Goodbye-Summer trip: Hiking in the South of Germany!

Yoohoooooooooo

Hi! Chynnerio here!

When living in a small city, I craved for the big city lifestyle, of hustle and bustle, of humans everywhere, of streets always so vibrant. But when I’m currently living here (in Hamburg), all I want now is just a short moment of silence with nature. And as this whole summer I have been working and studying, I decided to spend a week in the south of Germany, where it’s famous for awning mountains like the Alps and widespread forest.

3 hours before the trip, and I’m packing right now!

First, about the destination, from München (Munich), I will take a train to go to Salzburg, which is about 2 hours away. Part of the reason is because right now, it’s Oktoberfest, and all the accommodation price is doubled, even tripled lol. The city is packed with people. So, I chose to stay at a more quiet and closer to nature place, and it’s Salzburg.

Things To Bring With

As I plan to hike, bringing a pair of hiking shoes is recommended. They are made to step on rock, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your shoes.

Apart from that:

1. Backpack – lightweight and durable

2. Water bottle — preferably 1,5 litre bottle. You must drink a lotttttt of water!

3. Trekking poles – optional, but useful for uneven terrain

4. Light jacket – for weather changes or cool evenings

5. Waterproof jacket – in case of rain

6. Hat and gloves – for colder weather at higher elevations

7. Sunglasses and sunscreen – to protect against sun exposure

8. Map/guide or GPS – especially for longer trails. Normally there will be no connection during the hike, so it’s better to have a physical map, and a downloaded map. I recommend using a special hiking app, like Komoot, instead of Google map, because of more details in the hiking app. You can read my experience using Google Map here lol

Clothing:

1. Layered clothing – moisture-wicking base layers, fleece for warmth, and a windbreaker

2. Comfortable pants/shorts – for hiking

3. Quick-dry towel

4. Extra change of clothes – casual for non-hiking days

Personal Items:

1. ID/passport: Especially needed because you’re travelling across the border, and, in order to check in a hotel, you need your ID/Passport :’D

2. First-aid kit – including blister care

3. Snacks/energy bars - A lottt lottt of energy bars! It will be your life savior when you’re in the middle of the hike and you don’t feel well.

4. Power bank

5. Hand sanitizer

and…

I’ve recently joined the group Sketch in Travel, and one of the thing that I find great to try is instead of taking pictures of everywhere you go, stop for 10 minutes, look closely to the scenery, and sketch it. Here, in my trip to the nature, I want to try it out, so I put in my bag a painting set: my watercolour set, a waterbrush, a sketchbook, and a pen.

Hopefully after the trip, I will have a collection of paintings to look back on my trip!

Where to go

From Salzburg, there are a whole punch of different possibilities to hike. The city itself is a hidden gem. Near, it, there are other cities like Halstatt, Innsbruck… and national park to hike like Berchtesgaden, Königsee. I’m using TikTok and ChatGPT to plan my trip, which offers quite a lot of different places to hike and enjoy the view from above., and fooooood!

https://www.salzburgerland.com/de/kirchenstadt-salzburg/

Here are the lists of places I have saved, with the help of ChatGPT:

1. Berchtesgaden National Park (Germany)

• Location: About 30 minutes from Salzburg.

• Highlights: A stunning area with easy to moderate hiking trails. You can explore Königssee lake, hike up to the Malerwinkel viewpoint, or take a gentle hike to the Röthbach Waterfall (Germany’s tallest waterfall).

• Hike Suggestion: The trail to Königssee and Obersee is a flat, scenic route that's suitable for most hikers.

2. Untersberg Mountain (Austria/Germany border)

• Location: About 20 minutes from Salzburg.

• Highlights: You can take the Untersberg cable car for easy access to high-altitude trails. The top offers stunning panoramic views, and the hiking trails range from easy to more challenging.

• Hike Suggestion: Once at the top, there are several easy walks along the ridgeline with spectacular views of Salzburg and the Alps.

• Info: If you have Salzburg card (27 euros), the cable car to Untersberg summit is included!

3. Chiemgau Alps (Germany)

• Location: About an hour east of Munich.

• Highlights: A beautiful, less crowded hiking area with rolling hills and alpine meadows. The Hochries mountain offers great views of the Bavarian Alps and lakes.

• Hike Suggestion: The Hochries summit trail is accessible via cable car, with an easy walk to the summit.

4. Watzmann Mountain (Germany)

• Location: In Berchtesgaden National Park, about 40 minutes from Salzburg.

• Highlights: While the summit of Watzmann is challenging, there are easier trails around its base. The area offers stunning alpine scenery with views of Watzmann’s iconic ridges and nearby lakes.

• Hike Suggestion: The Wimbachklamm Gorge is an easy hike through a dramatic gorge, showcasing waterfalls and lush vegetation.

5. Kampenwand (Germany)

• Location: In the Chiemgau Alps, about 1.5 hours from Munich.

• Highlights: Famous for its jagged limestone peaks, Kampenwand offers breathtaking views of the Chiemsee lake and Bavarian Alps. A cable car takes you up most of the way, where easy-to-moderate trails begin.

• Hike Suggestion: The walk from the cable car station to the Steinlingalm Hut is a popular, easy route with views of the peaks and surrounding landscape.

6. Hintersee and Ramsau (Germany)

• Location: About 40 minutes from Salzburg.

• Highlights: The picturesque Hintersee lake and nearby Ramsau village offer serene, easy hiking trails around the lake and through magical forests like the Zauberwald (Enchanted Forest). This is a perfect spot for gentle nature walks.

• Hike Suggestion: The Hintersee Circular Trail is an easy and scenic route that loops around the lake, passing through dense forests and alongside beautiful alpine meadows.

7. Schliersee (Germany)

• Location: About an hour from Munich.

• Highlights: This charming lake is surrounded by gentle hills and is less crowded than nearby Tegernsee. It's ideal for easy hikes along the shore or short ascents to nearby viewpoints.

• Hike Suggestion: The Schliersee to Neuhaus trail is an easy, flat hike along the lake, with plenty of opportunities to stop for scenic views and lunch at local beer gardens.

8. Zugspitze (Eibsee) Area (Germany)

• Location: About 1.5 hours from Munich.

• Highlights: Although Zugspitze itself is Germany’s highest peak, the Eibsee at its base offers beautiful, easy trails around the lake. The crystal-clear water and towering mountain backdrop make this a fantastic and relaxing hike.

• Hike Suggestion: The Eibsee Circular Trail is a flat, well-marked path that takes about 2-3 hours, perfect for enjoying nature without strenuous effort.

9. Jenner Mountain (Germany)

• Location: Near Berchtesgaden, about 40 minutes from Salzburg.

• Highlights: A cable car takes you most of the way up, and from there, you can enjoy easy hikes with panoramic views of the Königssee lake and surrounding peaks.

• Hike Suggestion: The short trail from the upper station to the Jenner summit offers spectacular views without being too challenging.

10. Rotwand Mountain (Germany)

• Location: In the Spitzingsee area, about 1.5 hours from Munich.

• Highlights: A great option for beginner hikers, with gentle ascents, grassy meadows, and great views of the surrounding mountains.

• Hike Suggestion: The Rotwandhaus hut is an easy destination for a day hike, and you can enjoy traditional Bavarian food while soaking in the stunning alpine views.

https://www.berchtesgaden.de/home

In Salzburg, you can purchase a Salzbug Card, which allows you to get discount and entry to various activities (museums, fortress, Mozart’s birth-place…), and, last but not least, the cable car to Untersberg!

Ok, let’s pack things up and happy travelling!

Love you infinitely

Chynnerio