Berchtesgaden
 

It sounds like it is doable to visit Obersalberg and Hitler's Eagle's Nest from Salzburg as a day trip. It looks like we would take the bus to get there. How then do we get to the sites, salt mines, Eagle's Nest, documentation center? Thank you,

Oh yes, I forgot to also ask if we visit this area is it also worthwhile to do the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg?

If you are a SOM fan, then it is worth it, otherwise it is not

I am a huge SOM fan, and on our first trip to Salzburg (without children) we took Bob's Special Tours: Sound of Music tour. The tour was a little kitschy, fairly informative and with beautiful scenery in Mondsee and St. Gilgen, but the neverending soundtrack playing in the van got on even my nerves. On our second trip to Salzburg (with the children)we did most of the pilgrimage on foot, saving the gazebo for the day we drove to Schloss Hellbrunn. While the organized tour was more convenient, I much preferred seeing the sites on our own.

To get to Eagle's Nest by bus, you will need to change at the Berchtesgaden train station. There are information boards at the bus platforms, or you can ask a bus driver the number of the bus to Kehlsteinhaus(Eagle's Nest). I have never been to the salt mines so I can't help with that.

topping - I would also like to know how to combine Eagle's Nest and the salt mines; has anyone done both in one day trip?

tidy, here's some info unclegus posted on another thread I started:

"The problem with the Eagles nest is that you have to used specially timed buses,you get given a bus number and tiem on which to go up and the same again to go down,it is pretty strict and walking up and down is not really an option. I wouldd't take one of the optional tours as this just takes up too much time . have a look at one of the later episodes of Band of Brothers to get an idea of the place. the salt mines are much the same you really have to have a timed visit and you are lead by a guide If you are trying to do all this by public transport then you may have difficulty ,with a hired car it should not be a major problem."

-- Also see bob_lewis' post on this thread:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-in-24-hrs.cfm

"Aim for Kehlstein mountain at Berchtesgaden early on the first day because you are relying on clear weather to see the beautifull views from the 1847m Eagles Nest. Unless you walk you must take the special bus to the top from the new car park which has the Dokumentation Centre which is a worthy visit because you can see part of the SS bunkers built into the mountain as well as the WW2 history. Yes you can do everything yourself but I suggest that as you need the historical information as well as scenic views you contact Christine and David Harper on http://www.eagles-nest-historical-to...ex.php?navid=2. Salzburg is only bout 12 miles from Berchtesgaden.
There is a salt mine in Kehlstein mountain which you could visit after the Nest then a short 4 mile drive to Lake Konigssee for a two hour boat trip and up the cable car to the top of Mount Jenner which is next to Mount Watzmann (Germany's second highest mountain. There is a MacDonalds at Konigssee for your teenagers and the Rodelbahn on Mount Kehstein. More info on my webpage www.berchtesgaden.co.uk Bob Lewis"

So trying to finalize trip plans. I think that we will do the salt mines outside of Krakow, Poland so will not do them at Berchtesgaden. I am thinking I'd like to visit Hitler's Eagles Nest. I'm trying to decide if it is best to keep it as a day trip from Salzburg via public transportation or do it the day we depart Salzburg with a car. The problem with this idea is that we are then heading to either St. Gilgen or Halstatt. Is it easily to reach the Nest via car? It sounds like we park at a car park and then walk there. Also, one person recommended doing the visit with a tour group. Any thoughts about that?