Alpes da Baviera, Germany: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Alpes da Baviera occupy the southern strip of the state, next to the border with Austria. This is where the Zugspitze is, at 2,962 meters, the highest point in Germany. Two bases concentrate the trip: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, southwest of Munique, and Berchtesgaden, at the far southeast end, a few kilometers from Salzburgo.

In Garmisch-Partenkirchen the day revolves around the mountain. A rack railway and a cable car go up the Zugspitze; below are the Eibsee lake, the Partnachklamm gorge and the ski stadium from the 1936 Winter Games. Less than half an hour by car are Schloss Linderhof, the palace of King Ludwig II, the Ettal monastery and the village of Oberammergau, famous for its painted façades.

Berchtesgaden sits in a valley surrounded by mountains and is the gateway to Nationalpark Berchtesgaden, the only German national park in the Alps. The classic outing is the electric boat on the Königssee to the church of St. Bartholomä. The town also still has a salt mine operating since 1517.

The region also has a difficult history. On the Obersalzberg, above Berchtesgaden, the Nazi regime set up a restricted area around Hitler’s residence. Today the Dokumentation Obersalzberg is a place of remembrance about that period, and the Kehlsteinhaus, on the mountaintop, operates as a restaurant with a historical exhibition.

Cable cars, boats and the road to the Kehlsteinhaus follow seasons and shut for maintenance in spring and autumn. In winter snow usually appears but varies year to year; in summer mountain rain is common. It’s worth planning the trip with flexibility to swap days depending on weather.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Berchtesgaden.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Alpes da Baviera is

Contornos: © BKG (2026), dl-de/by-2-0. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Alpes da Baviera

✈ Flughafen München Franz Josef Strauß (MUC), in Munique · 125 km to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Confirm before booking. The entry point is Munique. From there, regional trains go to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in about 1h30 (1 hour 30 minutes). To reach Berchtesgaden, the train takes roughly 3 hours with a change in Freilassing. Salzburgo, in Austria, is about 25 km from Berchtesgaden.

Suggested arrival point: Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Baviera · Alpes da Baviera Suggested arrival point

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Garmisch-Partenkirchen was formed by the merger of two villages in 1935, on the eve of the 1936 Winter Games. It lies at the foot of the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany, which is reached by rack railway or cable car. Nearby are the Eibsee lake, the Partnachklamm gorge, the Olympia-Skistadion and Ludwigstraße, with painted houses. Close by are Schloss Linderhof, Kloster Ettal and Oberammergau.

Baviera · Alpes da Baviera

Berchtesgaden

Berchtesgaden sits at the far southeast of Bavaria, surrounded by mountains and the Austrian border; Salzburgo is about 25 km away. The town grew around a monastery and a salt mine active since 1517, the Salzbergwerk. Nearby are the Königssee, with electric boats to St. Bartholomä, the Nationalpark Berchtesgaden and the Obersalzberg, home to the Dokumentation Obersalzberg and the Kehlsteinhaus.

The local experience

Things to do in Alpes da Baviera

Berchtesgaden · Baviera · Lake

Königssee

A narrow lake between steep mountain walls, inside the Nationalpark Berchtesgaden. Electric boats take about 35 minutes to the church of St. Bartholomä, with a stop for the echo played by the boatman. In season they continue to Salet.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen · Baviera · Mountain

Zugspitze

The highest mountain in Germany, at 2,962 metres, on the border with Austria. It is reached by rack railway from Garmisch-Partenkirchen or by cable car from the Eibsee, up to a terrace with views over the Alps.

Berchtesgaden · Baviera · Historic site

Kehlsteinhaus

Built by the Nazi Party in 1937 and 1938, at 1,834 meters above Berchtesgaden. Today it is a restaurant with an exhibition about its history. It can only be reached by a special bus and an elevator during the summer season.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen · Baviera · Gorge

Partnachklamm

A roughly 700‑metre gorge carved by the Partnach River, with walls over 80 metres high. A path with galleries cut into the rock runs alongside the water. It is open year‑round during daylight hours, with an entrance fee.

See 9 more places in Alpes da Baviera

Berchtesgaden · Baviera · Memorial

Dokumentation Obersalzberg

Documentation center about the Obersalzberg and the Nazi dictatorship, built in the former restricted area of the regime above Berchtesgaden. The exhibition includes part of the bunker system.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen · Baviera · Lake

Eibsee

A green‑water lake at the foot of the north face of the Zugspitze, in Grainau, 9 km from Garmisch. It has a path circling the shore and the departure station for the Zugspitze cable car.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen · Baviera · Street

Ludwigstraße

The old market street of Partenkirchen, on the line of the Roman road between the Brenner and Augsburg. It features painted façades, wrought‑iron shop signs and the neo‑Gothic church of Mariä Himmelfahrt.

Berchtesgaden · Baviera · Mine

Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden

The oldest active salt mine in Germany, in operation since 1517. The guided tour goes down by a small train into the mountain, uses wooden slides and crosses an underground lake by boat.

Berchtesgaden · Baviera · National park

Nationalpark Berchtesgaden

The only German national park in the Alps, established in 1978, featuring the Watzmann, the Königssee and valleys such as the Wimbachtal. The visitor center Haus der Berge, at the entrance to Berchtesgaden, has an exhibition about the park.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen · Baviera · Stadium

Olympia-Skistadion

Stadium built for the 1936 Winter Olympics, at the foot of the large ski-jump ramp. It's on the way to the Partnachklamm and hosts the New Year's round of the Four Hills Tournament.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen · Baviera · Palace

Schloss Linderhof

The smallest of King Ludwig II's palaces and the only one he saw completed, in a neorococo style, in an isolated valley about 25 km from Garmisch. Visits are by guided tour only. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen · Baviera · Monastery

Kloster Ettal

Benedictine abbey founded in 1330 by Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian, about 10 km from Garmisch. The Baroque basilica has a dome over a twelve-sided plan. The monastery maintains a brewery and a liqueur distillery.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen · Baviera · Village

Oberammergau

Village in the Ammer valley known for the Passion of Christ performed every ten years, for its painted façades and for wood sculptors. It is about 20 km from Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From June to September all the excursions usually operate: boats on the Königssee, buses to the Kehlsteinhaus and the buildings in the Linderhof park. May and October are quieter, with some attractions already out of season. From December to March is ski season on the Zugspitze, if there is snow; the Kehlsteinhaus closes in winter.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Allow 2 days for Garmisch-Partenkirchen: one for the Zugspitze and the Eibsee, another for the Partnachklamm and for Linderhof, Ettal and Oberammergau. Berchtesgaden requires another 2 days: one for the Königssee and the salt mine, another for the Obersalzberg. The two towns are about 3 hours apart by car or by train via Munique.

Which city to stay in

In Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the Garmisch side is close to the station and the train to the Zugspitze; Partenkirchen, around Ludwigstraße, is more traditional and close to the ski stadium and the Partnachklamm. Grainau, next to the Eibsee, is quieter. In the Berchtesgaden area, the town center is the most practical base for train and bus; Schönau am Königssee puts the lake within walking distance; Ramsau is more remote and good for those traveling by car.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Alpes da Baviera

What is the best base in the Alpes da Baviera for someone arriving via Munique?

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the easiest: regional trains depart Munich central station and take about 1h30. Berchtesgaden is farther, about 3 hours by train with a change in Freilassing, but it’s worth it for those who want the Königssee and the Obersalzberg. Check schedules on the Deutsche Bahn website.

Can you do a day trip from Munique?

For Garmisch-Partenkirchen, yes: you can go up the Zugspitze and return the same day if you leave early. For Berchtesgaden, a day trip is tiring, with about 6 hours on trains in total; ideally spend at least one night in the area.

Do you need a car?

Not for the basics. Train, rack railway, cable cars and local buses serve the Zugspitze, the Partnachklamm, the Königssee and the Obersalzberg. A car helps for visiting Linderhof, Ettal and Oberammergau in the same day and for traveling from Garmisch to Berchtesgaden without passing through Munique. The road to the Kehlsteinhaus is closed to private cars.

Do the cable cars run year-round?

Most operate almost all year, but each one shuts for a few days or weeks for technical maintenance, usually in spring and autumn, and can close due to bad weather. Before planning a day, check the maintenance calendar on each company’s website.

What to wear in the mountains?

Even in summer, bring a jacket, closed shoes and a raincoat. On the summit of the Zugspitze, at nearly 3,000 meters, temperatures are usually much lower than in the valley. The Partnachklamm and the Berchtesgaden salt mine are humid and cool inside.

Alpes da Baviera

A region to enjoyat your own pace.