8 tips for trips in Berchtesgaden
When you say Berchtesgaden, everyone automatically thinks of Lake Königsee and Hitler's Eagle's Nest above it. And that's exactly what you won't read about here now :) Please take a look at the second article here. However, here I would like to talk about other excursions you can do in Berchtesgaden. And there is no lack of them!
Where to stay?
I find the advantage of this German trip in the easy accessibility, where you can get here from the Czech Republic in a few hours and also on free highways (as of 2022). What I would definitely not underestimate is early booking of accommodation. At the last minute, the choice is really limited and it could get expensive. The gaste carte system is also great, where you get various benefits such as discounts on entrance fees, cable cars and parking as part of your accommodation.
We chose the following for our home in 2020 Chiemgau Appartements in Inzell, where they offer X dozens of different sized apartments, so it's not a problem to settle here even in larger groups. There is a sauna, swimming pool and fitness room available for guests and of course free parking right outside the building. Every morning you can buy luxury fresh pastries for breakfast at the reception... I don't want to give you a hint, but I've never had better cinnamon buns!! :) For the apartment type A1 with kitchenette and balcony we paid €202 for 3 nights.
Two years later, I booked a family apartment in Haus Proksch, where we were really happy overall. The extra bedroom was a particular win for us (because Donut) and the spacious balcony was great too. For the record, 4 nights here came to €272. But if you fancy something different, check out my other tips:
- cheaper: Gasteaus Achental - around €68 for a double room in a nice family guesthouse
- medium: Alpenresidenz Buchenhohe - classic hotel rooms in the price range of around €92 per night
- luxury: Bavaria Superior - beautiful and well rated country-style accommodation
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Maria Gern |
1. Hintersee
A beautiful clear lake in the western part of the Berchtesgaden Alps. We didn't have much luck with the weather here, but even that didn't detract from its beauty. There are a few paid parking lots in close proximity, but you might still squeeze your car into a free area like we did, see map below. Then we set about circumnavigating the lake, which according to the signpost should take about 45 minutes. Probably longer for us in the final, because I couldn't get enough of taking pictures of the little islands with trees right in the water :)
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Anyway, the walk is absolutely easy, on flat ground, so we will extend it along the Ramsauer Ache river. It's a very nice, well-maintained trail that could take you directly to Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden, but we disconnect after a few hundred metres to take the forest path back and come out right by the car.
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Overview, prices at Hintersee (fall 2020):
- boat rental: €7/30 min., €11/hour
- ferry: €2
- cruise with commentary: €4
2. Klausbachtaler Hängebrücke
Despite the less than ideal weather, we decided to make one more trip near Hintersee - the 55-metre long Klausbachtaler suspension bridge. Just to be safe, you can't get directly to it with your own car, as it's in a national park and the road is only accessible to locals and bus transport. The last possible parking is the Parkplatz der Nationalpark-Informationsstelle Klausbachhaus (€5), next to which there is a bus stop and, as the name suggests, also an information centre.
TIP: We avoided the parking fee by having lunch at Gasthof Auzinger, where we then left the car. By the way, the cooking here is really good! Just count on typical Bavarian cuisine, no burgers, pizzas etc...
Of course, you can skip the bus and walk... like we did. It's a 3.5 km long stretch through the Klausbachtal valley, also known as the valley of alpine pastures and the valley of eagles - to which an outdoor exhibition is dedicated. The terrain here is easy, with a slight climb at the end, but you definitely don't need any special equipment or a giant snack to get there, unless you intend to continue on... :)
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3. Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden
When you drive from the Hintersee lake and the suspension bridge, you will probably pass through this village as well. There's basically nothing here, but we just had to get our daily dose of caffeine somewhere :) There are several cafes right off the main road and with parking meters, you can park here for free for 2 hours. The second reason you should stop here is the beautiful and photogenic view of the 16th century church of St Fabian and Sebastian.
4. Wimbachklamm
A few kilometres outside Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden, there is one more place worth a stop - the Wimbachklamm gorge. You'll have to leave your car in a paid car park for €5/4 h. There's nothing free here, and you can't get a parking ticket for a shorter time interval either. Which is a bit infuriating, considering that the whole visit to the gorge takes about an hour with everything, and I'm calculating that including the way to the self-service entrance - about 500 meters.
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I recommend having cash ready €2.50 per adult for the entrance fee because the machine only takes certain types of credit cards and we didn't even bother with Master Card. Not to be all negative though :) The competition itself is short, but very nice. You walk along a wooden walkway over a wild river and see a great many small waterfalls. It's a really beautiful sight.
5. Bad Reichenhall
- Alte Saline - a salt mine right in the centre of town, which you should check out even if you don't want to go in. Its buildings are beautiful from the outside too! For those who would consider a tour, the entrance fee is €10 and they also have more information available at official site.
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- Royal Spa Garden - But Bad Reichenhall is not only known for its salt mining, but above all for its long spa tradition. Be sure not to miss a visit to the unique wooden colonnade, which includes a high wall made of logs through which water flows. The aim is to humidify the air so that patients can breathe better.
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- Gruttenstein - and while you're parked here, run down to the local castle. Outside of special events (Easter, Advent, etc.) it is not open to the public, but there is a park with benches around it so you can sit, relax and at least see it from the outside.
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- Thumsee - a beautiful, quiet lake full of fish located just outside Bad Reichenhall. Plus, it's great that there's free parking.
6. Rossfeld Panorama Strasse
As the name suggests, it is a high-altitude scenic road located on the border of Germany and Austria at an altitude of almost 1,600 metres. There is a fee to enter, but don't worry, it's nothing drastic. The entrance fee is per vehicle, which works out to €8 for a car or €4.50 for a motorbike.
We used our gaste card for this attraction, which made the pass completely free. Quite pleasant :) Otherwise the toll gates are on both sides - Oberau/Obersalzberg - so it's up to you which entrance you use. For up-to-date info, not only on prices, you could then go to official site.
You will ride about 16 km, during which you will cross 14 bridges and overcome an elevation of about 1100 meters. And of course, you can stop at the sightseeing spots and admire the panoramas. The Berchtesgaden Alps will show themselves to you in all their glory! You will see Germany's third highest peak, Watzmann, as well as Hitler's famous Eagle's Nest. Looking towards the Austrian side, you will be treated to views of the Dachstein mountain range, the Totes Gebirge, the Salzbachtal valley and, in good visibility, even Salzburg itself.
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| Orlí hnízdo |
7. Almbachklamm
There was already one tip about the gorge, but I really like them, you might have noticed that already :) This beauty can be found just a few kilometres from Rossfeld Panorama Strasse, so if you're not planning any exorbitant hikes on the Panorama Road, it's perfectly fine to combine these two trips into one day.
The Almbachklamm is less than 3 kilometres long and you'll cross the river 29 times back and forth while climbing it. Yes yes, there are 29 bridges, footbridges + even one tunnel. Of course, there are also lots of small waterfalls and stunningly clear pools. What's great is that it's two-way and thanks to the several turns from the gorge, you can design the walk as a circuit. If you were to walk from one end to the other and back again, it works out to somewhere around 2 hours. If you consider a circular walk, count 3-4 hours depending on the route you choose.
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8. Chiemsee
A place that is not directly in Berchtesgaden, but which I highly recommend visiting on your way "there". Or on the way back, as you wish. Lake Chiem is called the Bavarian Sea, simply because it is the largest in the area. In addition, it is also a popular holiday destination for its diverse activities. Even if you're not into hiking, cycling, water sports or just lounging on the shore, I have another option for you. There are two islands on the lake - Herreninsel and Fraueninsel - and you can explore them thanks to easy boat connections.
The largest of these is Herreninsel, or Men's Island, whose name derives from a male Benedictine monastery founded in the 8th century. Now, however, the main attraction is no longer the monastery, but the huge Herrenchiemsee castle with its lush gardens, built by King Ludwig II. You may think of this man in connection with Neuschwanstein or Linderhof, but it is clear from all his achievements that he was no trifling or minimalist. His castles are complete works of art, and Herrenchiemsee was even supposed to be the most lavish, as Louis tried to copy the French Versailles. Well, as I say, no little man :)
Herrenchiemsee practical:
- a short walk (approx. 1.5 km) from the marina
- those who don't want to put a strain on their precious legs can use the horse-drawn carriage for €3.50 one way
- entrance to the gardens is free
- the combined entrance fee including a tour of the palace + the Louis II Museum + the gallery costs €11. Alternatively, a breakdown of current prices can be found on the official website here.
- You must book entry to the palace for a specific time immediately at the visitor centre!
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Fraueninsel, the women's island, is smaller but much more densely populated. Yeah, and prettier for me too :) Apart from the (surprisingly) female monastery, there are lots of cute little houses, gardens with flowers and herbs, boats moored at anchor and small family-run bistros offering fish delicacies. Everything here has a very calm and peaceful feel, in short, the complete opposite of the glamorous Herreninsel.
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Transport on the Chiemsee
The Chiemsee Schifffahrt shipping company will be the highlight for you, where you will learn all the essentials. Their website is in German or English, but I'll make a quick snippet of information to give you an overview. You can choose from 3 types of cruises, which differ mainly in departure point and slightly in price (I'll list for an adult):
- West tour - €9.90, departing from Prien/Stock, Gstadt or Bernau
- East tour - €10.50, departing Seebruck, Chieming,Ubersee
- Grand tour - €13.60, from anywhere to anywhere
We opted for the West tour, mainly because we didn't want to spend more time on the ship than absolutely necessary. The East tour, by contrast, has much longer crossings, which is also evident when looking at the map. So our departure town was Gstadt, where we parked the car in one of the more remote car parks for €3 per day. The price is then higher directly at the dock. You can get tickets directly at the pier, but beware - cash only. After that, it's up to you which bus you take and where you go first, as well as how long you stay on each island.
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For more excursions focused on Königsee and its closest surroundings, check out this article.
If this information has helped you to save some time or money or both, you can "invite me for a coffee" and contribute to the running of Travel with Donuts :) account number / QR code: 1257951017/3030
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