Berchtesgaden, Germany

Hi Christina, By car, they are 30 minutes from one another. Don't see the point of an overnight in a palce 30 minutes from where you're already based. Paul

Thanks Paul!

You can also take a bus there from Salzburg. I definitely thought it was worth it. I went and spent the morning at Eagle's Nest walking around enjoying the beautiful views and spent the afternoon at Koenigsee. I would also recommend it as a day trip from Salzburg rather than an overnight.

Easy daytrip by bus.

I was about to ask a similar question but will hold off for a few days to see if it is covered in some of these answers. In response to Paul, 30 minutes might not make a difference most of the time, but you could save an hour in extra travel time from backtracking. Not a lot, but it sometimes matters. Also, there is a different experience, not always good, between a quick daytime visit and an overnight stay.

If you only do a day trip, you can use the Watzmann Express bus (RVO 840) from in front of the Salzburg Hbf (bus stop G on Karl-Wurmb-Strasse between the Forum buildings) to the Berchtesgaden Hbf. The trip takes just under an hour and an RVO TagesTicket, for 9,50€ will cover the round trip and any bus transportation you need in Berchtesgaden (except the special bus up the private road to the Eagles Nest). However, the last bus back to Salzburg leaves the Berchtesgaden Hbf just after 6 PM, so watch the time. If you want to stay later than 6 PM, take the train through Freilassing. Trains run until after 10 PM, so you could stay in Berchtesgaden late, explore the town, and have dinner. To use the train, buy a Bayern-Ticket in the Salzburg Hbf. It will cover the RT train as well as the same buses in Berchtesgaden as the RVO TagesTicket. You will have to decide in advance - trains with Bayern-Ticket or buses with TagesTicket. The Tages-Ticket isn't valid on the train and the Bayern-Ticket is not valid for the Watzmann Express since it goes through Austria. I've been in both Salzburg and Berchtesgaden a few times and I really believe there is more to see in Berchtesgaden. I would definitely stay in Berchtesgaden overnight. In fact, if I wanted to see both, I would stay in Berchtesgaden and make a day trip into Salzburg. One day in Salzburg is enough.

Thanks, Lee, for answering my unasked question while answering Christina's.

Hi Roy, Just my take on things. I wouldn't pack, travel 30 minutes and then find a new place to stay. I will add that we've never stayed "in" Salzburg. We prefer staying in the Berchtesgaden area. We've visited Salzburg on 5 separate trips. We've driven to Salzburg a number of times simply for dinner and a walk around the old town afterwards from our base in the Berchtesgaden area. Paul

The RVO TagesTicket is valid all day without start time restrictions. The Bayern-Ticket is valid all day except only after 9 AM workdays. There is another option, possibly more expensive, called the BGL-TagesTicket Bus & Bahn. It costs 12€/adult and covers the Watzmann Express to/from Berchtesgaden as well as the train. It also covers the same buses in Berchtesgaden. So, you could take the (faster) bus to Berchtesgaden, take the buses to Königssee and the base below Eagles Nest, and the train back at night. Like the Bayern-Ticket, it is not valid before 9 AM workdays.

We took the 840 bus round trip from Salzburg for a day trip. We went on the RS recommended "Eagles Nest Historical Tours". Thoroughly enjoyable. We got to Berchtesgaden early enough to eat lunch in a cute restaurant across from the TI where you catch the tour bus.

Great information, thank you! I guess I should state that we will be traveling using the Eurail Global pass so I'm assuming we wouldn't have to pay anything additional to get to Berchtesgaden. (I haven't researched that part yet, so I may be wrong!) It seems like Berchtesgaden may be more our style and may actually stay there and do a day trip into Salzburg.

My wife and I took the eagles nest tour , the tour was about 6 hours , it was well worth it, the view from eagles nest is beautiful , had lunch in the restaurant ,then came back down the mountain, enjoy Dave Hamilton ont
Canada

The bus also stops over near old town - on road along river so you don't have to go all the way over to the train station.

We drove from Salzburg; as was said it's a quick trip. I'm not much for WWII sights and the day was cloudy so views were out. We ended up just touring the salt mine and heading back to Salzburg by lunchtime, still a worthwhile outing.

When Bronwen says "The bus also stops over near old town", I think he is referring to the Watzmann Express stops in Salzburg. Yes, it stops on its way into Salzburg at the Juctice building, Mozartsteg, Theatergasse, and Mirabelleplatz, before going to the Hbf.

Berchtesgaden is country, Salzburg city. I suspect hotel prices are probably cheaper, roo. In Berchtesgaden you have the mountains all around you and Salzburg is where it flattens out. Attractions include as mentioned the salt mine, the enzian factory (a local drink), nice thermal baths, Konigsee - electric boat ride on a blue green lake with high mountains on all sides, lots of hiking, a national park, and "Eagle Nest," or Obersalzburg with a Documentation Center whichs tells about the National Socialist years in the area. Bechtesgaden has a very pretty "downtown" shopping area. Nice stores, restaurants, shops, etc. There is also a tourism center that does concerts, etc. Also a small palace museum. Go to www.bechtesgaden.de and you'll find all this and more.
My first trip to Germany almost 40 years ago included B-gaden, and it's always held a special place for me.