Travel from Salzburg to Garmish

I've been to both, and I went back a second time to Berchtesgaden, but I've only been back through Garmisch-Partenkirchen twice to change trains. I don't think anyplace is as scenic as Berchtesgaden. I don't think you'll find a single bus leg from Salzburg to Garmisch. There are bus routes between the two places, but they are short routes. You'd spent most of your time changing buses. Even the trains don't go directly between the two places. I fastest route will have you changing trains in Munich. There is no reason to use your rail pass unless it's a global (continuous days) pass or you don't have anywhere else to use it. A Bayern-Ticket, for €21 for one person is all you need to go from Salzburg to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. For 2 to 5 people, a Bayern-Ticket is €29, total.

I've been to both. I returned a second time to Berchtesgaden, but I've only been back through Garmisch-Partenkirchen twice to change trains. I don't think anyplace is as scenic as Berchtesgaden. I don't think you'll find a single bus leg from Salzburg to Garmisch. There are bus routes between the two places, but they are short routes. You'd spent most of your time changing buses. Even the trains don't go directly between the two places. The fastest route will have you changing trains in Munich. There is no reason to use your rail pass unless it's a global (continuous days) pass or you don't have anywhere else to use it. A Bayern-Ticket, for €21 for one person is all you need to go from Salzburg to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. For 2 to 5 people, a Bayern-Ticket is €29, total.

Thanks for your comments. I think I will stay in Berchtesgarden and then travel to Munich. Any suggestions on where to stay in Munich? What suggestions does anyone have for activities in Berchtesgaden and where should I stay.

For Berchtesgaden, I would suggest you try here. It's on the same street as the Hbf, a few hundred meters away. I stayed there in 2002. It was fine, but it's now under new management, so I don't know, but I am planning on staying there this year. The train goes by right in front, but it doesn't run in the middle of the night. If Alpina is full, you could try here. It's right next door. In Berchtesgaden, just walking around town is enjoyable. After April, the Eagles Nest is open, as well as the Dokumentation Center. There is a spa (Watzmann Therme) and a saltmine. Take a cruise on the King's Lake (Königssee). We spent a morning hiking in the Wimbachklamm. I have some places for Munich listed on my webpage. I've not stayed in any of them, but they have been recommended here in the past.

I loved Garmisch! Did it as a 2-night night side trip from Munich, and had a terrific time. Really good hiking and the mountain views are beautiful. Highlight for me, as is probably the case for many!, was going up to the Zugzpitze, the highest peak in all of Germany. Involves taking a cog-wheel train and then a cable car up to the peak (which, I believe has an altitude of 10,000 ft). Views from up top, looking into the Austrian Tyrol, amazing! It CAN be very cloudy up there, as was the case for a little while when we were there, but then the clouds parted and we could take in the spectacular alpine views! The VERY, VERY top is marked by a cross, which you can climb up to to literally be on TOP of Germany! On a previous trip to Germany, I had been to Neuschwanstein (stayed in Fussen as a home-base), so wanted something else to do south of Munich on a trip some yrs later, and Garmisch really fit the bill. So easy to get there from Munich, too (was around 1.5 hr train ride). If you end up there, I think you'll love it. Have a great time.