K

Message: We will be in the Munich, Fussen and Salzburg areas for a few days in December, but I'd really like to see the alps a bit. Can anyone recommend the best town to do a quick daytrip to from either of these places, to get a good (if brief) taste of the Alps? We will be traveling by train.<BR><BR>

love Germany

to add a question (sorry) - what are the best drives to see this? and the best hikes? (hopefully this will add to your question K, I am not trying to hijack it)

John

K:<BR><BR>Garmish....hands down! Zugspitz! Near Munich and Fussen. For Salzburg I'd say you can head over the pass to Kitzbuhel<BR>JOHN

Ann

The atmosphere and "gemutlichkeit" are definitely best in the Bavarian region around Garmisch (Fussen). Arguably more dirndls and lederhosen, more beige (i.e., Jersey) cows wearing bells, more fests. However, for spectacular Alpine scenery, the area around Berchtesgaden is unbeatable. Do make it a point to see Ramsau, Konigsee, Kehlstein. There is good public transportation in/around B'gaden. Enjoy!

Harzer

Dear K!<BR><BR>Yes, the view of the alps from Garmisch is hard to beta. For a reasonably easy walk in the area, drive to Grainau, SW of Garmisch and do the walk up to the Eibsee lake, which is at the foot of Germany's highest peak the Zugspitze.<BR><BR>Harzer

Steve

Drive the Alpinstrasse, forget the train.<BR><BR>Steve

Bob

If you are in Salzburg you will be looking at the Alps. Watch the 1965 movie SOUND OF MUSIC. That is Salzburg area. The start of the movie along will show you the scenery.<BR><BR>Berchtesgaden is a beautiful area and only a short drive from Salzburg. Trouble is, in the winter the road up to the Keilstein will be closed as will some of the other drives. One poster mentioned the Alpinestrasse. Great idea, but also closed in spots during the snow period as I found out one year.<BR><BR>Garmisch is always great. Go to the top of the Zugspitz by cable car and you will see the Alps all around you. Have a beer for me! <BR><BR>Garmisch is very close to Munich and I am sure they have good public transportation to get you there. We always just rent a car because the driving is easy and this allows my wife to stop and shop.....

jw

Train from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden, no contest. J.

Doug

Absolutely the best way to see things is to rent a car. My favorite two "rides" are:<BR><BR>The Rossfeldstrasse above Berchtesgaden. It's a short toll road across the top of a mountain but it affords views into Austria (Salzberg and Dachstein) as well as Germany. You get great views of Hitler's Teahouse, steep mountainsides and snow-capped mountains. Even in summer, you can find some snow along this road. It's paved, wide and easy to drive. There are lots of spots to stop and enjoy the views. At one point (near the little ski area, there's a little plaque commemorating those killed in WWII. Nearby is a marker dilineating the German and Austrian border. You can take a hokey picture of someone straddling both countries. When you're done, drive down the mountain and head toward Konigsee. Beautiful mountains surround a deep placid alpine lake. Take a boat ride out to the monastery at St. Bartholomew and hike for an hour or two.<BR>Great trout and Weissbier for dinner at one of the many little guesthouses along the lake.<BR><BR>Or start in Garmisch. Take a ride via cogwheel train to the Zugspitz or wait til later and take an exhilirating cable car ride up from the Austrian side. Leave Garmisch and wind your way up towards Oberammergau. A stop for photos of the Abbey in Ettal, then head towards King Ludwig's lodge at Linderhof. After a tour of the grounds head up the twisting mountain road towards Plansee and Reutte (Austria). It is usually deserted along the road. Back in the day, there was a border crossing here. It felt like a James Bond movie or Fredrick Forsythe novel when you were stopped by the bored border guards. They never hassled us, but they were intimidating. Anyhow, the road is lined by thick pine forest. Nothing on the forest floor but pine needles. Very different from our East Coast woods full of weeds and rocks beneath the oaks and birches. The Lake at Plansee seems out of place among the towering mountains. You can either head North from Reutte for an overnight in Fussen followed by a visit to the Royal Castles of Ludwig. Or you can go South to Lermoos. From there you can return back to Garmisch via another interesting mountain road. There are a couple different places along the way that offer cable car rides to the top of the mountain peaks. <BR><BR>It could cost a fortune doing all this, but I'm rolling about 5 seperate trips we've taken into one day of sightseeing. Get the Michelin green guide for Germany to really appreciate all the stuff you can see here.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

RonKoenig

Hi<BR><BR>The German Alps are really only the pre-alps. The Zugspitze is under 10,000 ft while many of the Swiss are over 14,000<BR><BR>Still both the Zugspitze and Berchtesgaden are the best in Germany!!!<BR><BR>For the real alps suggest Mt Rosa(Groenergratt)/Matterhorn ouside Zermatt or Grindelwald outside of Interlaken. Both less than a day's drive from Fussen over Basel or Bergenz<BR><BR>Ron