jlaughs

Hi everyone,

I would like to go to/see/do all of the above, but I don't know how much time to allot. I'm assuming that I will need to split them up between two days, but what would be the best way to split? Or am I way off base and each is a day event in itself?

I'm thinking that maybe we could stop on our way to Salzburg and then again on our way back from Salzburg.

Thanks!

ozgirl

Hi jlaughs, can offer you a little info on the above. We stayed in Berchtesgaden for one night only for the express purpose of going to Eagles Nest which we did with a small tour company which leaves from the tourist office and must be booked in advance. I think it may have included a salt mines trip because I know we went there and we didn't have our own transport so I think it must have been part of that trip - I will check with DH when he's home. The town of Berchtesgaden itself was very picturesque and worth visiting even if for short while. We would have liked to visit Konigsee but unfortuantely had to find a dentist in Berchtesgaden as my husband had broken his front tooth in half on the train the previous day! I think from memory we got into Berchtesgaden on the Sunday around lunch (via train from Vienna) and left lunch time the next day for Munich. In that time we walked around town, did the Eagles Nest tour, went on a cable car up the mountain and found the dentist! Have a great time!

EmilyC

OK....here we go:
Obersalzberg ("over Salzburg&quotis the mountainous area above Berchtesgaden. The Kehlstein peak in the Obersalzberg is where the Eagle's Nest sites. Once you get to the parking area (park platz) at the Obersalzberg, you purchase tix to take the bus up to the summit. The English speaking tours occur frequently, but you may wish to wait for this. The bus ride is about 20 minutes each way and then you may wish to spend at a minimum of 30 minutes at the summit. Besides the beautiful vistas, there is a restaurant and small gift shop as well. Don't choose this area if it is not a beautiful sunny day....!! At the park platz, you may also wish to walk over to the new WW2 museum and you may wish to tour the bunkers in the Gasthof Zum Turken. Additionally, there is a small "adler park" behind the park platz where you can see local birds of prey.If you are doing this tour on a busy summer day, it could involve waiting a bit as it gets crowded. Also, if there is a local fog in the morning, you may want to wait until it lifts so that you can see the sights!!
The Konigsee, located just a few kilometers outside of B'gaden is always a great choice for tours, hiking, and for the hang gliders who frequent this area. When the summer air warms, it gives them so much lift that they enjoy 30 minute or more drifts from the Jenner peak to the fields adjacent to the Konigsee and the Jenner chair lift. The olympic bob sled run is adjacent to the Konigsee near where you get the boat tours. This popular spot gets pretty crowded during the summer months and the entrance is a little "seedy" with all kinds of vendors. Once you get on the lake, though, the beauty and peacefulness of the area will charm you. As long as the day is clear, get there as early as possible. The boat tour is also offered in English, so you may need to wait for this if you choose. The trip can take as little as 45 minutes out and back if you just get off at St. Bartholomew. Once there, you will want time to see the area.There are also 2 other stops that you might want to see. At a minimum, at least see St. Bartholomew. Many tourists combine their day at the Konigsee with a chair lift ride up to the Jenner peak which is also gorgeous!
Good luck and have fun!!

norrisken

jlaughs,

You should take two days and enjoy yourself. Do Berchtesgaden, Königssee, and Eagles Nest. Next day do the salt mines and I'd recommend visiting the ice caves at Werfen. They're about 30 minutes south of Salzburg. You can get info from the tours on this site. http://shop.panoramatours.biz/en/
We've been to Königssee and Berchtesgaden 3 times and I still haven't made it to Eagles Nest. The boat ride is great and be sure to try the trout at the shop by St. Bartholomew. I think the full boat ride is 15 Euro and takes 2 hours.

Ken

bob_brown

I think you have gotten good advice.
If you are traveling from Salzburg, the train trip is fairly slow because the trains are locals and they make many stops.

At any rate, you will see some very interesting sights. I cannot advise you any better than what others have said.

I would suggest a rental car as a means of expediting travel, but prices in Austria are high.

jlaughs

THANK YOU!!! This is exactly the kind of information I was hoping to receive!

traveldawg

We love this area and do it frequently. One small tip: As rain is frequent in Bavaria, do the Eagles Nest and Lake on the clear days. Save the Salt Mine for last as long as you have clear weather as the mine is all underground so the rain is not a factor. Take advantage of the clear days.

bc_canuck

You don't say if you are travelling by car or train. If you are coming from Salzberg to Berchtesgaden the bus is much faster than the train. It is only a 30-40 minute trip via direct bus. We stayed at the Hotel Floriani near the tourist office in Berchtesgaden and really liked the village. The salt mines are within walking distance and there are two tours available for Obersalzberg. As mentioned earlier there is one from the tourist office (near the train station) and one from the base of the Kehlstein. I think the former is a better tour.

You can also get a map for a local walking tour of the village and surrounding area. A great little restaurant we found is the Gasthof Bier Adam.

You should be able to go to/see/do all in 2 days but time of year/crowds could vary the waitng time.

rhkkmk

strange that i should find two ladies from the asia board here near the top of europe....i rarely look at europe but tonight i find the two of your here: j and BA

hello to both.....bob

you could do it all in one day if you had a car, but it would be a very busy day...

we did the lake tour and my kids still say..."remember that terrible trip on the lake"....our boat was all german, except us....dullsville... we could understand nothing being said...

it seemed to take for ever....i would not do it again...all of the other things are fantastic however....trip to eagles nest is only during certain periods of the year i believe as bus cannot run in snow....

EmilyC

I would like to respectfully disagree with the above poster about the Konigsee boat trip.I can see where teenagers might go postal, however, there are some points to consider. First, there are English speaking tours and if you had chosen one,you would have heard all types of great stories about the lake. The boats are all electric because of the desire to preserve everything in this national park, even the silence, and that is why they are not exactly speedy. Were this lake here, I'm afraid it would be filled with waverunners and skiers. Some of the greatest hiking trails in the area either start or finish on the opposite sides of the lake. There are old ice caves, Enzian huttes, mountain huts and even a volkswagon at the bottom of the lake.
Finally, of course the boat was all German, you were in Germany, right? The year after the wall came down, we met up with a boatload of eastern Germans at the Konigsee, who regarded us with a great deal of caution. But, we had some great conversation and at the end of the boat trip, all of us had learned some interesting points about other cultures.
I do believe that you all missed the point......

treplow

When do you plan to go? The Kehlsteinhaus (aka Eaglesnest)is usually closed until about May 1. Too much snow.

rhkkmk

SKIP THE BOAT TRIP... imo, but evidently on the europe board one is not allowed opinions....back to asia...

norrisken

The boat trip is the highlight of a trip to the Königssee. I'm not sure why you would go otherwise. I've enjoyed the German tour and an English tour also. I'm also in my 40s and a quiet trip across a beautful lake surrounded by mountains is exactly what I like.

Ken

jlaughs

Hi everyone (rhkkmk, don't know if you're still around, but you helped a lot with my Thailand trip in 2004!) -

Just wanted to thank everyone for the feedback. I think I'm pretty close to a "final" itinerary (after about 20 revisions). Of course, I'll post it for everyone's review when I'm "done". Then again, maybe I shouldn't because I might just get more confused if people don't agree with what I've come up with!

For information -- my BF and I are both 48 yo and we'll be in Germany for two weeks in August. I know that it's high season and there will be swarms of tourists (like us!), but I'm an 11-month employee at a community college, so August is my month to travel.

Thanks again!