Vist to Eagles Nest

We just drove there ourselves.

Access to the Eagles Nest is either by a 2-3 hour hike or by special bus up a private one lane road from Obersalzberg, and the Nest only opens to the public starting the middle of May. You will probably be too early to visit it.

Their website is at https://www.kehlsteinhaus.de/english/

We arrived by train from Munich and took the Eagle's Nest Historical Tour, meeting up at their office right in the center of town. It was a very interesting and informative tour, (there are several tour options) and I believe is founded by a US couple, so it seems to cater to US/English speaking tourists.

https://www.eagles-nest-tours.com/historical-tour/

From Salzburg, I took a 1/2 day tour to Eagle’s Nest using Panorama tours. Not much of a guided tour, but enough to understand the location and surrounding area. https://www.panoramatours.com/en/salzburg/tour/tour-4-eagles-nest-tour-42/

It's gorgeous in terms of view, but I found it underwhelming as a historic site. Worth it if you have the time, but not of any historical significance, and you can get the view from a lot of other cool places. Hitler only visited a handful of times. So if you miss it, don't feel like you missed out.

Way more interesting would be the salt mines and of course the city of Salzburg and surrounding areas.

Hi saluki70.

Unless you have a decent weather day, there really is nothing particularly remarkable about visiting the Eagles Nest. On the day of our tour it was rainy and foggy. The Eagles Nest itself is now a restaurant and pretty much the only thing remaining of its past connection to Hitler is the fireplace. There are some interesting facts posted but that’s about it. The major draw is the magnificent view which, unfortunately, we never got to see! Unless it’s a nice day I’d suggest spending your time elsewhere.
Have a great trip!!

The Eagle's Nest usually opens sometime at the beginning of May each year but I don't believe it's the same date each time so you'd have to check the 2024 opening date.

If you're looking to take a tour I would recommend www.discover-eagles-nest.com - we took a tour with Tom Lewis from that company last year, it was amazing!

I loved the view….but in the end it’s a gilded monument to the insanity of the Third Reich. Hitler only visited it a handful of times so it’s not like momentous decisions were made there.

I lived in Germany for more than a decade and the predilection of Americans wanting to see world War 2 sites or Nazi sites is somewhat disconcerting. Most/much of the country was a battleground as the war progressed. Afternoon coffee and cake at the Eagles Nest is wonderful with the view…..but there’s a little voice whispering “Remember” in one’s mind.

According to Berchtesgaden.de, the Eagles Nest will open approx. May 9, 2024. So, if you are lucky ....

BTW, the price of the special mountain bus from Obersalzberg, Germany (not Salzburg, Austria) on the private road up the mountain to the bus parking lot near the top plus the elevator from there into the Eagles Nest, is 31,90€/adult. Actual admission to the "Haus" is free. Some people hike up to take advantage of the free admission.

There are various ways to get to Obersalzberg from Salzburg. There is a bus, the Walzmann Express (RVO 840), which goes from the Hbf in Salzburg to Berchtesgaden Hbf (and bus terminal). From there you need to take RVO 38 to Obersalzberg. The Walzmann Express boards at 7 more places in Salzburg before heading on to Berchtesgaden, including Mirabell (which is the only place you can board the Panorama tour). Round trip with an RVO Tagesticket (which you can purchase from the bus driver) is 13,10€/Pers. The one downside to the RVO Tagesticket is that it is only good for the buses in Berchtesgaden, and the last bus leaves the Hbf for Salzburg at 7:15pm. If you want to stay later, you would have to take the train back for more €! (Or start with the Bus & Bahn ticket, below).

You can also take trains from Salzburg HB to Berchtesgaden via a change (usually) in Freilassing. That takes about 1¼ hour each way. The BGL Bus & Bahn day-ticket for 18,-€/adult that covers both (either) the bus or train.

So depending on what transportation you choose to use, going on your own to the Eagles Nest from Salzburg will cost between 45 and 50 euro, about half of what Panorama charges and you can board in multiple places in Salzburg and stay longer at the Eagles Nest (the scheduling with Panorama only allows for two hours at the Nest; I usually plan on at least three hours at the Nest, including lunch.