Spectacular views, an idyllic, crystal clear mountain lake, and German history from the Middle Ages to the infamous Nazi rule during the 3rd Reich: all this and much more awaits you on this private full-day PANORAMA-Tour with your personal and professional guide. Starting with a drive that offers many scenic highlights, you will then be enchanted by the historic town of Berchtesgaden - finally the cruise across Lake Königssee to the renowned peninsula of St. Bartholomä will simply take your breath away!
Enjoy the view from the spectacular Eagle's Nest view point (Shuttle busses from May - Oct), then gain a deeper understanding of the tragic history of the Obersalzberg area.
Almost 1,000 m/ 3,200 ft above sea level, this plateau was confiscated by Hitler and his entourage as the 2nd seat of government. Some buildings from this period as well as the extensive bunker network are still partially preserved and open to the public – explore these and much more hidden vestiges from the '3rd Reich' together with your guide, supported by historical photographs.
On a nearby Panorama Road we reach in our comfortable and new VW-Minivan the highest point of our excursion, which is at the same time a 'Sound-of-Music' Film location. With these unforgettable impressions we return back to Munich.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Selected scenic routes
✔ No hidden costs!
✔ Tour length: 9.5 or 11 hours
✔ Drive in new and luxurious Mercedes or VW-Minivans (a/c) - only your group participates!
✔ Professionally conducted private full-day excursion (only your group participates)
✔ Licensed, friendly and experienced Guide
✔ Bottled mineral water
✖ Skip-the-Line entrance fees (2024): Lake Königssee Cruise (€ 22.50 p.P.), Eagle's Nest (€ 31.90 p.P.)
✖ Lunch
✖ Gratuities
Pickup Locations
1. Star G Hotel Munchen Schwabing
2. Hotel Landhaus Ambiente
3. Super 8 by Wyndham Munich City West
4. Rilano 24|7 Hotel Munchen
5. Hotel Sollner Hof
6. Villa am Schlosspark
7. Leonardo Hotel Munich City East
8. H2 Hotel Munchen Messe
9. Wies'n Loft
10. Seibel's Park-Hotel
11. NH Munchen Messe
12. Amadeus Hotel
13. Ahorn Hotel
14. Hotel Ferchenhof Munchen
15. Pension Mainburg
16. Hotel Perlach
17. Empress Hotel
18. Classik Hotel Martinshof
19. Hotel Blutenburg
20. Hotel Perlach Allee by Blattl
Additional Info: .
Pick-up at any hotel/address in Munich at 7:30 AM, or any other pick-up time according to your wishes - then we ask for a brief notification.
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Pick-up (and/or return) is also possible outside Munich (e.g. MUC airport) on customer request - please ask us for any additional costs!
Itinerary
1
Maria Ramersdorf Kirche
We carefully curate our selection of sights for each tour to give you the ultimate tour experience. At the same time, this is YOUR exclusive tour, so we welcome your suggestions and do our best to accommodate your wishes. Whether you prefer to stay longer at one stop or add a whole new one, let us know and - whenever possible- we’ll adapt your bespoke tour accordingly.
... but now: Look forward to a delightful tour, resting assured that you are in good hands with your friendly & professional tour guide, who will take you on eventful, informative yet relaxing excursions in our new and luxurious Mercedes or VW Minivans.
... at the old pilgrimage church of St. Maria Ramersdorf from the 14th century we leave Munich and take the A8 heading Southeast ...
2
Irschenberg
Soon we reach the 'Mount Irschenberg', the most beautiful view point that you can have from a German motorway.
This Motorway route was built in the mid-1930s as a "panoramic motorway". These today unusual routings were part of the National Socialist propaganda: the beauty of the landscape was abused by deliberately staging "German Homeland".
3
Chiemsee
A short time later, after another magnificent view, we reach the largest lake in Bavaria, Lake Chiemsee. Close to the beach there is Germany's first motorway rest area from 1937/38, whose extensive building facilities after WWII were used by the US Army as one of three recreation centres ("AFRC Lake Hotel") until 2003. An abandoned boat dock is still reminiscent of this time.
Soon we leave the motorway and drive along the "German Alpine Road". It is probably the most beautiful mountain road in the northern Alpine region.
Duration: 5 minutes
4
St. Bartholomew's Church
No road - not even a hiking trail - leads around the 8 km (5 mile) long Lake Königssee, which is surrounded by high rock walls. Also the popular excursion destination on the west bank, the peninsula with the famous pilgrimage chapel St. Bartholomä and the former hunting lodge with "The world's most idyllic" beer garden, can only be reached by one of the historic Electric boats gliding noiselessly along.
Experience the famous Echo of Lake Königssee on the impressive 35-minute cruise and marvel at the dreaded Mount Watzmann East Wall and a 'sleeping witch'!
*****
SKIP-THE-LINE Tickets Lake Königssee Cruise (2024):
Adults: € 22.50
Children (6 - 17 years): € 11.50 *****
Duration: 2 hours
5
Konigssee
In the midst of beautiful alpine scenery and not far from the Königssee Ice bobsleigh track offers the popular pedestrian zone in the village of Königssee and on the waterfront inexpensive shopping and great photo opportunities.
Duration: 20 minutes
6
Berchtesgaden
First mentioned in a document at the beginning of the 12th century, the former monastery foundation 'Berthercatmen' experienced an economic upswing thanks to the free mining on salt and metal.
Today, the market town embedded in the overwhelming Berchtesgaden Alpine world is rightly one of the most popular holiday regions in Germany due to its abundance of sights!
Enjoy the the traffic-restricted historic town center with its delightfully painted houses and numerous shopping opportunities. The local brewery "Hofbrauhaus Berchtesgaden" is an ideal place to take a break.
You will also see the surprisingly huge central station (opened on 1 February 1940) and the tunnel portal of the planned new railway line to Salzburg. Also from this unspeakable period come the "Little Reich Chancellery", as well as the residences of Wilhelm Keitel and Alfred Jodl.
Duration: 30 minutes
7
The Eagle's Nest
The EAGLE'S NEST ("Kehlsteinhaus") can be reached from the beginning of May to the end of October (depending on the snow conditions on the access road) with special shuttle buses from the Obersalzberg near Berchtesgaden.
Enthroned in a spectacular location at 6,017 ft above sea level, the former representation building of the Nazis survived the British air raid on 25 April 1945 unscathed. At the behest of Martin Bormann, it was built - including the 6.5 km long access road - in just 13 months under the most difficult conditions for the workers. From the bus terminus you can reach the original elevator through a 124-meter-long tunnel, which takes you after another 124 meters (406 ft) to the 'Kehlsteinhaus', as it is called in the German language and which is now operated as a restaurant. A little exhibition reminds us of the inhumane Nazi dictatorship of the 3rd Reich.
*****
SKIP-THE-LINE Tickets Eagle's Nest (2024 - bus ride incl. lift):
Adults € 31.90
Children from 6 up to 14 years: € 16.50 *****
Duration: 2 hours
8
The darkest chapter of Berchtesgaden's history took place on the Obersalzberg, the so-called "Hitler's Alpine Fortress". This plateau below the 'Eagle's Nest' at a hight of 1,000 m (3,200 ft) was mostly forcibly confiscated by Hitler and his entourage, and declared as "Führersperrgebiet" ('Leader's restricted area') from 1933.
On April 25, 1945, about 1,300 bombs destroyed almost the entire area, only the "Eagle's Nest" ('Kehlsteinhaus'), among other buildings, was spared.
In 1952, the ruins of most of the bombed-out buildings were demolished or blown up, some of them rebuilt, such as the Hotel Türken.
Your guide, supported by historical pictures, will gladly show you everything that is left (locations of Hermann Göring's and Martin Bormann's houses as well as of Hitler's 'Berghof' and the General Walker Hotel, the coal bunker, Albert Speer's house and atelier, and much more)
Duration: 35 minutes
9
Dokumentationszentrum Obersalzberg
(ON REQUEST: If you would like to visit the Obersalzberg documentation, please let us know under "Special Requirements" when booking, as depending on the length of your stay (see recommendations at the end of this text), there will be less time available for other attractions. This allows us to plan your itinerary in the best possible way!) ***** Learn more about the 12-year Nazi reign of terror in Berchtesgaden with the help of display boards (in English) and film excerpts. Visit part of the extensive underground bunkers, the entrance to which is included in the admission price of € 3.00 per adult, as well as audio guides in several languages. ***** Time required if you only want to visit the bunkers: at least 30 minutes / time required if you want to visit the bunkers and the rest of the exhibition: at least 60 - 90 minutes *****
Duration: 30 minutes
10
Rossfeld Panoramastrasse
(ON REQUEST):
The construction of this special panoramic road began in 1938 and was completed in 1955. At an altitude of 1,600 m (5,250 ft), you can cross the Austrian border on foot. Cosy mountain inns await you with regional and international specialties, including spectacular views!
The final scene of the world-famous SOUND OF MUSIC movie was shot here in 1964.
The toll (not included in the tour price) is € 9.00 (2024) for the vehicle including all passengers
Duration: 50 minutes
11
Berchtesgaden Salt Mines
(ON REQUEST): Enjoy an over 1-hour tour in the oldest active salt mine in Germany. You will take a a mine railway to the salt fields in the interior of the Obersalzberg mountain. On spectacular slides you get to the deeper levels, on a raft you glide over the mysterious "Spiegelsee" ("Mirror Lake"). Learn from your miner guide how the "white gold" has been mined here since 1517 - a fascinating experience for young and old! We recommend sturdy shoes and sufficiently warm clothing (at check-in you will receive a mandatory protective suit free of charge), the salt mine has a constant temperature of 12 degrees Celsius (53.6 degrees Fahrenheit) all year round ***** SKIP-THE-LINE Tickets (2024): Adult: € 24.50 / Children (4-16 years): € 12.50 *****
Duration: 1.5 hours
12
Salzburg
(ON REQUEST):
Only about 1/2 hour drive from Berchtesgaden is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe: Salzburg, the magical city of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and for many fans also the 'Sound-of-Music' city! Discover the historical sights (many of which were also filming locations of the movie Sound-of-Music, such as the Mirabell gardens and palace) on a 50-minute guided tour of the Old Town with your guide. Depending on your wishes, we can visit other attractions by car, such as Hellbrunn Palace with its overwhelming & unique Trick Fountains (admission for the approximately 45-minute tour is extra) and the Sound-of-Music Gazebo, or enjoy some free time to stroll and shop. ***** Package-PRICES a) or b) for professional Salzburg city tour incl. old city district parking fees - the prices are valid for your entire group (i.e. not per person) - and can only be paid in cash on site to your guide: ***** Price a) the booked time frame of 9.5 or 11 hours is not exceeded (restrictions on the other stops are possible): € 65.00 ***** or ***** Price b) including 1 extra hour: € 125.00
Duration: 1.25 hours
Additional info
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Photo credit (#Titel, #2, #3, #23, #26) © Berchtesgadener Land Tourismus / other: © SIGHTSEEING BAVARIA EXCLUSIVE
• With regard to the times indicated in the itinerary ("What to expect"), the following applies: 1) All times are non-binding recommendations that must (or can) be shortened (or extended) depending on the desired sightseeing program. 2) The travel times needed to reach all desired attractions are NOT included in these times. 3) The program items 7 - 10 are marked "ON REQUEST", which means that customers who choose to visit these attractions will have less time for the other program items. (It is possible to extend the booked tour length for a fee.)
