We are doing an 18 day “taste of Europe” trip with our three teenagers before the oldest heads off to college. Originally that included visiting southern Germany using Munich as a home base for a few days. Just discovered it is an Oberammergau year. Should we abort? Worried about major crowds, more than the usual summer crowds. Already struggling a bit with finding a place to stay. One of our other options is the Mosel area but Bavaria was the top choice. We are not intending to go to Oberammergau. Seeing Neuschwanstein Castle is high on my kids’ list. Would love input, especially if you went to Oberammergau ten years ago or have been there during an even crazier time like Oktoberfest. Thanks for the help!
Posted by
Stuttgart, Germany
3050 posts
I can't speak to Oberammergau during a Passion Play year as I haven't experienced it yet, but it's far enough away from Munich that if your itinerary doesn't involve going near that area, I wouldn't let it put you off necessarily. If you're taking day trips anywhere nearby it will be more crowded but there's plenty to see in Bavaria that isn't near Oberammergau - Salzburg/Berchtesgadenerland is far enough away that I would assume crowds wouldn't be significantly worse than normal, which is already fairly crowded if you're going in the summer.
Oktoberfest, strangely, is only crazy if you're going to the fest or trying to get a hotel room near Munich. Otherwise it doesn't really affect travel all that much - most people are there to go to Oktoberfest and are focusing less on summer touristing.
Posted by
Paradise
6941 posts
I think Oberammergau's Passion Play gets about half a million visitors across 6 months or so. At any given time, Oberammergau and nearby towns will be impacted. But there isn't too much impact on Munich or the state of Bavaria. Bavaria is a huge place. Here's a map of Bavaria with towns and rail connections:
http://www.bayerwald-ticket.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Streckennetz_Bayern_2012.pdf
"...visiting southern Germany using Munich as a home base for a few days."
Munich is generally not a good base town if you're using it to explore the Alps, Salzburg, etc. It's too far away for day trips. A good plan for a few days might be to base yourselves in Berchtesgaden or Salzburg. Berchtesgaden and the surrounding towns are home to lots of vacation rental apartments, many of which would be available for short stays like yours (3-7 days?)
Berchtesgaden
Königssee
Werfen and Hohenwerfen Castle outside Salzburg
Ice Caves near Werfen
Chiemsee and Herrenchiemsee Palace
Posted by
8084 posts
We lived in Augsburg and did the Passion Play. It was wonderful, but will like affect Munich significantly. You might have issues with lodging in Garmisch or Fussen. Of course, you can try to book advance reservations if you like.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19238 posts
I was in Munich in 2000 during the Passion Play, and I didn't notice any particular crowding. I was also in Füssen during Oktoberfest, 2013, and it was crawling with tourists. It was the last weekend of O'fest, and I thought everyone would be in Munich, but apparently people who had tickets and accommodations for earlier, but not the last few days, headed for Füssen after Munich.