When heading to the Bavarian Alps in Germany we were more than excited to explore the Alpine Road. With nothing booked in advance and little to no planning before taking off, we were ready for anything! Once we were on the German Alpine Road we also realized how close Austria was. Feeling spontaneous, we couldn’t pass up the chance to see another amazing European country. Hopefully, this Southern Germany itinerary can help you plan your next Bavaria road trip, and consider adding a detour into Austria like we did!
One Week German Alpine Road Trip
Start/End: Munich, Germany – If you’re short on time, then the easiest way to do this German Alpine road trip would be to fly in and out of Munich International Airport. Make sure to leave an extra day or two to visit Munich as it’s one of Germany’s most magical major cities.
Rental Car: We use Discover Cars to explore when traveling. Consider renting a car in one city and dropping it off in another for an epic Germany road trip!
Day One: Füssen Germany
- Hike to the top of the city and visit the High Castle of Füssen.
- Enjoy the cafe culture in the lively city center.
- Visit Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau Castle.
- Rent bikes and take in the views of the Bavarian Alps in Germany.
- Hike to Queen Mary’s Bridge.
Distance to Next Stop: 1 Hour – 59 Km
Check out the latest prices for where to stay in Füssen.
Day Two: Garmisch-Partenkirchen Germany
- Take a cable car to the top of Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany.
- Hike Partnach Gorge just outside of the city center.
- Visit the Linderhof Palace which is the smallest of the King Ludwig II Palaces.
- Wander through the streets of the city and enjoy one of the many traditional Bavarian Alps restaurants.
- Go skiing if visiting during the winter months.
Distance to Next Stop: 20 min – 17 Km
We highly recommended taking a detour to Lake Walchensee. This was by far some of the most beautiful and clear water we saw on our entire trip!
Check out the latest prices for where to stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Day Three: Mittenwald Germany
- Enjoy one of the most beautiful small towns in all of Germany.
- Hike the Karwendel Alps or take the cable car to the top.
- Enjoy a beer at the Mittenwald Brewery which opened in 1860.
- If you’re in town on a Tuesday you can also take a tour of the Mittenwald Brewery.
- Ski the Alps in the winter months and take in the Bavarian Alps of Germany.
- Detour off the German Alpine Road and venture into Austria.
Distance to Next Stop: 45 min – 41Km
Check out the latest prices for where to stay in Mittenwald.
Day Four: Innsbruck Austria
- Get lost in the beautiful streets of old town.
- Take the cable car from Innsbruck to Seegrube for panoramic views of the city.
- Visit Ambras Castle and stroll through the immaculate gardens.
- Have dinner at the top of the famous Bergisel Ski Jump.
- Of course if you go in winter hit the world-famous ski slopes.
Distance to Next Stop: 2 Hours 15 min – 155 Km
Check out the latest prices for where to stay in Innsbruck.
Day Five: Berchtesgaden and Lake Königssee Germany
- Take an electric boat tour ride of the lake.
- Hike around the base of Lake Königssee for incredible views of the Bavarian Alps.
- Jump in and cool off in the crystal clear water.
- Explore the old town of Berchtesgaden.
- Visit the Eagle’s Nest.
Distance to Next Stop: 1 Hour 15 min – 72 Km
Check out the latest prices for where to stay in Berchtesgaden/Königssee
Day Six: Hallstatt Austria
- Walk around the small downtown area.
- Head to the famous Hallstatt Viewpoint for a photo.
- Rent an electric boat and see Hallstatt from the lake.
- Hike above the city for amazing waterfalls and views.
- Visit a 7,000 year old salt mine that’s said to be the oldest in the world.
Distance to Next Stop: 1 Hour 10 min – 71 Km
Check out the latest prices for where to stay in Hallstatt.
→ One Day Exploring Hallstatt: A Visit to Austria’s Most Famous Lake Town
Day Seven: Salzburg Austria
- Hike up to the 11th century fortress of Hohensalzburg.
- Visit the Marabell Palace and gardens.
- Check out the marble domed Salzburg Cathedral.
- Go shopping on the busy street of Getreidegasse.
- See the birthplace of Mozart.
Distance to Next Stop: 1 Hour 15 min – 85 Km
Check out the latest prices for where to stay in Salzburg.
→ 8 Best Things to do in Salzburg Austria
Have any recommendations for a Bavaria road trip or stops along the German Alpine Road? How about any questions about our Austria and Bavaria road trip? Let us know about your Germany itinerary in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte and Jake
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Hi! This is fantastic, thank you for sharing! I’m a little confused about which towns you stayed in each night and for how long. Did you stay somewhere different each night?
Hi Emily,
We had a rental car so each night we found an accommodation along our route. There were lots of options in each town or in the surrounding ones. Sorry, we don’t have the names of the hotels at was quite a while ago now. Hope that helps though!
How did you navigate the German Alpine Road route? Is it sign posted/marked or did you rely on a map or GPS navigator?
Hi Rick! It’s pretty well marked, but you’ll want to have an itinerary set beforehand and gps to help. Be sure to book your accommodations beforehand if you’re visiting in the summer as well. Enjoy!
Do you have any information on your overnights for this trip? Not sure if you had a “base” or stayed somewhere different each night. This is the area which we are planning to visit in the fall, but I’m having trouble trying to figure out what areas to stay and for how many nights. We will be driving.
Sorry, we can’t remember the exact hotels we stayed at. We had a rental car so each night we found an accommodation along our route. There was tons of options in each town, or just outside that worked perfect for us. Hope you have an amazing road trip!
I have visited all of these places, truly spectacular and unforgettable.
Couldn’t agree more! Such a special place to visit
lovely trip
Such a beautiful drive!
Do you do this trip for us or we book everything ourselves?
Thanks
Hello Tarek! This post is based on our trip and is to be used as a guide to help you plan your travels. You book everything but if you have any questions feel free to send us an email with any questions you have! Enjoy your time.
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