Berchtesgaden: A Must-See Village in the German Alps
Berchtesgaden is most known for being home to the Eagles Nest, a lodge on a mountaintop, home to Adolf Hitler. Hitler’s Eagles Nest is the main tourist attraction to Berchtesgaden but there is so much more to this little town than that. I didn’t even go to the Eagle’s Nest when I was there because it was foggy, and I still had a blast.
First of all, this town is in the beautiful German alps. That’s enough of a reason to go there. Since it is a small town, there’s no airport here, so you’ll have to rent a car to drive in. That’s a good thing though because you can take in the beauty that the German alps have to offer.
Berchtesgaden is only 12 miles away from Salzburg. You know what that means… this area is a Sound of Music dream. Disclaimer: The movie was not filmed in Berchtesgaden, but the area looks like it does in the Sound of Music.
The town is also only an hour and 40-minute drive from Munich. I drove from Prague, which was 4 hours and 30 minutes, but it was still so doable because I stopped where I felt like along the way which made it an adventure!
Where to Stay
I stayed in an area called Oberau, which is on a hill right next to Berchtesgaden. The hotel I stayed in was the Alpenhotel Denninglehen. The view was so beautiful. The hotel faces West, so you can watch the sunset over the Alps. I could sit out on my balcony and look at it all day.
The hotel is so cute on the outside and the inside. It’s got that traditional German Alp look to it. The shutters and the attic on the outside are wooden, and the rest is painted white. There are pretty flower boxes line the balconies. Everyone who works there is kind and hospitable.
What to Do
So what exactly do you do in a German village in the alps? There’s plenty of fun things to do! These suggestions are cheap as well, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the wallet!
1. Eagle’s Nest
Enjoy some lunch with a beautiful view of the alps up at the lodge! Or just go up there to learn some history and take in the views. Tickets are only 16,60 euros.
2. Walk around the town
I love wandering and exploring with no destination. Walk around and take in the beauty of the town. The best part about wandering around and exploring is that it’s free! Wander into shops, cafes, breweries, or wherever calls your name!
3. Have a beer at the Hofbräuhaus in Berchtesgaden
I am a big fan of German beer. Hofbräuhaus, the famous brewery in Munich, has such good beer. There’s indoor seating and patio seating. Sit outside and enjoy the views if the weather is nice!
4. Take a drive to the St. Sebastian Church in Ramsau
This church isn’t the average giant church that you’ll find in cities across Europe. This is a quaint church that is set along a clear, seafoam green-colored river. The church is located in such a pretty and photogenic area. Take a walk around there and explore! This activity doesn’t cost you a dime! (Except for the gas of course)
5. Eat some good German Food!
Schnitzel, brats, sauerkraut, there’s so much good German food in this town. While you’re at it, get some apfelstrudel for dessert!
I ate at Gasthaus Watzmann. They have good traditional German food. They only take cash though, so come prepared.
6. Explore little towns in the area.
On your drive to and from Berchtesgaden, stop at little towns you see along the way. On my way to Berchtesgaden, we saw the cutest tiny village on the hills and we just had to stop by to wander around it.
As you can see in the picture above, the views were gorgeous and the village was adorable. We had lunch at one of the only restaurants in town. The workers didn’t speak English, that’s when you know you’re really in a local’s area. I had a chicken dish with potato salad and it was the best meal I’ve ever had in Germany.
It happened to be a holiday, All Saints Day, when I was there so there was a band dressed up in dirndls and lederhosens, walking from church to church playing music. Talk about getting immersed in the local culture.
If you don’t want to do touristy things and would rather immerse yourself into the culture, this is the way to go. If I could tell you the name of this village I would, but I honestly do not remember since it was so small.
Traveling out to the countryside is great because most of your activities are pretty cheap. I hope these travel tips help you to have an amazing experience in the German Alps! Enjoy all the beauty that Berchtesgaden has to offer!