village near trees under cloudy sky at daytime

Berchtesgaden

Berchtesgaden is a Bavarian town for Königssee boat trips and hikes in Germany's only Alpine national park, within easy reach of Salzburg.

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Berchtesgaden is a town in Bavaria, in southeastern Germany, near the Austrian border and the city of Salzburg. It lies in the Berchtesgaden Alps, and Berchtesgaden National Park covers much of the surrounding mountains. It is Germany's only Alpine national park. Visitors come for Königssee, a lake at the park's edge. Electric tour boats cross it to the chapel of St. Bartholomä, with steep walls rising from the water on both sides.

The town suits hikers, boat-trip travelers and anyone who wants a quiet mountain base within day-trip range of Salzburg. Summer and early autumn suit the trails and boats best. Plan at least two nights if you want to hike on one day and take the lake boat on another. A single day leaves little room for either once you add travel time from Munich or Salzburg.

Berchtesgaden in five

Book the Königssee boat for a clear morningElectric boats cross the lake to St. Bartholomä, and queues build by late morning in summer. Check the operator's timetable and weather updates before you plan the day around it.
Take the Salzburg bus, not a taxiBerchtesgaden is about 30 kilometers from Salzburg, and a regional bus covers the route in roughly an hour. A day in Salzburg works from here, but sleep where the mountains are.Salzburg travel guide
Know what the Kehlsteinhaus visit involvesThe Eagle's Nest sits on a ridge above Obersalzberg and is reached by a dedicated bus and an elevator. It runs only in the warmer months, so check the season and weather on the official page.
Visit the Obersalzberg documentation center firstThe center explains the area's Nazi-era history before you see the Kehlsteinhaus, and it is open year-round. Plan an hour or two and read the exhibition before the summit bus.
Ask your host for a guest cardThe visitor tax comes with a guest card at many Berchtesgaden lodgings, and it can cover local buses. Ask at check-in before you pay for separate tickets.Tourist taxes in Europe

Things to do in Berchtesgaden

See all attractions in Berchtesgaden

Landmark · BerchtesgadenSalt Mine Berchtesgaden

Sight · BerchtesgadenEAGLES NEST BUS PARKING.

lake in the middle of mountains during daytime

Park · BerchtesgadenKönigssee Pkw-Parkplatz

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to BerchtesgadenPut the places you like in Berchtesgaden on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Salzburg (SZG), about 1 hour by bus; Munich (MUC), about 2.5–3 hours
Getting there: Train from Munich via Freilassing about 2.5–3 hours; bus from Salzburg about 1 hour
Getting around: Local buses reach Königssee and Obersalzberg; walking in the center
Best base: Berchtesgaden town or the Königssee shore
Time needed: 2–3 days for the lake, a trail and the salt mine

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuarySnow15 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh4°Low-4°Ski season
FebruaryRain13 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh7°Low-2°Ski, snow
MarchRain15 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh10°Low-1°Late snow
AprilRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh14°Low3°Spring, lifts close
MayRain20 rainy daysHigh17°Low7°Wildflowers
JuneRain17 rainy daysHigh23°Low11°Hiking season
JulyRain18 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Warm, busy
AugustRain17 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Warm, busy
SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Clear, golden
OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low5°Autumn color
NovemberRain12 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh9°Low0°Lifts close
DecemberRain15 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh5°Low-3°Christmas markets

Average daily high and low in Berchtesgaden, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Berchtesgaden

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 2°
Humidity: 95%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 45%

Berchtesgaden

09:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today5°2°45%Monday: Rain. High 5°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 45%.
Tue5°2°13%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 5°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 13%.
Wed5°1°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 5°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu10°4°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri6°2°0%Friday: Fog. High 6°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat6°1°3%Saturday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 3%.
Sun7°2°13%Sunday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 13%.

Updated 09:26 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

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Day trips by train

Salzburgabout 1 hour by busMozart's city and a fortress above the Salzach river.Read the guide
Königsseeabout 15–20 minutes by busA deep Alpine lake reached by quiet electric boats.
Bavarian Alpsvaries by baseGarmisch and Füssen are far; treat them as a separate trip.Read the guide

Before you go to Berchtesgaden

Munich to Berchtesgaden by railVia Freilassing, a slow but scenic runRead the guide

Königssee and salt mine ticketsBoats, mine tours and guided hikesBook timed entry

eSIM near the borderRoaming across Germany and AustriaRead the guide

Cover for a national park tripMountain rescue and medical coverRead the guide

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Rules for Berchtesgaden, checked

Germany is in the Schengen Area: non-EU visitors may stay 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries. Count your days before a long trip.Source
Entry/Exit System: non-EU visitors may have fingerprints and passport details recorded at the German border. Check the current status on the EU travel site.Source
Berchtesgaden National Park: stay on marked trails and check the park's current rules on dogs and off-trail hiking before you go.Source
Dial 112 for police, ambulance or fire in Germany, and save the number in your phone before you arrive.
Most shops close on Sundays and public holidays, so buy food and supplies on Saturday.

Plan around Berchtesgaden

Bavarian Alps

Garmisch, Füssen and the other Alpine bases

Read the guide Salzburg travel guide

A baroque city about an hour away by bus

Read the guide Garmisch-Partenkirchen

The big Bavarian base for the Zugspitze

Read the guide Is a Eurail Pass worth it?

Munich to Salzburg and into the Alps

Read the guide All of Germany

Regions, trains and entry rules for a Germany trip

Read the guide

Berchtesgaden FAQ

Is Berchtesgaden worth visiting?

Yes, if you want an Alpine lake, a national park and fewer crowds than Garmisch. It is far from Munich and awkward by rail, so it suits travelers combining it with Salzburg.

How do you get to Berchtesgaden from Munich?

By train via Freilassing in about 2.5 to 3 hours, usually with a change. A car or a bus from Salzburg can be easier. Check timetables the night before, as regional services vary.

Is Berchtesgaden a day trip from Salzburg?

Yes. The bus takes about an hour each way, so you can see Königssee and the town in one day. Stay a night if you want a morning boat before the groups arrive.

What is the Kehlsteinhaus?

A mountain-top lodge built for Nazi leaders and reached by a dedicated bus and an elevator. It is now a restaurant and viewpoint, open seasonally. Check the official page for dates and ticket rules.

When is the best time to visit Berchtesgaden?

June to September for boats and high trails, and January to March for snow. Spring and November can bring closed lifts and muddy tracks, so check opening dates before you travel.