Munich car hire

Most of the major rental companies offer cheap car hire at Munich Airport (MUC), including Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Enterprise and Budget. The drive to Munich city centre should take 35 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic. It's relatively simple – take the A92 west from the airport, then head south on the A9 until you reach the city ring road (2R).

You'll find the car hire desks at Munich Airport's car rental centre, which is in the Munich Airport Center (MAC) building between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. It's easy to reach on foot from either terminal, and is right above the Munich Airport S-Bahn station.

Car rental companies that have desks at Munich Airport include:

• Avis and Budget (Tel: +49 89 975 976 00)
• Europcar (Tel: +49 89 97 350 20)
• Alamo, Enterprise and National (Tel: +49 89 978 804 10)
• Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty (Tel: +49 89 978 860)
• Sixt (Tel: +49 1806 66 66 66)
• Buchbinder, Global Drive and Terstappen (Tel: +49 89 20 35 23 05 0)

If you're spending a few days in Munich city centre before venturing out into Bavaria, it can be quicker to pick up your car in town than to head back out to the airport.

Sixt and Elite both have sites in the Aldstadt, but for the biggest choice of brands head to the main station (Munchen Hauptbahnhof). There is also a smaller cluster of sites at Munich East station (Munchen Ost), which is handy if you're headed east out of the city.

Munich has good, well-signposted roads, and its basic layout is simple: there's a big outer ring road (2R) with arterial roads leading to the inner ring around the Altstadt.

Away from that major road system it can become confusing, particularly in and south of the Altstadt. If you're a first-timer it's worth spending a little more to guarantee a satnav.

Traffic is no worse than any other big city, and drivers tend to be patient and play by the rules – a Munich drive won't exactly be relaxing, but it's certainly easier than, say, Rome. Remember, too, that in many places you'll be sharing the road with the tram system.

As for parking, avoid the Aldstadt zone – it's very expensive and limited to two hours. If you're driving to Munich for the day, try parking at a U-Bahn station outside the ring road and getting public transport into the city centre.

Neuschwanstein

Driving time: Two hours

This is the most famous and dramatic of Bavaria's castles, and for once the description 'fairytale' genuinely applies: Neuschwanstein is said to have inspired the castle from Disney's Sleeping Beauty. It's also a key stop on the Romantic Road, a tourist route that runs through Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Book one-way car hire from Munich and you've got a ready-made road trip.

Skiing at Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Driving time: One hour

If you're a skier or snowboarder, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you can get from Munich to the slopes. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the gateway to the mighty Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain. If you're planning to head into the mountains in winter, make sure you hire an adequate vehicle – winter tyres and snow chains are a good idea – and take out an insurance policy that covers snowy driving conditions.

Konigssee

Driving time: Two hours

You can reach a number of gorgeous lakes from Munich, but it's worth driving a little further for Konigssee. It’s the very model of a glacial mountain lake, snaking its way along a deep valley between sheer rock faces. A fleet of electric boats ferry visitors back and forth, and swimming is permitted in most areas – just don't expect that crystal-clear water to be warm.

1. Watch out for low-emission zones. Most of Bavaria's towns and villages have 'Umwelt' zones restricted to vehicles displaying a low-emission sticker (Umweltplakette).
2. Keep it slow in Munich city centre. The 50kph (31mph) speed limit is strictly enforced, and driving even a few kilometres over it is enough to incur an on-the-spot fine.
3. Drink-driving laws are strict across Germany. The blood alcohol limit is 0.5 grams per litre, compared to the UK's 0.8 grams. If you're under 21 or have been driving for less than two years the limit is zero.