Welcome in Germany! Upon arrival pick up your rental car at Munich airport and drive to your hotel for check in. There is a lot to see and do in Munich. The public transport is very well organized. Visit the square Marienplatz, have a beer or take a whole beer tour at Hofbrauhaus. Stroll or cycle through the English Garden park. Germany has some amazing royal palaces to visit like Nymphenburg Palace, a building of 700 meters wide dating back to 1664. In the Alt Statt (old city) one finds the Munich Residenz, formerly a palace, now a beautiful museum. If you love markets the Viktualienmarkt is an absolute must.

EXPERT TIPS FOR MUNICH

Today you can visit some attractions outside the city like the BMW Museum, or the Memorial site of Concentration Camp at Dachau from World War II.
Are you travelling to Germany for the Oktoberfest, please be aware these start already in September ;-). Find here all the information for the Beer party of your Life.

EXPERT TIPS FOR MUNICH

Book your guided tour for Dachau well in advance to avoid disappointment, have a look at the schedules here.

Welcome to Austria! Your destination of today is Salzburg. The historic center in its entirety is on the World Heritage List of UNESCO and because the city is compact you can see a lot in a short time. But beware: after 24 hours you are in love and you want to stay! In one of the authentique Konditoreis (Coffee house) you can taste the famous Sachertorte (chocolate cake with cherries) or Apfelstrudel (warm pastry with apple and vanilla sauce) and a big mug of good coffee.
This is the birthplace of Mozart, (1756) and the decor of the famous movie The Sound of Music. The immense Fortress Hohensalzburg is located on the Festungsberg and towering high above the city. You can reach with a small tourist train, the Festungsbahn. Inside the fortress you find the Marionetten Museum and the Rainermuseum.
If you cross the river Salzach over the wooden pedestrian bridge you can ascend Kapuzinerberg for the most beautiful view of the fortress. Visit the Cathedral of Salzburg, Mozart played the organ in the cathedral. Visit the Gertreidegasse for the birthplace of Mozart, now being a museum.
Visit Schloss Mirabel for all your memories of The Sound of Music, beautiful gardens full of colourful flowers. If you can’t get enough of Baroque Palaces, visit Schloss Hellbrun in the area. If you are a great admirer of Mozart, visit the Salzburger Fest Spiele in May. Visit the brewery and museum of the famous beer mark Stiegl.

Zoom in on the map and click on all the icons for more information on the above highlights of Salzburg.

EXPERT TIPS FOR SALZBURG

Sound of Music Movie enthousiast can go on tour here.
Best Konditorei of Salzburg: Cafe-Konditorei Fürst, this is the place where the world famous Mozart Kügln have been invented and where they are still made by hand. Address Brodgasse 13, open each day 09:00 – 20:00h.
Meet the locals at Café Tomaselli , it is the most traditionally café (since 1703) in Salzburg, one of Mozart´s favourites.
address Alter Markt 9, each day 07:30 – 20:00h.
In summer you can enjoy the Salzburger Fest Spiele. This Salzburg Festival presents performances of opera, plays and concerts of the highest artistic standards over a period of five to six weeks each summer. 

BEER
Stiegl Beer Brauhaus (brewery) Brauhaustrasse 9.
Here you find a list of all Austrian beers.

WINE the rich soil, the altitude and summer sun, are the perfect conditions for the wines of Austria.
Learn more about the Austrian wines and see where the wine farms are located.

Book the Salzburg Panorama city tour with a boat ride over Salzach river and a bus tour through the City of Mozart.

When you leave Salzburg on the Alpenstrasse road nr 150, take exit Hellbrunn to visit Hellbrunn Castle. Drive on to Berchtesgarden, a Unesco Nature Site, one of the most beautiful spots of Germany.  Berchtesgaden National park covers more than 21,000 hectares, its nature has been protected since 1910. Due to the alpine landscape and fauna, which foxes, roe deer, chamois, marmots, snow mouse, golden eagles, vale and lammergeier, this area was declared a bio reserve by UNESCO in 1990. You can enjoy a boat trip over the most scenic and cleanest lake in Austria Königssee.
These Bavarian Alpes also host Kehlsteinhaus, or Eagles Nest, a landmark that reminds us of one of the most cruel regimes in human history. This is the place where Hitler discussed all his horrific plans with his Nazi regime. During your visit you can take the elevator up to the controll centre, the same elevator that was used by Hitler.  In the Dokumentation Center Obersalzburg you can find all the details on the holocaust and the Nazi Regime, during World War II this quaint village changed from little tourist town to the centre of Hitlers stronghold.
You can visit Salzbergwerk exhibition centre that explains all about the winning of salt in this area.  The Berchtesgadener Bergbahn, will take you up the Jenner Mountain with a cable car for the most beautiful view of this Unesco Nature Site.
Kids and grown up adrenalin seekers, will love the tobaggan run (rohdelbahn), the cart runs downhill for 600 meters through a metal slide. You can use the brakes to slow down, it is very safe and lots of fun!
Hike along the wooden pass ways to see the Almbachklamm, an impressive gorge that was created by erosion over the thousands years of time.

Drive the scenic winding roads of the  Rossfeldstrasse (road) through valleys and along mountains, spectacular views in summer!
The Rossfeldstrasse is the most famous toll road (€ 8) of Germany. It takes you on tour through the beautiful Berchtesgadener Alpen. This panorama road is 15.4 kilometers long and the summit is at an altitude of 1570 meters. Rossfeldstrasse is steep with many stretches above 10% and outliers to 13%.  There are two ways to get to Rossfeldstrasse. Start South of Berchtesgaden near Oberau or, North of Berchtesgaden at Obersalzberg.
We prefer the entrance at the Obersalzberg to give ourselves a look at the mountain where 70 years ago pretty much all the Nazi thugs had their villa. We crawl up the steep road (24%!) to the Obersalzberg, We choose this route for the spectacular view over the breathtaking Königssee. This is one of the most beautiful views of the Alps and for that reason alone the trip up is more than worth it. Once on top of Obersalzberg mountain, follow the signs for Rossfeldstrasse.

I you want to buy yourself a pair of  “lederhosen” (leather pants), Berchtesgaden is the place. Engelbert Aigner Sr. has been working as a lederhosen craftsman for 45 years now. He is one of the only six artisans in the world, that know how to make the lederhosen by hand.
Aigner uses outer native deer leather. The buttons are made from deer antlers and the embroidery is from mulberry silk. Cutting and gluing the leather (with wheat pulp) and stitching it takes about 25 hours. The embroidery easily takes between 15 and 40 hours. A real, custom-made lederhosen therefore costs between €1,500 and €6,000.

EXPERT TIPS FOR BERCHTESGARDEN

For some summer family fun in the Alps, try the Tobaggan run, or so called Rodelbahn in Berchtesgaden.
Kehlsteinhaus, Eagles Nest how to get to this place at the top of Kehlstein mountain. Park your car at Obersalzberg Dokumentationszentrum and take the special bus to the top, or hike (1,5 – 2 hours) to the top of Kehlstein Mountain.
The Jennerbahn is the most popular cable car of Berchtesgarden, click for an overview of all the cable cars in the area.
The Sound of Music tour options for fans of this movie. Buy an authentique Lederhosen in Metzgerstrasse 1, Berchtesgaden + 49(0) 8652 8539

HIKE
We definitely can recommend this Eagles Nest tour for hikers: take the road less traveled, this 7 – 8 hour hike offers you a mix of world history, exercise and incredible landscapes.

FOOD, 14 must eat foods in Tyrol.

The road to Innsbruck will take you along various typical Tyroler wintersport villages. Stop for lunch in Kufstein and experience the Tirol at its best in and around the Römerhofgasse. Great traditional restaurant for lunch with view onto the mountains is Auracher Löchl. On Sundays the waitresses wear traditional “Dirndls” and the waiters “Leder hosen” (leather shorts).  Continue to baroque capital of Tyrol, Innsbruck.
Take exit 62 on the A12, 20 km before Innsbruck and visit Swarovski Crystal Worlds. In honour of the 100th anniversary of Swarovski Crystals, the Austrian Artist André Heller created a dazzling crystal world with a subterranean labyrinth of 17 crystalline chambers of wonder.

EXPERT TIPS FOR INNSBRUCK

If you would like to visit the quaint romantic village Hallstatt at the Hallstäter See (lake) you can add the extra night after Berchtesgaden.

KUFSTEIN:
Traditional restaurant Auracher Löchl Römerhoffgasse 4.
If you want to overnight in Kufstein, we can recommend the Boutique Hotel Träumerei  in the same building as the restaurant.
 

INNSBRUCK
world of Swarovski
Book your ticket with the Nordkette Cable Car way in advance.
Rather experience Innsbruck “like a local” book a guide.
Paragliden on your bucket list? This your chance.

INNSBRUCK CARD
Save money and buy the “value for money Innsbruck Card”  € 49,- for 24 hours, € 55,- for 48 hours.
It gives you ​ free access to over 20 sights, cable cars, i.e. Nordkettebahn (€ 40,-) Alpine Zoo (€ 11) Swarovski Kristall Welt (€ 19), Imperial Palace (€ 9,50) Museum Tyrolean Folkart (€ 11). On top you will enjoy free transport and free city parking.
The Innsbruck card gives your 25% discount on the Tyrolean Evening with the Gundolf Family

Discover Innsbruck and surroundings:

Continue to Innsbruck with its amazing mountain backdrop. For the best view on the city take the new Hungerburgbahn (train ride 6 minutes) to Hungerburg , or Hoch – Innsbruck, a 500 year old village. Start of the ride is next to the Kongresshaus in Innsbruck. Visit the Alpine Zoo with lynx, chamois (mountain buck), eagles, wolves, fish, bears and birds of prey at 750 meter altitude. From here you can continue with the Nordkette cable car, the station looks like a glacier and is designed by Zaha Hadid.  The Nordkette cable car takes you in minutes to 2300 meter altitude at the Hafelekar mountain. Enjoy a spectacular 360 degrees view over the city and the Karwendel Nature Park, a paradise for nature lovers and hikers.  The Seegrube restaurant  on the top serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. On Sundays in July and August there is a lovely brunch with life jazz music.

In Hungerburg/Hoch Innsbruck you can have a look on the Goldenes Dachl, meaning golden roof, an ancient landmark in the centre of town. The facade of the building is covered with murals, describing the stories of it’s imperial past. The architecture of the townhouse of Innsbruck, Helblinghaus Haus , is an intersting mix of gothic and baroque influences. At the Grassmayr Bell Foundry your can learn how the Tyrolean bells are made, in the Ambrass Castle you will find the treasures of the past and the Hofburg is a typical palace of an Austrian Emporer.
Enjoy a good glass of Riesling, Muscateller or Grünen Veltliner wine at the top of the Bergisel Ski Jump building, another architectural master piece of Zaha Hadid and part of the Olympic village of Innsbruck.

For a typical Tyrolean dinner and folkart dance, book a spot at the Gundolf Family Show in the new Alpensaal.

EXPERT TIPS INNSBRUCK

Experience a real Tyroler evening with typical food, music and dance.
Innsbruck art festival, each summer in July.
Buy tickets for  Hungerburgbahn (+/- € 10) or for the Hungerburgbahn and the Alpine Zoo. (this is not the Nordkette cable car to 2300 meters). We recommend to buy your tickets for the  Nordkette cable car well in advance to avoid disappointment. You can check the weather conditions on the top of the mountain at this webcam.
Visit Ambrass Castle and jump the queue, order here.

ICE CLIMBING the area South West of Innsbruck has 4 of the best Ice Climbing routes of the country.
We can add extra days in Innsbruck in the travel app.

For those that have been skiing before in Tyrol, this area may suprise you when visited in summer. Fiss at an altitude of 1436 meter, is a very popular town for skiing holidays in winter. But after the snow has disappeared in spring, Fiss turns out to be one of the most amazing Fun and Acitvity centres of Austria. Hop on the cable car to  the Möseralm at 1820 meters  and enjoy a day packed with fun for families and friends. This fun village high in the mountains offers a jump tower, a 1,5 km long toboggan run with speeds up till 40 km/h, the Fiss Flyer, Ski Swing, Crystal Cube, a  snow track for inflated tires, horses and many mountainbike and hiking routes.

On your way to Fiss you can make a stop in adventure village Imst. If this all does not appeal to you, you can drive the scenic drive into Italy and see the sunken village in the lake of  Lago di Rèsia. From Ried im Oberinntal, the village at the base of Fiss mountains, it is only 30 minutes drive over the B180 to this lake in Italy.  Take B184 to Martina and than the scenic Reschenpass (1504 m) road B185 with over 10 hairpins to Nauders, continue to Italy.

EXPERT TIPS FOR FISS AND IMST

FISS
Here you can find maps for biking and hiking in the area of Fiss.
Click on the interactive hiking map to see the different routes. You can also download the fantastic Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis app.

PRUTZ a village in the valley has a huge swimming pool with waterslides a great way to spend some time at hot summer days.

ITALY find more information here about the sunken village in Lago di Rèsia, Rechsensee.

Drive the Fernpass road that takes you to an altitude of 1200 meters. Stop for coffee at the highest point, restaurant Zugspitzblick offers a great view onto the highest mountain of Germany, the Zugspitze (2962 meter). Drive via Ehrwald to Obermoos and take the Tyroler Zugspitzbahn to the top of the mountain (2950 meter). The two cabins can hold 100 passengers each. The ride to the top, in only 10 minutes, will treat you with a dazzling view over the area. On a clear day you can see the Grossglockner (Austria, 3798 meter), Piz Bernina (Switzerland, 4049 meter) and the television tower in Munich (291 meter).
At the top you can visit the “Fascination Zugspitze – interactive museum … with the best views!” Josef Naus was the first person to climb the Zugspitze in 1820. Old pictures and a gondola from the year 1960 are on display. Another exhibition at the top, The Snow Crystal, showcases different types of snow crystals. Snow will reshape by the wind, it is regarded as the most miraculous material in our universe.
Hikers can carry on to the “Zugspitzplatt”  with the Bavarian glacier cable car and explore the trails of this Karst Plateau.

In the afternoon you arrive in the charming mountain village of Berwang with only 560 inhabitants. The village derives it’s name from the bears that used to roam here in the forests. Berwang is a away from the hussle and the buzzle. The village is situated on 1436 altitude, on a dead-end road, no crowds, no noice, just nature. The next two days you can soak up the clean air, hike, mountain bike, and enjoy the typical Tyroler cuisine in the middle of nature.

EXPERT TIPS ON THE ZUG SPITZE ARENA

You can buy the multiple day pass “Z-ticket” for lifts, toboggan/rodel rides, zipline and other attractions in the “Zugspitz Arena” the area around Zugspitze. More information on the culture of the Tyroler villages.

Enjoy a hearty and typical Alpine breakfast with “semmeln” bacon, eggs and different sorts of Alpine cheeses. Cake lovers have to tast the homemade “Kuchen und Torte” of Café Pension Sprenger. The big terrace has a lovely few onto the slopes of the mountains. No one can resist the amazing pastry and cakes here on display. Try a Sachertorte (chocolate cake with cherries), warm Apfelstrudl (pastry with apple and warm vanilla sauce), Bienenstich (a sting of the bee, with cocos and whipped cream) with a good cup of coffee. Berwang has a lovely alpine herb garden and next door in Rinnen, you can visit the highest beer brewery of Austria.

Rent a “Bergroller” (with Z-ticket), a giant step/scooter, to descend the Alp mountains, or take the Flying Fox (with Z-ticket) in the nearby village Bichlbach. Thrillseekers take the longest Tibet Style Footbridge in the World, the Highline 179. This 406 meter long suspension bridge, swings 114  meter above the ground. It connects the ruïnes of the 700 year old Ehrenberg Castle, museum inside, with Fort Claudia, that dates back to  the year 1645.

Rinnen a village that consists of only 20 houses, is a just 40 mins easy walk away from Berwang (2,5 km). Restaurant Hotel Rotlechhoff is thé spot to eat the authentique Tyroler food with a modern twist. You can either walk back, or ask the reception to drop you off in Berwang with their minivan.

EXPERT TIPS FOR YOUR STAY IN BERWANG
Berwang has some fantastic hotels and pensions with great Tyrolean hospitality.
Best coffee and cake in Berwang, Kaffee Sprenger 
Highline179, 15 mins drive and along the B179, order your tickets here.
Bergroller Berwang
Read here all you want to know about the history of  the Ehrenberg Castle.
Rotlechhof in Rinnen,  you can sleep here as well

Your are leaving the Alpes and entering Germany. It is a 45 mins. drive to the immense castle of Neuschwanstein, built by Kind Ludwig II (1869). The name Neuschwanstein means “New Swan Castle”. Although Neuwchwanstein is the most famous castle, the next door Hohenschwangau Castle only 30 mins. walk, is a beauty too. This castle dates back to the 12th century and was beautifully restored by King Maximillian II, the father of King Ludwig II, married to Queen Maria of Prussia. Culture vultures that would like to know all about these Bavarian Kings, visit the Museum der Bayerischen Könige next to the lake Alpsee.

After the visit you are driving to Kempten, to visit the oldest Roman settlement in Germany, Cambodunum. Cambodunum is over two thousand years old. Upon arrival in Kempten, you can not miss Fortress Burghalde built in 1705, towering above the city centre. Burghalde was built on the ruïnes of previous fortifications dating back to 1488. Take a  leap into history and discover this Roman settlement on the banks of river Iller, in the city of Kempten.

If you feel more like a hike today through the beautiful area of Allgäu with panoramic views of the Alps, you can stop at Nesselwang. (27 km before Kempten, exit 138).

EXPERT TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT TO NEUSCHWANSTEIN

Book your ticket to Neuschwanstein in advance here to avoid disappointment. If you have purchased our travel app for on your smartphone, you can navigate with this to the castle.
How to reach the Neuschwanstein Castle? You can reach Neuschwanstein  by climbing a steap 0.8km trail from the Hohenschwangau parking area, or by getting a bus from the Schlosshotel near the parking area to the Marienbrücke. From the bridge Marienbrücke you have the best view on the castle for pictures. If you want to be on the picture too, you have to walk the purple trail behind the castle going up. The trail ends just below the Marienbrücke, from here you have the best pedestrian view on the Castle.

KEMPTEN/NESSELWANG
Download the Nesselwang Loop along the waterfall,  lovely hiking trail of 10 km, moderate fitness.  Park your car in Nesselwang at Alpspitzbahn (cable car) carpark.

Rothenburg is regarded the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval town of Germany. This city walls and towers of Rothenburg date back to the 16th century. Some of the buildings inside the walls, like the Council Tavern (14th century) and the Rathaus (13th century) are even older.
Rothenburg is the most popular stop along the Romantic Road, a route of 450 km that starts in Würzburg and ends in Füssen. This route that dates back to  1950 possess “quintessentially German” scenery and culture.
Book yourself an hotel close to the charming old town. After the day tourists have disappeared it feels like you have the old town for yourself.
We like to recommend the following route that covers the mayor sights:
Start at the massive 16th-century Spital Gate (Spitaltor), the last fortification that was constructed. Walk over the Spitalgasse to Das Plönlein, a small square and the most photographed corner of this city. Take a left into Burggasse and visit the Medieval Crime Museum. Walk to the end of Burggasse and take a left. Walk via Herngasse and Alte Burg to the beautiful gardens of Burggarten. Walk back to the Herngasse and visit the German Christmas Museum on Herngasse number 1. Continue and take a right into the Untere Schmiedsgasse to the Baumeisterhaus. Walk back over the Schmiedgasse that changes name and becomes Marktplatz, on your left you will see old Town Hall (Rathaus) that was build in the 13th century. Take a left into the Grünnermarkt at the end left into Kirchplatz to St James Church. Take a right into Klingengasse and a left into Klosterhof to pay a visit to the Rothenburg Museum. Walk back to Klingengasse and go left into Klingengasse and finish your walk at the Northern gate of the town,  Klingentor.

We have some interesting hotel deals for Rothenburg.

EXPERT TIPS FOR ROTHENBURG

On Sundays most shops are closed, but everything else – cafes, restaurants, sights and museums – is open

Walk the city walls of Rothenburg
On the square Marktplatz where the Rathaus is located you will find the Tourist Office of Rothenburg.
Here you can buy the Tower Trail brochure of Rick Steves for € 5,-. The Towertrail is a very interesting walk of 2,5 hours along the city walls. Find all the information on the Rothenburg Tower Trail here.

A total of 46 historical towers can be found in the old town of Rothenburg. In the morning you can make a walk of 2,5 hours over and along the walls of Rothenburg. During this self walk tour of 4 kilometers, you climb the walls and towers and find out everything about Rothenburgs defense system. For € 5 you can buy a brochure and description for this self walk tour at the Tourist Office opposite the famous Town Hall on the Marktplatz (square).

You can either drive back to Munich airport (2,5 hours), or Frankfurt airport (2 hours) where you can drop off your car before the check in of your flight.

We hope that you can look back on an unforgettable and relaxed journey along the highlights of the Bavarian Region. Our aim is that travellers take the most out of their road trip with the use of our travel app on their smartphone. With our day to day itinerary in the palm of your hand, we make sure you won’t miss out on anything!

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Ingrid Gorter & Team
selfdriveroutes.com
Keep on discovering

Famous John Steinbeck once said:
“People don’t take trips, trips take people”