10-Day Bavarian Alps & Tyrolean Alps Road Trip Itinerary (original) (raw)

This Bavarian Alps and Tyrolean Alps road trip combines thrilling hiking trails, deep river gorges, fairy tale castles, picturesque alpine towns, mountain lakes, and even thermal spas.

We created this route based on multiple trips to Bavaria and Tyrol, so it highlights only the very best destinations.

Our 10-day Germany-Austria road trip begins in Munich, Germany. From the Munich International Airport, you’ll drive 1:30 hours to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, located at the base of the highest mountains of the Bavarian Alps. Walk through narrow gorges, swim in Lake Eibsee, and even tackle a Klettersteig.

The road trip continues along the German Alpine Road to Oberammergau, Linderhof Palace, and Neuschwanstein Castle and then crosses the border into Tyrol (Tirol), Austria. Hike to Coburger Hütte and Lake Drachensee and then drive to Ötztal to soak in the thermal waters of Aqua Dome, Austria’s most iconic thermal spa complex.

Next, drive through Innsbruck to Mayrhofen in Zillertal Valley. Walk across the famous suspension bridge at Olpererhütte in the Zillertal Alps and then continue your journey to Lake Achensee, the largest lake in Tyrol.

Detour to the majestic Grosser Ahornboden (“Great Maple Floor”) to eat lunch at an active alpine pasture.

The final destination on this Bavaria road trip is the picture-perfect town of Mittenwald, at the foot of the Karwendel mountain range.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany

Bavaria – Tyrol Road Trip Map

How to Book This 10-Day Austria-Germany Travel Itinerary

Accommodation

Book 2 Nights in Garmisch-Partenkirchen | Olympiahaus (budget), aja Garmisch-Partenkirchen (midrange-luxury), Das Graseck (luxury), or Werdenfelserei (luxury)

Book 2 Nights in Ehrwald | Mellow Mountain Hostel (budget), Der Grüne Baum Hotel (midrange), or Romantik Hotel Spielmann (luxury)

Book 2 Nights in Mayrhofen | Landhotel Rauchenwalderhof(budget),Der Siegeler B&B (budget-midrange), ElisabethHotel (adults-only luxury), or ZillergrundRock Luxury Mountain Resort (full board luxury)

Book 1 Night in Pertisau, Lake Achensee | Hotel Bergland (midrange), Seehotel Einwaller – adults only (luxury), or NOVA Moments Boutique Hotel (luxury),

Book 2 Nights in Mittenwald | Pension Karner (budget), Alpenhotel Rieger (midrange), or Post Hotel Mittenwald (midrange)

Rental Car

Use the Discovercars.com car rental reservation platform to search for and book car rentals in Germany. This easy-to-use booking platform compares car rental deals from 500+ trusted providers, so that you can choose the best option for your trip.

Check car rental rates here.

Guidebooks

Travel Guidebook | Lonely Planet Munich, Bavaria & the Black Forest

Hiking Guidebook | Walking in the Bavarian Alps: 70 Mountain Walks and Treks in Southern Germany

Essential Tips for Traveling in Bavaria and Tyrol

1. Book your entrance tickets to Linderhof, Neuschwanstein, and Aqua Dome in advance.

2. Purchase a vignette (toll sticker) when you cross the border into Austria. They are sold at gas stations near the Germany-Austria border.

3. Always have cash. Some establishments (guesthouses, restaurants, huts, toll booths) only accept payment in cash.

4. Some accommodations in Bavaria and Tyrol require a minimum stay of 2-3 nights.

5. Hotel wellness and spa areas are always included in the room rate. Spa treatments are an add-on, but not the facilities (pools, saunas, relaxation rooms). In the German-speaking world, saunas are always textile-free, unless otherwise stated.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany

Day 1: Arrive in Munich, Drive to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the most well-known alpine resort town in the Bavarian Alps. It’s located on the confluence of the Loisach and Partnach valleys between the Ammergauer Alpen, Ester Mountains, Wetterstein Mountains.

One of the first things you’ll notice about Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the Lüftlmalerei (“air paintings”), which adorn the facades of houses, businesses, churches, and other buildings. The art murals depict fanciful scenes from fairy tales, the Bible, and ordinary life.

For the most colorful display of Lüftlmalerei, amble down the Ludwigstraße street in Partenkirchen.

For a traditional Bavarian meal, we can’t recommend Zum Wildschütz and Zur Schranne enough.

Read Best Things to Do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and our Garmisch-Partenkirchen Hiking Guide to plan your trip.

If you’re seeking easy-going, low-elevation walks, take a look at our Garmisch Winter Travel Guide.

Partnach Gorge

Partnachklamm (Partnach Gorge) is a deep river gorge in the Reintal Valley in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Millions of years ago, meltwater and debris hollowed out the rock, creating a splendidly narrow gorge.

A safe and secure path leads through the 700-meter-long Partnach Gorge, offering wondrous perspectives of this natural landmark.

The hike to Partnach Gorge begins at the Garmisch Olympia Stadium, where there’s a bus stop and pay-and-display car park. From here, it’s a 20-minute walk to the gorge entrance.

If time allows, you can extend the gorge walk to Berggasthof Eckbauer, a mountainside restaurant with a fabulous terrace.

When to Visit | The Partnach Gorge is open all-year-long. However, authorities may close the gorge, if it’s unsafe (e.g. too much snowmelt in spring).

Opening Times | June – September: 8 am – 8 pm | October – May: 8 am – 6 pm

Entrance Fee | See current pricing

Learn More: Partnach Gorge Hiking Guide

Stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Budget | Olympiahaus is a traditional Bavarian guesthouse located at the historical Olympic stadium (where the ski jump is) and at the Partnach Gorge trailhead. The Olympiahaus features an on-site restaurant, breakfast buffet (optional), and free on-site parking.

Luxury | Werdenfelserei is a standout boutique hotel which artfully combines traditional and modern alpine design. Highlights of staying here include the Zugspitze-facing rooftop pool, on-site restaurant, spa and wellness area, breakfast (included), and creative architecture.

Upscale Apartments | Bader Suites offers tastefully-furnished apartments (1-2 bedrooms) with well-equipped kitchens in Garmisch, walking distance to the pedestrian zone. Each unit is outfitted with air-conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom. Guests enjoy free underground parking (e-charging station available) and the use of lockable sports equipment and bicycle storage. Breakfast delivery boxes are available Thursdays-Mondays (8:30 am – 9 am) with pre-registration (let them know by 1 pm the day before).

Luxury Mountain Getaway | Das Graseck is a mountainside hotel set above Garmisch-Partenkirchen, accessible by the hotel’s own cable car. It’s a unique getaway perfect for those seeking a quiet wellness retreat. The spa is adults-only. The room rate includes breakfast and dinner.

More options: Hotel Schatten (budget), Central Garden-Mountain Apartment (midrange), aja Garmisch-Partenkirchen (midrange-luxury), Obermühle 4*S Boutique Resort (luxury), Private Spa & Garden Alpi (luxury).

Look for accommodation in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Lake Eibsee, Bavaria, Germany

Day 2: Höllentalklamm Gorge and Lake Eibsee

On Day 2 of your Bavaria road trip, we suggest hiking to the wild, rugged, and wet Höllentalklamm gorge and ending your day at Lake Eibsee.

Kreuzeck to Höllentalklamm Gorge Hike

Höllentalklamm (Valley of Hell Gorge) is another must-see gorge in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Starting at the Kreuzeck cable car mountain station, you can hike over the Hupfleitenjoch saddle to Höllental valley. Eat a rich lunch at the modern Höllentalangerhütte and descend the valley and the gorge all the way to Hammersbach.

Opening Times | The gorge is open 24 hours during the snow-free season.

Entrance Fee | There is an admission fee to enter the Höllentalklamm gorge. Show your alpine club membership card to receive a discount. During our last visit, entrance tickets were 6 EUR for adults.

Learn More: Höllentalklamm Hiking Guide

Lake Eibsee

Eibsee is an emerald-green mountain lake at the foot of Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain.

Rent a SUP, or pedal board, take a swim, or walk the 7.6 km circuit trail around the lake.

The best photo spots are along the north shore.

Parking | There are two pay-on-exit car parks (P1 and P2) at Eibsee, 100 meters from the lakeshore.

Learn More: Lake Eibsee guide

Stay in Garmisch

Budget | Olympiahaus

Luxury | Werdenfelserei

Upscale Apartments | Bader Suites

Luxury Mountain Getaway | Das Graseck

More options: Hotel Schatten (budget), Central Garden-Mountain Apartment (midrange), aja Garmisch-Partenkirchen (midrange-luxury), Obermühle 4*S Boutique Resort (luxury), Private Spa & Garden Alpi (luxury).

Look for accommodation in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavarian Alps, Germany

Day 3: German Alpine Road and King Ludwig II’s Fairy Tale Castles

Day 3 of your Bavarian Alps road trip follows the German Alpine Road from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Oberammergau and onwards to Füssen. You’ll end the day in the town of Ehrwald, Austria.

With careful planning, you can visit the picturesque town of Oberammergau, Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle all in one day. However, it’s important to purchase your castle entrance tickets online in advance to secure the time slots you want.

Linderhof Palace

Schloss Linderhof is an intimate palace nestled in the Ammergau Alps in Upper Bavaria. It was built by the legendary King Ludwig II of Bavaria between 1868 and 1874.

In many ways, Linderhof is an ode to Versailles and French monarch Louis XIV, who Ludwig II idolized. The gilded baroque interior is ornamented with Gobelin tapestries, richly upholstered armchairs and sofas, extravagant canopies, and colorful ceiling paintings.

In order to see the interior of the palace, visitors must join a guided tour. Tours last 25 minutes and are conducted in English and German.

Before, or after the guided tour, you can explore the park grounds surrounding the palace. Don’t miss the Moorish Kiosk.

Tickets & Pricing | Linderhof Ticket Shop

Arrival | We recommend arriving at Schloss Linderhof 20-30 minutes before your guided tour. That will afford you sufficient time to walk to the palace and even tour the palace grounds.

Address | Linderhof 12, 82488 Ettal, Germany

Parking | 3 EUR. Cash Only | Google Maps

Other Considerations | The Venus Grotto is closed for renovation until 2024.

Oberammergau

Oberammergau is a charming town in the Bavarian Alps, north of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It’s one of the best places to admire Lüftlmalerei (“air paintings”) in the region. Some of the houses depict scenes from Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel.

Oberammergau is famous for staging a passion play every 10 years, since 1634.

Walk through the town, grab a pastry from Aurhammer Bäckerei, or lunch at Ammergauer Maxbräu beer garden.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein is the most famous castle in Germany and perhaps the world. Enthroned on a hill opposite the Castle of Hohenschwangau, much of its appeal lies in its alpine surroundings.

Though built in a neo-Gothic style, Neuschwanstein is a modern 19th century building. The interior is vibrantly painted with scenes from mythology, opera, and medieval sagas. It’s mesmerizing.

Like Linderhof, the only way to see the castle’s interior is by joining a guided tour. Tours are conducted every 5 minutes. The quality of the tour is mediocre at best. But, the rooms are splendid and worth seeing even if you feel like a herded cow.

Tickets & Pricing | Ticket Shop

Arrival | From the car parks, allow 40 minutes to walk up to the castle entrance. You can pass through the main gate 45 minutes before your guided tour.

Parking |10 EUR at P1 or P2

Castle Viewpoints | The best viewpoints of Neuschwanstein are from:

Drive to Ehrwald

On your way to Ehrwald, you can detour to Lake Plansee for a swim.

Make sure to purchase a vignette when you enter Austria.

Stay in Ehrwald

Budget | The spotless and charming Mellow Mountain Hostel has a range of bedrooms: double and triple rooms as well as 4-person and 6-person dormitories. Guests have access to a shared kitchen, sauna, and cozy living space.

Midrange | Der Grüne Baum Hotel is a comfortable, boutique hotel in the center of Ehrwald. With its fresh Tyrolean interiors, modern spa oasis, and in-house restaurant, it strikes just the right balance between urban and nature. Guests can choose between breakfast-only, or half board.

Luxury | The historic, family-run Romantik Hotel Spielmann is beautifully put together, with an ivy-covered facade accented by painted window frames and rustic Tyrolean interiors. Highlights of staying here are the sensational mountain views, excellent service, delicious food, and the new wellness area comprising a mountain-facing infinity rock pool and numerous saunas.

Look for accommodation in Ehrwald.

Customize Day 3

There are a few ways to alter this itinerary.

1. After visiting Oberammergau and Linderhof, you can stay in Füssen and visit Neuschwanstein Castle the next morning.

2. You can visit Oberammergau, Linderhof, Neuschwanstein, and Ehrwald as day trips from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. If you do that we suggest staying in Garmisch for 4-5 nights.

3. If you’ve already visited these main attractions (or have no interest in them), you can hike to the summit of Hochplattein the Ammergau Alps, or tackle the Alpsitz Ferrata in the Wetterstein Mountains.

Lake Drachensee, Austria

Day 4: Lake Drachensee

Day 4 of your Tyrolean Alps road trip is all about hiking to the Coburger mountain hut and Drachensee lake in the Mieminger Chain.

Hike to Lake Drachensee and Coburger Hütte

Lake Drachensee (“Dragon Lake”) is a spectacular mountain lake encircled by rugged, limestone peaks. It’s an impressive landscape shared only by the Coburger Hütte mountain refuge (1917 m), which is perched above the lake.

The hike to Lake Drachensee begins with the Erhwalder Almbahn cableway ascent. Start as early as possible. This is a popular hike.

Learn More: Lake Drachensee Hiking Guide

Stay in Ehrwald

Budget | Mellow Mountain Hostel

Midrange | Der Grüne Baum Hotel

Luxury | Romantik Hotel Spielmann

Look for accommodation in Ehrwald.

Innsbruck, Austria

Day 5: Aqua Dome, Innsbruck, and Mayrhofen

On day 5 of your Bavarian Alps – Tyrolean Alps itinerary, visit the world-famous Aqua Dome thermal spa. After soaking in thermal water, continue your trip to Innsbruck and onwards to Mayrhofen.

Aqua Dome

Aqua Dome is a striking thermal spa (“Therme” in German) in Längenfeld, Ötztal Valley. It’s a bucket list attraction for many and definitely worthy of a visit.

Float in the basins, enjoy the sauna complex, and even consider spending the night. Check the rates on Booking.com.

We’ve detailed everything you need to know about visiting in this Aqua Dome guide and our Aqua Dome Hotel Review.

Important | Book your entrance ticket in advance.

Innsbruck

Innsbruck is the capital of Tyrol. This imperial city lies in the Inn Valley between the Karwendel Mountains and the Tux Alps.

Stroll through the Altstadt (Old Town), visit the Hofburg, see the Golden Roof, take the cable car up to Nordkette, visit the nearby Ambras Castle, or even the Swarovski Crystal Worlds.

Also, check out these tours: Innsbruck: Private Tour with a Local Guide and Innsbruck: Paragliding Adventure.

If you skipped Aqua Dome today, you can walk the delightfully easy Stone Pine Trail, hike up the Wolfsklamm Gorge, or summit Nockspitze Peak.

This Bavaria and Tyrol itinerary doesn’t linger in Innsbruck, but it’s a city worth visiting for at least 1-2 nights. If you decide to extend your visit, read our Innsbruck Hiking Guide.

We recommend staying in the Montagu Hostel (budget), NALA individuellhotel (midrange), Faktorei (midrange-luxury), Altstadthotel Weisses Kreuz (luxury), or Weisses Rössl (luxury)

Look for accommodation in Innsbruck.

Drive to Mayrhofen

Mayrhofen is an alpine town in Zillertal in Tyrol, a one-hour drive from Innsbruck. The town center is always a vibrant place, bustling with hikers, cyclists, and climbers. It’s packed with sports shops, restaurants, and hotels.

Learn More: Best Things to Do in Mayrhofen in Summer

Stay in Mayrhofen

Budget | Walking distance to the town center, Landhotel Rauchenwalderhof is a traditionally-furnished guesthouse with mountain views, a relaxing garden, a bar, and outdoor pool. Breakfast is included. Parking is plentiful.

Top Choice – Budget-Midrange | Der Siegeler B&B – this lifestylehotel rocks is a charming, recently refurbished bed and breakfast in Mayrhofen, a short walk away from the main train and bus station. Partake in the lively atmosphere of the on-site sports bar, where camaraderie thrives and memories are made.

Midrange |We stayed in the 4-star Alpenhotel Kramerwirt, a family-run hotel in the center of Mayrhofen. This traditional Austrian hotel exhibits a high standard of hospitality, food, and comfort. We loved the spaciousness, light, bedding, and design of our “Superior Room.”

Luxury | Indulge in pure luxury at Hotel Neue Post, a timeless Tyrolean treasure with roots dating back to the 17th century. Nestled in the heart of Mayrhofen, this 4-star-superior haven effortlessly blends heritage with modern comforts such as a rooftop pool, sauna complex, and well-equipped gym. Delight your palate at the esteemed on-site restaurant, and make your stay even sweeter with a half board booking.

Adults-Only Luxury |ElisabethHotel Premium Private Retreat- Adults only is a luxurious hotel in Mayrhofen featuring beautiful spa facilities, outstanding cuisine, and alpine-modern furnishings. This is the best place to stay in Mayrhofen for a relaxing and rejuvenating getaway.

Top Choice – Full-Board Luxury | The riverside ZillergrundRock Luxury Mountain Resort is a stylish, light-flooded property just outside of Mayrhofen (5-minute drive). This haven of hospitality seamlessly intertwines timeless charm with contemporary elegance, inviting travelers to immerse themselves in pure indulgence: two spa areas, high-quality gourmet full-board experience, and year-round activity program.

More options: Haus Claudia und Haus Monika (budget guesthouse)

Look for accommodation in Mayrhofen.

Zillertal Alps, Tyrol, Austria Road Trip Itinerary

Day 6: Olpererhütte and the Zillertal Alps

On Day 6 of your Tyrolean itinerary, you will hike a stretch of the Berlin High Trail to the iconic Olpererhütte.

The suspension bridge, several meters away from the hut, is one of the most popular photo motifs in Austria.

Olpererhütte Hike

Olpererhütte is a mountain refuge in the Zillertal Alps, overlooking the Schlegeisspeicher reservoir.

We recommend hiking to Olpererhütte the “long way” via Friesenberghaus. This longer route unfolds dramatically, rewarding hikers with jaw-dropping alpine views.

The trail begins at the Schlegeisspeicher reservoir, which is accessible by a toll road (open during the snow-free season). You can drive, or take a bus to the reservoir.

Learn More: Olpererhütte Hiking Guide

Stay in Mayrhofen

Budget |Landhotel Rauchenwalderhofand Haus Claudia und Haus Monika

Budget-Midrange | Der Siegeler B&B – this lifestylehotel rocks

Midrange | Alpenhotel Kramerwirt

Luxury | Hotel Neue Post

Adults-Only Luxury |ElisabethHotel Premium Private Retreat- Adults only

Full-Board Luxury | ZillergrundRock Luxury Mountain Resort

Look for accommodation in Mayrhofen.

Lake Achensee, Tyrol, Austria

Day 7: Lake Achensee

Lake Achensee is the largest lake in Tyrol, stretching between the Karwendel and Rofan mountains. It’s a popular destination for windsurfing, sailing, and swimming.

Today, you can spend the whole day relaxing by the lake. Alternatively, you can summit Bärenkopf peak or Hahnkampl, hike the challenging Seekarspitze to Seebergspitze ridge, walk up to the lovely Berggasthaus Dalfaz Alm, take the Rofanbahn cableway to Erfurter Hütte and hike to Hochiss.

You could easily spend a week in Lake Achensee and not run out of things to do. Read our Lake Achen travel guide for an overview of the best hikes, best base, and places to eat.

Hike to Bärenkopf Peak

Bärenkopf is a panoramic summit overlooking Lake Achensee, the Karwendel mountains, and the Rofan mountains. The hike to Bärenkopf begins at the Karwendel-Bergbahn mountain station. It’s a 7.8 km lollipop-circuit, which takes 4 hours to complete.

Learn More: Bärenkopf Trail Guide

Stay at Lake Achensee

There are three “villages” around Lake Achensee: Achenkirch in the north, Pertisau in the southwest, and Maurach in the southeast. We recommend staying in Pertisau.

The majority of the hotels around Lake Achensee are midrange to luxury. If you’re looking for a budget stay, check out nearby Camping Inntal and Gästehaus Waldrand Garni in Wiesing.

If you’re not staying in a hotel with half board, we highly recommend eating dinner at Fischerwirt am Achensee in Achenkirch.

Pertisau

Midrange | Hotel Bergland is a traditional Tyrolean hotel with an on-site restaurant. All rooms have balconies. Guests love the location, the friendly staff, and the food.

Adults-only Luxury | The 4-star Hotel Auszeit pampers guests with its relaxing spa facilities (4 modern saunas, relaxing room, outdoor pool, sun garden), beautiful frooms, scenic setting, and excellent breakfast. Read our Hotel Auszeit review.

Adults-only Luxury | Seehotel Einwaller – adults only impresses with its stylish rooms, lake-facing wellness area, à la carte restaurant, and scenic lakeside location. In summer, guests can enjoy the hotel’s private pier, furnished with comfortable sunbeds and umbrellas. Expect an excellent breakfast. Read our Seehotel Einwaller hotel review.

Luxury | NOVA Moments Boutique Hotel is a 4-star hotel with 34 air-conditioned rooms and suites, all tastefully furnished in an elegant, alpine-modern style. The hotel is set in a quiet location, 900 meters away from the lakeshore. Hotel facilities include an outdoor natural pool (open in summer), infinity whirlpool (open all-year-round), sauna, steam-bath, wellness relaxation room, garage parking with electric car charging stations, and fitness room.

Family-friendly Luxury | Hotel Wagnerhof is a half board (breakfast and dinner included) hotel with traditional Tyrolean-style rooms as well as plush, modern suites. Surrounded by meadows, this lovely accommodation boasts 3 swimming pools, a spa, and fitness center.

Look for accommodation in Pertisau.

Maurach

Budget-Midrange | Hotel-Café-Restaurant Klingler is a family-run hotel in the heart of Maurach village with an on-site café, fitness center, and newly renovated rooms.

Midrange | Hotel-Pension Huber-Hochland is a traditional half board hotel. Guests have access to a small wellness area, which includes an indoor pool, steam bath, Finnish sauna, and infrared cabin.

Luxury | The 4-star Hotel St.Georg zum Seeis an alpine-chic hotel with spacious rooms, modern wellness facilities, and a gourmet half-board offering (rich breakfast buffet and 5-course dinner).

Look for accommodation in Maurach.

Grosser Ahornboden, Austria

Day 8: Grosser Ahornboden

Day 8 of your Bavarian-Tyrolean Alps road trip steers you to a remote corner of Karwendel Nature Park. This is one of the most arresting places in Austria, only accessible from late May until mid/late October.

Though located in Tyrol, Grosser Ahornboden can only be accessed by car from the Risstal valley in Bavaria.

Drive the toll road (5 EUR, cash only) to the end of Risstal Valley. You can park at the free car park across from Die Eng – Alpengasthof und Naturhotel.

Engalm Dorf and Grosser Ahornboden

Grosser Ahornboden is a gorgeous wide grassy plain, flanked by the Karwendel mountains, in the secluded Hinterrisstal (“Upper Riss Valley”).

It’s called Grosser Ahornboden, “Great Maple Floor,” because it’s studded with 2,300 sycamore maple trees, some 600 years old.

After parking, walk 5 minutes to the Eng Almdorf alpine pasture village. Here, you’ll find a restaurant, a shop selling local products, and a few other huts.

A visit to Grosser Ahornboden need not be more complicated than enjoying lunch at the Eng Alm Rasthütte and savoring the views.

If your schedule allows, we highly recommend staying at Die Eng for 1-2 nights, so you can enjoy this alpine paradise a little longer. With more time, you can hike to Gamsjoch Peak, Binsalm alpine pasture, and Falkenhütte mountain hut.

Otherwise continue your drive to Mittenwald in Upper Bavaria.

Learn More: How to Visit Grosser Ahornboden

Stay in Mittenwald

Budget | Pension Karner is a dog-friendly B&B in Mittenwald, very close to the Laintal Valley trail. This traditional guesthouse offers basic rooms with views of the Karwendel mountains. Guests love the breakfast, the host, and the quiet location. Payment is cash only.

Midrange | Alpenhotel Rieger is a 3-star-superior hotel at the end of the pedestrian street of Mittenwald with traditional alpine-style rooms and a wellness area (swimming pool, Finnish sauna, and steam bath). Guests can book half board or breakfast-only. Parking is free.

Midrange | Post Hotel Mittenwald is advantageously located in the storybook old town of Mittenwald. This traditional, family-run Bavarian hotel offers clean and functional rooms, an indoor swimming pool and Finnish sauna, and a charming on-site restaurant. Breakfast and parking are included.

Look for accommodation in Mittenwald.

Mittenwald, Bavaria, Germany

Day 9: Mittenwald

Mittenwald is one of the most beautiful towns in the Bavarian Alps. Like Oberammergau, it’s famous for its colorful Lüftlmalerei (“air paintings”).

Mittenwald Altstadt

Obermarkt street is packed with restaurants, cafés, bakeries, and Konditoreien (patisseries). The town backdrop is the mighty Karwendel mountain range.

For a mouthwatering selection of cakes, visit Bsonders & Guad.

Hiking and cycling trails abound. A popular attraction is the Leutasch Gorge along the Bavarian-Tyrolean border. Via ferrata enthusiasts ought to consider the Mittenwalder Höhenweg.

For an easy, half-day excursion, take a look at the Hoher Kranzberg hike, which is accessible all-year-round. We hiked it in winter.

Our favorite hike near Mittenwald is the Rotmoosalm – Wetterstein Hut circuit trail, which starts in Gaistal Valley in Tyrol, a 30-minute drive away.

Another option is the long hiking tour (6-7 hours out-and-back) to The King’s House on Schachen in the Wetterstein Mountains. King Ludwig II instigated the building of this villa-style lodge at Schachen in order to enjoy the beauty of the mountains, not to hunt. It’s possible to visit the interior between June and early October, depending on snow conditions. A small entrance fee applies. For food and drinks, visit the nearby Schachenhaus mountain hut. The “Königsweg” hike starts at the Ellmau Hiking Car Park (Wanderparkplatz Elmau).

Tip | If you’re visiting Mittenwald in early-mid September, try to see an Almabtrieb, a decadent procession in which goats, cattle, and other animals return to the valley from the mountain pastures. Animals are decked in ceremonial bells and headdresses. Dates are posted on the Alpenwelt Karwendel website.

Stay in Mittenwald

Budget | Pension Karner

Midrange | Post Hotel Mittenwald

Luxury | Alpenhotel Rieger

Look for accommodation in Mittenwald.

Day 10: Munich

It’s a 1:45 -2 hour drive from Mittenwald to the Munich International Airport.

On your last day, you can continue exploring Mittenwald, or head directly to Munich, the capital of Bavaria.

If you’ve traveling to Bavaria in early Fall, you could potentially time your visit with Oktoberfest, the world’s largest folk festival.

Oktoberfest Dates |

If you extend your visit to Munich, we recommend staying at Euro Youth Hotel Munich (budget), Bavaria Boutique Hotel (midrange), DO & CO Hotel München (luxury), or BEYOND by Geisel (Splurge).

Look for accommodation in Munich.

Discover More of Germany and the Alps

Berchtesgaden Alps in Bavaria:

Bavarian Alps in Winter:

More Road Trips in the European Alps:

Germany Travel Guides:

European Alps Hiking & Travel Guides:

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Bavaria and Tyrol Road Trip Itinerary, Germany and Austria

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