Germany / Munich & the Bavarian Alps / Berchtesgaden & KönigsseeBerchtesgaden & Königssee
An Emerald Fjord-like Lake under the Watzmann
The south-east corner of Bavaria, in a national park almost surrounded by Austria. Silent electric boats cross the Königssee to the onion-domed chapel of St Bartholomä (all year when the lake is clear of ice), and on to Salet for the walk to the Obersee in summer. The Eagle's Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) on its mountain ridge is reached by a special bus road open only from about mid-May to October; the Documentation Obersalzberg tells its history. The salt mine tour, with miners' slides, runs all year. Salzburg is 30 km away; from Munich it is about three hours by train via Freilassing.
Highlights
- Electric boat across the Königssee to St Bartholomä
- Walk to the Obersee (summer)
- Eagle's Nest (mid-May to October)
- Salt mine tour and slides
- Jenner cable car
- Day trip to Salzburg
Things to do
- Königssee boat to St Bartholomä and the Obersee walkMay–SepMorning · 5h
- Eagle's Nest and the Documentation ObersalzbergJun–OctAfternoon · 4h
- Salt mine tourAfternoon · 2h
- Jenner cable car and summit trailMorning · 4h
- Day trip to SalzburgMorning · 6h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: May – October
Worth knowing
Eagle's Nest Closed Until Mid-May
The Eagle's Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) is reached only by special buses on a mountain road that opens from about mid-May to the end of October, depending on the snow. Outside those months you can see the Documentation Obersalzberg, the salt mine and the Königssee instead. In winter the Königssee boats go only as far as St Bartholomä, and not at all if the lake freezes; the Salet stop and the Obersee walk are for the summer season.