Best parts of the German Alpine Road between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Salzburg

Hi,

We drove the "German Alpine Road" between Reit im Winkl and Berchtesgaden. Wasn't impressed at all with the "alpine" scenery. Me, driving from Garmisch to Salzburg, I'd go via Innsbruck (outstanding high alpine scenery) and go all the way to Worgl via the highway A12. Then take the 178 to Schneizlreuth and then the 305 which heads to Berchtesgaden (and happens to be the most scenic part of the "German Alpine Road" in my opinion). Then continue on to Salzburg, an easy drive of 30 minutes away. We've done the Scheizlreuth to berchtesgaden drive a number of times and we never tire of the scenery. Same for the area around Innsbruck. Spectacular.

Paul

If you look on the below website, you can plot the trip. It's just 2.25-2.50 hours and just over 100 miles.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Salzburg,+Austria/Garmisch-Partenkirchen,+Germany/@47.8203708,11.5149279,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x47769adda908d4b1:0xc1e183a1412af73d!2m2!1d13.05501!2d47.80949!1m5!1m1!1s0x479d0160938a3329:0x41e48add78b9c80!2m2!1d11.0954984!2d47.4916945

Another more scenic route would be to drop south to Innsbruck and go northeast through the Alps. I especially like to run the off the beaten path roads up on the mountains around Innsbruck toward Zell-am-See.

I would definitely do the part from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Brannenburg, on the Inn. From GaPa, go to Wallgau, then follow the Alpenstrasse along Walchensee to Kochelsee, and on to Bad Tölz. Skip the section of the Strasse from Bad Tölz to Gmund, go direct,. From Gmund go to Bayerischzell. Then take the Alpenstrasse over the mountains to Oberaudorf. when you get to the Inn, leave the Alpenstrasse and go north to Rosenheim, then follow the A8 to Salzburg.

In the last 15 years, I've done most of the Alpenstrasse, all by public transportation. In 2009, I went from Bayerischzell to Wallgau. In 2012, I did Berchtesgaden to Frasdorf, almost to the Inn. In 2013, I did Wallgau to Berchtesgaden, mostly following the Alpenstrasse except for Brannenburg to Bernau.

The section from Bayerischzell over the mountains, through Tatzlwurm, to Oberaudorf, is probably the most spectacular part of the Alpenstrasse. Don't miss that part. The part from Wallgau to Kochelsee is also worth doing. Although Reit im Winkl, itself, is an absolutely beautiful town, it's maybe not worth the time to go there.

The previously suggested routes, although maybe scenic, don't include much, if any, of the Alpenstrasse.

Hi again,

If you are simply looking for a very scenic drive, do the Rossfeld Panorama Road (a loop drive) just above Berchtesgaden. Doesn't take that long (unless you want to stop, which you will want to, take a walk, hike, etc. along the way) and has stunning alpine scenery.

Yes, my route skips most of the German Alpine Road, only because it's not all that in my opinion. The scenery around Innsbruck (Inn valley drive) and around Berchtesgadennis far superior, again, in my opinion.

My point is why spend a day driving through nice scenery instead of spending more time in terrific scenery (Berchtesgaden/Konigssee area).

Paul

Thank you everyone so much for the wonderfully helpful and detailed responses!

We don't have to drive the Alpine Road for the sake of driving the Alpine Road. We're really just looking for amazing scenery on our way from GaPa to Salzburg and it sounds like it can be had both on and off the Alpenstrasse.

Question about crossing borders: Do we need to prepare anything/have special permits or licenses to drive our rental car back and forth across the German-Austrian border?

Don't forget to buy a vignette to drive on the autobahn in Austria