Critique Itinerary: Exploring Bavian Alps (and some Austrian spots)

Posted by andyrevue on 04/28/25 08:26 PM

I'm flying with my family (wife and 2 kids of 8 and 10). We have been to the Swiss alps a few times, but never to Bavaria. Please let me know if this itinerary makes sense for a 7-day trip to the Bavarian Alps.

We are planning to spread the 7 days across 2 bases: (a) Garmisch, and (b) Berchtesgarden.

Day 1: fly from London to Munich, drive/take public transport to Garmisch.
Day 2: visit Neuschwanstein,
Day 3: day trip to Innsbruck/Zugspitze
Day 4: leave early morning drive/take public transport to Berchtesgarden, explore Berchtesgarden
Day 5: day trip to Hallstat
Day 6: day trip to Konigsee
Day 7: explore the Berchtesgarden national park, do biking etc.
Day 8: leave early morning to Munich. fly out of Munich back to London.

here are my questions:

1/ Do you like the itinerary? Is it too hectic?
2/ Are there additional places that we should think about? My kids love things like tobbogganing.
3/ Any recommendations for places to stay in Garmisch or Berchtesgarden?

Posted by Russ

Paradise

04/28/25 09:21 PM

7342 posts

Doesn't seem horribly hectic but IMO you are missing out on some of the best things in this area.

My recommendations:

Replace Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein with Ludwig's Linderhof Palace. Much less hassle, better "castle." It's closer to Garmisch as well.
Replace Innsbruck with Mittenwald. Good guide to the many charms of Mittenwald:
https://hastingshouse.typepad.com/hastings_house_us/2007/04/mittenwald_germ.html
Take the family to the Fraundorfer Inn's Bavarian Evening while in Garmisch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD8SvqNDZxE
There is only one "r" in Berchtesgaden.
Summer bobsled idea: There's one near B'gaden in Hallein, the Keltenblitz. Haven't tried it myself.
Replace long outing to Hallstatt with some time in the much-closer town of WERFEN, Austria.

https://www.werfen.at/en/home-en

In Werfen: Visit Hohenwerfen Castle and Falconry show.

Near Werfen: Tour the Eisriesenwelt Ice Cave

From Werfen: Take a hike on the Sound of Music Trail to the do-re-mi meadow (I think that's the right song.)
https://werfen.at/en/holiday-themes/the-sound-of-music

Posted by andyrevue OP

04/28/25 09:44 PM

11 posts

One question I had is whether it makes sense to stay in Munich and Salzburg and make day trips to Zugspitze, Neuschwanstein from Munich and Hallstat and Berteschgaden from Salzburg?

That would mean I switch the base (a) from Garmisch to (a) Munich. And (b) Berchtesgarden to (b) Salzburg.

Posted by Russ

Paradise

04/29/25 12:17 AM

7342 posts

Munich does not make sense as a base town with the nice places there are to see in the vicinity of Garmisch.

Staying in Salzburg could make sense if you wanted time in Salzburg and to do day trips from there. I could see it working like this:

Day 1: Flight + 2.5 hours train travel from MUC to Garmisch-Partenkirchen base; evening at Fraundorfer?
Day 2 or 3: half day for the Zugspitze + some time for the Partnach Gorge?
Day 2 or 3: day trip to Mittenwald (or perhaps Innsbruck.)

Day 4: half day in morning for Linderhof (or perhaps N'stein.) Afternoon train travel for transfer to Salzburg base, perhaps 3.25 hours (14:07 - 17:21, for example.)
Day 5 or 6: day trip to Berchtesgaden + Koenigssee
Day 5 or 6: day trip to Werfen (sights TBD)
Day 7: Salzburg + Keltenblitz summer bobsled in Hallein
Day 8: Salzburg > MUC transfer by train, around 2.5 hours (10:00 - 12:35, for example.)