salzburg eagles nest tour

• Kehlsteinhaus

The Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest) on Obersalzberg Mountain

The Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest) on Obersalzberg Mountain in Berchtesgaden is located at a height of 1820m above sea level and is a popular day-trip destination. Originally built by the Nazi Party as a suitably representative venue, the architecturally unique building now features a mountain-top restaurant offering a splendid panoramic view of the area.

The Kehlsteinhaus, a.k.a. the Eagle’s Nest, was built under the rule of the National Socialists as a gift for Adolf Hitler to mark his 50th birthday. During the Second World War, the building was used for state occasions and government meetings. No bombs or Allied attacks ever impacted the building, allowing it to survive in its original form, right up until today. Since 1960, the Kehlsteinhaus has housed a mountain restaurant, commanding stunning panoramic view of peaks up to 200 kilometres away.

There is no other road in the world like the one from Obersalzberg to the Kehlstein car park. Although it only has one long bend, the road rises 800m in altitude. Since 1952, the Kehlsteinstraße has been closed to normal road traffic. Ever since that time, a special bus has brought tourists from all over the world up to the Kehlstein car park, where the ongoing journey becomes rather adventurous. A 124-metre tunnel through the solid mountain rock takes guests to a lift, the interior of which is fitted with mirrors and polished brass. In just 41 seconds the lift takes guests up to the interior of the Eagle’s Nest.

The easiest way to experience the Eagle’s Nest is a guided bus tour that starts in the city of Salzburg. Visitors can also enjoy a foot march offering magnificent views of the Bavarian Lake Königssee, this takes approximately 2 housr. Those seeking a more easy-going means of getting back down can continue the journey by bus.

The buses and the lift also transport wheelchairs.

Opening times

The Kehlsteinhaus - Eagles Nest is expected to be open from the beginning of May until the end of October . Only accessible by Kehlstein bus or on foot.

The prices can be found on the official website .

Impressions

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• Private Tours

Experience the Eagle´s Nest

Eagle´s nest skip the line tickets.

The Eagle’s Nest on top of Mount Kehlstein (1,834 m/6,017 ft) is a historical viewpoint high above Berchtesgaden and provides a breathtaking panoramic view over the Bavarian Alps. Originally built by the Nazi Party as a suitably representative venue it is now a cosy mountain-top restaurant. The Eagle’s Nest was built under the rule of the National Socialists as a gift for Adolf Hitler to mark his 50th birthday. The building was used for state occasions and government meetings. During the Second World War it was not attacked or destroyed and therefore it is received in original form right up until today. It‘s one of the few undamaged monuments of the Hitler era. Since 1960 the Kehlsteinhaus houses a mountain restaurant .

Book Eagle's Nest Tour

This historic survivor of the Third Reich can be reached by taking a special bus or by a three hours foot march offering magnificent sweeping views of the Bavarian Lake Königssee. The road to the Eagle’s Nest , called Kehlsteinstrasse, is a very steep drive with a maximum gradient of 24%. It’s one of the highest mountain roads in Austria and with regard to the construction design there is no other road in the world like this. It was blasted out of solid rock, through previously impassable terrain, in only 13 months. A special bus brings you up to the car park where a 124-metre tunnel leads you into the mountain and takes you to an elevator which brings you in just 41 seconds up to the Eagle’s Nest. The Kehlsteinhaus / Eagle’s Nest is open from the middle of May to the end of October. During this season you can book our  Eagle's Nest Tour .  

Get an overview of all the possibilities to visit the Eagle´s Nest with Skip the line Best Price Tickets:

Eagle's Nest Tours

Eagle's Nest Bus Tour - Tour 4

Join us on this spectacular Eagle’s Nest Tour and enjoy the spectacular view of Berchtesgaden.

Eagle's Nest - Private Half-Day Tour

Join us on this spectacular private tour to the Eagle’s Nest and the Bavarian Alps

Berchtesgaden - Private Full-Day Tour

Explore the Eagle's Nest, Kings Lake and the Salt Mine Berchtesgaden

FREE WALKING TOURS IN SALZBURG — click here!

How to get to Hitler’s Eagles Nest from Salzburg by Public Transport

Hitler had his summer residence in Berchtesgaden, just across the border from Salzburg, in Bavaria 15 years before the war began. Almost all the buildings in that area had been leveled by bombs by the end of the war, but one had survived. The Eagles Nest, built for Hitler’s 50th birthday, was spared since it is located on Mount Kehlstein, a sharp rock that was hard to hit. Nowadays, the Eagles Nest and the surrounding area of Berchtesgaden is one of the three best day trips from Salzburg .

Can you visit the Eagles Nest without a tour from Salzburg? The answer is yes. Despite being in a remote location, the Eagles Nest is surprisingly easy to reach. In this article, I will tell you how to get to the Eagles Nest from Salzburg by public transport in 5 easy steps.

To get to Hitler’s Eagles Nest from Salzburg you take bus 840 from the train station in Salzburg to Berchtesgaden in Bavaria. When getting on the bus, you can get a day ticket from the bus driver. The day ticket also includes transportation on bus 841, from Berchtesgaden to the Documentation Center of the Eagles Nest. From the Documentation Center, you take the shuttle bus to the Eagles Nest, where you take the golden elevator to the top of the mountain.

Where is Hitler’s Eagles Nest?

Hitlers Eagles Nest is located in Obersalzburg near the town of Berchtesgaden in Germany at an altitude of 1834 meters above sea level. The Bavarian town of Berchtesgaden is located just across the border from Salzburg. The distance from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden is only 25 kilometers. Berchtesgaden can be reached by public transport from Salzburg within 50 minutes. Let me tell you how!

When is the Eagles Nest open?

Eagles Nest is usually open between May and October, but the exact date depends on the weather. The Eagles Nest is located at an altitude that makes it impossible and dangerous to reach if the weather is not right and there is still snow on the mountain. For updated information, please refer to the Kehlsteinhaus website .

In case the Eagles Nest is still officially closed, you might want to check this hike . These hiking tours are organized by my friend Claudio, who specializes in the Eagles Nest, and sometimes they are on before the season officially starts.

Since the weather is unpredictable during the offseason, hiking the Eagles Nest on your own would be dangerous, but Claudio knows all the ins and outs of the Eagles Nest. If the weather conditions are stable, you might still want to consider his organized tour, but you can also hike the Eagles Nest on your own .

How much does it cost to go to the Eagle’s Nest?

Getting to the Eagles Nest from Salzburg used to be one of the less expensive day trips because of the day ticket for the “Watzmann Express”, the public buses between Salzburg, Berchtesgaden, and the Eagles Nest Documentation center. You can take the bus 840 and 838 from Salzburg to the Eagles Nest documentation center and back to Salzburg for only €11,-, but you will need a shuttle bus from the documentation center (unless you are fit and willing to hike for 6 hours).

The return ticket for the shuttle bus used to be €16,60 but the price has been increased and is in 2022 as much as €28,-. Therefore, in 2022 it’s €39,- to get to the Eagles Nest from Salzburg by Public Transport.

The Eagles Nest doesn’t have an entrance fee. The fee for the Eagles Nest is the fare for the shuttle bus but there is also nothing inside the building except the building itself, which is now a restaurant.

How to spend less money on your Eagles Nest Trip

If you have a limited budget , you may want to pack your own lunch since the only food options are the restaurants at the Documentation Center and the Eagles Nest. The food at these restaurants is generally good but the prices are tourist prices.

Since the Eagles Nest itself doesn’t have an entrance fee, you can drastically reduce the cost of your trip to the Eagles Nest by embarking on a 6-hour hike instead of taking the shuttle bus from Salzburg. The hike is easy but long. Hiking the Eagles Nest doesn’t only reduce the cost of your trip to the Eagles Nest but also makes it endlessly more adventurous. Here is a detailed guide on how to hike the Eagles Nest.

How much does it cost to go to the Eagles Nest from Salzburg with a Guided Tour?

Together with the price for the shuttle bus, the price for tours to the Eagles Nest from Salzburg increased. In 2022 the Eagles Nest tours organized by Panorama tours are now €75,- which is expensive. A tour is not required but since you already pay €39,- for public transport from Salzburg to the Eagles Nest, a tour might be worth the extra comfort and guidance.

The tours are especially worth considering if you would like to visit the Eagles Nest together with the salt mines and/or Königssee since that couldn’t be achieved by public transport from Salzburg. If you are looking into visiting all these places have a look at the supersaver tours.

How to visit the Eagles Nest without a tour?

Here are 5 easy steps to get to the Eagles Nest from Salzburg by bus:

Step 1: Take bus 840 from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden

The first step on your day trip from Salzburg to the Eagles Nest is taking a bus. The bus from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden, bus 840, departs from the bus stop in front of the train station in Salzburg; however, it leaves from stall J, not where all the other buses stop. Stall J is located across the street from Mc Donald’s, next to the Akakiko restaurant.

Bus stop for bus 840 on Google Maps

Bus 840 takes you to the town of Berchtesgaden in 50 minutes. Alternative to the train station, you could also catch bus 840 from Mirabell square or from the Rathaus bus stop which is closer to the old town and, therefore, also closer to many of the accommodation options in Salzburg.

Make sure to bring your Identity Card since you are going to cross an international border into Germany. There are no border controls but you should still carry your passport.

You ask the bus driver for a day ticket when you board the bus. The price for a day ticket for bus 840 is about €11,- in 2022. In addition to bus 840, the day ticket includes bus number 838, the bus you’ll need to take on your way to get to the Eagles Nest from Salzburg and also bus 841 which would take you to Königssee, another great day trip destination and one of the best things to do in Berchtesgaden.

You take bus 840 until the last stop, until the train station in Berchtesgaden.

You could also take the train from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden but in most cases, that’s the less convenient option. For more detailed information on how to get to Berchtesgaden from Salzburg, read this article .

NOTICE: Bus 840 would, in theory, be included in the Bayern ticket but in practice, you can’t use the Bayern Ticket to get to the Eagles Nest from Salzburg by bus because (other than when traveling from Bavaria into Salzburg by train) most stops on bus 840 are in Austria.

Step 2: Take bus 838 from Berchtesgaden to the Documentation Center

The next step on your way to the Eagles Nest from Berchtesgaden is bus 838 to the Documentation Center. Bus 838 leaves from the same place where bus 840 dropped you off. It usually leaves shortly after the bus from Salzburg arrives.

Remember, you don’t need a bus ticket if you got the day ticket from the bus driver.

Bus 838 takes you to the Documentation Center on Obersalzberg in about 15 minutes. The Documentation Center is where you need to change to one of the Eagles Nest shuttle bus buses. 

Step 3: Visit the Documentation Center at Obersalzberg

Even if you are only remotely interested in history, you should visit the Documentation center before taking the shuttle bus to the Eagles Nest. At the Eagles Nest, there is the only restaurant, no documentation, and the only historic artifact is a furnace for heating. The furnace was too large for allied forces to take away.

The Documentation center had lots of historic material, a movie with eyewitness accounts of people who lived in the area during WW2 as well as parts of the bunkers that were under the Berghof and could be visited. The entrance fee for the Documentation center is a few euros and totally worth it.

As of the time of writing this article in 2022, the Documentation center on Obersalzberg is under reconstruction. Once it’s finished, I will have to revisit and update this article.

Step 4: Take the Shuttle Bus to the Eagles Nest Bus Parking

At the documentation center, there is a huge parking lot where everyone flocks to the shuttle bus ticket counters and parking. The shuttle bus is called bus 849. Bus 849 looks like a normal public bus but it isn’t. Except for the 3-hour (one-way) hike, Bus 849 is the only way to reach the Eagles Nest. The tickets for bus 849, the shuttle bus to the Eagles Nest, are priced accordingly and not included in the day pass.

The price used to be €16,60, but the return ticket costs €28,- for an adult in 2022, which is overpriced, thus making a day trip to the Eagles Nest from Salzburg expensive. There is, however, no entrance fee to the Eagles Nest. The Eagles Nest is a restaurant.

Summers can be very busy at Eagles Nest and queues for shuttle buses can be long at the ticket counters. That’s one benefit of taking a guided tour. Tour companies have a way of fast-tracking the ticket purchase but even on an organized tour, the shuttle bus will be the same as when visiting the Eagles Nest on your own.

You board the bus and take a 20-minute drive along the edge of the cliff to reach the Eagles Nest parking lot. I have a friend who never visited the Eagles Nest because she is scared of heights and scared of the bus driving on the narrow road with the mountain on one side and the abyss on the other. I find the shuttle bus ride exciting.

Step 5: Take Hitler’s golden elevator into the Eagles Nest

As soon as you reach the Eagles Nest Parking, you head to the information booth to reserve your time slot for the ride back. Otherwise, you might have to wait a long time when you come down from the Eagles Nest since everyone else has reserved their tickets and the shuttles are full.

When your reservation for the ride back is made, you head into the 126-meter long tunnel lined with marble that leads to Hitler’s elevator. The shuttle bus ticket includes a ride on the polished solid brass elevator with Venetian mirrors.

If you hike to the Eagles Nest, you are not allowed to ride the elevator and must hike for another half hour to reach the Eagles Nest from the parking lot. You should, however, at least give it a shot. In the low season when the elevator operator had time to check all the tickets, I was once not allowed on the elevator. However, in high season, there are so many people in the elevator that it would be impossible to check all tickets. Even if you hike, therefore, don’t have a shuttle bus ticket and are rejected at the elevator, you will be rejected in the elevator and have to hike but at least you saw the elevator from the inside.

How to visit the Eagles Nest with a tour?

Visiting the Eagles Nest with an organized tour from Salzburg is of course more convenient and efficient than going on your own. While a tour is not necessary, it allows you to visit the Eagles Nest in half a day, combine it with one more destination in Berchtesgaden like for example the salt mines and Königssee, and saves you from doing any research or waiting in any cues at all.

The biggest tour company in Salzburg is Salzburg Panorama Tours. They offer public tours as well as private tours to the Eagles Nest. A private tour is worth considering if you are a group of people but if you are traveling alone, you might want to hop on one of their public Eagles Nest Tours.

The 3 Best Day Trips from Salzburg: to Hallstatt or not to Hallstatt

More Questions & Answers

What can you see at the eagles nest.

The Eagles Nest is a historic site, but there is not much to see there in terms of history, other than the building and an old wood furnace from the Nazi era. This is because the building was looted when it was taken by the allies. Today, Eagles Nest is a restaurant serving traditional Bavarian cuisine. The Eagles Nest does not charge an entrance fee, but you can buy books and other souvenirs inside. The main fee you pay to get to the Eagles Nest from Salzburg is the fee for the shuttle bus. If you would like to know about the history of the Eagles Nest, read this article instead.

Is the Eagles Nest worth visiting?

Yes, the Eagles Nest is definitely worth visiting. The area of Berchtesgaden is one of my personal favorite day trip destinations from Salzburg and the Eagles Nest besides Königssee is one of the best things to do in Berchtesgaden. The Eagles Nest is not only worth visiting for its historic significance and not as a museum (since there is no documentation on top) but more for the nature surrounding it and for the Panoramic views of the Bavarian mountains.

Can you hike the Eagles Nest?

Yes, you can absolutely hike the Eagles Nest. If you are physically fit and like hiking it’s a great idea to hike to the Eagles Nest. To do so, you would still take the 840 and the 838 bus to Obersalzberg from Salzburg but then hike from the Documentation Center instead of taking the shuttle bus. That also reduces your cost to only €11,- to get to the Eagles Nest from Salzburg. The hike is not scenic but leads you on pleasant forest roads to the Eagle’s Nest. To get a better idea of the Eagles Nest hike, read this article on the Free Walking Tour Blog .

How to get to the Eagles Nest by car?

You can not drive all the way to the Eagles Nest from Salzburg. If you are traveling by car, you can drive to the shuttle bus parking at the Documentation center but from there you also have to take the shuttle bus or hike. Only the shuttle buses are allowed on the private road to the Eagles Nest.

Can you take a train from Salzburg to the Eagles Nest?

Yes, you could also take the train to the Eagles Nest from Salzburg but in most cases, there are no benefits of doing so. The main benefit would be, that the trains run later in the day. For more details, please read this article on how to get to Berchtesgaden from Salzburg by public transport .

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Eagle's Nest Tour

Adults 90.00€ | Children 60.00€

Visit the Eagle’s Nest ( Kehlstein House) with our guided tour and learn more about the historical details.

Experience spectacular views of the Alps on this tour to the Eagle’s Nest .

From Salzburg, drive into neighbouring Bavaria directly to Obersalzberg. From Obersalzberg, we change to a special bus and drive up the 6.5 km road to the Kehlsteinhaus. Once you arrive at the upper car park, a 124 m long tunnel leads you into the mountain. Once inside the mountain, the lift takes you directly into the Kehlsteinhaus in less than a minute. In times past, it was used as a diplomatic house for Hitler's guests. Enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of the Salzach Valley and the Berchtesgadener Land from here and learn more about the history of this house.

This guided Tour is available in English and German ! (Tour may be guided multilingually)

Please meet us at Mirabellplatz 2, 5020 Salzburg (Panorama Tours Bus Terminal) some minutes before the tour starts and show your ticket to our staff.

• Excursion through the Bavarian Alps with a visit of the Eagle’s Nest
• Deutsch, English
• May - October

Mirabellplatz / Ecke Hubert-Sattler-Gasse 1 , 5020   Vienna

An Escape to the Eagle’s Nest: Hitler’s Secluded Mountain Retreat

Last Updated: November 18, 2023

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For many World War II buffs, a visit to the Eagle’s Nest in Germany (or  Kehlsteinahus in German) is not  just  a check off the bucket list, it’s the dream trip of a lifetime.

Perched up in the clouds on the Kehlstein peak of Berchtesgaden National Park, this mysterious house, once a private meeting place for members of the Nazi Party, is one of the few remaining monuments that stand undestroyed as a legacy of Hitler’s reign.

It’s known by Americans as the Eagle’s Nest. Otherwise, it’s known best as the  Kehlsteinhaus or, as written in some imaginative guidebooks, “Hitler’s teahouse”.

Today, the Eagle’s Nest is a top attraction for those visiting Berchtesgaden National Park… and of course, I had to see it for myself.

Save this guide to visiting Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden for later!

You’ll be very glad you did.

It’s a little odd to think this once peaceful retreat for Hitler is now the trampling grounds for thousands of tourists daily, all slurping beer and wolfing down hearty Bavarian calories on the same scenic terraces where he’d planned some of the worst ever crimes against humanity.

Nonetheless, it’s a fascinating visit in a stunning natural setting, and I highly recommend it as a must-do in Berchtesgaden!

So, are you planning your own visit to the famous Eagle’s Nest? This guide will go into detail about everything you need to know about visiting Eagle’s Nest without a tour, how to get Eagle’s Nest “tickets”, along with a full story on how my visit went, and the lessons I learned along the way.

Eagle’s Nest Hotel Options

First – if you’re planning to stay overnight in Berchtesgaden, I’d advise you book your accommodations a soon as possible.

This is a very popular area for both domestic and international tourists, and there aren’t that many hotels so prices get really crazy in peak season. I’ve previously stayed in this Berchtesgaden hotel and loved it, but it’s not that close to the Eagle’s Nest.

Here are three hotels VERY close to the departure point for all the buses up to the Eagle’s Nest.

Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden ***** – A 5 star hotel a 5 minute walk from the Eagle’s Nest bus stop. Chalet chic furnishings, indoor/outdoor pools and professional staff/service. Click here to check reviews and availability.

Hotel Bavaria – A charming, affordable, and centrally located hotel within walking distance to the main Berchtesgaden town/train station. Most importantly, it’s less than 5 min on foot to a Bus 838 stop which would take you easily to the Eagle’s Nest bus stop. With a buffet breakfast, spa area and cozy homey feel, this is definitely a great base near Eagle’s Nest.  Click here to check reviews and availability.

Hotel zum Türken – A historic alpine hotel furnished in 50s/60s style with splendid views and a perfect surprise for history buffs: underground bunkers that once connected to Hitler’s Berghof residence next door. The Berghof no longer exists (it was destroyed by bombs), but staying at this hotel is as close as you can get.

What is the Eagle’s Nest?

Known among the German-speaking world as the Kehlsteinhaus,  the Eagle’s Nest is an iconic mountaintop retreat in the Obersalzburg that was built in 1938 for Adolf Hitler.

Today it’s one of the most scenic beer gardens in Germany (yes, it’s a beer garden/restaurant now!) as well as a buzzing tourist site accessible to the public from mid-May to mid-October.

While many sources claim that the Eagle’s Nest was a 50th birthday gift to Hitler from prominent Nazi official Martin Bormann, the attraction’s  official website refutes these claims.

Rather, no grand justification was needed to build this impossible retreat besides the fact that they wanted to.

In fact, many consider the retreat to have been more a symbol of absolute power, the crown jewel of the Nazi empire, rather than a practical getaway.

After all, it’s built on one of the steepest roads in Germany, a feat which required 3800 workers working around the clock for 18 months, pressing on even during harsh winter conditions like actual avalanches and rockfalls.

Add on a lengthy mountain-carved tunnel and a shiny brass-coated elevator, and you see it was all the definition of unnecessary.

Nonetheless, the Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden has actually been open for tourism since 1952, which is when the mountaintop restaurant opened, and remains open today for all the curious visitors who want to see it for themselves… hands down, it’s one of the most interesting things you can do in Germany.

Where is the Eagle’s Nest?

Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest location is the Kehlstein peak in Berchtesgaden National Park (hence the German name, Kehlsteinhaus ).

While it’s pretty much hugging the border of Austria, it’s technically part of Germany’s state of Bavaria nearby other touristic sights such as the Berchtesgaden Old Town and Königssee.

That didn’t stop me from getting a “Welcome to Austria!” text from my phone company when I reached the top though!

Hitler at the Eagle’s Nest

Visitors are perhaps most intrigued by the connection between the Eagle’s Nest & Adolf Hitler. A few things need to be made clear about Hitler’s relationship with it though:

First – Hitler didn’t ever sleep at the Eagle’s Nest, rather, his actual vacation home was at the Berghof farther down the mountain, which was heavily bombed around the time of Hitler’s suicide, and completely destroyed by explosives in 1952 by the Bavarian government.

Second – while in theory, the Eagle’s Nest was meant to be where Hitler hosted and entertained special guests of state/other influential figures, rumour has it that Hitler didn’t actually like going up there too much thanks to his vertigo.

This might explain why there are only about a dozen documented visits to the Eagle’s Nest from Hitler, and only a few known visits from high-ranking guests of state (including Italian princess Maria-José and Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano).

Don’t worry though – Hitler may not have used it much, but it was put to good use by many other high ranking Nazi leaders, who apparently treated the Eagle’s Nest as their own private party house, including Eva Braun’s sister Margarete who got married here in 1944 to Hermann Fegelein, a high ranking SS officer.

So why is the Eagle’s Nest such a big deal?

You might be wondering then… if Hitler didn’t spend that much time at the Eagle’s Nest, and the property didn’t actually host that many heads of state, then why is it such a popular place to visit?

Well, two reasons: Firstly, it’s pretty much the only surviving Nazi building in Obersalzburg, outlasting dozens of others that were destroyed during/after the war, including Hitler’s Berghof residence down the mountain.

And secondly, 2) the taking of Eagle’s Nest was seen as one of THE most symbolic and important captures for the Allies as World War II drew to a close.

It was not only one of the last remaining Nazi strongholds besides Berlin, but Allies saw it as Hitler’s little dreamhouse, where all his most important meetings and plans were hatched.

This made the capture of Eagle’s Nest a massive priority, like the seizure of the Nazi empire’s crown jewel. The eventual capture of Eagle’s Nest therefore became this big symbol of the Allies’ victory, one that has been cemented in our minds thanks to popular films and television like Band of Brothers.

The Capture of Eagle’s Nest and the Most Expensive Booze Binge in History?

One last thing: shortly after Hitler’s suicide, French and American troops raided the Eagle’s Nest, Berghof and its surroundings.

Their most precious discovery? A bunker full of hundreds of thousands of bottles of expensive wine and liquors – Hitler’s private collection.

And according to the book Wine & War , although German troops had bombed the elevator when they left (meaning no easy way to transport all that world class booze), resourceful soldiers relied on medical stretchers to transport their precious cargo.

The subsequent liquor binge that occurred is often billed as (probably) the most expensive boozefest in history. Whether that’s true or not, it’s an incredible story.

You can even see some glorious photos of troops enjoying the wine here .

How to Reach the Eagle’s Nest

While visiting the Eagle’s Nest is a popular activity of choice for those staying in the Berchtesgaden National Park, it is also do-able as a day trip from both Salzburg and Munich. Here’s how.

Salzburg to Eagle’s Nest

Salzburg is a very common base for a day trip to the Eagle’s Nest.

You can get to the Berchtesgaden HBF in less than an hour, and have the entire day to enjoy the area! Here are some options if you’re planning your own Salzburg to Eagle’s Nest trip.

OPTION A: Book a Salzburg to Eagle’s Nest Tour

The easiest and simplest option would of course be to book a tour.

While there are options for public transportation, sometimes the ease of mind of having a guide with you to help navigate is priceless, and I would argue this is one of those cases.

Click here to browse prices and reviews for Salzburg to Eagle’s Nest Tours

OPTION B: Go from Salzburg to the Eagle’s Nest with Public Transportation

To get to the Eagle’s Nest from Salzburg, there are basically three “steps”:

STEP ONE: Get from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden HBF. The most common way to do this is taking Bus 840, AKA the Watzmann-Express, which leaves once an hour and takes about 50 minutes to get to Berchtesgaden HBF.

STEP TWO: Get from Berchtesgaden HBF to the Eagle’s Nest Bus Stop (Kehlstein Busabfahrt), near the Obersalzburg Documentation Center.

You can either take the local bus 838 which leaves once an hour and takes 15 minutes to get there OR if the times don’t match up, catch a quick 7 minute taxi ride that will cost about 12 euros.

STEP THREE: Take the bus from Eagle’s Nest Bus Stop (Kehlstein Busabfahrt) up to the actual Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus).

This trip is NOT covered by the Bayern Ticket.

The first bus up is at 7:40am and the last bus down is at 4pm. Click here for more info.   

This is the only way to get up there besides a gruelling hike, and trust me, as soon as the bus starts moving up the mountain, you’ll be very glad you paid for the bus!

STEP FOUR: Once you disembark the bus, make sure to reserve your return time at the ticket window.

Then, head into the tunnel and take the elevator up to the Eagle’s Nest (or hike up for 30 minutes).

STEP FIVE: Yay! You’ve made it. Enjoy the views and the beer, my friend.

Munich to Eagle’s Nest

A day trip from Munich to the Eagle’s Nest is doable, but be warned that it will be a veryyyy long day. For a detailed step by step, you can read my full day trip guide from Munich to Eagle’s Nest.

I’ve done it independently on public transport myself, and while I’m still alive (and admit it was a super worthwhile trip), I was exhausted!

If you’re travelling with kids or a big family, I’d look into booking a tour so it’s a more relaxed day. Regardless though, here are your options.

OPTION A: Take an Eagle’s Nest Tour from Munich

There are many Eagle’s Nest Tours from Munich that you can take advantage of, so if you are visiting on one of the days where the tour is running, I recommend you go with this option.

While public transport might be marginally cheaper, there are so many transfers involved that the stress isn’t worth it, especially if you’re not well acquainted with the German language/train system.

This tour for instance is less than 60 euros, a bargain when you consider that a comfy coach ride is involved, rather than 2 train/bus transfers).

Here is a table with some other Munich to Eagle’s Nest tour options:

OPTION B: Go from Munich to Eagle’s Nest by Public Transport

To get to the Eagle’s Nest from Munich, there are basically three “steps”:

STEP ONE: Get from Munich to Berchtesgaden HBF.

There are no direct trains, so you’ll be transferring in Freilassing.

This trip is offered once an hour and takes about 2.5 hours total to reach Berchtesgaden HBF. (The cheapest way to do this as a day trip would probably be to purchase a Bayern ticket which covers your transportation all day on regional transport in Bavaria).

STEP TWO: Get from Berchtesgaden HBF to the Eagle’s Nest Bus Stop (Kehlstein Busabfahrt), near the Obersalzburg Documentation Center.

STEP FOUR: Once you disembark the bus, make sure to reserve your return time at the ticket window. Then, head into the tunnel and take the elevator up to the Eagle’s Nest (or hike up for 30 minutes).

Important Must-Knows Before You Visit Eagle’s Nest

Alright, so with all that history and context out of the way, let’s talk you through how to see this amazing place for yourself.

I know that thorough information and resources for visiting Eagle’s Nest are quite scarce, so here are some must-knows/tips based on my personal experience visiting in October 2018.

The Eagle’s Nest is only open from mid-May to mid-October (depending on the weather)

People often get confused about the Eagle Nest in Germany’s opening times. Contrary to popular belief, this is not an attraction that is open year-round.

If you want to visit the Eagle’s Nest for yourself, you should know that it’s only open from mid-May to mid-October.

So, if you’re wondering “Can you visit the Eagle’s Nest in winter time?:” – the answer is no (unless you pursue a dangerous hike!)

To get an update on whether or not the Eagle’s Nest is open, visit the official website’s GERMAN page.

The English site isn’t updated as often and is more vague, but if you scroll down to the bottom of the German page here (use Google translate!), then you’ll find the dates for this year. (Checking the German version of sites is a great general Germany travel tip by the way!)

The Eagle’s Nest is known locally as the Kehlsteinhaus

One important thing to remember if you visit the Eagle’s Nest is this: if you are looking at any official transportation timetables or even using the DB App, you won’t be finding the English name “Eagles Nest” anywhere.

Rather, everything will be using the local German name – Kehlsteinhaus (pronounced Kelsh-tie-n-house).

Many locals don’t know even know it as the Eagle’s Nest, so to make things simpler for you (if you choose to ask for directions or anything), remember that the locally recognized name is Kehlsteinhaus, and not Eagle’s Nest.

The only way up to the Kehlsteinhaus (apart from hiking) is by bus

The long road up to the Eagle’s Nest can only be accessible by the Regionalverkehr Oberbayern (RVO) bus number 849,  which has departures every 25 minutes from the Kehlsteinhaus Bus Stop, very close to the Documentation Center.

Private vehicles aren’t allowed to drive up this long winding road, which means no matter how you get to the Eagle’s Nest Bus Stop (whether by public transportation, car, or private tour) you will ultimately still need to take the RVO 849 up to the actual Eagle’s Nest.

This is a very scenic ride that winds for 7km, rises 800m and passes through 5 tunnels. On the way up, sitting on the right side of the bus will give you scenic views first, but as the bus turns, eventually those on the left side will get the views for a longer period of time.

Note that many private tours often do NOT include the price of this bus ticket in their tour price, so factor that into your costs.

Admission is free, but you must pay for the bus ride up

Visitors often wonder if they need to buy Eagle’s Nest tickets. The answer is kind of complicated.

While it doesn’t cost anything to visit the actual Kehlsteinhaus, again, the bus ride is pretty much mandatory unless you decide to hike (in which case, yes, you’ve totally earned your free admission).

You can also buy one way tickets if you want to hike up, then take the bus down, or vice versa.

UPDATE: While the price was only 16.60 euros for a roundtrip ride when I visited, the official Eagle’s Nest website seems to now list the price at 28 euros for a roundtrip ride without a guest card. That to me is wildly expensive, but it’s possible the increased cost is due to renovation works and lost income during the 2020 season.

There are lockers at the Kehlsteinhaus bus stop

If you are carrying a heavy backpack or something else that you’d rather not lug all the way with you to the Eagle’s Nest, I spotted these small lockers that you can use for only a 1 euro deposit.

You can find them at the Eagle’s Nest bus stop, right by the ticket office. These will definitely not fit any large luggage cases, but definitely smaller backpacks.

There are slightly larger lockers available at the Berchtesgaden HBF as well, which charge a small fee (usually 3 euros for a small locker, 5 euros for a big one for the day).

Nonetheless, I’d recommend you pack light if possible.

Remember to reserve your bus on the way down upon arrival

They’ll remind you of this plenty of times on the bus (plus you can just follow the mob of people), but once you get off the bus, it’s very important that you go up to the ticket window and reserve your ride back down. This is important for crowd control purposes.

How do you reserve your time? All you need to do is strut up to the ticket window, tell the employee which bus you would like to catch down (there’s a timetable at the window), then they will stamp your ticket with that time… and you’re all set!

You are welcome to try to catch an earlier bus, but this will depend on availability and inquiries can be made with the driver.

No reservations are required, but arrive early and expect crowds

Having gone on a weekday in October, I didn’t encounter any line-ups at all apart from when we were waiting for our bus down.

The same can probably NOT be said for peak season, so do prepare for long line-ups and either plan your visit for the early morning (catching the first bus up) or for the late afternoon (catching the last bus down).

The Eagle’s Nest is dog-friendly

If you’re travelling with a dog, don’t worry, the Eagle’s Nest has no problem with your best friend tagging along.

They’re allowed everywhere on site, including the buses and elevator. And no, they don’t cost anything extra!

The Eagle’s Nest bus and elevator are wheelchair accessible, but there are no ramps inside the actual house

All the public RVO buses have ramps and are wheelchair friendly, but once you get to the actual Eagle’s Nest, there aren’t any ramps in the area, which means you’ll be limited to the restaurant.

The sun room and dining room have steps, so guests are advised to bring a companion to help them navigate.

From the parking lot, you either take an elevator up to the Eagle’s Nest or you can hike

The RVO Bus 849 drops you off at the Kehlsteinhaus parking lot, and from here, you’ll have access to some incredible views. BUT, you’re not quite at the actual Eagle’s Nest yet.

To get to the very top where you find the house, you need to walk through a chilly tunnel and take an elevator 130m up.

Before entering the elevator, you’ll be in the waiting area which is where any visitors (including Hitler himself) would have stood. It’s a pretty eerie feeling, not gonna lie…

Alternatively, the hike up will take about 30 minutes.

It’s a scenic walk with many switchbacks, but it is still steep so I would only go this route if you have proper shoes.

I also think the elevator is a highlight of the visit so I wouldn’t miss it. If you want the best of both worlds, just take the walk down like I did, so you can get all the views with half the work 😉

Remember to dress appropriately – it gets chilly!

Remember, you WILL be on top of a mountain, so depending on the time of year, it’s wise to bring some extra layers.

It’s especially cold during the 100ish metres where you’re walking in the tunnel, although in peak season this might be some welcome respite from the heat.

Also, bring good walking shoes if you intend to explore.

Know that there is not a lot to do once you’re up at the Eagle’s Nest

The main function of the Eagle’s Nest today is it’s a restaurant, so don’t expect a lot of different exhibits and activities. 

There’s a few dining spaces (one which features a fireplace potentially gifted to Hitler from Mussolini) and my favourite part: the sun terrace, which now houses a few displays documenting the history of the Eagle’s Nest.

That’s kind of it. SO, don’t expect a big museum once you get up there, it’s really mainly a restaurant with a few informative plaques, and some scenic viewpoints.

Eagle’s Nest Tours: Are They Worth It?

While it’s not too tough to do the trip yourself following the instructions above, there are (quite frankly) a lot of benefits to doing an Eagle’s Eagle’s Nest Tour vs the DIY route.

This is coming from someone who stubbornly did everything independently, and I’ll tell you why a tour might be a good idea.

For one, the ease of mind you get is priceless.

My friend and I have both been living in Germany for three years but still managed to mess up a little bit and miss our stop, which delayed our trip by about an hour.

It was also kind of stressful trying to coordinate our own transportation for so many legs of the trip (from Munich, we took a 2.5 hour train with one 7 minute connection in the middle, then had to take a taxi to the Eagle’s Nest bus stop, then one last bus from the Eagle’s Nest bus stop to the top).

Had we booked a tour, the day would have probably been way less stressful!

Visiting the Eagle’s Nest Without a Tour: My Experience (2018 Season)

My friend Susanna and I ambitiously decided to tackle the Eagle’s Nest as a long day trip from Munich last October.

It was the last possible week to visit before they closed up for the season, so we got lucky with some crystal clear blue skies, minimal crowds, and the bonus oh ahh-worthy autumn colours.

Armed with a Bayern ticket , we were able to score unlimited regional transport for the both of us for only 32 euros, a huge steal considering how far we were going.

The plan was to take a Meridian train to Freilassing (the stop before the terminus, Salzburg HBF), then transfer there to get to Berchtesgaden HBF and then take public transport from there to the Kehlsteinhaus Bus Stop, at which point we’d catch the bus up to the top.

NOTE: Because the Bayern ticket is only valid from 9am onwards on weekdays, and the train was leaving Munich HBF at 8:56, we found a little loophole! The train actually passes through Munich OST (East) Station at 9:03, so used our regular Munich transport passes to commute to that stop, then hopped on there instead with our (now) valid Bayern ticket.

The journey (including the switch at Freilassing) takes 2.5 hours total. This would have been straightforward except we got lost gossiping and before we knew it, boom – we were in Salzburg.

… The last stop of our train.

Pride shattered, we calmly waited for the train to start up again and go back to Freilassing. This mistake set us back a bit time-wise, but nothing some sassy self-loathing couldn’t fix.

That’s the beauty of the Bayern ticket – unlimited rides means you’re covered for silly mistakes like these.

This short stumble later, we soon found ourselves at Berchtesgaden HBF. We immediately saw this sign for taxi prices, which was our Plan B if we didn’t catch the public bus (included in our Bayern tickets) to get to the Kehlstein bus stop.

We checked the timetable at the bus bay outside, and realized we’d have to wait about half an hour for the bus… or we could just splurge a little and get a 7 minute taxi. So we did!

The taxi dropped us off at the Kehlsteinhaus Busbahnhof, AKA the Eagle’s Nest Bus Station, where everyone (guided tours, DIYers, etc.) MUST catch a bus up to the Eagle’s Nest.

We bought roundtrip tickets for 16.60 (a little steep, yes, but not as steep as that MOUNTAIN you’re paying to not walk up). We loaded onto one of the buses waiting and we started moving almost immediately after.

The drive up was ridiculously scenic, and we almost immediately realized how horrible it would have been to hike this thing.

The roads are SO STEEP and the only way up is either taking the bus or hiking. I’m glad we opted for the former.

Along the way, there’s a bit of generic commentary about the attraction in both English and German. We went through a few tunnels, and because the roads were winding, both sides of the bus got nice views while driving up.

Soon we were dropped off and reminded to go to the ticket office to reserve a time for our bus back down.

This didn’t cost any extra – I think it’s just to make sure there’s enough space on each bus for people to get down.

We took some photos at this viewpoint, but the real attraction was waiting an elevator ride away…

To access the Eagle’s Nest, you have two options: a 130m elevator ride up, or a 30 minute hike.

We opted to get the best and laziest of both worlds – riding the elevator up then hiking down.

The tunnel leading to the elevator was FREEZING, and no photos of the elevator itself were allowed (it’s brass!) but it felt eerie knowing I was standing where Hitler had stood decades ago, along with all his visitors and other Nazi officials…

The elevator was unexpectedly beautiful and luxurious, with mirrored brass plating all around, and even a folded-up emerald green seat.

It’s a bit claustrophobic because of all the people they try to cram in at once, but nonetheless, stepping in is like being warped into a time machine.

And of course, upon exiting and turning into the beer garden, this was the kind of view awaiting us:

While we weren’t equipped to do any real hiking, we did have a walk around to get a better vantage point over the Eagle’s Nest and the surrounding mountains. Pretty jawdropping stuff.

And while the Eagle’s Nest may be one of the biggest attractions in the area, truth be told, there’s not a lot to do once you get to the top.

We admired the views and hiked a tiny bit just to see around, then headed into the building to explore.

If you’ve always dreamt of seeing Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest inside, I want to set your expectations straight.

Hitler didn’t actually ever spend the night here, and it’s a pretty small space that you can walk through in about 30 minutes… so don’t expect anything grand!

The former dining area has now taken on new life as additional seating for the restaurant.

Most notable here is the fireplace, decked out in Italian marble.

Some guides say this marble was gifted to Hitler by Mussolini but it’s unclear where this story stems from.

See how chipped it is? This is presumably from soldiers who wanted some marble souvenirs…

There’s also the Sun Terrace which is decked out with 14 new info boards containing historical photos and explanations of the Eagle’s Nest, its use and its construction.

I highly recommend you read each panel – the information they give is fascinating.

After this short jaunt, we had already explored all the available parts of the Eagle’s Nest, so the next order of business was lunch!

We were lucky to snag a table with a view, so I got to inhale my very Bavarian lunch while looking over both Germany and Austria. ‘Not a bad place to over-eat!

And then, after fuelling up, we began the hike back down, which was absurdly scenic and very easy downwards… despite the many switchbacks.

I’d definitely recommend taking the elevator up rather than hiking, because the elevator itself is one of the most interesting parts of the visit.

Hiking downwards is beautiful though, and well worth it if you have the time and energy.

We made it down in time to catch the bus we reserved and even had some extra time to explore Berchtesgaden before heading back to Munich. All in all, a long day, but a great one too.

The Eagle’s Nest/Kuhlsteinhaus Restaurant, Beer Garden and Food Options

If you’re looking for an estimate of the dishes/prices available at the Eagle’s Nest restaurant, here are some photos I took of the menu:

Live Eagle’s Nest Camera

If you’re curious about what it’s like up at the Kehlsteinhaus, or just feel like spying on your fellow tourists, you can access to a live Eagle’s Nest cam here . Just scroll down and click on the “Kehlstein” thumbnail.

Is the Eagle’s nest Open?

Last but not least, if you want the most up-to-date news on whether or not the Eagle’s Nest is actually open, the only source you should trust is the official website here.

Any other questions about the Eagle’s Nest and Kehlsteinhaus?

I hope you enjoyed this thorough guide to visiting the incredible Eagle’s Nest in Germany! Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments below, and have a great trip!

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

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🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

8 thoughts on “An Escape to the Eagle’s Nest: Hitler’s Secluded Mountain Retreat”

First of all, I just have to say “I love your writing” it’s so damn entertaining! I can read your articles for days! (but there is only so many hours in a day!)

Thanks for the Eagle’s Nest guide, I have yet to go to Germany, but this trip will for sure be in my Husband “To DO List”. He loves history

This is amazing. I’m planning a trip to Salzburg & the Eagles Nest in September and this is EXACTLY the kind of guide I was looking for. Thank you so much!

Thank you!! You are the first blog I have seen to actually show how to get to Eagles Nest from Munich by public transport! I really appreciate it!

Glad you found it hopeful, Catherine! Hope you have a nice time at Eagle’s Nest!

I visited the eagles next in 2000, and found the whole experience fascinating. A walk back through time. It was a day I will never forget. It inspired me do some reading about Hitler and Eva Braun. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to visit.

Will be there in June 2020. Very helpful and informative. Thanks.

Planning a trip to Bavaria and Berchtesgarden this summer and the Eagles Nest are one of our priorities. This was great info and now I feel confident we can get there and have a wonderful visit!

Thanks for your blog! We plan a 6 week trip to Italy after I retire and I will definitely be checking into your reviews for planning.

Thank you for your thoughtful insights on visiting Kuhlsteinhaus. The article is extremely helpful for those traveling to learn more about the history of mankind. All the best in your travels!

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DÜRRNBERG SALT MINES and the BAVARIAN ALPS + “EAGLE’S NEST”

Dürrnberg Salt Mine Ship

Dürrnberg Salt mine

Berchtesgaden

Dürrnberg Salt Mine Slide

Dürrnberg Salt Mine Lake

Dürrnberg Salt Mine Colour Show

Salt Mine Wooden Slides

Description

This tour takes you to one of the worlds oldest salt mines accessible for visitors at Dürrnberg mountain. The “white gold” mined there provided almost limitless riches for the prince archbishops manifested until present days in Salzburg’s baroque magnificence. Eagle’s nest is an architectural master piece on the top of a mountain. The road up to there is unique in the world and a milestone in road construction. Indeed, this tour is a package of superlatives. Alternatively the Obersalzberg Ducumentation can be visited.

Important Info

Eagle’s Nest is open from approx. the beginning/middle of May until approx. 20th October (weather depending). The Obersalzberg Docoumentation Centre is open every day (Apr – Oct), Tue – Sun (Nov – March). Closing days 1st Jan, 1st Nov, 24th, 25th, 31st Dec. Salt mines also not suitable for children under approx. 4 years old.

Inclusions:

• Free Salzburg city/hotel pick-up
• Drop off near Mirabell garden
• Knowledgeable chauffeur guides
• Tour flexibility upon request

Exclusions:

• Food and drinks
• Entrance fees where applicable
• Tips for guide (up to you)

Tour schedule & availability

Important Info a) Additional hours if possible upon request. Extra hours Euro 95,00/h b) Some of the tours cross the border Austria/Germany. Please take the passport with you, it could be checked. c) Please inform us in case you want to take a baby with you (necessary for the proper child seat).

“WHITE GOLD” – A FUNNY AND EXCITING JOURNEY BACK IN HISTORY

This tour takes you to one of the world’s oldest salt mines accessible for visitors at Dürrnberg mountain. The “white gold” mined there played a crucial role in the history of Salzburg and far beyond. It provided almost limitless riches for the prince archbishops to fulfil their urbanistic dreams which are manifested until present days in Salzburg’s baroque magnificence.

Donning a traditional miner’s cloths, using a small miner’s train and sliding down smoothly polished wooden slides you will go down level by level and enter not only the mysteries of a world far inside the mountain. You will also travel back in time for ages. A miner will guide you vividly explaining about the history as well as telling exciting legendary tales like the one of the “Man in the Salt”. A highlight will be the raft trip across the subterranean salt lake.

With fun and excitement you will discover the history of the “white gold” hidden for millions of years.

“EAGLE’S NEST + BERCHTESGADEN”

After the salt mines we will cross the Austrian border to Bavaria (Germany). This tour is a package of superlatives.This tour goes to the Bavarian mountanis and Obersalzberg with Eagle’s Nest. The road up to Eagle’s Nest is a milestone in the history of road construction in alpine regions and unique in the world.Via a tunnel you then get to the brass elevator which takes you inside the mountain straight up 124 m in only 42 seconds. At 1834 m (6017 ft) above sea level you will have a breathtaking panoramic view (with fine weather up to 200 km!).

“Eagles Nest” itself is an architectural master piece with some meters thick base walls situated on a ridge on top of the Kehlstein mountain. It was part of the Obersalzberg military complex where Hitler frequently met foreign and domestic officials. Thus it is inseparably linked with World War II and its history. Now it is used as a restaurant.

You can reflect on the beauty and magnificence or the historical importance of all you have seen on the way back through the picturesque countryside. If time allows we even will do a stop at  Berchtesgaden town.

Eagle’s Nest is open from approx. the beginning of May until approx. 20th October (weather depending).

Alternatively Obersalzberg Docoumentation Centre can be visited. A visit to the Documentation Centre is not recommended for children under the age of 12.

Note: Salt Mine and Eagle’s Nest Entrance fees not included.

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ICE CAVES + HOHENWERFEN FORTRESS TOUR from SALZBURG

Dürrnberg Salt Mine + Berchtesgaden and “King’s Lake”

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Hallstatt and Eagle’s Nest Private Tour: Explore with Expert Local Guide

Hallstatt and eagle’s nest: scenic splendors in a day tour, alpine wonders unveiled: a comprehensive private tour of hallstatt and the eagle’s nest.

Commence on a full-day private tour from Salzburg to explore the iconic Eagle’s Nest and UNESCO-listed Hallstatt. Led by a knowledgeable local guide, delve into these stunning Alpine regions, gaining insights into the history of the Eagle’s Nest in the Bavarian Alps and the enchanting Hallstatt region.

Enjoy a refreshing walk along Lake Hallstatt, savor a traditional Austrian lunch (at your expense), and marvel at the breathtaking views from the Eagle’s Nest. Our 9-hour Hallstatt and Eagle’s Nest Private Tour ensures you’ll witness the highlights of the Salzkammergut Lake District and the Bavarian Alps, all while receiving personalized attention from your Local Guide.

Book now for an unforgettable adventure, blending natural beauty, history, and individualized service in the heart of Austria.

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2 options at the checkout: Driver/Guide and Driver plus licensed Guide (€950.00)

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• Admission/bus Eagle’s Nest: € 30,80 p.p.
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How to Hike Hitler’s Eagles Nest in Berchtesgaden, Germany?

Explorer’s note: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a booking through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep providing tours and top-notch travel advice.

The eagle’s nest is located in my favorite area for day trips from Salzburg. Most people visiting the eagle’s nest, stay in Salzburg, and do the eagle nest as a day trip. The eagle’s nest is only 30 kilometers from Salzburg, and public transport is convenient. You take two public buses, and then a shuttle bus takes you up to the Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus).

In this article, I will explain the reasons to hike instead of taking the shuttle bus and how to hike the Eagles Nest (Kehlsteinhaus).

How Hard is the Eagles Nest Hike?

The technical difficulty of the hike to the Eagle nest is easy. The path is a forest road, and you would be fine to wear sneakers or whatever you want to wear. However, the hike takes 2-3 hours, and you will need the stamina to finish the walk.

The signs at the documentation center point out that the hike will take you 4 hours. I believe that’s because they want you to pay for the shuttle bus. The hike would never take you 4 hours. The trail is 4,5 kilometers long, and you climb about 800 meters of altitude. The climb is slow but steady. No steep passages. The last time, reaching the eagle’s nest took us 2 hours, and we are slow walkers and not fit. The maximum duration would be 3 hours, but most likely, you will reach Kehlsteinhaus in less than 3 hours.

Can I hike the eagle’s nest in winter?

You can’t hike the eagle’s nest in winter. In recent years the weather was unpredictable. Winter started late and ended late. In 2019 the eagle’s nest was still closed until the end of May, but that’s unusual. As a rule, I wouldn’t recommend hiking the eagle’s nest on your own if the shuttle bus is not running. If the shuttle bus is not running, it means that the temperature is already too cold and that there is snow. The eagle’s nest is on 1834 m above sea level, and it would be dangerous to hike up in bad conditions. To find out if the Eagle’s Nest is open, check the  website .

Can you hike the eagles Nest when the weather is bad?

When there is rain in summer, you could still hike the Eagles. I would, however, not recommend a hike in the rain. Not because it’s uncomfortable but because the hike is not that spectacular, and you can’t see anything from the Eagle’s Nest when the weather is bad. The Eagle’s Nest is a restaurant. There is nothing to do except for enjoying the view and eating. In fact, the view is the best part of the visit, and you won’t have a view in bad weather. Therefore I wouldn’t recommend the eagle’s nest by shuttle bus in the rain either.

How much it costs to go to the eagles nest from Salzburg?

Public transport to the Documentation Center of the Eagle’s Nest on Obersalzberg in Germany is cheap and easy. Your journey comprises three parts. For the first part, you buy a bus ticket for bus 840, which is €11,80 and includes bus 840, 841 and 838 so with this day-ticket you are good to take the second part of your journey. You could even go to Kingslake with the same ticket.

Not included in the day ticket is the third part of your journey, the bus from the documentation center on Obersalzberg to the eagle’s nest. The price for the shuttle bus is €16,60 for a return ticket, while a one-way ticket down is €11,60. The hike won’t save you a lot of money. 

Let me explain why I would still prefer hiking to Kehlsteinhaus instead of taking the shuttle.

My Reason to hike the eagle’s nest instead of taking the Shuttle Bus

I recommend hiking the eagle’s nest because most people take the shuttle bus. The hike is not spectacular, but its pristine nature and compared to the crowds at the restaurant on top, the hiking trail is off the beaten path.

If you take public transport from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden and the documentation center and then the shuttle bus to the eagle’s nest, you will be in a crowd from the beginning to the end of your journey.

The Eagles Nest hike is not spectacular, but hiking will offer you an off the beaten path experience. The eagle’s nest gets crowded, and most people take the bus. Buses are always full, that’s why you have to reserve your ride an hour in advance. The eagle’s nest is a restaurant nowadays, and there is nothing else to see or do. Kehlsteinhaus (eagles nest) is always crowded, which makes sense because it’s beautiful and worth the visit. Your arrival, however, will be different if you hiked up and experienced the empty forest paths and untouched nature before getting to the place where everyone’s at.

I love the two hours of loneliness before joining the crowd at the Kehlsteinhaus.

If you don’t have time, don’t enjoy hiking, or if you are not fit enough, the shuttle bus is great. If, however, you consider hiking a possibility, stick with me here, and I will guide you every step along the way.

Furthermore, I would recommend the hike because you already spend the day in the area. A visit to Kingslake the same day would be possible but not without time pressure. So why not make the most out of your Eagle’s Nest experience and take the time to hike to the Eagle’s Nest and take the Shuttle bus down or hike both ways.

Should you hike up and down?

To take the shuttle bus down instead of both ways only saves you €5,-. If you want to save the entire €16,60, which would make your trip to the eagles nest incredibly cheap (you would in total only pay €11,80 for the public bus), you would have to hike up and down. That’s if you have the endurance to hike 4-6 hours. If you enjoy hiking and if the conditions are good enough, go for it but don’t underestimate the required stamina.

How to go from Salzburg, Austria to Berchtesgaden, Germany

This is the first part of a three-part journey to the Eagle’s Nest. This is where you cross the border from Salzburg in Austria to Berchtesgaden in Germany.

Beware that you cross the German border and need to bring your passport. The city of Salzburg borders Germany, and from the Eagle’s Nest, you can even see the Salzburg fortress in the distance.

To get to Berchtesgaden, you take bus 840 from the train station or Mirabell square. Ask the bus driver for a day ticket, and you will get the ticket to Berchtesgaden. This ticket also includes the second part of your journey, the bus from Berchtesgaden to the documentation center. It would also include the bus from Berchtesgaden to Kingslake but more on that at the end of this article.

How to go from Berchtesgaden, Germany to the Documentation center at Obersalzberg?

You get off the bus at the train station in Berchtesgaden. From there, you take bus 838, which will take you to the documentation center at Obersalzberg. As mentioned before, your day ticket already includes bus 838, so you wait for the next bus and get on. It will take you only 15 minutes to arrive at the Documentation Center. 

If you are considering a hike all the way from Berchtesgaden to the eagle’s nest, I would not recommend it. The way up is not very special, and the day ticket already includes bus 838 to the documentation center. If you want to hike more, look for alternative hikes instead!

The documentation center at Obersalzberg is a must-see

Before you start your adventure to reach the Eagle’s Nest on foot, take a look at the documentation center! It’s behind the parking and only 3 euros. There you will get an idea of what the Eagle’s Nest was in history. The eagle’s nest itself is a restaurant nowadays. There is no documentation on top of the mountain.

The documentation center is a must because Kehlsteinhaus is only a restaurant.

The Documentation center also includes part of the old bunker. It will give you a sense of the insanity of that time. I also recommend the movie played on the first floor.

Hiking from the Documentation center at Obersalzberg to the Eagles Nest (Kehlsteinhaus)

To find the beginning of the hiking trail, you first continue on the street further in the same direction the shuttle buses go. Away from where you came from. No signs point to the trail for the Eagle’s Nest. Again, I believe, because they want you to take the shuttle. Probably it’s another reason why the walk to the Eagles nest is not popular.

When you follow the street, after about 500 meters, you will see a trail leading to the right. That’s the way you follow. You will cross the road a few more times and could also walk along the street in the beginning. You always get back to the hiking path.

I and my friend Christian tried, the last time we hiked to the Eagle’s Nest if it would be possible to follow the street. It’s not. It’s forbidden. If you take the bus down from the mountain, you will understand why.

After the point where walking along the street is forbidden, you will not cross the road anymore. From that point on, it is very straight forward. Along the way, there is one spot where you could go right or left with no signs. Taking a left seems to be fast, but the paths join again soon.

When you reach the platform where the buses stop, you will see a tunnel, the ticket counter, and a sign pointing to the path to walk another 20 minutes to the Kehlsteinhaus. In case you want to take the bus down, buy your ticket now!

Tickets have to be bought at least an hour before, and the buses always fill up. Now you can either take the elevator or keep walking to Kehlsteinhaus. The bus ticket includes the elevator which moves 124 meters in 41 seconds and takes you into the Eagle’s Nest. Congratulations! You reached your goal.

Can I take Hitler’s elevator without the bus ticket?

You are not allowed to take the elevator if you didn’t buy a shuttle bus ticket. However, you can try to sneak in, and it will probably work. Just enter the elevator together with the crowd and expect the guy not to check the ticket. That’s what happened to me every time. There are so many people that it would be impossible to check the tickets, so he doesn’t.

And. If someone checks your ticket, you pretend you didn’t know and take the 10-minute hike instead. You miss nothing by not taking the elevator. If you get rejected because you don’t have a ticket, you were in the elevator already and therefore saw it. Pictures are not allowed anyway, and there is nothing spectacular about the damn thing moving. You won’t even notice.

Should you go to Kingslake after your Visit to the Eagles nest?

Kingslake is gorgeous, and I would recommend a visit to Kingslake. The day ticket you got on bus 840 from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden includes the bus from Berchtesgaden to Kingslake. 

However, when visiting Kingslake, you either have to take a boat to get to the other side, or you have to walk for 1 hour to see the lake. You could make it, but I would rather take it easy and instead stroll through Berchtesgaden before returning to Salzburg. Here is how to visit Lake Königssee instead of the Eagles Nest when taking the day trip to Berchtesgaden.

You also have to be careful about public transport back to Salzburg. Don’t miss the last bus! People often get stuck in Berchtesgaden, and it’s expensive to come back to Salzburg by taxi when the last bus is gone.

If you have the time and the stamina, if the weather is good and you enjoy walking/hiking I recommend walking to the Eagle’s Nest. Read these articles for more information on how to get to the Eagle’s Nest or what to do in Berchtesgaden.

How about tours to the Eagles Nest?

If you would like to visit the eagle’s nest in half a day, I recommend the tours conducted by Panorama Tours. Panorama Tours are the biggest tour company in Salzburg, and they are prepared to take you to the Eagle’s Nest on a half-day tour. By booking your tour via this affiliate link, you, without extra cost, support the free walking tour Salzburg.

If you would like a personal hiking guide for your journey to the Eagle’s Nest, which provides guidance and insider information, I recommend my good friend Claudio. He is the only one who conducts eagles nest hikes with small groups. He guides people from Salzburg by public transport to the Eagle’s nest on top of the mountain.

My name is Gerhard, Founder of Free Walking Tour Salzburg. I am an intrepid traveler myself and understand the passion for adventure that independent travelers feel. I love to interact with travelers, share stories, answer questions, recommend places to eat, and offer ideas of things to see and do.

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Our Sound of Music Tour

Our Sound of Music Tour is offered as a private tour (on request only) and designed exclusively for those who are staying in (or starting in) Berchtesgaden.

This delightful tour combines Salzburg’s history and architecture with the main locations used in the film. This unique tour is conducted by native English speaking Sound of Music authorities who can tell “behind-the-scenes” stories about this film classic.

En route from Berchtesgaden to Salzburg your guide will recount Berchtesgaden’s role in the filming of the Sound of Music and describe the sites that were used in this area.

Once in Austria, the guide will touch upon Salzburg’s fascinating history before making a stop at Hellbrunn Palace where the famous “gazebo” used in the movie is located today. You will drive by Frohenburg Palace (used as the front of the von Trapp home in the film) and stop at Leopoldskron Palace (which portrayed the back of the von Trapp home in the film).

In Salzburg a walking tour (approx. 1 hour) will introduce you to the city’s architectural highlights and numerous filming locations, including:

• Mirabell Gardens (second half of “Do, Re, Mi”)
• Salzburg Cathedral (location of 2 scenes in the film)
• Residence Square (location of 2 scenes in the film)
• Chapter Square (Maria boards a bus)
• St. Peter’s Cemetery (model for escape scene)
• Outside of Felsenreitschule (farewell concert)
• Nonnberg Abbey (4 scenes) (optional for good walkers only)

Following your pleasant stroll through town, you’ll enjoy an hour free time in Salzburg before returning to Berchtesgaden.

On the way back from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden your guide will recount the true story of the von Trapp family and how it was made into a film classic, still so popular today. Songs from the film will be played during the driving tour, setting the tone for a memorable morning.

Price Cost of a private half-day tour starting in Berchtesgaden:

• Parties of 1 – 4 participants: 330 € total per party  for up to 4 hours and 80 € for each additional hour. (Up to 6 passengers possible if 2 children sit in the back row)

The tour begins at 8:30 am at the Berchtesgaden train station (hotel pick-up in Berchtesgaden may be possible by arrangement).

Residence Square

The horse fountain

Leopoldskron Palace and Salzburg’s Fortress

Salzburg’s Marionette Theater

• Booking Information
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• About Eagle’s Nest
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• Sound of Music
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• Albert Speer and Nuremberg Party Rally Grounds
• Hitler’s Eagles Nest: A Statement of Monumentality