Berchtesgaden Travel Guide: Best Things To Do In Winter

Here is our full Berchtesgaden Travel Guide in December, based on our own experience: We decided to spend Christmas in the Alps for the first time. In my head it was all snowflakes, skiing, hot chocolate and little wooden huts. The reality? Twelve degrees, sunshine and not a single snowflake.

But at the end… it became one of our most peaceful and beautiful winter trips. A winter holiday with amazing hikes, quiet lakes, Christmas markets, lots of sunshine and even a rare Steinadler (golden eagle!) flying above us.

Why There Was No Snow (And Why It Was Still Great)

We planned to ski. We imagined a white Christmas. But nature had other plans. The temperature was between 10–13 degrees during the day. So all the lower ski resorts were closed and only the very top of the mountains had some snow.

At first we were disappointed — but then the sunshine became a gift. Instead of skiing we started exploring hiking routes, lakes, small villages, Christmas markets and simply enjoyed the calm winter atmosphere.

Honestly, it turned into a different kind of winter holiday — quieter, slower and exactly what we needed.

How We Got There & Where We Stayed

We travelled from Hannover to Munich by train and in Munich we rented a car and drove directly to Ramsau. The drive gets prettier with every kilometer — mountains slowly appearing until suddenly they’re just there, huge and impressive.

We stayed at Hotel Hindenburglinde, a small, family-run hotel outside the village. Exactly the type of place we love: traditional, warm atmosphere, local food and surrounded by nature. We booked half board, so breakfast and dinner were included. After long days outside, this was absolutely perfect.

And yes… the heated outdoor pool and sauna were one of the main reasons we booked it. Mostly for Ela, our Daughter — but let’s be honest, we ended up spending even more time in the pool than she did.

Swimming outside in December, in the dark, while watching the silhouette of the Watzmann (3rd biggest mountain in Germany)that alone made the trip special.

Right next to the hotel stood a tree so huge and impressive you simply have to stop and look at it: the Hindenburglinde. The hotel’s name comes from this tree.

This linden is one of the largest and oldest in Europe:

• trunk circumference up to 14.75 meters near the ground
• crown circumference 121 meters
• estimated age: between 400 and 1000 years depending on the expert
• shade covering 900 m²

The name is controversial: it was renamed in 1933 to honor Paul von Hindenburg, a German WWI general and later president, whose legacy is tied to the rise of the Nazi regime. Originally, it was simply called the Große Linde. Standing under the tree, you forget politics for a moment — it’s just awe-inspiring.

Things We Have Done In and Around Berchtesgaden

1. Boat Tour Königssee (And the Famous Echo)

If there is one thing you must do here — it’s the Königssee boat tour.
The lake feels almost unreal: clear green water, steep mountains, silence everywhere.

Our boat captain suddenly stopped in the middle of the lake, took out a trumpet, and played a short melody. The sound bounced back from the rock walls — the famous Königssee echo.

You hear the trumpet twice, sometimes even three times. It was such a peaceful moment that even the usual boat chatter disappeared. Königssee in winter is incredibly calm. The sun was shining, the lake smooth like glass and the whole experience felt almost spiritual.

We got off the boat at St. Bartholomä and spent around an hour there.
We walked along the lakeshore, enjoyed the views, took photos and simply soaked in the atmosphere.

Boats usually depart roughly every 30 minutes and bring you to St. Bartholomä Church and back. The round-trip ticket is under €25 per person (prices can change slightly by season, so it’s always good to check the official website before going).

2. Salt Mine Tour In Berchtesgaden

The salt mine was a really fun and unexpected highlight, especially for my daughter.

You enter the mountain by small train, which already feels like a little adventure. Then you go deeper into the mine — and at some point you literally slide down long wooden slides to lower levels.

Inside, you learn how salt has been mined here for hundreds of years and why Berchtesgaden became an important salt region. There are large underground halls, illuminated tunnels, and salt formations everywhere.

One thing Ela found especially fascinating: You can lick the salt directly from the stone walls. Yes — it’s salty. Very salty.

3. Day Trip to Salzburg

Salzburg is only about a 30-minute drive from Berchtesgaden, so it’s an easy and very rewarding day trip.

We had already been to Salzburg a couple of years earlier in summer and had gone up to the fortress back then. So this time we decided to skip the castle completely and just enjoy the city’s winter atmosphere.

We walked through the old town, crossed the Marko Feingold bridge, walked along the river and simply let Salzburg feel like Salzburg.

Instead of going up to the fortress, we visited the Mozart House this time. Even if you’re not a huge classical music fan, it gives good context about Salzburg’s cultural importance.

Salzburg in winter feels less sightseeing pressure, more strolling. Exactly our vibe.

4. Road Tripping The Rossfeld Panorama Road and the German Alpine Route

Driving the Rossfeld Panorama Road was one of those moments where you just keep saying: “Wow”. The road is part of the German Alpine Route and takes you high up into the mountains with wide panoramic views in every direction.

At one viewpoint, we were standing directly on the border between Germany and Austria. One step in Germany. One step in Austria.
Simple, but somehow very special.

And then came one of those quiet magic moments: A single ray of sunshine broke through the clouds and lit up a small village far below. It looked like someone switched on a spotlight from the sky.

Our Winter Hiking Trips Around Berchtesgaden

We came to Berchtesgadener Land expecting snow and skiing.
We got sunshine, 12 degrees and green hiking trails instead. At first, we were a bit disappointed. But very quickly we realized: winter hiking here is amazing in its own way. And honestly? We loved it.

1. Nationalpark Hintersee → Klausbachtal

This hike was one of the biggest highlights of the entire trip. We started at Hintersee: clear water, surrounding mountains and forest paths.

From there, we walked towards Klausbachtal through the Nationalpark Berchtesgaden. The trail is easy, well marked and perfect for relaxed walking rather than hardcore hiking.

Then it happened: We saw a Steinadler (golden eagle) flying above us. Huge wings. Slow circles. Completely silent.

The Steinadler is not just any bird here — it is the symbol of the Nationalpark Berchtesgaden, often called: Der Steinadler – König der Lüfte (King of the Skies).

Golden eagles became rare in many parts of Europe mainly because of hunting in the past, poisoning, habitat loss and disturbances in breeding areas. For a long time, they were seen as a threat to livestock and were heavily persecuted.

Today, the Nationalpark actively protects their habitats. Monitoring programs and strict conservation rules help stabilize the population.

At the time of our visit, there were only around six breeding pairs living inside the national park. Knowing this made the moment even more special.

We continued walking all the way to the bridge in Klausbachtal and also visited the Rothirsch-Gehege (red deer enclosure). The whole area feels wide, open, and very untouched.

Slow hike. Big nature. Exactly our style.

2. Malerwinkl (North Side of Königssee)

After visiting Königssee by boat, we wanted to experience the area on foot as well. The walk to Malerwinkl runs through forest along the north side of the lake. It’s an easy trail with lots of small viewpoints between the trees.

It’s called “Malerwinkl” (Painter’s Corner) for a reason — the views really do look like paintings.

Perfect for a slow afternoon walk.

3. Ramsau – Soleleitungsweg

This hike was a special mix of cultural atmosphere and scenic walking. We started right in Ramsau to see the small village itself, with its famous church standing beautifully with the mountains in the background. On 24th December, when we were there, we experienced the local tradition of Weihnachtsschießen.

In this tradition, local shooters — often hunters or marksmen from local clubs — fire their rifles nearly at the same time around late afternoon or early evening. Originally meant to chase away evil spirits and bless Christmas, the sound can be quite loud and surprising if you’re not expecting it. For us, it became one of those memorable local moments — very Bavarian, very loud — but definitely unique.

From Ramsau we walked up towards a path above the village and then onto the Soleleitungsweg — a lovely trail that follows an old salt pipeline route with beautiful views of the mountains and valley.

We walked for about two hours and we even passed a goat farm, where Ela was thrilled to say hello to the goats and watch them chewing happily in the winter sun.

4. Märchenpfade Bischofswiesen

This trail is more playful and relaxed, especially nice with kids. Along the path, you’ll find small fairytale scenes and wooden figures, combined with forest walking and mountain views.

It’s not long or demanding, but it’s nice and easy.

Our Local Food and Cultural Moments

Christmas Market Season in Berchtesgaden & Salzburg

We visited the Christmas markets in both Salzburg and Berchtesgaden and enjoyed several Glühweins (for research purposes, of course).

Both markets felt cozy and traditional — lots of wooden stalls, lights everywhere, the smell of roasted almonds, chestnuts and spices in the air. We didn’t chase specific “must-eat” items, but simply walked around, tried whatever looked good, and warmed our hands on hot mugs.

You’ll find classics like Bratwurst, Kaiserschmarrn, Lebkuchen, roasted chestnuts, and different versions of Glühwein (with orange, cinnamon, rum or Amaretto). Nothing fancy, but exactly what you want on a cold evening.

The Windbeutel Moment (aka: Love at First Bite)

One afternoon we visited the café Windbeutelbaron, a place famous for Windbeutel (giant cream puffs).

Windbeutel are a real Alpine classic. You’ll find them in many Bavarian and Austrian mountain huts — usually filled with fresh cream, vanilla cream or ice cream, sometimes with cherries or blueberries and served warm. They’re big, messy and absolutely not diet-friendly.

But I’m not exaggerating when I say: It was the best Windbeutel of my life. If you’re in the region and like sweet things, put Windbeutel on your list.

Buying My First Dirndl

I never owned a dirndl before, but Berchtesgaden has so many beautiful traditional clothing shops that I couldn’t resist going inside “just to look”.

An hour later, I walked out with my first dirndl. It felt like a meaningful souvenir, something connected to the region and its traditions.

Seeing how present traditional clothing still is in everyday life there was really nice. Locals wear Tracht not only for festivals, but also in normal life. It gave us a stronger feeling of how proud people are of their culture.

A very Bavarian memory I’ll always smile about.

Final Thoughts: Would We Go Back? Yes.

Even though it wasn’t the winter holiday we expected, it became a really special trip for us. Our Berchtesgaden trip in December was quiet, sunny, peaceful and full of small magical moments — a rare golden eagle flying above us, echo music on the lake, warm pool nights, Christmas markets and beautiful hikes.

We will definitely come back — hopefully next time with snow or in summer. But honestly… after this trip, we learned that Berchtesgadener Land is wonderful in any season.

Looking for more German adventures? Check out our Germany Slow Travel Hub for more inspiration.

Our Berchtesgaden Trip Map:

To make your planning easier, we’ve put together a custom Google Map of our entire Berchtesgadener Land road trip. It includes our driving routes, the exact hiking trails we took, and pins for our favorite viewpoints and cafes (including that Windbeutel spot!). You can save this map to your own Google Maps app to use during your trip.

📍 Click here to open our Berchtesgaden Road Trip Map in a new window

FAQ: Everything you need to know before traveling to Berchtesgaden and Surrounding