Munich, Garmisch Gasthaus

Hi Shaun, How are you traveling, by car or public trans? While not in either Salzburg or Garmisch, we can recommend a few places in the Berchtesgaden area (30 min. from Salzburg) and Mittenwlad (20 min. from Garmisch). In Berchtesgaden area: www.mayringerlehen.de www.friedwiese.de/enska/isl.htm Mittenwald: www.schwalbennestl.de www.edlhuber-mittenwald.de We have photo's of these places/areas at: www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html Paul

A few years ago, I stayed in Oberammergau at Gästehaus Richter. Oberammergau is less than 2 hours by train from Munich. Gästehaus Richter is only a block from the train/bus station and the price is right. Oberammergau itself is worth seeing, and from there you can go by bus to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in about 40 min, Hohenschwangau (Ludwig's castles) in just over an hour, and Ludwig's Villa at Linderhof in 20 min. Frau Richter is gracious and speaks English well.

This place would seem to fit your request in Garmisch: http://www.gasthof-fraundorfer.de/

We were first thinking to travel by train but might switch to car after Munich. These are great recommendations, I'll look into all. We just want a true cultural experience and want to stay away from the standard hotel rooms, if possible. If we were to get a car for whole trip, then thinking about parking in only two places (4 nights each) in Salzburg area and garmisch...and take day trips to Munich, castles, etc. Any thoughts on that? Appreciate all your insight!

We enjoyed staying here in Garmisch. http://www.gaestehaus-hamburg.de/

Hi Shaun, Just my opinions if you have a car (as we've only used a rental car and aren't too familiar with pub. trans.): I'd stay at the Mayringerlehen for 4 nights. The owners (Sabine and Johann Grassl) are just wonderful. Rooms are nice, breakfast buffet is good, the mountain views are terrific and they have cows, goats, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, cows, a horse and a llama. They run an organic farm. We stayed here in 10/06, 10/07 and 9/09. If you couldn't get a room here, I can highly recommend the Guesthouse Friedwiese. Quiet location, good breakfast buffet, nice rooms and terrific views of the mountains. Again, owned/run by a very nice woman (Helga Eder). She has plenty of excellent info on places to see and things to do. She's extremely helpful in giving directions, etc. We stayed here in 11/10. Easy days out from either could include: The quaint village and beautiful church of Ramsau Berchtesgaden Konigssee Jennerbahn cable car (closed from 4/16 to 4/27) (next to Konigssee) Salzburg (20 to 30 min away) "Mad" King Ludwig's Herrenchiemsee (1 hr. away) This palace is actually between Munich and Salzburg/Berchtesgaden. If driving from Munich, you may want to stop on the way Bad Reichenhall (20 min away) Hallstatt (1:30 away)
Zell am See (1:30 away) We've stayed in this area (between the Mayringerlehen and Friedwiese) for a total of 14 nights. I don't think you'd get bored or run out of things to see and do with 4 nights. Just some suggestions. Paul

Hi again Shaun, Just wated to comment on the other 4 nights you're considering based in Garmisch/Mittenwald for 4 nights. We stayed at the Pension Schwalbennestl in Mittenwald twice, 4/05 and 10/06 (total of 7 nights). While not a fancy place by any means, it's clean, comfortable, nice breakfast buffet and the views overlooking Mittenwald and the Karwendel mountains are beautiful. Friends of ours stayed at and like the Garni Eldhuber. Easy day trips could be: Garmisch and Mittenwald of course. Karwendelbahn cable car in Mittenwald (this is closed from 4/16 to 4/25) Ettal Monestary Oberammergau "Mad" King Ludwig's amazing Linderhof Palace The Zugspitze, Germany highest peak.This is on the Germany/Austria border. We liked the convenience (plus it's a bit cheaper) of going to the top from nearby Ehrwald, Austria.
Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau and Fuessen are about an hour away). Again, just some suggestions. Paul

"might switch to car after Munich" I would not advise it. I've spent over 2 months (63 nights) traveling in Bavaria. I know the system of public transportation well and know that there is very little, particularly the popular spots, that you you can't access by train or bus. Here is the map of the rail lines in Bavaria. As you can see, every place you have mentioned - Munich, Salzburg, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, Füssen, Oberammergau - is accessible by rail. You can use the German Rail (Bahn) website to find routes and schedules. If you take the time to find schedules for where you want to go, you'll save money. A Bayern-Ticket, for €29 per day, will cover you whole family, hop on/off, on all the regional trains, and most regional buses, in Bavaria and into Salzburg. In addition, the Bayern-Ticket gives you discounts on many attractions in Bavaria. If you go between Munich and Salzburg using the Bayern-Ticket and decide to stop at Prien to see Herrenchiemsee, it gives you a 10% discount on the steam trolley to the harbor (Chiemseebahn) and the boat to the island. By the way, there are lockers at Prien on the platform opposite track 1.

As for Berchtesgaden, there is an extensive bus network there run by RVO (Regionalverkehr Oberbayern). As you can see, buses go from the Berchtesgaden Hbf to Marie Gern, Ramsau, Königssee, Jennerbahn, the Watzmann Therme (spa), Salzwerk, Dokumentation Center, the starting point for the buses to the Eagles' Nest, and Salzburg. RVO sells a "Tagesticket" (all day pass) for the buses for €9,50 per adult. I would expect 4 yo children to be free, but if not, a Family pass for 2 adults and all their children is €22, €3 more. The Tagesticket includes use of the bus (Watzmann Express) from the Hbf to the Salzburg Hbf. The last run for that bus is around 6 PM, so if you are traveling later than that, you should use a Bayern-Ticket (trains run until around 10 PM). The trains run from Salzburg Hbf to Berchtesgaden with a change (sometimes) in Freilassing. The Bayern-Ticket does not cover the Watzmann Express, but all other buses in Berchtesgaden are included.

Wow. incredible information. Gonna need some time to soak this in. I'm intrigued by not having to rent a car...going to research more with those links. Also going to look at ALL the links for places to stay. We don't need fancy. We have been trying to learn the language and want to meet locals, etc. One question about the trains/buses...we plan on having a stroller with us (preempts any 'my legs don't work' complaints from our daughter midway through each day). Is that an issue with boarding the trains/buses? Any experience with that? Thank you again for the detailed replies. This insight is huge.

Hi, Just wanted to mention that the place we highly recommend, Mayringerlehen, is just a few minutes walk from the bus stop in Ramsau. Paul

If you are thinking of staying in Berchtesgaden this place is a gem and cheap! http://www.fewoederhaus.de/lg_fewoederhaus/english_ederhaus.html
Great helpful owners, quiet but close to the town center, supermarket, restaurant ect. In Munich we have stayed at Pension Lindner, it was very central, would stay there again.

gasthof fraundorfer definitely...lots of character, great people and definitely great dining experiences....I went with my 3 twenty-something "kids" and it really was the best deal and comfortable and accessible. If you do not stay there at least reserve a dinner spot for the music, local kids with their heritage dancing and comraderie....have the potatoe soup!