Mountains, culture, and winter sports: tourism in Bavaria is thriving and managed to break last year’s record in 2025. Despite a difficult economic climate, the region has become even more attractive to travelers. However, not everyone has benefited from the influx of visitors: the hotel and restaurant industry recorded losses, and rural establishments are increasingly forced to close.
How Many Tourists Visited Bavaria in 2025?
Bavarian tourism had already reached record levels in 2024 with 40.6 million guests; however, this figure was surpassed in 2025. In total, approximately 41 million people visited the federal state. These guests accounted for nearly 103 million overnight stays in hotels, apartments, and campsites. “Our guests are looking for a holiday filled with authenticity, character, and a zest for life,” noted Tourism Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU) while commenting on the new figures. Tourists brought approximately 28 billion euros to the region—accounting for 20 percent of the total added value of Germany’s tourism sector.
Where Exactly Did Tourists Vacation in Bavaria?
Upper Bavaria remains the clear leader in the statistics, with 19.5 million visitors in 2025. It is followed by Swabia, including the Allgäu (6 million), and Middle Franconia (4.5 million). Almost all Bavarian municipalities saw an increase in guest numbers compared to last year. Particularly notable growth was recorded in Lower Bavaria (up 2.4 percent) and the Upper Palatinate (up 2.7 percent). Only Upper Franconia saw a slight decrease in tourist numbers (down 0.3 percent).
The top three most popular cities and municipalities in 2025 were Munich, Nuremberg, and the Lower Bavarian spa resort of Bad Füssing. Overall, the boost was felt primarily by health resorts and rural municipalities, while major cities more frequently reported a decline in tourist traffic. Munich and Augsburg recorded a noticeable decrease, whereas Nuremberg and Würzburg managed to improve their figures. The strongest growth was shown by the ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen near the Zugspitze.
Where Did the Travelers Come From?
Approximately three-quarters of the tourists arrived from other regions within Germany, while the number of international guests remained stable. Thus, domestic tourism remains the most vital pillar of the industry. Nevertheless, Bavaria remains in demand internationally: guests from the US, Austria, and the Netherlands were particularly numerous. Travelers from China showed significant growth, with a ten percent increase in visitors from the PRC in 2025.
How Did People Vacation in Bavaria?
“Guests are not saving on their holidays, but they are saving during them,” Kaniber explained. While the number of guests grew substantially, the number of overnight stays did not increase proportionally. This indicates that visitors tend to spend less time in Bavaria per trip. Campsites (up 3.3 percent) and holiday apartments (up 2.8 percent) became more popular than the previous year. Hotels, by contrast, showed a small decline of 0.7 percent but still provide the main share of overnight stays—nearly 80 percent.
While precise figures for the most popular travel times are not yet available, it is already evident that January and December saw the highest growth. “Thank God we still know how to do winter tourism,” Kaniber remarked. Bavaria’s tourism industry significantly benefited from cold winter weeks.
Which Problems Remain Pressing?
Despite the record numbers, 2025 was once again a hard year for gastronomy, stated Angela Inselkammer, President of the association Dehoga Bayern. According to Kaniber, the industry has suffered losses for the sixth consecutive year. “The challenges for the sector are more serious than the raw visitor numbers suggest,” the Minister emphasized. The restaurant business is hit particularly hard by the shortage of skilled labor, as well as high costs for energy, wages, and food products. Furthermore, consumer demands are rising—guests are increasingly seeking wellness services. Consequently, small rural inns are being forced to close more frequently.
Kaniber and Inselkammer called the reduction of VAT in gastronomy an important step and a positive signal. “This is a real benefit not only for the industry but also for local residents,” the Minister stated. Inselkammer also demanded that the federal government quickly introduce working-time accounting on a weekly rather than a daily basis. In her view, hospitality employees cannot work remotely, and a weekly schedule would provide at least some much-needed flexibility.
Source: Data from the Bavarian Ministry of Tourism and Dehoga Bayern
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