Heads up on the Impact of the G7 Conference in Bavaria, first part of June

In addition to that please note that Germany has paused parts of the Schengen agreement from May 26 to June 15. Checks at borders, especially for incoming travelers, are likely.

Also the city of Munich will be heavily affected, espcially on June 4th. The Bavarian government is asking anyone to avoid Munich if possible that day.

Below is the State Department message:

Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Berlin (Germany), G7 Summit Demonstrations
Political Violence

5/26/2015

The G7 Summit will be held from June 7-8, 2015, and demonstrations are expected in the area of Schloss Elmau, a resort facility in the Bavarian Alps between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Mittenwald, Germany. The summit is an annual meeting of heads of state and government from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, and Germany.

G7 Summits generate widespread public interest. Historically, these annual summits have been a target for demonstrations. Protestors are expected to demonstrate in the cities/areas surrounding Schloss Elmau, including Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Klais, and Mittenwald in the days prior to, during, and right after the G7 Summit. Demonstrations will also take place in Munich, the largest nearby city to Schloss Elmau. At a minimum, U.S. citizens in the area will most likely experience road closures, travel delays, controls at the Austrian border and other heightened security measures.

Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. You should avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.

See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Germany Country Specific Information.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Thanks for this important info...had not thought of this event when planning the trip. No, I had intended to skip München this time anyway. On the 6/7 June I'll be in the lower Rhine vicinity.

Please enlighten me on why the city of Munich will be heavily affected. Also doing a daytrip from Munich to Salzburg via Bayern Pass - will there be passport checks at the German/Austrian border?

Tim, "Demonstrations will also take place in Munich", from the State Dept. announcement quoted above.

I'm just back from 10 days in Munich. There were placards/signboards up "recruiting" the anti-G7 protestors and stating time and place that the protests were to take effect. It all looked pretty tame to me. I didn't take down the whole list but places like the Karlsplatz/Stauchus underground transit area was a target, no doubt because of how busy it is with foreign tourists (as well as locals). My guess is that it will still be easy enough to get around, particularly in city center where there are multiple options (such as, just walk a few blocks to the next transit station).

That said, I would completely avoid the GaPa area beginning now and until the end of the summit. I was even advised of such by the local tourist office. And, of course, the Füssen castles are booked out.

GaPa? What is that?

I guess it means GArmish PAtenkirchen area... Actually one should avoid Munich plus the entire strip between Munich and GAP (which is the license plate code).

Again, also please note that Germany has paused the Schengen agreement until June 15th. There might be passport checks etc. at any border, both land and air.

I just read a question on trip advisor travel forum where a current visitor to the area couldn't figure out what was going on with the police and mentioned getting stopped for a passport check. I'm mentioning this to "bump" this up a little for current travelers.

It is always prudent to be alert for travel advisories before and during travel.

I do find myself wondering how the in progress Rick Steves Tours rearranged their plans due to this event.

For what its worth, I arrived in Munich on the EC84 train from Italy yesterday -- no passport checks.

We've been in Bavaria for three days now. So far all we've seen about G7 have been a few posters, a leaflet left on an S-Bahn seat, a "Stop G7" graffito on a Nürnberg wall, and a soap-box speaker in Munich's Rindermarkt haranguing a crowd of eight or nine people.

I am glad it hasn't impacted your trip. I hope it stays that way in the coming week. We know that the area around Garmisch will have disruptions (trains cancelled, demonstrations, increased security checks) and that demonstrations in Munich are anticipated June 4

We have been in Oberammergau since yesterday and the police vehicles are all over the roads. We counted 15 in about a two kilometer stretch. Just outside town. Garmisch was on our agenda for tomorrow but not now.

demonstrations in Munich are anticipated June 4

We're leaving our hotel in the city center for the airport on S8 at 7 am on the 4th. Wish us luck.

There were passport checks at the Czech-German border. First by Czech police as I was leaving CZ and then by Germans crossing into Ban Spandau.

They checked it verrry carefully. Even took out a magnifier to examine it but the Germans with national ID cards were not scrutinized so closely.

The following news story reports that 35,000 people participated in today's demonstrations in Munich, but that all was peaceful.

http://www.dw.de/g7-protest-in-munich-hot-but-not-heated/g-18496865

The demonstrations in GA-P are not being as peaceful. US Army and State Dept were right on about avoiding this area this week.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/06/06/uk-g7-summit-idUKKBN0OM0HT20150606