WINTER
The Christmas Market of Berchtesgaden (known as Weihnachtsmarkt, Adventsmarkt or Christkindlmarkt) is one of the most idyllic in Bavaria. The market opens before the first Advent and runs the whole December until New Year. Also, the neighbouring villages and cities have lovely Christmas markets that are worth a visit.
At the Christmas Market you can find traditional wooden toys and decorations that are handmade in Berchtesgaden. If you are not here during December, there is a shop that sells them all year round.
5th and 6th of December, the day of Saint Nicholas is an unforgettable day in the German speaking Alpine region because it is when Krampuses and Saints run in the streets. Krampus is a “horned demon” who drives the winter coldness and darkness away. Saint Nicholas rewards the well-behaved kids with gifts. The running starts already in the late afternoon of the 5th.
Something unique that only happens in Berchtesgaden is Weihnachtsschützen – shooting associations shoot black powder guns every day at 15.00 starting a week before Christmas to announce that Christmas is coming. The shootings continue also to New Year and on some other special festivities during the year.
During New Years Eve, the local brewery “Hofbräuhaus” organizes a traditional event “Bierstacheln”: a really hot stainless steel rod dipped into the beer to caramelise some of the remaining sugars.
At the midnight, it is great to do a little 5-minute hike up to the “Ponnzenzenbichl” to see the fireworks in 360 degrees.
Sledding – Berchtesgaden offers great possibilities for bob, skeleton and sleigh. After all Berchtesgaden is a hotspot in the sport with multiple Olympic winners and World champions. Unfortunately the competitive ice track got destroyed in the floods of 2021. But you can still enjoy a wonderful 2,5- kilometer nature sleigh track.
In February about 40 days before Easter Fasching is celebrated in the Alpine region. In other Catholic regions it is known as Carnival. The Fasching season in Berchtesgaden is all about winter sports and during the last week of it local associations organize Carnival parties.
There are plenty of opportunities for skiing in the area. Ski resorts are reached best with a car, because they are located few kilometres from the city centre. There are slopes from blue family slopes to challenging competitive slopes. Berchtesgaden has five downhill skiing areas: Obersalzberg, Götschen, Hochschwarzeck, Rossfeld and Jenner. Many of the biggest skiing resorts in the Alps such as Bad Gastein, Zell am See, Obertauern, Hochkönig, Dachstein, Kitzbuhel and Flachau are located within one to one and a half hour drive away. Popular sport in the Alps is ski touring – conquering the mountains with the skins. For cross-country skiing, visit Aschauerweiher, but other tracks are available too depending on the snow conditions. Best time for cross-country skiing is January and February.
Snowshoeing in the mountains is an experience to remember. We can help you with finding the gear and possibly a guide. Some great snowshoeing spots can be reached even with the local bus.
SPRING
During Easter local families visit the cemetery in their national costumes. The children decorate Easter branches and bring them to their family graves. In Bad Reichenhall “Floriani” fountain is decorated with 4000 hand-painted Easter eggs every second year.
First of May is the maypole day in Bavaria. A day when the local folklore group dressed in their finest costumes gather all the locals together to celebrate. When the maypole is up with the help of a group of men and various beers, there is a celebration with traditional trumpet music the whole day long.
On Whit Monday salt miners celebrate. The workers march in their national costumes through Berchtesgaden to the castle yard, where they have a concert.
Hiking trails in Berchtesgaden vary from short, less than an hour, hikes to multiday cabin hikes. There are ten mountain cabins (Hütten) in the national park, which can be booked in advance. Hiking trails are well marked, and the signs inform about the difficulty of the trail as well as duration to different destination in hours and minutes. You can borrow a detailed map for hiking from Burmesterhaus.
If you are into music, there is always something happening. On Monday evenings from mid-May until mid-September, there are “Musi”-stops in some restaurants and terraces , where you can have an enjoyable evening eating and drinking while listening to live music.
You can also combine hiking and music. Mountain cabins host traditional musicians during early summer on Sundays at 12.
Cycling is one of the most popular sports in the Alps. Majority of the cycling routes are challenging due to the elevation changes, but easier routes can be followed towards the neighbouring counties: Salzburg, Bad Reichenhall and Ramsau. Bicycles and electric bicycles can be rented from various sports stores in Berchtesgaden.
There is a great fresh water outdoor swimming pool “Aschauerweiher” only 1.5 km from Burmesterhaus. There are showers and changing rooms there as well as a café. You can also swim in the lakes (Königssee and Hintersee) and the river (Ache) but the water is chilly all year round, since it comes directly from the mountains.
Climbing – there are great opportunities to climb outdoors in Berchtesgaden. These are routes for intermediate and advanced climbers. It is recommendable to have a local guide with you. For the most adventurous climbing the eastside of Watzmann is a must, but it is compulsory to have a guide with you.
SUMMER
Cycling is one of the most popular sports in the Alps. Majority of the cycling routes are challenging due to elevation changes, but easier routes can be followed towards the neighbouring counties: Salzburg, Bad Reichenhall and Ramsau. Bicycles and electric bicycles can be rented from various sports stores in Berchtesgaden.
Hiking trails in Berchtesgaden vary from short, less than an hour, hikes to multiday cabin hikes. There are ten mountain cabins (Hüttes) in the national park, which can be booked in advance. Hiking trails are well marked, and the signs inform about the difficulty of the trail as well as duration to different destination in hours and minutes, not distance. You can borrow a detailed map for hiking from Burmesterhaus.
If you are into music, there is always something happening. On Monday evenings from mid-May until mid-September. There are “Musi”-stops in some restaurants and terraces, where you can have an enjoyable evening eating and drinking while listening to live music.
You can also combine hiking and music. Mountain cabins host traditional musicians during early summer on Sundays at 12.
There is a great fresh water outdoor swimming pool “Aschauerweiher” only 1.5 km from Burmesterhaus. There are showers and changing rooms as well as a café there. You can also swim in the lakes (Königssee and Hintersee) and the river (Ache) but the water is chilly all year round since it comes directly from the mountains.
Climbing – there are great opportunities to climb outdoors in Berchtesgaden. These are routes for intermediate and advanced climbers. It is recommendable to have a local guide with you. For the most adventurous climbing the eastside of Watzmann is a must, but it is compulsory to have a guide with you.
Berchtesgaden also offers a 9-hole Golf Course at the “Obersalzberg” mountain.
FALL
At the end of September, you might get to see the “Almabtrieb”. It is when the cows are transported back to the valley after a summer of grazing in the Alpine meadows and slopes. The cows are colourfully decorated, and their return home is accompanied by lively traditional festivities. During this time, there are also various Harvest Fairs organized in the region.
Cycling is one of the most popular sports in the Alps. Majority of the cycling routes are challenging due to elevation changes, but easier routes can be followed towards the neighbouring counties: Salzburg, Bad Reichenhall and Ramsau. Bicycles and electric bicycles can be rented from various sports stores in Berchtesgaden.
Hiking trails in Berchtesgaden vary from short less than an hour hikes to multiday cabin hikes. There are ten mountain cabins (Hüttes) in the national park, which can be booked in advance. Hiking trails are well marked, and the signs inform about the difficulty of the trail as well as duration to different destination in hours and minutes, not distance. You can borrow a detailed map for hiking from Burmesterhaus.
Fall hikes – if you are lucky, your holiday week might be at the same time when the trees turn to different shades of orange, yellow and red. Most often fall colors begin to show at mid-October.
Climbing – there are good opportunities to climb outdoors in Berchtesgaden. These are routes for intermediate and advanced climbers. It is recommendable to have a local guide with you. For the most adventurous climbing the eastside of Watzmann is a must, but it is compulsory to have a guide with you.