I am traveling with a group of 6 and would like to tour Hitler's Eagle's Nest. We have a driver that will take us there but need to purchase tickets for the bus ride and elevator to the top. The only tickets I can find seem to offer only one time of departure and most are from Salzburg. Since we already have a driver, we don't need the transportation. Anyone have any advice or suggestions?
Julie,
Although you have a driver, you might consider using These tours, as they will provide a far better idea of the events and history than just going on your own. They're based in Berchtesgaden, and have extensive recommended by many travel firms (including RS).
Happy travels!
Julie, just have your driver take you to Obersalzberg, park in their parking lot and buy your tickets at the booth for the bus and the elevator. You can see a time schedule for bus departures at www.berchtesgaden.de click on "sights and tours", then "Eagles Nest" and then download "Busfahrplan Kehsteinhaus" (PDF). See the departure times from "Kehsteinparkplatz". It's really pretty simple.
As Honigkuchen said, the only way to get to the Kehlsteinhaus (Eagles' Nest) is via the special mountain buses that you arrange for at the bottom of the mountain, at Obersalzberg. When I went there, there were English speaking guides at the Busparkplatz selling guided tours for a few Euro (actually Mark, then). It is a whole lot less expensive that way then taking a package tour from somewhere. I took the tour once, but I don't think there was enough a substance, so when I returned with my wife, we just went up. Honestly, you can buy the guidebook at the top and it has everything you need to know.
After seeing the Kehlsteinhaus itself, spend some time viewing the Dokumentation Center in Obersalzberg. It's a museum with excellent exhibits on the rise of Nazism. Part of the center is also connected to the remains of the bunker system that used to connect the homes of top Nazis and the SS Barracks in Obersalzberg. If you rent an audio guide, you can spend as much time as you want in the center.