Hike to the Eagle’s Nest: 11 Reasons to Skip the Bus in Berchtesgaden

I’d be willing to bet that every World War II buff out there knows about Hitler’s “Eagle’s Nest” in Berchtesgaden, Germany. But did you know there’s an Eagle’s Nest hike? Though the vast majority of visitors to Berchtesgaden take the quick bus up the mountain, you can indeed hike to the top instead.

But why would you want to hike up to Hitler’s Alpine retreat when you can ride up in a fraction of the time? I’m glad you asked, obviously! Though it definitely takes more time and considerably more effort, to say this route is the more interesting one is an undeniable understatement.

Read on for what you need to know to do the Eagle’s Nest hike yourself as well as 11 reasons why I believe this is the best way to get there.

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Eagle’s Nest or Kehlsteinhaus?

In English-speaking circles, Hitler’s mountaintop retreat is known as the “Eagle’s Nest.” In Germany, this building is known by its actual name–Kehlsteinhaus. While traveling in Germany, it’s this word you need to keep an eye out for, not Eagle’s Nest.

Hitler’s alpine party house was first referred to as the “Eagle’s Nest” by a visiting French ambassador in late 1938. The name stuck, and here we are. Its actual name—Kehlsteinhaus—translates to “Throat Stone House.” So there’s something you didn’t know that also doesn’t make a bit of sense. (This name actually comes from its location atop the Kehlstein Mountain, but that still doesn’t explain much.)

In Germany, you’ll only see it referred to as Kehlsteinhaus. Here on Destination: WWII where I and most of my readers speak English, I’m calling it the Eagle’s Nest. Either way, these two are one in the same.

Important note! The Eagle’s Nest is closed to visitors annually from the end of October until May. Do not hike this trail during this time. Besides not being able to actually visit the Eagle’s Nest when you get up here, you also have to worry about dangerous avalanches and rockfalls.

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Eagle’s Nest hike at a glance

Here are some of the most important things you need to know for hiking up to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest.

Eagle’s Nest hike location: Berchtesgaden, Germany. (I’m telling you this because there are also “Eagle’s Nest” hikes in Massachusetts, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and I’d be willing to bet the other 46 US states as well. This post is not about those.)

Distance: The Eagle’s Nest trail is somewhere between 3-4 miles, depending on how many historic spots you visit along the way.

Route type: Out and back. (But the best part is that you can hike up… then take the bus back down.)

Time: The Eagle’s Nest hike will take you somewhere between 2.5 and 3 hours to complete (if you start near the Dokumentation Center in Obersalzburg, which is already a good ways up the mountain).

Difficulty: Easy to moderate. This hike is technically easy–the road is paved almost all the way up. But it’s also considerably steep and long so you’ll definitely face some endurance challenges.

Terrain: Paved road almost all the way up with loose gravel in some parts. If you’ll be checking out the historical locations, you’ll also be walking in the woods, off trail. In this case, you’ll also encounter tree roots, lots of bushes, and dirt or slippery mud.

Pro tip: The trail signs along the Eagle’s Nest hike greatly overestimate the time. For instance, one sign said 3.5 hours to the Kehlsteinhaus but it was really only 2 from that point. So, don’t freak out when you see these.

Get the full list of WWII sites in Berchtesgaden here.

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My Eagle’s Nest hike

Listed above are the details for the standard Eagle’s Nest hike. However, when I hiked to the Eagle’s Nest in September 2023, I did it a little differently. My version is what I’m ultimately going to recommend to you, person who is obviously interested in World War II history.

Instead of setting out on my own, I hired a local hiking guide / WWII historian to accompany me, on the recommendation of a friend who did the same in 2022. This was possibly one of my greatest travel decisions ever!

Berchtesgaden’s hidden history

If you don’t already know, Berchtesgaden, Germany served as a Nazi Party headquarters. Hitler’s home and office was located here, as well as the homes of other top Nazi figures like Joseph Goebbels, Hermann Göring, Heinrich Himmler, Albert Speer, and more. They held important meetings here; celebrated events here; and when Nazi Party officials weren’t governing from Berlin, the Third Reich was governed from Berchtesgaden.

The Eagle’s Nest is clearly the main “attraction” here in Berchtesgaden. However, the entire area is littered with hidden historical structures that most people know nothing about. The homes and offices mentioned above were mostly destroyed after the war, but their ruins, along with an entire hidden networks of tunnels and bunkers (and more), still remain.

Here are all the other things you need to know before heading to the Eagle’s Nest.

My amazing Eagle’s Nest hiking guide

When planning my trip to Berchtesgaden, I knew I wanted to check out as many of these hidden historic structures as I could. But, I didn’t really want to wander around alone in what must be some terribly haunted woods. So, a friend of mine recommended reaching out to Claudio—a local hiking guide and Berchtesgaden history expert.

Claudio was exactly what my trip needed. He took one other hiker and me all around the mountain to some of the most interesting sites I never would’ve found on my own. He gave us in-depth historical commentary on all the sites we visited and brought along his iPad to show us archival footage of these exact sites as well. All-in-all, this was one of my top WWII travel experiences of all time.

Additionally, he’s also a professional hiking guide so you know you’re in good hands as you hike up the mountain. He’ll point out all kinds of flora and fauna, explain the views you’re looking at, and keep you safe (…from the pretty flowers that will literally kill you if you touch them). 10/10.

If you’re interested in the same kind of experience in Berchtesgaden, I can’t recommend him enough. You can book Claudio for the exact experience I had here. You will not regret it!

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Is the Eagle’s Nest hike for you?

Before I (continue to) convince you to hike the Eagle’s Nest trail, you should first make sure this kind of experience is for you. Answer the following questions to determine if you should do the Eagle’s Nest hike or if you should sit this one out.

What are your goals for visiting the Eagle’s Nest?

If you simply want to visit the Eagle’s Nest to see the beautiful views and/or just to say you’ve been here, you shouldn’t hike to the Eagle’s Nest. (Really, just take the bus like everyone else. You’re going to be so much happier.)

If, on the other hand, you want to visit the Eagle’s Nest to explore the history of the building and the surrounding area, then, yes, you should consider hiking to the Eagle’s Nest! You’ll absolutely get something extra from this experience.

Don’t miss my full guide to all the best World War II sites in Munich here.

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What are your physical abilities?

If you get winded walking up the stairs at your house, this excursion is not for you. If you hike regularly and/or consider yourself pretty physically fit, you’re definitely the kind of traveler who would enjoy hiking to the Eagle’s Nest.

While this isn’t a technical hike in the least bit, it’s still pretty long and considerably steep. Add in the relentlessly beating sun and you’ve got yourself a recipe for “Type 2 Fun.” (Which is not for everyone.)

I asked Claudio if he’d ever had anyone on his tours that just physically couldn’t handle it. He said Yes—it does happen every so often, and it’s not fun for anyone. Please don’t overestimate your physical abilities. Hiking up a mountain is no joke.

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How much time do you have?

If you have just enough time to take the bus up, have a look around (and a beer, I hope!), and then head back down, you should definitely opt out of hiking to the Eagle’s Nest. Most people visit the Eagle’s Nest on a day trip from Munich or from Salzburg. If this is also your plan, you won’t have time for the hike unfortunately.

And if this is you, here’s the most popular Eagle’s Nest day trip from Salzburg and here’s the same from Munich, because I still recommend visiting either way!

If you’re staying in Berchtesgaden for a couple days and have a pretty open itinerary, I highly recommend dedicating a day to the Eagle’s Nest hike with Claudio. The hike itself takes somewhere around 2.5-3 hours. However, checking out all the historic sites on the way up and spending some quality time at the top brings the entire Eagle’s Nest hiking experience to about 7 hours. (We’re definitely not in a rush here.)

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Why you should hike to the Eagle’s Nest instead of taking the bus

If you still need some more convincing, here are 11 reasons why you should skip the bus and hike to the Eagle’s Nest instead:

1. There are so many more historic buildings to see here

The Kehlsteinhaus gets all the historical street cred in Berchtesgaden, but the area all around it is also full of historic buildings and monuments… if you know where to look.

Additionally, before my hike even began, Claudio walked me around Berchtesgaden’s train station (that Hitler had built to receive his guests) and pointed out many leftover Nazi-era remnants I wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.

This is all in addition to the many historical sites in an around the Eagle’s Nest itself. (Don’t let anyone tell you the Eagle’s Nest is “just a restaurant now.”)

Pro tip: Be sure to watch episode 10 of Band of Brothers which details their time in Berchtesgaden. Available on Netflix, Hulu, and here on Amazon.

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2. There’s so much interesting history to learn

All those people visiting Berchtesgaden on a day trip, who take the bus to the Eagle’s Nest and back, are really missing out. Yes, you get the great views with considerably less effort, but you don’t learn anything! And there’s so much interesting stuff to learn here!

Berchtesgaden isn’t just a random German town where some Nazis hung out from time to time. It was actually a critically important hub for Nazi activity during World War II. Outside Berlin, this was the most important Nazi seat of government.

It was here (at the Berghof) that Hitler planned much of his conquest of Europe and where some of his most important meetings took place. Many of the most highly ranking Nazi officials had homes here. It’s also where the Nazi Party held some of its most valuable plunder—gold, jewelry, priceless artwork, and, of course, some* of the world’s most expensive liquor, wine, and champagne. Berchtesgaden was indeed the “crown jewel” of the Nazi empire. *It was actually a sh!tload.

Berchtesgaden and the area around Obersalzburg and the Eagle’s Nest have so much history to share, you just have to spend some time hearing it. Get yourself a historian guide like Claudio and you won’t miss a thing!

You might like: How to Visit Birkenkopf Stuttgart: The Unique Perspective at WWII’s Rubble Hill

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3. You get to discuss the events of WWII with an expert

If you just wanted to read a book about Berchtesgaden and be on your merry way, that’s perfectly fine too. But if you have questions (and you will have questions!) or love the idea of having someone to discuss World War II history with, definitely opt for a guided Eagle’s Nest hike.

I don’t know about you, but the people I typically try to discuss WWII with tend to glaze over faster than a hot donut at dawn. It was so refreshing to not only have this amazing historical hiking experience, but also to hang out with like-minded people I could discuss these topics with!

People who could not only answer my plethora of questions, but would also stay engaged as I go off on my own tangents about strategic bombing campaigns or the very niche film genre of Hitler comedies.

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4. You get to visit a unique American war monument

In addition to the many Nazi-centric historical sites you get to explore on the Eagle’s Nest hike, you can also visit a pretty important and unique American war monument too.

As you head up the trail to the Eagle’s Nest, you’ll pass by the Kempinski Hotel—an enormous 5-star luxury hotel previously known as the InterContinental Resort. Outside the hotel stands a small monument to the 3^rd Infantry Division and its liberation of Berchtesgaden on May 4, 1945.

The next day, the division raised an American flag on this very spot. And “thus began 50 years of U.S. Army presence in Berchtesgaden, years of peace and friendship which still resonate across the Atlantic.” This plaque is the first one in Germany to recognize American WWII achievements.

Thanks to the book and popular miniseries Band of Brothers, most audiences mistakenly believe it was the 101^st Airborne Division who first took Berchtesgaden. Veterans of the 3ID, hoping to right this historical wrong and earn their due credit, dedicated this memorial on May 5, 2008—the historic event’s 63^rd anniversary.

Three of the 3ID’s men present at the original one were present for the monument’s dedication as well—Robert Dutil, John Miller, and Ross Brown. There was another flag raising ceremony here in 2017 (pictured below) for the event’s 72^nd anniversary. Both ceremonies raised 48-star American flags.

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5. There are great views all the way up

One of the most popular reasons visitors flock to the Eagle’s Nest is for the views. Only, the same view. Over and over. Search for photos of the Eagle’s Nest and you’ll see that same photo, over and over. Don’t get me wrong—no one loves alpine views more than yours truly! But… maybe opt for something different than everyone else?

It’s true that on the day I did the Eagle’s Nest hike I was in the clouds most of the time. However, we did get some breaks here and there and I can vouch that the views all the way up are gorgeous. And they’re all different from that one view that everyone gets! It’s like I actually went and didn’t just copy and paste my photos from the internet.

You can see all of Berchtesgaden from up here as well as Salzburg too. You’ll also get incredible forest views and see tons of pretty flowers. (And all without a hundred other people in them.)

Also check out these awesome World War II hikes for your next trip to Hawaii.

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6. It’s not a difficult hike

When I mention I hiked up to the Eagle’s Nest instead of taking the bus, the reactions I often get are gasp! and questions like, “Why in the world…?” But really, it’s not a difficult hike at all, it just looks like one. If you’re looking to add some (moderate) outdoor adventure to your Germany itinerary, this is a perfect option.

The Eagle’s Nest hike is part paved road and part gravel trail. It’s a wide path with very little traffic. That’s about as easy as it can get and still be called a “hike.” There’s no rock scrambling involved, no harrowing drop-offs to navigate, and no technical obstacles to conquer.

The only real challenge to this hike is its steep grade, which you can ease the pain of simply by taking it slow and steady. If you try to rush, then yes, it would become quite torturous. Otherwise, take your time and worry only about putting one foot in front of the other. Take short breaks as often as you need them and you’ll get to the top without issue.

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7. What a sense of accomplishment!

Lack of technical difficulty aside, you’ll still get such a sense of accomplishment at the top. I mean, you did just climb a mountain! The breeze at the top, the incredible views, and the historical significance of this place will make your entire uphill trek worth every drop of sweat.

You didn’t just hop on a bus like everyone else, go you! You didn’t take the easy way out; you challenged yourself and kept going even when your legs got tired. Maybe you ventured way outside your comfort zone, and that’s something to celebrate. You really earned that giant beer you’re totally about to have here at Hitler’s playhouse, in true Easy Company fashion.

Want a wee bit more hiking? You can even continue on past the Eagle’s Nest to the Kehlstein summit. It’s just a few minutes hike up from the building; look for the large wooden cross with an edelweiss.

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8. Be a traveler, not a tourist

In a similar vein is the gratification of being “a traveler, not a tourist.” As much as I despise this cliché attempt at travel-shaming, there are times when it genuinely applies. I believe the Eagle’s Nest hike is one of those times.

Berchtesgaden is a small town with an incredibly unfortunate past. As much as they’ve tried to put that all behind them, hordes and hordes of tourists arrive here each year specifically to visit “Hitler’s mountain retreat.” They often visit just for a few hours before heading back to whichever city they started from, not even giving the new-and-improved Berchtesgaden the time of day.

As cringe-worthy as its history is, it’s still a profound history worthy of being recognized. Hiking to the Eagle’s Nest instead of taking one of the crowded tourist buses is a great way to absorb the nuances of this town’s history along with many other facets of the war. Berchtesgaden is so much more than “Hitler’s alpine retreat which is now just a restaurant with a view.”

Traveler vs. tourist

So I urge you, aim to be more of a “traveler” here. Take time to meet some local residents (the people here are THE NICEST). Make it a point to learn the whole history of Berchtesgaden, not just what the flyer at the train station says in bold letters.

Consider being less of a “tourist”—one who merely shuffles along with the herd, takes the shortest routes and spends the least amount of money possible, and then complains about the packed buses and that “there’s really not much there” or “the only thing you really see is the view.”*

*These are actual Google reviews of the Eagle’s Nest. Although I think my favorite is the one that complains that even Adolf Hitler hated it here. Because, sure, he was totally a pillar of sanity.

For more on how to experience the Eagle’s Nest “the right way,” check out my post on The Truth About Visiting Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest.

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9. You still get to ride the gold elevator

One of the most famous parts of the Eagle’s Nest is Hitler’s “gold-plated elevator.” While other “regular” people and supplies had to take a separate lift to the top, this one was reserved exclusively for Hitler and his VIP guests.

You can absolutely continue your hike from here all the way to the Eagle’s Nest; it’ll take you about another half hour. Or, you can join up with the tourists here and ride this unique elevator up. It’s an interesting little trip and definitely worth it for historical points. Luckily, you don’t have to choose between the Eagle’s Nest hike and taking the elevator—you can do both!

Also, the elevator is not gold—it’s brass. You can find lots of interesting info about the elevator here.  

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10. You can ride the bus back down

Another great thing about hiking to the Eagle’s Nest is that you don’t have to hike back down (unless you want to). If you’ve simply had enough hiking for the day or you’re running short on time, take the elevator back down and hop on one of the tourist buses back to Obersalzburg.  

You’ve already visited the historical sites; you’ve already gotten more than a day’s worth of physical activity. You’ve earned yourself a quick ride back to the bottom.

The Kehlsteinhaus buses are all-electric vehicles that have been specially designed for this route. (The road was closed to private car traffic in 1952 so these buses are the only transportation up and down the mountain.) The ride to and from Obersalzburg takes about 15 minutes.

Important note: If you plan to take the bus down after your visit, you’ll need to get your bus ticket before you head up to the Eagle’s Nest. When you arrive at the bus area (just before you enter the tunnel to the elevator), you’ll see a ticket window where you can pre-purchase your bus ticket. These buses do sell out so you need to snag your spot asap.

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11. All the standard benefits of hiking

Finally, my last rationale for recommending the Eagle’s Nest hike over taking the bus is really just all the standard benefits of hiking. In other words, peaceful time spent in nature and all the bliss that comes with that.

This method of arrival is quiet and calm, neither of which we get a lot of anymore. You’ve also got the clean smells of the wilderness, the wind in your hair, and the sounds of birds and rustling leaves. Plus, this is a great way to incorporate some necessary physical activity into your vacation. So, there’s all those cardio benefits as well.

But possibly the best parts of the Eagle’s Nest hike are the things it lacks—tourist chatter (and tourist smells, let’s be real), cell phone rings and notification dings, someone’s bored child on the verge of a tantrum, bumping into other people’s sweaty arms, someone else’s music, someone having a phone conversation on speaker (OK maybe I’ve just had enough of people in general?), and the feeling of being just another voiceless sheep in the herd.

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What to pack for the Eagle’s Nest hike

This isn’t the most intense hike in Germany, but there are still a few things you’ll need to bring with you. Here’s what to pack for your Eagle’s Nest hike in Berchtesgaden:

Proper hiking shoes

The trail terrain is pretty well-maintained, but this is still a hike. (And you’ll be going off-trail if you hike with Claudio.) Proper hiking shoes are non-negotiable here.

I hiked to the Eagle’s Nest in my Merrell hiking shoes, but I also wear Oboz Bridger boots when I I need more ankle support and/or when I hike on rougher terrain. In the warmer months, hiking sandals likes Chacos or Tevas would totally work here too.

Proper hiking clothing

Please don’t attempt this hike in Jeans and cotton T-shirts. Even when I visited Berchtesgaden in mid-September the temperatures and humidity levels were super high. The day I did the Eagle’s Nest hike, those clouds saved me from some miserable hiking conditions. In cold weather, it can get even colder and windier at the top.

Be sure to wear season-appropriate light layers and look for moisture-wicking materials. If it’s cold, bring gloves and something to keep your ears/head warm. Proper hiking socks are always a must! Don’t forget about the necessary sun protection: sunglasses, plenty of sunscreen, a hat.

Hiking poles

Hiking poles aren’t a hard requirement for this hike, but if you prefer to use them, you definitely should. (Even a cheap pair is great to have.) I didn’t pack mine because, well, they’re a pain to pack sometimes, but my hiking guide did let me borrow his for a couple of wet downhill wooded shortcuts we took.

Plenty of water and snacks

As much water as you can carry, I always say. Whatever that is for you—a large water bottle, a hydration bladder for your backpack—bring it. As for snacks, I always bring Clif Bars on my hikes. But there are plenty of spots for some picnic breaks if you wanted to go ahead and pack a lunch too.

Hiking day pack

I always bring along my Flash 18 pack from REI. This bag is super light, comfortable to carry, and has a space for a hydration reservoir too. It’s also super easy to pack in your suitcase.

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