Berchtesgaden is located in the south of Bavaria near the border of Austria. It is a small old town that is surrounded by huge mountains. The village is located next to the Berchtesgaden National Park, which is Germany’s only national park in the alpine area.
During our trip through Bavaria, Berchtesgaden impressed us because it is magnificent and there is so much to do. Whether you want to take beautiful walks, learn more about the history of the 2nd World War, visit the most beautiful lake in Germany and always want to be surprised by the impressive views, Berchtesgaden is an awesome travel destination for every type of traveler.
Do you want to know more about things to do in Berchtesgaden? Then you are on the right page. In this article, we share the best 14 activities that you can do in Berchtesgaden, the best place to stay, how many days you need, great places to eat, and which destinations beside Berchtesgaden are worth visiting while traveling through Bavaria, and more useful tips for Berchtesgaden.
Things to do in Berchtesgaden?
Berchtesgaden itself is a small town from which you can enjoy many fun activities. Berchtesgaden is best known for visiting the Eagle’s Nest and lake Königssee, but there is so much more than just these two activities. Read below our recommended 14 things to do in Berchtesgaden, Germany.
Tip: Use the map below to see where the best things in Berchtesgaden are located. Click on the top right corner to enlarge the map. If you click on the star symbol next to the title, you can save this map to your Google Maps account. You can show or hide different categories on the map. You can use this map to navigate when you are in Berchtesgaden.
#1 Lake Königssee
Visiting lake Königssee is in our opinion the best activity to do. This lake is located next to the second-highest mountain in Germany called the Watzmann. It is the deepest lake in Germany and one of the largest in the country. This lake is one of the popular Berechtsgaden National Park destinations to visit. When we went there we didn’t have high expectations, but afterward, we can tell you that it is incredible to visit and something you don’t want to miss.
The nice thing about visiting lake Königssee is that you can take a boat trip to the lake. During this boat trip, you will be surprised by the beauty of nature. The water is crystal clear and with the high mountains around you, you feel very small. To get the most out of your visit to lake Königssee we have written an article in which we share all the important information to know.
#2 Eagle’s Nest
The Eagle’s Nest is one of Bavaria’s main attractions. This is because it is one of the few Nazi buildings that is not destroyed. This makes it a popular place to visit. Whether you love history or not, a visit to the Eagle’s Nest is recommended for every type of traveler. This is because the Eagle’s Nest’s historic character is located high in the mountains, so you can also enjoy a great view.
Many travelers visit the Eagle’s Nest as a day trip from Munich or Salzburg, but if you’re in Berchtesgaden it’s a lot easier to visit. You can visit the Eagle’s Nest daily from mid-May to October.
How to visit the Eagle’s Nest: The Eagle’s Nest can be visited in two ways, namely by bus or by walking. For both options, you have to travel to Busbahnhof Kehlsteinhaus. You can park your car here or take the bus from the center of Berchtesgaden. Almost all travelers use the bus because the hike takes +/- 4 hours in total from the parking lot. The hike is not technically difficult, you just have to bridge some height meters and it takes a long time.
The most common way to visit the Eagle’s Nest is to use the buses that leave from Busbahnhof Kehlsteinhaus. Every 25 minutes busses leave here. Costs are €28 ($30) per person for a return ticket.
It is not possible to drive to the Eagle’s Nest by car. At Busbahnhof Kehlsteinhaus there is a large parking lot where you can park your car. If you travel by public transport, you can take bus 838 from the Berchtesgaden HBF station to the Busbahnhof Kehlsteinhaus. A bus leaves every 30 minutes and takes 15 minutes.
Tip: If you want to visit the Eagle’s Nest from Munich or Salzburg, it is easiest and cheapest to book a tour. Tickets for a day trip from Munich or a day trip from Salzburg can be booked via the link.
Tip: only visit the Eagle’s Nest when the weather is clear. When the weather is bad, you can’t see anything through the clouds, so you don’t have a view over the region.
#3 Jennerbahn Mountain Station
The Berchtesgaden National Park has several restaurants located in the mountains, one larger than the other. Our favorite one to visit is Jennerbahn Bergstation. Mount Jenner is one of the larger mountains from which you have a view of the mountain range of the Alps at the top and an impressive view of the lake Königssee.
The great advantage of visiting the top is that it can be done by anyone. You can walk to the top or you can use the Jennerbahn (ski lift). The use of the Jennerbahn costs €24 ($25) for a single ticket and €34 ($36) for a return ticket. Due to lack of time, we chose to go up with the ski lift and to walk back. The walk itself is great because the view is stunning during the walk, also the hike down itself is not difficult to do.
It is recommended to arrive at the restaurant at the top during lunch or dinner so that you can enjoy a beautiful view while enjoying food and drinks.
Where to stay in Berchtesgaden
Option 1 our personal favorite: Hotel Krone
We stayed in Hotel Krone and recommend it 100%! For us, this was the best accommodation where we stayed during our trip through Bavaria. The rooms are neat, breakfast is super good, the owners are nice, it is quietly located, within walking distance of the center and the best thing is that you have a private balcony from which you have a lovely view over the region. We enjoyed our stay at Hotel Krone and rate it a 10.
Check actual prices and availability for Hotel Krone here.
Option 2 Location, price, and view: Alpenhotel Kronprinz
Alpenhotel Kronprinz is similar to Hotel Krone, only this hotel is slightly bigger and therefore they can offer more luxury. This hotel is highly recommended for travelers seeking this. Like Hotel Krone, you can enjoy the Bavarian culture here.
Check actual prices and availability for Alpenhotel Kronprinz here.
Option 3: luxury and special place to stay
If you are looking for a resort, Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden is the place for you to stay.
#4 Hiking in the Berchtesgaden area
Because Berchtesgaden is surrounded by mountains, you can do some great hikes in the area. In the National Park Berchtesgaden, there are many trails that are diverse and challenging for every type of traveler. Whether you want to make day trips, short or multi-day walks, it is all possible.
During our trip, we made a couple of hikes in the area of Berchtesgaden and captured our experience in an article specifically about hiking in Berchtesgaden. We share our insights about which hikes are best for each type of traveler.
#5 Salzburg
An hour across the border in Austria, you can find Salzburg which is the perfect city to visit on a day trip from Berchtesgaden. Salzburg is a small city that allows you to discover the main attractions of the city in a relatively short period of time.
We really liked Salzburg because of its historic center, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. You will understand this when you walk there because the streets are beautiful due to the architectural style. The various squares, gardens, religious buildings, castles, museums, and restaurants make Salzburg above all a romantic city to visit.
Salzburg is not known as a major attraction for travelers to visit, we had never searched for information about the city before our trip, but we can say after our visit that the city surprised us very positively. In our Salzburg article, you can read in detail our Salzburg itinerary and how to get the most out of your visit.
#6 Eat locally at Goldener Bär and Gasthof Neuhaus
When traveling in Germany it is always a great pleasure to sit in a typical German café or restaurant. For us, this is always one of the most enjoyable ways to learn more about the country’s culture. In Berchtesgaden you have Goldener Bär and Gasthof Neuhaus which best represent German culture and cuisine.
Both places are attractive and have an extensive menu where you can order typical German dishes. The difference between the two places is that Goldener Bär is more romantic. It is nice if you want to eat inside. Gasthof Neuhaus has a terrace which is great to sit on when the weather is good.
#7 Ramsau
The small village of Ramsau is a 15-minute drive from Berchtesgaden and is worth visiting for its beautiful St. Fabian und St. Sebastiankirche church. There is not much to do outside the church and the fact that you can start several hikes in Ramsau.
The church in Ramsau is located along a stream with mountains in the background which makes the setting unique. When you get there you will be amazed at how beautiful it is. The church itself was built in the 16th century and was transformed in the 18th century, giving it a Baroque architectural style.
You can easily visit Ramsau by car because you can park for free in the village for 2 hours. You can also get to Ramsau by bus 846 from the center of Berchtesgaden.
#8 Hintersee
Hintersee is close to Ramsau and is enchanting in its beauty. Hintersee is often skipped by travelers because they visit lake Königssee. Visiting Hintersee is worthwhile because it is not visited by many other travelers making it quieter and therefore more authentic.
You can do a hike around the lake, watch the local fishermen try to be successful on their fishing boats, watch different species of birds forage for food and admire the mountains around you. We recommended doing the Zauberwald walk from Ramsau to Hintersee. During this hike, you walk along the river and cross a beautiful forest. Read more about the hike in our article about hiking in Berchtesgaden here.
We recommend visiting Hintersee while doing the Zauberwald walk but you can also visit Hintersee by car. Near Hintersee you find parking lot P4 and you can buy a day ticket for €7 / $7.30. If you have a Berchtesgaden Gästekarte you get a 50% discount. We received a Berchtesgaden Gästekarte at our accommodation Hotel Crone.
#9 Almbackklamm and Wimbachklamm
The Almbackklamm and Wimbachklamm are worth mentioning separately. They are gorges where a path runs along the wall where you walk just above the river. It is possible to hike in these gorges. During the hikes, you see several impressive waterfalls that cause the river to flow below you at a high speed. It is important to know that both gorges can only be visited from mid-May to October. They are one of the most unique walks you can do in the Berchtesgaden area. Read more information about these hikes here.
#10 Discover the historic center of Berchtesgaden
If you’re staying in Berchtesgaden, it’s also fun to discover the town itself. Berchtesgaden is an old small town where you can see many monumental buildings. It is nice to walk through the streets and see typical German authentic houses. When you are in the center you will see several signs that show a historical walking route that is worth following. Berchtesgaden itself isn’t big, so it won’t take long to see the most important things.
#11 Panorama route
From Berchtesgaden, you can drive one of the most impressive panorama routes in Europe, namely the Rossfeld Panoramastrasse. During this route, you ride on top of the mountain from where you have a breathtaking view of the entire region. From the top, you can see Berchtesgaden, Salzburg, and the Alps. This activity is recommended for those who want to be less active and enjoy views at their own pace. The route is about 15 kilometers long. During the route, there are several stops where you can walk around.
The Rossfeld Panoramastrasse is a toll road. You can do this route by car, bus or motorcycle. Costs are €8 ($8,50) per vehicle.
Tip: This activity is only recommended when the weather is clear. If it’s cloudy, it’s not worth doing.
#12 Museum Documentation Center Obersalzberg
When you visit the Eagle’s Nest, park your car at Dokumentationszentrum Obersalzberg. If you want to get a better picture of the history of the Second World War, a visit to the museum is recommended. In the museum, you learn about the area, why this area is so important and you get a lot of historical information about the Eagle’s Nest. The best thing about visiting the museum is that you can visit the tunnels to get to the underground bunkers of Obersalzberg.
#13 Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden
Just outside the village of Berchtesgaden is the Berchtesgaden salt mine called Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden. This activity is recommended to visit for families with children as they learn about how salt was extracted in a playful way. You can only visit the salt mine by taking a tour. During a 90-minute tour, you will visit different parts of the cave. You will also drive an old train through the corridor system and you will sail through the cave with a boat. Tickets can be bought here via the official site.
#14 Travel video Bavaria
This tip is meant to inspire you and show you what to see in Berchtesgaden and Bavaria. Hopefully, the video inspires you to discover Berchtesgaden and other places in Bavaria as well. The places you see in the travel video are Berchtesgaden, Munich, Füssen, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Video will be published soon.
How many days do you need for Berchtesgaden?
You can do a lot from Berchtesgaden, so we recommend staying at least 4 days / 3 nights in Berchtesgaden. When you have 4 days you can do most of the activities on this list. If you want to make different hikes, visit lake Königssee, the Eagle’s Nest, and Salzburg, it is best to stay longer. You can of course stay in Berchtesgaden for less than 4 days, but this is not ideal because you can not do all the great things. However, if you have no other option, it is better to stay a few days in Berchtesgaden than not at all.
Where to stay in Berchtesgaden?
Berchtesgaden can be visited all year round, in winter it is popular for winter sports and after winter it is a great place for walking and discovering different sights. This makes Berchtesgaden a popular place, so there are plenty of accommodations to find. The only problem is that the locals also like to travel to Berchtesgaden and because of this it is fully booked very quickly. For Germany in general and especially for Berchtesgaden, making your reservation on time is important. You may sometimes have to book months in advance, so be on time!
Our personal favorite:
Hotel Krone
We stayed in Hotel Krone and recommend it 100%! For us, this was the best accommodation we stayed in during our trip through Bavaria. The rooms are neat, breakfast is super good, the owners are nice, it is quietly located, within walking distance of the center and the best thing is that you have a private balcony from which you have a lovely view over the region. We enjoyed our stay at Hotel Krone and rate it a 10.
Location, price, and view:
Alpenhotel Kronprinz
Alpenhotel Kronprinz is similar to Hotel Krone, only this hotel is slightly bigger and therefore they can offer more luxury. This hotel is highly recommended for travelers seeking this. Like Hotel Krone, you can enjoy the Bavarian culture here.
If you are looking for a resort, Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden a the place for you to stay.
Where to eat in Berchtesgaden?
Despite the fact that Berchtesgaden is not big, there are a couple of nice places to eat. Because Berchtesgaden is mainly visited by national tourists, it is typical German-oriented, which of course only makes the travel experience better. We stayed 4 days in Berchtesgaden and because of this, we were able to eat at different restaurants each time. These are our recommended places to eat:
Goldener Bär: is a restaurant with a lot of atmosphere where you have the feeling that you are eating at your grandmother’s, which makes it a cool experience. The decoration is typically German and the menu is extensive. Dishes that are worth trying are haxe or chicken wings. Costs are approximately €19 ($20) per person, this includes a drink.
Gasthof Neuhaus: is another restaurant similar to Goldener Bär. Goldener Bär is nice because of the outdoor terrace where you can sit when the weather is nice. Our recommendation is to go for one of the burgers, they are served in large portions. It costs +/- €18 ($19) per person with a drink.
Lederstub‘n: is a small Italian restaurant run by two friends. Here you can order good wines from Italy and most importantly the food is delicious. We recommend the ricotta pasta because it has a strong taste and is spicy. Costs including drinks are approximately €17 ($18) per person.
Restaurant-Pizzeria EINKEHR: is another Italian restaurant that is recommended to eat if you want to eat pizza. Pizza rustica is recommended to try. Costs for a pizza are between €8 ($8.40) and €12 ($12.65) per person. Including a drink, you have eaten here for +/- €15 ($15.80) per person.
How do you get to Berchtesgaden?
Berchtesgaden can be easily reached by plane, public transport, and car. Because Berchtesgaden has a station, you can easily reach it by train and bus. Most travelers travel to Berchtesgaden from Munich, Salzburg, Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Füssen.
By plane to Berchtesgaden: the easiest way is to fly to Munich or Salzburg and travel from these places by public transport or rental car to Berchtesgaden.
If you travel to Germany by plane and you are looking for a car to rent, you can rent it through Rentalcars. We use Rentalcars when we want to travel by car to discover new destinations. They’re easy to use and book with.
Public transport to Berchtesgaden: see below overview for the most common places from which people travel to Berchtesgaden. The best places to get to Berchtesgaden are Munich and Salzburg.
- From Munich to Berchtesgaden: use the train, check the actual train schedule here | €34 ($36) one way | 2 hours 45 minutes travel time
- Salzburg to Berchtesgaden: use bus 840 | €6 ($6.30) one way | 50 minutes travel time
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Berchtesgaden: travel from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Munich and from Munich to Berchtesgaden. This route is very cumbersome and is not recommended. Check the train schedule for the best way to travel, tickets start at €34 ($36) one way and the travel time is 4 hours and 30 minutes.
- Füssen to Berchtesgaden: from Füssen it is not recommended to travel directly to Berchtesgaden. Here too you have to travel to Munich first. Check the actual train schedule. Tickets start at €34 ($36) for one way and the travel time is 5 hours and 40 minutes.
Car to Berchtesgaden: Berchtesgaden is easy to reach by car. Most accommodations have a parking space and if you visit Berchtesgaden on a day trip you can park your car in the center at various parking spaces. Travel times by car from the most common places are:
- Munich to Berchtesgaden: 1 hour 50 minutes | 155 km
- Salzburg to Berchtesgaden: 35 minutes | 26 km
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Berchtesgaden: 2 hours 30 minutes | 190 km
- Füssen to Berchtesgaden: 3 hours 10 minutes | 220 km
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When is the best period to visit Berchtesgaden?
Berchtesgaden can be visited all year round, but periods are more suitable than others depending on what you want to do. If you want to do winter sports, you should of course go during the winter months from November to March.
If you like to be active by visiting sights and hiking, it is best to visit Berchtesgaden during the spring, summer, and autumn periods. So these are the months from April to October.
The best period in terms of temperature is the summer, on average it is 21°C (69,8°F). During the spring and autumn period, the average temperature is 15°C (59°F). It is also good to know that if you want to go hiking high in the mountains this is only possible from mid-May because the snow is gone.
Summary: Berchtesgaden can be visited all year round depending on what you want to do of course. If you want to go hiking and do things, spring, summer and autumn are good periods. Please note that the European school holidays are during the summer period, which means that prices are higher for accommodations and they are fully booked even faster.
Berchtesgaden what to do FAQ
1. I want to travel through Bavaria, which places do you recommend visiting?
Bavaria is big and you probably don’t have all the time so you have to make choices. We visited Munich, Berchtesgaden, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Füssen, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber during our 10-day Bavaria trip. This trip is diverse because you visit castles, do different hikes, visit museums, discover various authentic villages, admire impressive natural landscapes, get the chance to get to know German culture, learn about the Second World War, and visit one of the nicest European cities.
In our article, which you can access via the link above, you can read in detail about our recommended tour. We have always done activities from these places, we have written an article for each destination where you can find this kind of information.
2. I only have 3 days for Berchtesgaden, which activities do you recommend doing?
Giving advice like this is difficult because every type of traveler likes something different. We had 4 days in Berchtesgaden, with our experience we recommend doing the following activities if you have 3 days in Berchtesgaden:
- Day 1
- Lake Königssee
- Jennerbahn mountain station: because you do not have all the time, it is best to take the cable car up and walk back. It simply takes too long to walk up and down.
- Day 2
- Eagle’s Nest
- Dokumentationszentrum Obersalzberg
- Day 3
- Visit Salzburg as a day trip from Berchtesgaden
Because you only have 3 days, you can’t do many hikes in Berchtesgaden, which is a pity. However, with the above-varied planning, you still get a good picture of the area. If you are traveling with children to Berchtesgaden, a visit to Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden is recommended. In this case, it is best to skip the Dokumentationszentrum Obersalzberg.
3. What other tips do you have that are useful to know when you travel to Berchtesgaden?
- In Berchtesgaden you will be walking a lot, so wear good shoes.
- With most accommodations, you will receive a Berchtesgaden Gästekarte during check-in. With this card, you can often get a 10% discount on tickets for sights and a discount at parking machines.
- Make sure you always have cash with you. You cannot pay with a debit card everywhere. If you have an average of €50 ($52), this is more than enough.
- If you want to hike high in the mountains, it is best to travel to Berchtesgaden from mid-May because the snow is gone and the mountain passes are open again.
Want to see more of Germany?
We hope this article has helped you to get a clear picture of what to do in Berchtesgaden, where to stay, and more useful tips for Berchtesgaden.
After your stay in Berchtesgaden, you can explore more places in Bavaria. If you follow our itinerary through Bavaria, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the next destination. Read here everything you can do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
You can also travel from Berchtesgaden to Munich, Füssen, or Salzburg. Munich is the second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and is special because you can still see many authentic buildings here. Füssen is a small settlement with a cozy atmosphere that is mainly visited because of the Neuschwanstein castle. Besides the castle, the area around Füssen is beautiful because it is green and you have many panorama views. Salzburg is a small city where you get to know Austrian hospitality. The historic center of Salzburg is worth a visit, it is small, authentic, and gorgeous with all the buildings.
What do you think of Berchtesgaden? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Disclaimer: the prices mentioned in this article may differ from the current situation. We regularly update our articles. Would you like to help us to provide to best possible insights to help other travelers leave a comment with the latest information. Thanks!
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