Salzbergwerks Salt Mines

For a different, but very entertaining tour good for people of any age, the Salzberwerks Salt Mine in Berchtesgaden, Germany is an excellent choice.  You'll be provided with overalls to go over your clothing to keep you warm during this tour into the depths of the salt mines.  To get there, you take a type of train that you ride on like a horse into the depths.  Afterwards, you explore the mines on foot led by an expert tour guide explaining to you everything you're seeing.  You'll also get to ride on a "slide" to get further into the mines, although there is the option to walk down.  We'd recommend the slide though is it is actually pretty fun.  The tour will last about an hour and you'll be entertained the entire time.

Beware that it can get very crowded here and everything is very time controlled, so if you don't want to have a long wait, plan to get here when they first open.

Heimatmuseum (Wood Carving Museum)

Berchtesgaden is a quaint town to walk around.  On the outskirts of it is the Heimatmuseum, which is a museum of wood carvings.  Most of the text on the exhibits are in German, but you can still appreciate the wood carvings when visiting.

There are several floors to see, and you'll probably only need 30 minutes to see the entire collection.  While there were definitely neat things to see, it wasn't anything overwhelmingly impressive that you'd need to ensure you hit this spot on a trip.

Hotel Wittelsbach - Berchtesgaden

The Hotel Wittelsbach in Berchtesgaden is a charming hotel located just outside the main shopping area of town (only about a 5 minute walk).  The rooms are very basic, but they are clean and comfortable.  We only had a one-night stay here, and we were very satisfied with our choice.

They offer a very nice breakfast included in your price each morning on the 3rd floor.  In addition there is some parking behind the hotel, but it is VERY limited and can be difficult to manage with large vehicles.

One negative we found is that the walls are very thin and you can hear practically everything going on in the hallway or outside, including people just walking down the hall way and opening/closing doors.  This didn't stop us from getting a good night's rest, but it may for some who are very light sleepers.

It should be noted that there is no free Wi-Fi in this hotel, which in the year 2012 I believe is pretty inexcusable.  However, for a quick one-night stay in Berchtesgaden, this is an excellent choice for most visitors.

Kehlsteinhaus at Eagle's Nest

The Kehlsteinhaus (or Eagle’s Nest), has been rented out as a restaurant which is run by Hofbrauhaus. If you’re making the trip up to the Eagle's Nest, you might as well enjoy lunch from the restaurant there as well. It is also the only way to see in the inside of the house.

On a foggy, overcast day, the ride up and view from the top isn’t nearly as impressive as we've heard it can be.

The only way to get up to Kleinsthaus is by bus. Park at the parking lot next to the Obersalzberg Documentation Center and walk up to the bus station. When you arrive at the top, you will have to get a stamp for your return time. We recommend an hour to an hour and a half depending on the day and how long you take to eat.  Once there, you need to walk down a long cavern and finally take an elevator all the way to the top.

A seat at the large windows in the dining rooms gives you the view from the top. The four-mile bus ride up to the house is considered the most beautiful drive in Germany.  Unfortunately, due to the foggy conditions, we weren't able to enjoy a view as you couldn't even see more than a few feet in front of you.  If you're planning this trip, it may not be worth your time if you don't have a clear day.

From the restaurant, we ordered the open face “raw ham” sandwich, which was served with lettuce, tomato, red and green peppers, onions, pickles, and cucumbers, as well as a pork schnitzel with French fries, both of which were delicious.

Bier Adam Huber Wolfgang

When looking for restaurants in unknown areas, especially when we can’t necessarily read the menus, we look for restaurants that are full of people. This one had a good number of people eating both inside and outside, as well as a decent looking menu.

We ordered a pork filet that was served with broccoli with hollandaise and potato pancakes, as well as veal schnitzel with roasted potatoes. Both were fantastic, and the service was friendly.