The most beautiful place on earth

Must-dos: a (signposted) walk along the river from the Bahnhof to the Koenigssee takes about an hour if you walk leisurely, followed by sitting and relaxing at the Koeniggssee and a boat trip to St. Bartholemae; views (and a meal in the outside biergarten if the weather is nice) from the Kehlsteinhaus (Hitler's eagle nest).

Quick Tips:

The tourist office is across the street and over the bridge from the Bahnhof--there are TONS of brochures there in English and German about local sights, events, accommodations, etc.

Best Way To Get Around:

This pension isn't well-advertised, and I think it just depends on word-of-mouth. It is a short walk up a hill from the Bahnhof (train station), very convenient to the tourist office, the beginning of the signposted walk to the Koenigssee, and it is only a short walk up a different hill to the "town" or down the main road to the supermarket.

Our room was amazing. At 4€2 a night, we got a bedroom with cable TV, wonderful lighting and lamps, a private bathroom and living room, and a spectacular balcony/view towards the Watzmann. Breakfast was served when we woke up. It consisted of an egg, some meats and cheeses with bread, coffee/tea, and juices.

Heidi Gruesser (the owner who lives downstairs) is SOOOOOO nice and probably speaks enough English for non-German speakers. She prefers email reservations (pension-gruesser@web.de). I will stay there every time I return and hope you will too.

It is a typical German health and wellness spa with different temperature thermal pools, some slides and fun areas for children, and saunas (nudity is expected), but what makes this place neat are the outside cold pools with a view to the Watzmann. We were there when the sun was setting, which was beautiful. Cost is about €15 for 4 hours, including sauna privileges (you get a special bracelet for it).

Go to the kiosk right away to get a ticket--if it is crowded, your entry ticket might be for a later time (tours start every 15 minutes). You will give up your belongings at wardrobe and change into a miner's outfit--pretty goofy. Then, when it is time, you will get on a train that takes you deep into the mountain. Guides speak German, but English and other language information is available from "virtual" tour guides at each stop. The highlights are two long slides, which take you down a couple of stories but are really fun!! The first one has a camera set up halfway down, so smile pretty! And if you like the pic, you can purchase it when you leave.

http://www.salzwelt.de/salzbergwerk-berchtesgaden/en/default.asp

To get to the Kehlsteinhaus by bus (you can only hike it when all of the snow at the peak is gone, which happens in mid- to late summer, if ever), take a city bus (ask someone which one) from the Bahnhof up the mountain. It will drop you off, and you will have to board a special mountain bus to make it the rest of the way. I bought the mountain bus ticket at the Bahnhof before I got on the first bus, but you may be able to buy them once you get halfway up the mountain. The city bus ticket you buy at the Bahnhof, or you ride free if you have a day pass (a super option if you are coming from Salzburg).

Once you get to the Kehlsteinhaus, you have to book your bus back down (but don't worry if you miss it--you can just catch a later one if you decide to stay longer, unless your bus is one of the last ones). Then you take an elevator up to Hitler's house and are free to explore the mountain peak and take lots of pics. There is an outside restaurant serving typical German fare, which would be a great option for people wanting to enjoy the weather and lovely view for a little longer. I admired nature and the lovely mountain atmosphere for about 3 hours before I was ready to leave.

Of course, if the weather is nice and there is no snow, you can hike up the mountain from Berchtesgaden below. Get a good topographical map from the tourist office before and be prepared for several hours of hiking!

If you are interested in the history of Hitler's rulings from Berchtesgaden and the Eagle's Nest, there is a nice museum around the corner from where you board the mountain buses. There is a small admission price, but it is free for students.