Garmisch / Berchtesgaden / Mittenwald / Innsbruck

Hi Ginger,

For what you're looking to do, I'd suggest (in order after Munich):

4 or 5 nights Berchtesgaden (incl. Ramsau, Schonau, the Konigsee, the Hintersee). You could stop in Salzburg, which is about 30 min. drive away. The Salzkammergut (lakes area incl. the Wolfgangsee, St. Gilgen, St. Wolfgang, etc.) are a little over an hour away by car. We love the Berchtesgaden area and have stayed 5 times for a total of 18 nights.

My opinion is to pick either Garmisch or Mittenwald for 4 nights. They are less than 30 minutes apart. I'd pick Mittenwald. Stayed twice for total of 6 nights.

Innsbruck or Hall? Love the entire area, have stayed in Hall in Tirol 5 times, 18 nights, BUT for what you're looking to do, I'd head to the nearby Zillertal for 4 or 5 nights. Incredible valley about an hour from Innsbruck.

Paul

I second Paul's suggestion of the Zillertal for what you say you are interested in. It is close enough to Hall and Innsbruck that you could do a day trip there, if you get a rainy day.

Paul and Chris, thanks for your thoughts. I knew that I would get good advice!

Never heard of Zillertal! Shocking, I know. Only figured in Innsbruck as a way to leave by train for the Dolomites. Would we need a car in Zillertal? Had read some of the reviews by others of Hall so picked there, but again, didn't know all that much of the area.

Happy to find somewhere else :-)

Garmisch isn't such a good move? Met a woman from that area and of course she said it's a must place to visit. Was reading about Mittenwald, and like the idea that it's smaller.

Although it is probably possible by train, we had a car when we visited the Zillertal. We stayed at Gastehaus Bergland and the views were sensational!

Garmisch is great, it just doesn't make sense to spend 3 nights in Garmisch and another 3 in Mittenwald since they are so close together. Pick one for 3-4 nights. Personally, I'd allocate the extra nights to Berchtesgaden, like Paul suggests. We love is just as much as he clearly does.

Chris, so a day trip to Garmisch is sufficient? I will definitely consider allocating an extra day to Berchtesgaden!

Hi,

The Zillertal is accesssible by train. Not too far from Innsbruck either. We also stayed at the Bergland in Finkenberg. Amazing views. The Zillertals largest town in the valley is Mayrhofen.

We visited Garmisch a couple of times, but were glad we stayed in Mittenwlad. It's like being in a picture postcard. Extremely cut village, pedestrian zone, murals painted on houses and an alpine backdrop.

Garmisch and Mittenwald are too close together to move from a base in one to a base in the other. Stay in one place for more time.

Concerning the Berchtesgaden area, we can't wait to go back again. We stayed in Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden in 10/06, 10/07 and 9/09. We then stayed in 12/10 and 12/13 in nearby Schonau am Konigsee. Loved our stays in both.

Paul

Did anyone stay in an apartment in Berchtesgaden or Mittenwald? I prefer apartments since there are sometimes four or five of us traveling together.

Never stay in an apartment, sorry. The places we have stayed may be affordable for you getting 2 rooms though.

This place has an apartment, but the rooms are very reasonable and come with buffet breakfast. It's our favorite.

www.mayringerlehen.de

This has no apartments, but again, extremely reasonablewith buffet breakfast.

www.friedwiese.de/enska/isl.htm

This place in Mittenwald has an apartment, but again, the rooms are so reasonable with breakfast buffet.

www.schwalbennestl.de

Paul

Those are all great towns to do day trips from.

My favorite drive of all times will take you from Zell-am-See over the mountains into the Dolomites--via the Grossglockner High Alpine Highway. The Grossglockner is the second highest peak in Europe and the most beautiful place I've ever seen. I especially like the area on the south side of the mountain--around Lienz, Austria. They also have some great resorts to stay in around there.

I agree the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse is a good way to access the Dolomites, but plan on a much longer trip than via Innsbruck.

That said, the Grossglockner is not even close to being the second tallest peak in Europe..

No way is a day trip to Garmisch sufficient... I spent a week there last summer and barely scratched the surface.

The best way to access the Dolomite is via the Brenner Pass south of Innsbruck, not from the Grossglockner route, which is considerably to the east.

For Mittenwald, look at www.alpenwelt-karwendel.de

Carol, please share your experience in Garmisch. My plans are not set in cement yet, so I am open to suggestions for the Bavaria part of our trip.

We do want to spend a few days in Berchtesgaden as well.

All suggestions and thoughts welcome. It's already been helpful to narrow down some areas.

I stayed in Kruen, right near Mittenwald, a few years ago in an apartment. The hosts were delightful, even doing our laundry for us. I found it on HomeAway but his website is: http://berghof-kruen.de/ If you look up Kruen on HomeAway you can also find it and see my review. It wasn't anything fancy but served our needs.

It's a short drive (merely 7-10 minutes) to Mittenwald and maybe about 20 to Garmisch. It was easy.

I recommend these areas for Tirol/Südtirol ...

Sesto/Sexton Italy
http://www.three-peaks.info/en/holiday-towns.html
We stayed in a great apartment here. Great hiking, both flat in the valleys and up and down in the mountains. Easy hiking or extreme. June was great, but early June outside of high season not everything is open yet. August would be high season though.

Seiser Alm Dolomites is another great area. Easy hiking or extreme. The flowers in June where fantastic! http://www.seiseralm.it/de/info/urlaub-suedtirol.html Seis am Schlern

Just south of Bad Tölz Germany in Austria and a little out of the way from Garmisch, but I like the Achensee and the Rofan in Austria too. Pertisau is where I like to hang my hat. https://www.achensee.com/en/

Apartments when you find a good one are good for week long relaxing stays. It's like a base camp. You cook for yourself half the time, be lazy and enjoy the balcony view (do your homework investigate and call), but enjoy evenings out for dinner when you want. Mornings are your time. Sometimes you can get morning bread delivery (Semmel Service). I don't stay in apartments connected to a hotel. We combine apartment and hotel stays for a varied holiday. I have had fantasist and sorry apartments though. If you don’t like the place leave, but they may expect you to pay the full stay regardless. Most of my experiences have been good…

Rick

We stayed here in the Berchtesgaden area and really liked it. They provided a bread service daily and a wide selection of beverages in the basement. They also allowed me to use their washing facilities to do our laundry. It was within walking distance to Konigsee - beautiful views the entire way.

Many apartments will rent for less than a week at a time. If a listing doesn't explicitly state that they do, don't be afraid to ask .... you never know.

Garmisch, Mittenwald and Innsbruck are roughly in the same area - you can drive from Innsbruck to Garmisch in about one hour. - Just consider that Berchtesgaden is a different area, say two hours and half from Innsbruck.

I realize that Berchtesgaden isn't so close to Mittenwald or some of the areas I was considering in Austria. Don't care to stay in Innsbruck, so looking for somewhere outside the city.

Spent time already in Salzburg. We don't plan to revisit. I know it's popular with dine folks, but we want to see other places this trip.

Very helpful suggestions so far. Glad I'm not leaving anytime soon because so much to think about.

We will rent a car in each place for a few days, but probably depend on public transport part of the time. I don't like driving in the states so I'm not going to drive abroad, which leaves one person as the driver and he does not want to drive for three weeks. Lots to think about.