We’re considering a 3 nights stay in Berchtesgaden over the New Year but aren’t sure if it’s the right place for us.
About us: we can’t drive, so we rely on trains and cable cars. We love mountains, pretty old towns, and Bavarian food. We’re not experienced hikers but enjoy easy scenic walks. We have some cheap return flights to Munich so will take the train there and back, with a 2 nights stop in Salzburg on the way back.
We’ve previously spent New Year in Innsbruck and loved the festive atmosphere. On New Year’s Day we went up Nordkette and it was stunning. A few years later, we went to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and absolutely loved it. We did short walks using cable cars, went up the Zugspitze which was stunning and down and around Lake Eibsee, we walked through the Partnach Gorge and up a hiking trail on the other side, and really enjoyed the old town – beautiful and not too busy. The unseasonal warm weather meant those hikes were easily done with no snow on the ground but it felt like quite wintery and fresh.
Can we expect a similar experience in Berchtesgaden? We’re also considering a day trip to Bad Reichenhall from Berchtesgaden, especially if the weather is poor, as the spas look like a good backup plan.
Some people have warned us that if the weather is properly wintry, hiking might be difficult. That said, we’re also happy just soaking up the Alpine atmosphere and have a little wander around like we did in the snow up the Zugspitze. We’ve also heard it may not be as lively — we don’t need crowds, but is it likely to feel really dead? Hotels sure seem fairly booked up for those dates!
If Berchtesgaden doesn’t sound like the best fit, could you suggest alternatives that are easy to reach from Munich by train and still convenient for then heading to Salzburg?