My wife & I are planning to fly into Munich in early September, and drive into Austria. We have never been to this part of Europe, but we would like to do some hiking, and also visit Saltzburg and Vienna. The one thing that scares me is Oberammergau is doing the Passion Play this year. Will this bring huge crowds and traffic into this part of Germany and Austria?

Doug- <BR>My husband I will be flying into Munich then staying just outside of Salzburg in August. The only thing I have discovered so far is the increased cost in airline tickets over last year.

Drive during the week, and plan to avoid the roads on weekends, or you'll spend many hours in traffic jams (Staus).

Doug: Weekend driving is not quite as bad as you would think. Typically, trucks do not travel (autobahn, secondary roads)from early Saturday evening/late afternoon up until Monday (early) morning. This makes it somewhat easier. <BR> <BR>For Oberammergau, it may be easier to stop at say, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and catch a bus to nearby Oberammergau as to not get involved with the traffic and parking issues. <BR> <BR>You'll love Salzburg and make sure that you have dinner up in the fortress (outside) above the city, with access by a funicular. <BR> <BR>Remember, purchase your Austrian driving pass in Germany at any gas station prior to crossing the border. It costs about DM 10,00 and you can hang it from your rear view mirror. You can be fined without it. <BR> <BR>Have a good trip.

When does the Passion Play season end? We are planning a similar trip in mid to late October, and understand that the Play will be over by early October. I checked the Passion Play website, and didn't find a schedule that far ahead. <BR> <BR>

The final Passion Play performance will be at the end of the first week in October. If you, Doug, are planning on hiking, check with one of the local tourist offices upon your arrival. They'll have maps of hiking routes that you can follow. There are, for example, three hiking routes in the Pfaffenwinkel area of Upper Bavaria, one of which is particularly interesting since in parallels the River Lech and wanders through the small towns that adjoin the river.