Deutsche Alpenstraße: Germany's Alpine Road (5 Days)

The Deutsche Alpenstraße is Germany’s oldest holiday road (1927): around 485 km of Bavarian Alps from Lake Constance in the west to Berchtesgaden in the east, stringing together castles, painted villages, and mountain lakes. German public roads are toll-free for cars.

Day 1 — Lindau to Füssen (110 km)

Start on Lake Constance in Lindau, then follow the foothills east to Füssen — beside it, in Schwangau, stand the fairytale castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau.

Day 2 — Füssen to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (70 km)

Past the rococo Wieskirche and through Oberammergau to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, gateway to the Zugspitze — Germany’s highest peak, reachable by cog railway and cable car.

Day 3 — Garmisch to the Tegernsee (85 km)

Wind through Mittenwald and the Sylvenstein reservoir to the Tegernsee, a classic Bavarian lake for a slower day of swimming, boats and beer gardens.

Day 4 — Tegernsee to Berchtesgaden (120 km)

The eastern stretch through Chiemgau to Berchtesgaden, tucked under the Watzmann massif.

Day 5 — Berchtesgaden and the Königssee

The emerald Königssee by electric boat to St. Bartholomä, and the Eagle’s Nest above the valley. No long drive — explore and head home.

Tolls and costs

Germany’s public roads are toll-free for cars, so only fuel and nights apply. A few extras are paid separately — the Königssee boat, the Eagle’s Nest shuttle bus, and the private Rossfeld panorama road. Use the cost calculator for your dates, and rent the car in Munich for the best rates.

This trip is also in the free Roadcut trip planner: change the number of days and where you sleep each night, pick your vehicle to see the fuel cost, check the weather on the road, and open each day in Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze.