Germany · Bavarian Alps · 8-day itinerary

Things to do in Bavaria: 8-day road trip through the Bavarian Alps

Wondering what to see in Bavaria? Here is our 8-day road trip through the Bavarian Alps: turquoise lakes, gorges, picture-postcard villages and fairy-tale castles, from the Königssee to Neuschwanstein, with a day trip to Salzburg.

• 8 days
• By car
• Lakes and castles
• Salzburg

Things to do in Bavaria: the Bavarian Alps in 8 days

In southern Germany, right on the Austrian border, the Bavarian Alps are a natural wonder: turquoise lakes, gorges carved by water, villages with painted façades and castles straight out of a fairy tale. If you are looking for the best things to do in Bavaria, this is the 8-day road trip we did ourselves, from Lake Königssee to Neuschwanstein Castle.

Prices are approximate and date from our trip; check the official websites, as they may have changed.

• Duration8 days
• Must-seeNeuschwanstein
• AirportMunich
• Best timeMay to October

Things to do in Bavaria day by day: the itinerary at a glance

Day 1: Lake Königssee, St. Bartholomä and Lake Obersee

You land at Munich Airport, pick up your car and head south-east: in about 2 h 30 you reach Berchtesgaden National Park, your first base on the route. Today is all about the most famous lake in Bavaria.

• 
  11:00 · 2 h 30 drive from MunichLake Königssee

  Park in Schönau am Königssee and board one of the electric boats, the only way to cross the lake. Halfway along, the boat stops and the captain plays the trumpet so you can hear the echo bouncing off the rock walls. The Schönau – St. Bartholomä – Salet ticket cost us €28.50 per person; in high season, buy it in advance.

• 
  12:00 · 35 min by boatSt. Bartholomä

  The church with the red onion domes on the water’s edge, with the Watzmann behind it, is the classic Berchtesgaden postcard. Have lunch at the old hunting lodge next to the church and try the lake’s smoked trout.

• 
  14:30 · boat to Salet + 20 min walkLake Obersee

  From the Salet pier, a flat path takes you to the Obersee in about 20 minutes, with its wooden hut reflected in the water. If you still have energy, carry on to the Röthbach waterfall, the highest in Germany.

• 
  18:30 · 10 min driveBerchtesgaden

  Head back to Schönau on the last boat (check the timetable: in low season they finish early) and have dinner in Berchtesgaden, with the Watzmann peeking over the rooftops.

Day 2: Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest), Berchtesgaden and Maria Gern

A day of viewpoints: you go up to the Eagle’s Nest in the morning, stroll around Berchtesgaden and finish with sunset at one of the most photographed churches in Bavaria.

• 
  09:00 · 10 min drive to ObersalzbergKehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest)

  Built in 1938 at 1,834 metres, today it is one of the best viewpoints in the Bavarian Alps. From Obersalzberg an official bus climbs a scenic road and, at the end, a 124-metre tunnel and an original brass lift take you to the summit, with views of the Watzmann and even Salzburg. It is only open from May to October. You can also hike up in about 3 hours: our track is below.

• 
  14:00 · 15 min driveBerchtesgaden town centre

  Wander around the Marktplatz and its painted façades, look into the Royal Palace (Königliches Schloss) and, for something different, visit the salt mine (Salzbergwerk), which has been operating since 1517.

• 
  18:30 · 10 min driveMaria Gern Church

  A small baroque church surrounded by meadows with the mountains behind it. Come in the evening light: it is one of the most beautiful views on the whole route.

Here is our Wikiloc track of the hike from Obersalzberg up to the Kehlsteinhaus.

View and download our Eagle’s Nest track on Wikiloc →

Day 3: Wimbachklamm, Ramsau and Lake Hintersee

Your last day in Berchtesgaden National Park, with short drives and lots of stops on foot. At the end of the day you cross into Austria to sleep in Salzburg.

• 
  09:00 · 15 min driveWimbachklamm Gorge

  Wooden walkways over the river and small waterfalls on a short, easy walk. Entry costs €2.50, paid at the machine at the start of the trail.

• 
  11:00 · 5 min driveRamsau

  The Church of St. Sebastian by the river and the stone bridge make one of the most famous postcards in Bavaria. The best view is from the bridge over the Ramsauer Ache.

• 
  13:00 · 10 min driveLake Hintersee and Zauberwald

  Crystal-clear water, wooden jetties and a path all the way around the lake. To get there, walk through the Zauberwald (magic forest), a forest of moss-covered boulders.

• 
  16:00 · on foot from the HinterseeKlausbachtal Valley

  If you have time, follow the Klausbachtal valley to its suspension bridge: a peaceful walk along the stream, perfect to round off your time in Berchtesgaden.

Day 4: Salzburg in one day

Today you leave the car parked and explore Mozart’s city on foot, just across the Bavarian border. Almost everything is in the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• 
  09:30 · on footMirabell Gardens

  Start in the free gardens of Mirabell Palace, with the fortress in the background. Scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed here.

• 
  10:30 · cross the Salzach riverGetreidegasse and Mozart’s Birthplace

  Salzburg’s most famous street, with its wrought-iron shop signs. At number 9 is Mozart’s Birthplace (around €15).

• 
  12:30 · 5 min walkCathedral, Residenzplatz and Mozartplatz

  Visit the cathedral (around €7) and the squares around it. For lunch, order Salzburger Nockerl, the city’s signature soufflé.

• 
  15:00 · on foot or by funicularHohensalzburg Fortress

  Walk up or take the funicular (around €19.20 with the full ticket) to see the whole city from above. Afterwards, have dinner at the Augustiner Bräustübl, one of the largest beer halls in Austria.

Day 5: Lake Eibsee, Zugspitze and Grainau

This is the longest driving day: in about 2 h 30 you cross from Salzburg to the Garmisch-Partenkirchen area, your second base, at the foot of Germany’s highest mountain.

• 
  10:00 · 2 h 30 drive from SalzburgLake Eibsee

  Turquoise water and tiny islands at the foot of the Zugspitze. The lake is free, but parking is not (around €10 for up to 4 hours, cheaper if you arrive very early). Walk the 7 km loop trail around it.

• 
  14:00 · cable car from the EibseeZugspitze (optional)

  At 2,962 metres, it is the roof of Germany. The cable car leaves right next to the lake and the summit has views over four countries. The ticket is not cheap: check prices and the forecast before going up, because on a cloudy day you will not see a thing.

• 
  17:30 · 10 min driveGrainau

  A quiet Alpine village of meadows, wooden huts and the Waxenstein massif in the background. Perfect for a sunset stroll and dinner at a traditional Gasthof.

Day 6: Partnachklamm, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald and Wagenbrüchsee

Gorges, villages with painted façades and a hidden lake. At the end of the day you drive to Füssen, the third base on the route.

• 
  09:00 · 10 min drivePartnach Gorge (Partnachklamm)

  Walkways and tunnels carved into the rock, with walls up to 80 metres high and the river roaring below (entry is around €4). Arrive first thing to avoid queues.

• 
  12:00 · 10 min driveGarmisch-Partenkirchen

  Stroll along Ludwigstraße in Partenkirchen, with its hand-painted façades (Lüftlmalerei), and have lunch in one of its Gasthöfe.

• 
  14:30 · 25 min driveMittenwald

  The violin-making village: it has a museum devoted to its luthier tradition and one of the most richly decorated old towns in Bavaria.

• 
  16:00 · 10 min walkLeutaschklamm Gorge

  Right next to Mittenwald, on the Austrian border, walkways hanging over the gorge lead to a waterfall. A short and very photogenic outing.

• 
  18:00 · 10 min driveLake Wagenbrüchsee

  A small, crystal-clear lake facing the Karwendel mountains, far from the crowds. Perfect for the last light of the day.

Day 7: Neuschwanstein Castle, Lake Alpsee and Füssen

The day you have been waiting for: King Ludwig II of Bavaria’s fairy-tale castle and the Romantic Road town at its feet.

• 
  09:00 · 10 min drive from FüssenNeuschwanstein Castle and Marienbrücke

  It inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle. The interior can only be visited on a guided tour (around €23.50, free for under-18s) and you should book weeks in advance. Walk up in 30-40 minutes or take the bus or a horse-drawn carriage, and don’t miss the view from the Marienbrücke bridge.

• 
  13:00 · 10 min walkLake Alpsee

  Next to Hohenschwangau Castle, a trail circles the lake through the forest. The ideal spot for a picnic lunch or a swim in summer.

• 
  16:00 · 10 min driveFüssen

  Explore the old town, the Hohes Schloss, St. Mang’s Abbey and the banks of the river Lech. For dinner, order Käsespätzle, the signature dish of the Allgäu region.

Day 8: Oberammergau, Linderhof Palace and Ettal Abbey

The last day of the trip, on the way back to Munich: a painted village, Ludwig II’s smallest palace and a Benedictine abbey.

• 
  09:30 · 1 h drive from FüssenOberammergau

  An open-air museum of painted façades, also famous for its Passion Play, held every ten years, and for its woodcarvings.

• 
  12:00 · 20 min driveLinderhof Palace

  The only palace Ludwig II lived to see completed, inspired by Versailles, with beautiful gardens and the Venus Grotto (around €10).

• 
  15:30 · 20 min driveEttal Abbey

  A Benedictine abbey founded in 1330, with a huge baroque dome. The monks make their own beer and liqueurs: take a bottle home as a souvenir.

From Ettal, Munich Airport is about 1 h 30 away by car. Leave yourself time to return the rental car.

The Bavarian Alps in pictures

Before planning your trip, get inspired: wild nature, dreamy villages and crystal-clear lakes. These are the fairy-tale landscapes of southern Germany we explored on this route.

Watch our reel of the Bavarian Alps landscapes on Instagram →

Where to stay on your Bavaria road trip

The key to enjoying this route is to change base only three or four times and do round trips from each one. These are the areas we recommend:

In high season (July and August) accommodation in Berchtesgaden and Schwangau sells out fast: book months in advance and look for places with breakfast and parking included.

Villages to visit in Bavaria: the prettiest in the Bavarian Alps

If you are wondering what to see in Bavaria beyond lakes and castles, these are the villages on the route you should not miss:

What to eat in Bavaria: traditional food of the Bavarian Alps

Bavarian food is hearty, perfect after a day on the trails. These are the dishes you have to try on this trip:

• 
  Weißwurst with Brezel

  The white veal sausage, eaten in the morning with sweet mustard, a Brezel (the Bavarian pretzel) and a wheat beer. The quintessential Bavarian breakfast.

• 
  Schweinshaxe

  Roast pork knuckle with crispy crackling, served with Knödel (potato or bread dumplings) and sauerkraut. The star dish of any Gasthof.

• 
  Käsespätzle

  Fresh egg noodles baked with lots of cheese and topped with fried onions. Typical of the Allgäu region, where Füssen is: the Alpine take on mac and cheese.

• 
  Apfelstrudel and Kaiserschmarrn

  For dessert, apple strudel with cream or vanilla sauce, or Kaiserschmarrn, a shredded, caramelised pancake served with fruit compote. In Salzburg, try Salzburger Nockerl too.

• 
  Beer in a Biergarten

  In Bavaria, beer is almost a religion. Grab a seat in a Biergarten (beer garden) and order a Helles, a Weißbier or the beer brewed by the monks of Ettal.

Plan your Bavaria road trip

• Car rental: essential for getting around the Bavarian Alps. Compare prices on DiscoverCars and save up to 70%.
• Travel insurance: make sure your cover includes mountain rescue and cancellations. We travel with Heymondo and our readers get a 5% discount.
• Tours and activities: book experiences in Munich, Salzburg and Bavaria with Civitatis, with free cancellation on most activities.
• Filming the trip: we shoot all our mountain videos with Insta360. Here is our gear and discount codes.
• Save when you book: with iGraal you get cashback on hotels and rentals, plus a welcome bonus.
• Sports and outdoor clothing: jackets, caps and sunglasses for your hikes and trips from SIROKO. Use code VIAJEROS10 for an extra 10% off.
• Airport VIP lounges: wait for your flight in comfort, with food, drinks and Wi-Fi, in a VIP lounge with VIPLounges. Code VIAJEROSCURIOSONES saves you 5%.

Things to do in Bavaria: frequently asked questions

Our Bavarian Alps reels

Want to see what this route looks like before you go? Here are our Bavarian Alps reels.

Watch our Bavaria reel on Instagram

And if you have fewer days, these are the highlights you cannot miss: Neuschwanstein Castle, Lake Eibsee at the foot of the Zugspitze, the trip up the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak, Lake Königssee, the Partnachklamm gorge and the village of Mittenwald.

Watch our Bavaria highlights reel on Instagram →