"Bavaria in a Nutshell" Bad Tölz by Turtleshell

Bad Tölz Travel Guide: 25 reviews and 61 photos

Bad Tölz - seen from halfway up the Kalvarienberg

A picturesque town

In February 2008, I moved to Bad Tölz following a job offer. It literally took me months to come to a decision - after all moving from Berlin, a 3.5 million metropolis, to a Bavarian village with 17,000 locals and 5 dogs, is quite a change.

So, to get a long story short: Here I am, and the first thing that struck my eyes were the facade paintings, the so-called Lüftl-paintings. Honestly, I'm still not sure if I like them, but it gives the town a picturesque touch, which is quite common for cities and towns south of Munich or Oberbayern (Upper Bavaria) or the Alpenvorland.

Bad Tölz is a one-hour drive away from Munich, which makes the town a near ideal place for a day-trip (Salzburg, Austria still ranks first, but that would be a 3-hour trip one-way).

The first word in Bad Tölz, by the way, does not exactly mean "evil" but as much as "Bath" or "Spa", though I quite don't get why people would pick this town as their preferred health resort: It's raining two times as much as it does in Hamburg, northern Germany, and while I'm used to the traffic in Berlin, the drivers here are just crazy. I'd pick Langeoog or Spiekeroog where cars are prohibited. Rant over.

If you happen to be in Munich and would like to see a quaint little town, something "original Bavarian", or if you like hiking or would like to get a tad closer to the Alps, seriously consider Bad Tölz.

Old Town and Spa Town

Marktstrasse - note the Lüftl-paintings

Coming fom Berlin, I was happy finding an apartment at Marktstrasse, the most "vibrant" part of Bad Tölz. It's a shopping street and center of the old town. Tölz basically consist of two parts divided by river Isar, the "old town" and the "spa town".

River Isar

River Isar with gravel bank and the town

One of the things I like most is walking alongside river Isar. Unless rainwater from the surrounding hills and mountains have turned Isar into a brownish, muddy stream (which happens frequently, did I mention it statistically rains 2.5 to 3 times more often than in Berlin?), the riverbed is shallow, the water is translucent turquoise with white-grayish gravel banks sticking out of the river. Nice.
Of course there are idiots (yes, idiots) who picnic on one of those banks and then "forget" to take their waste back home.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Picturesque, only a 1-hour drive from Munich, river Isar, close to the Alps
Cons:Rain! More rain. Crazy car drivers.
In a nutshell:Bavaria in a nutshell

Intro Updated Jan 31, 2009
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Reviews (10)

Germknödel (wikimedia) (they serve 3 smaller ones) - Bad Tölz

Strudel and Germknödel Restaurants (2)

Kaffee Garten is a coffeehouse situated at a corner between Schützenstrasse and Ludwigstrasse. This makes Kaffee Garten... more travel advice

A not so much Christian Lüftl-painting - Bad Tölz

Lüftl-Paintings Things to Do (5)

This is a fan of Wilhelminian style residential buildings writing. Buildings you can see in Vienna, Paris or Berlin's... more travel advice

Artificial lake at the hydro plant - Bad Tölz

Down River Isar Things to Do (5)

Water attracts me, and the Isar river is no exception, quite to the contrary. If it had stayed dry for a couple of days,... more travel advice

Following the signs to River Isar - Bad Tölz

Walk to Pestkapelle (Part 2) Off The Beaten Path (2)

Behind Pestkapelle, you'll see a street which takes you to the small village Wackersberg (situated to your left). It's... more travel advice

Transportation (1)
Taking the train to Bad Tölz

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Travelogues (1)

Written May 3, 2012

8 photos

Some Random Sights

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Comments (11)

BruceDunning Jan 10, 2012 at 2:59 PM Report Abuse

We may be taking a trip to Munich in May and considering Bad Toelz for a day trip. Thanks for the tips and the Marktstrasse looks peaceful
amandajayne81 Jun 30, 2011 at 12:42 AM Report Abuse

I love reading about the small towns as I am not really a big city type of person. Thanks for sharing the tips and photos.
Maryimelda Mar 10, 2011 at 7:03 PM Report Abuse

Your detailed directions for the walk are really great Norbert. Makes me want to put my walking shoes on. Thanks.
gilabrand Aug 1, 2010 at 5:54 AM Report Abuse

It's so hot here. I think I'd like to find my shoes wet from the grass.
nickandchris Dec 8, 2009 at 2:35 PM Report Abuse

This looks a beautiful place to live, especially with the lovely river.
Nemorino Oct 26, 2009 at 5:22 AM Report Abuse

I know somebody who moved from Frankfurt to Bad Tolz when she retired. She claims to like it there. To each his/her own, I suppose.
craic Aug 8, 2009 at 7:43 AM Report Abuse

i've seen painted facades like that in genoa
Sage49 Jul 1, 2009 at 7:38 PM Report Abuse

been a long time, how are you? what's new w/ you?
delcity Dec 8, 2008 at 10:42 AM Report Abuse

one hour from munich if bad tolz is near dinkelsbuhl you schold ask about the fire in the sky and loud noise coming from the sky that was heard for hundreds of years until the late 1940`ths
yumyum Oct 20, 2008 at 11:26 AM Report Abuse

Excellent off-the-beaten-path hiking tip! Is Bad Tölz where the TV show "Der Bulle von Tölz" comes from?