Nature, Hikes & Fairytale Towns- Looking for Your Recommendations!
 

Dear Travel Experts,

We (two Malaysian ladies) are going to Bavaria, Austria, and the Dolomites in early September! As nature lovers who adore scenic landscapes, charming villages, and easy hikes.

We’ll be traveling on a budget, using public transport, and staying in hostels or Airbnbs, with a daily budget of €160 per person. While we’re not particularly interested in museums or opera, we love leisurely strolls, immersing ourselves in local culture, and occasionally treating ourselves to regional specialties.
We’d love your expert advice on our itinerary:

Day 1-4: Munich & Day Trips
Day 1: Arrive in Munich
Explore Marienplatz, English Garden, and Elisabethmarkt
Dinner at Augustiner Bräustuben for a local Bavarian experience

Day 2: Neuschwanstein Castle & Füssen
Train to Füssen (~2 hours, Bayern Ticket ~€27)
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle & scenic Alpsee Lake

Day 3: Berchtesgaden & Königssee
Train to Berchtesgaden (~2.5 hours)
Boat ride on Königssee to St. Bartholomä
Short hike to Malerwinkel for stunning views

Day 4: Munich to Tegernsee
Visit Nymphenburg Palace Gardens & Westpark
Train to Tegernsee (~1 hour) for a scenic lake retreat

Day 5-7: Tegernsee & Bamberg
Day 5: Tegernsee
Relaxing walk along Tegernsee Lake
Take the Wallbergbahn cable car for panoramic mountain views
Enjoy a local meal at Brauhaus Tegernsee

Day 6: Travel to Bamberg & Explore
Train to Bamberg (~3 hours)
Visit Little Venice, Altes Rathaus & Bamberg Cathedral

Day 7: Bamberg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Morning stroll through Bamberg’s Old Town
Train to Rothenburg ob der Tauber (~2 hours)
Explore Plönlein & medieval town walls

Day 8-12: Rothenburg → Salzburg & Surroundings
Day 8: Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Visit Burggarten for a scenic picnic
Try local bakeries for pretzels & Schneeballen pastries

Day 9: Rothenburg to Salzburg
Morning in Rothenburg
Train to Salzburg (~4 hours)

Day 10: Salzburg
Explore Mirabell Gardens, Getreidegasse & Kapuzinerberg
Sunset views from Mönchsberg

Day 11: Day Trip – Hallstatt or Wolfgangsee
Option 1: Wolfgangsee (ferry ride & lakeside walk)
Option 2: Hallstatt (iconic lakeside village)

Day 12: Salzburg to Berchtesgaden (Klausbach Valley Hike)
Train to Berchtesgaden (~50 min)
Bus to Klausbach Valley (Ramsau)
Easy Alpine hike with rivers & meadows

Day 13-15: Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Day 13: Travel to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Train from Berchtesgaden (~3.5 hours)
Visit Partnach Gorge (easy scenic hike)
Relax at Ludwigstraße

Day 14: Zugspitze & Eibsee
ake the Bavarian Zugspitze Railway (~€60 round trip)
Easy scenic walk around Eibsee Lake

Day 15: Travel to Bolzano (Dolomites Base)
Train from Garmisch to Bolzano (~3.5 hours)
Walk around Piazza Walther & explore Bolzano’s old town

Day 16-18: Dolomites (Base in Bolzano)
Day 16: Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm)
Bus to Seis am Schlern (~40 min)
Cable car to Alpe di Siusi (Europe’s largest high-altitude meadow)
Easy scenic hike & return to Bolzano
Day 17: Val di Funes & Santa Maddalena

Train to Bressanone/Brixen, then bus to Val di Funes (~1.5 hours)
Walk through Santa Maddalena village with Odle Peaks backdrop
Day 18: Seceda

Train to Ortisei, then cable car to Seceda
Day 19-21: Vienna & Wachau Valley
Day 19: Travel to Vienna

Train from Bolzano to Vienna (~7 hours)
Explore St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Graben & Rathausplatz

Day 20: Day Trip to Wachau Valley
Scenic train ride along the Danube River
Visit Dürnstein

Day 21: Departure from Vienna

Additional Question:
We’re thinking of adding Prague & Cesky Krumlov to our trip. Would it feel too rushed and how to go about it ? Which is more scenic ,Hallstatt or Wolfgangsee?

We’d love to hear your feedback and any recommendations! Thank you in advance!

That is one very rushed holiday covering a lot of ground. My only concern would be the weather on the day you go into the mountains (think of a plan B).

Hi zhung,
I also dislike so many moves, so I would pare down the itinerary.

Why are you visiting Berchtesgaden twice?

The train from Berchtesgaden to Garmisch takes more like 4h30, not 3h30. You may want to double check all your train trips on the German rail site (bahn.com) to verify the time you've allotted.

Have fun as you plan!
s

Day 3: Berchtesgaden & Königssee
Train to Berchtesgaden (~2.5 hours)
Boat ride on Königssee to St. Bartholomä
Short hike to Malerwinkel for stunning views

This is best done from Salzburg, making it a 50 minute journey instead of a 2.5 hour one. I see you have a duplicate day in Berchtesgaden. Was this an error?

Day 15: Travel to Bolzano (Dolomites Base)
Train from Garmisch to Bolzano (~3.5 hours)
Walk around Piazza Walther & explore Bolzano’s old town

Castelrotto is closer to Alpe di Siusi, Seis am Schlern and Santa Magdalena than Bolzano (and would be a lot less hectic IMO). So is Brixen - we loved Brixen, didn't care for Bolzano a bit.

Which is more scenic Hallstatt or Wolfgangsee?

They're both scenic. Hallstatt can be a complete zoo though, so it depends on what you plan to see and do.

I think you'd be kinda nuts to add any more to this already very busy itinerary.

Looking at your itinerary, I'd suggest skipping the second Berchtesgaden visit (Day 12) since you're already going there on Day 3. Combine Königssee with your Salzburg stay instead—it's just a 50-min trip from there vs 2.5hrs from Munich. This frees up a day for Prague if you really want to add it.

For Hallstatt vs Wolfgangsee, both are gorgeous, but Wolfgangsee tends to be less touristy. You might enjoy it more since you're into peaceful nature walks.

Also consider staying in Castelrotto instead of Bolzano for your Dolomites portion—it's closer to Alpe di Siusi and has that cozy mountain village feel you seem to be after.