How to get to the Eagle’s Nest
The last leg, which everyone shares
The Kehlstein road is closed to private traffic. It runs 6.5 km, climbs 700 m and passes through five tunnels totalling 277 m, and the only vehicles on it are the Kehlstein buses from Obersalzberg. The ride takes about 15 minutes. At the top you walk a tunnel 124 m into the mountain to reach the brass-panelled lift, which rises another 124 m to the house. If you would rather not use the lift, there is a walking path from the bus platform up to the house that takes about 25 minutes and needs sturdy shoes.
That bottleneck is the reason organised tours exist. The buses are timed, the season is short, and the road can close at short notice for snow. A tour books the slot for you and, on most of them, the ticket as well.
From Salzburg
Salzburg is the closest city, and the numbers show it: the coach tour from Salzburg is a 4.5-hour round trip including the time you spend at the top. It leaves from the Panorama Bus Terminal at Mirabellplatz and includes the entry ticket and the lift. If you are basing yourself in Salzburg, this is the least complicated version of the day. The options are laid out on tours from Salzburg.
From Munich
Munich is far enough that there is no short version. Every Munich tour is a 10 or 11 hour day for roughly an hour at the top, and you should book it knowing that. The small-group van tour picks up at Munich hotels; the large coach tour meets at Karlsplatz 21–24, in the coach lane. Doing it independently means a train south to Berchtesgaden and then your own way up to Obersalzberg, where the Kehlstein bus queue starts, which is why most people hand the day to a tour. Compare both on tours from Munich.
From Berchtesgaden and Obersalzberg
If you are already in the valley you are 3 hours from being done. The local tour meets at Salzbergstrasse 45, 83471 Berchtesgaden, which is the Kehlstein bus departure point at Obersalzberg, and includes hotel pick-up in the local area. That address is the one to aim for whether you are on a tour or arriving under your own steam, because it is where the road up begins. See tours from Berchtesgaden.
Whichever direction you come from, the mountain sets the timetable. Buses run 08:30 to 16:50 from 8 May to 30 September and 08:55 to 16:00 from 1 October to 8 November, and the road can shut for snow even in summer. The Berchtesgaden information line is +49 8652 2029.
Meeting points at a glance
- Salzburg: Panorama Bus Terminal, Mirabellplatz.
- Munich, coach tour: Karlsplatz 21–24, in the coach lane.
- Munich, small-group tour: hotel pickup and drop-off.
- Berchtesgaden: Salzbergstrasse 45, 83471 Berchtesgaden, the Kehlstein bus departure at Obersalzberg.
Before you fix a date, check the season and the bus timetable on the best time to visit, and read the accessibility page if the tunnel or the lift is a concern.
Book the short way up
The Salzburg tour handles the drive, the bus slot and the entry ticket in one 4.5-hour block. Live dates below.
Frequently asked questions
Can you drive up to the Eagle’s Nest?
No. Private cars are banned from the Kehlstein road. You drive or travel as far as Obersalzberg and take the special Kehlstein bus from there, which is a 15-minute climb through five tunnels. The ticket for it costs about €34.70 — see tour cost.
How do I get to the Eagle’s Nest from Munich?
By tour it is a 10 or 11 hour day, either a small-group van with hotel pickup or a coach from Karlsplatz 21–24. Independently it means a train to Berchtesgaden, a local bus to Obersalzberg and then the Kehlstein bus. Both tours are compared on tours from Munich.
How far is the Eagle’s Nest from Salzburg?
Close enough that the whole guided trip, including the ascent and time at the top, runs 4.5 hours door to door from Mirabellplatz. That makes Salzburg the easiest base for a half-day visit; see tours from Salzburg.
Do I have to take the lift?
No. A path runs from the bus platform up to the house in about 25 minutes and needs proper footwear. The tunnel is still part of the route to the lift, which matters if enclosed spaces bother you — see accessibility.