Tip: Admission is free, and you’d be advised to wear comfy shoes, because you will be doing a lot of walking!

Historic Industrial-Design Museum (within the Pinakothek der Moderne)

The Pinakothek der Moderne is Munich's premier museum of modern art and design, and it also houses the Historic Industrial-Design Museum. This museum showcases some of the most innovative and influential designs from the 20th century, including cars. Visitors can see how design has evolved over the past century, and how it has shaped the world we live in today.

Tailor-Made Top Tip: Take time to browse the diverse collections held within the Pinakothek der Moderne and have a fascinating half-day or more.

Read on to find out about the Audi car museum.

Audi Car Museum in Ingolstadt

Audi is another of Germany's leading automakers, and the Audi Car Museum in Ingolstadt is a must-visit for car enthusiasts. Housed in a modern building, the museum showcases a range of vintage and contemporary Audi cars, as well as the company's contributions to automotive technology and design. Visitors can also see a range of special exhibitions and events, making the Audi Car Museum a fascinating and entertaining day out.

The museum is part of the Audi Forum complex, and has a captivating car showroom, excellent store, selling branded clothing and gifts, and a great canteen which offers a wide range of tasty treats, ideal for a lunch stop.

Tailor-Made Top Tip: Ingolstadt is a charming city which has grown around its medieval centre. You can easily spend a day or two visiting its galleries and museums, as well as walking its beautiful, traditional streets.

Other Car Attractions in Bavaria

There are a number of other car museums and exhibitions in Bavaria that are sure to delight you. For the time being, these are on my bucket list of places to visit!

Mazda Classic Automobile Museum Frey in Augsburg – Mazda car museum.
Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum in Munich – Contemporary indoor/outdoor museum featuring exhibits of old automobiles, buses & train cars.
Automobil-Park Auwärter in Pilsting – car and commercial vehicle exhibition.
German Car Museum Fichtelberg – exhibition not only includes cars, but also motorcycles, airplanes, fire engines, tractors and exotic cars.
Merks Motor Museum in Nürnberg – car and motorcycle museum, with other collectables.
Ofenwerk Betriebs in Nürnberg – exhibition space for automobile events.
Automuseum Adlkofen – car, motorcycle and engine museum.
Museum for Historical Maybach Vehicles in Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz – Collection of antique Maybach luxury cars.

The Best Bavarian Scenic Drives

Once your thirst for viewing Bavaria’s delightful classic and contemporary automobiles has been satiated, how about heading out on the road and open the throttle of your own car and experience two of the best scenic drives that Bavaria has to offer?

German Alpine Road: This 484km road winds its way through the Bavarian Alps, passing through picturesque villages, dramatic mountain scenery, and enchanting lakes.
Romantic Road: This 460km road traverses the heart of Bavaria, passing through medieval towns, rolling hills, and lush forests.

These are just two of the many scenic road journeys that can be found in Bavaria. With its stunning scenery and winding roads, Bavaria is a perfect destination for a road trip.

Conclusion

Bavaria is a great destination for car enthusiasts and travellers alike, offering a wealth of attractions that showcase the best of automotive design and technology. From Munich to Ingolstadt, visitors can learn about the history and evolution of the automobile and see some of the most iconic and innovative cars ever made. Whether you're a car enthusiast or simply someone who loves design and technology, this corner of Germany is a must-visit destination. Indeed, Bavaria is for car lovers.

Accommodation Suggestions

I decided to stay on the periphery of Munich, partly because I had the use of a rental car and partly because I explored many of Bavaria's other attractions, not just amazing sites in the city centre. My time at the Amedia Hotel & Suites in Dachau was perfect for my needs, with great service and stylish, compact rooms.

Click to Book - Amedia

However, if you are looking for a more central hotel in Munich, there is a wide range to choose from, including the Premier Inn München City Zentrum, Hotel Schlicker, and Leonardo Hotel München City Center.

If you are looking for a hotel near the BMW Welt, there are limited options, but the Arthotel Ana im Olympiapark and the B&B Hotel München-Olympiapark would be good options to look at.

As for Ingolstadt, I would suggest looking at Roomreich and Livenwork Hotel & CoWorking GVZ Ingolstadt, which are both close to the Audi Museum.