We are planning on taking a bus from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden in July. We'd like to see the Eagle's Nest, salt mine, and take a boat ride on the Konigssee. Is it possible to do in a day and then back to Salzburg? How do we get there and then from place to place? Thanks for your help.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19275 posts
I spent an entire day at the Eagles' Nest and in the Dokumentation Center at the foot of the mountain, so I would say, if you do it like I did, No. I would think that seeing the Eagles' Nest, skipping the Dok Center, and taking the boat ride on Königssee would fill a day. The Watzmann Express (bus) from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden leaves Berchtesgaden for Salzburg for the last time of the day at just after 6 PM, but the train that goes via Freilassing runs until almost midnight, so you might think of taking the train, instead. An RVO Tagesticket (day pass) for the bus is €9,50/person (€19 for two); a Bayern-Ticket will be good for the trains for only €10 more, €29 for two. Both the RVO Tagesticket and the Bayern-Ticket will give you free use of all the buses in Berchtesgaden (except the special mountain buses to the Nest). The bus schedules can be found on the RVO website (www.rvo-bus.de), but the site is only in German. Here is a map of the buses in Berchtesgaden from that site.
Posted by
Rochelle, IL
263 posts
I agree with Lee. If you only have a day, skip the documentation center. If you spend a couple hours at the Eagle's Nest you'll have time to enjoy a trip on the Konigssee. Boats run frequently. We got off and had coffee while wondering the small village at the end of the lake. It was a beautiful trip. You do have to plan. If I remember correctly, when you buy your ticket up to Eagle's Nest you also choose a return time. Explore the web sites to determine how much time you will be up there. I am not sure how flexible they are on taking an earlier/later bus down.
Posted by
Elizabeth City
44 posts
I visited in April so the Eagle's Nest was closed--in a bit of a hurry and also missed the salt mine. I did take the ride on the Konigssee and it was beautiful. Passed through Berchesgaden and it was also beautiful. Probably can be done in day would be my guess.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19275 posts
Don't get me wrong, the Dokumentation center has a great exhibit on how the nazis consolidated their power and is definitely worth seeing. It's just that Köigssee is a little more worth seeing. The boat stops halfway up the lake at St. Bartholomew monastery. There's not much there but you should take a peak in the church. Don't stop with St. Barts. Take the boat up to the end of the lake at Salet and walk over the bar to the Obersee. It's an incredible sight. When we were there, there was a long line at St. Bartholomew to return to to the start. When we returned from Salet, the long line was still there, but we were already on the boat.