Berchtesgaden National Park

Berchtesgaden National Park in the far southeast corner of Bavaria is Germany's only Alpine national park. Stretching from the emerald Königssee lake to the 8,900-foot summit of the Watzmann, it packs fjord-like scenery, high pastures, limestone plateaus and a famous red-domed chapel into one compact area. It is one of the best day trips from Munich or Salzburg and an essential stop on any Bavarian Alps itinerary.

A protected landscape with a long history

Conservation here goes back to 1910, when a plant protection zone was set up around the southern Königssee. During World War I, a plan to carve a giant Bavarian lion into a cliff above the lake as a war memorial triggered protests, leading to the Königssee nature reserve in 1921. The national park itself was established on August 1, 1978, partly to block a proposed cable car up the Watzmann.

Today the park covers about 80 square miles (208 km²), borders Austria's Salzburg province on three sides and forms the core of the UNESCO Berchtesgadener Land Biosphere Reserve. Elevations range from 1,978 feet (603 m) at the Königssee to 8,901 feet (2,713 m) on the Watzmann.

Top things to see

• Königssee and St. Bartholomä: The pilgrimage church of St. Bartholomew, with its red onion domes set against the sheer east face of the Watzmann, can only be reached by boat or on foot over the mountains.
• Obersee and Röthbach Falls: A short walk from the Salet boat landing leads to the tranquil Obersee lake and Fischunkelalm pasture. Beyond it, the Röthbach waterfall plunges an estimated 1,150 to 1,540 feet down a sheer cliff.
• Wimbachgries: a surreal valley of rock debris up to 300 meters deep, stretching for about six miles between the Watzmann and Hochkalter.
• Haus der Berge: The park's visitor center in Berchtesgaden is the ideal starting point. Its "Vertical Wilderness" exhibition takes you from the bottom of the Königssee to the summits, ending with a 12-minute nature film.

Tickets and opening hours

The park is free and open year-round. The Haus der Berge (as of October 2026) is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry to the main exhibition at 4 p.m. Adults pay €4, children 6 to 16 €2 and families €10; the lobby, cinema, temporary exhibitions and outdoor grounds are free. Plan about three hours. Boat trips on the Königssee are run separately by the Bavarian lake shipping company, so check their timetable and fares before you go.

How to get there

Berchtesgaden is roughly two hours by car from Munich via the A8 autobahn (exit Bad Reichenhall) and about 15 miles (25 km) from Salzburg. By Deutsche Bahn, take a train to Berchtesgaden via Freilassing; from the station it is a 15- to 20-minute walk to the Haus der Berge, or take RVO bus 839 or 841. Private cars are not allowed inside the park; paid parking lots sit at the main entrances such as Königssee and fill early on sunny days.

Good to know

Stay on marked trails, keep dogs on a leash, and do not fly drones, camp or light fires. Rangers patrol early and late, and anyone caught planning to camp at St. Bartholomä after the last boat is shipped back at their own expense. The Haus der Berge is fully wheelchair accessible and offers an audio guidance system for blind visitors. High-alpine routes require experience and proper gear.

Is it worth visiting? Absolutely: few places in Germany combine such dramatic mountain scenery with easy access.

Nearby

• Berchtesgaden Salt Mine: guided underground tours.
• Eagle's Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) and Obersalzberg Documentation Center: Nazi-era history above Berchtesgaden.
• Jenner: cable car with views over the Königssee.
• Salzburg: Mozart's city, just across the Austrian border.