You can totally visit the Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) and Obersalzberg on your own (here’s how to do it). However, having a guide to organise your tickets and schedule makes your life much easier.
In this guide you will learn what you can expect from a guided day trip from Munich.
Tours from Munich to the Eagle’s Nest and Obersalzberg are operated by Grayline by Autobus Oberbayern. I work for this company as a tour guide, but I do not earn any money if you book through this link. You can also book through Viator, GetYourGuide and other platforms. This is not a sponsored post.
Note: The Eagle’s Nest is only open from early May to early November, weather permitting!
Unsure what the difference is between the Eagle’s Nest and Obersalzberg? Or is it all the same thing? Read my blog post Eagle’s Nest vs. Obersalzberg: What’s the Difference? to find out.
How Does a Guided Tour to Eagle’s Nest Work?
Setting out from central Munich, you will probably see a few Nazi-related buildings on your way to the Autobahn. This depends on the route your driver chooses based on the traffic situation.
(Munich actually still has a fairly large number of Nazi-era buildings. A prominent example is the Haus der Kunst (House of Art), an art gallery that was initially called the House of German Art. The first thing visitors saw upon entering was a massive statue of Hitler. In the building, the ceilings are too high for optimal display or art and lighting, underlining the main purpose of the building: propaganda.)
On the Road
On the drive to the town of Berchtesgaden, your guide will give you background information about the Obersalzberg and the Eagle’s Nest. You will be driving on the A8 autobahn that was built during the Third Reich. Along the way, you will get some beautiful mountain views on your right and pass Lake Chiemsee (where Herrenchiemsee palace sits on an island) on your left.
Arrival at the Obersalzberg
Upon arrival at the Obersalzberg car park (your coach will remain parked here), your guide will collect the tickets for the group. Time permitting, they will show you the site of the former Berghof, Hitler’s residence on the Obersalzberg.
Then it’s off to the special bus and elevator that will take you to the Eagle’s Nest. You board the uphill bus as a group, so make sure you don’t lose sight of your guide at the bus stop. Your ticket tells you which bus you should board.
Once you have reached the upper parking lot, your guide will chase you into the tunnel towards the elevator. This is not because they don’t want you to take photos of the magnificent view – they want to make sure you get up to the Eagle’s Nest quickly, without waiting too long for the elevator.
Eagle’s Nest Visit
At the Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus), you have time to explore on your own. There will not be enough time for you to eat at the restaurant and walk to the summit cross and beyond, however.
Weather and fitness permitting, your guide will shoo you out of the building and towards the summit cross. Views here are much better than from the building!
It is up to you whether you want to tag along with your guide or do your own thing. The advantage of tagging along is that your guide has visited many times and knows all the great viewpoints.
In good time for your return bus, make your way back down to the upper bus stop by elevator (you may have to wait in line) or on foot (ca. 20 minutes downhill walking). Together with your tour group, return to the Obersalzberg.
Back Down to the Obersalzberg
Once you are back at the Obersalzberg, you will have approximately two hours of free time. You can have lunch, visit the documentation center (show your bus ticket for free admission), or admire the views.
Then the tour bus returns to Munich. Depending on traffic, the journey will take about two hours.
Bad-Weather Alternative: Salt Mine
The road to the Eagle’s Nest is highly exposed and therefore very vulnerable to bad weather. It may be closed at any time for safety reasons. In that case, your tour cannot visit the Eagle’s Nest and will go to the salt mine in Berchtesgaden instead.
What’s Included in the Tour Price?
Your tour price typically includes the coach transportation and guide only.
Everything else is extra – meals, drinks, admission fees, souvenirs, tips for your guide.
Optional Cost: Eagle’s Nest Special Bus
If you would like to use the special bus and elevator to reach the Eagle’s Nest, you can purchase tickets from your guide.
The cost is currently (2026) €36 per adult and €20 per child, payable by card. This includes a small booking fee charged by the tour company, but guarantees you a ticket.
This is completely optional – you are not under any obligation to purchase tickets for the bus. However, in that case, you are limited to spending your day on the Obersalzberg.
How Much Time Do You Spend at Eagle’s Nest?
You spend the „normal“ amount of time at Eagle’s Nest. This means that your tour returns to the Obersalzberg within the standard timeframe of all tickets: about 2 hours.
This is enough time to have a look around the Eagle’s Nest itself and to explore the area beyond the building. You will see get some excellent mountain views and will catch glimpses of Lake Königsee and Salzburg in Austria.
After you return to the Obersalzberg, you will have time to eat lunch there and/or visit the documentation center (show your bus ticket for free admission).
Do You Visit the Obersalzberg?
Yes, you also visit the Obersalzberg. In fact, your tour bus will be parked there.
Once you return from the Eagle’s Nest, you will have about two hours at the Obersalzberg.
What Happens in Bad Weather?
In bad weather, the access road to the Eagle’s Nest is closed. On such days, nobody can visit. This is for your own safety.
In this case, your tour will take you to the Berchtesgaden salt mine.
Tour Duration
A guided tour from Munich to Eagle’s Nest is a day trip. You will leave Munich at around 8:30 AM and return at around 6-6:30 PM, depending on traffic.
Keep in mind that the drive from Munich to the Obersalzberg and back will take at least two hours each way.
Advantages of a Guided Tour
Obviously, convenience. No need to worry about how to get there, how to buy a ticket, how much time to schedule, etc.
Another advantage is that you don’t have to worry about ticket availability at all. Your tour company has a time slot reserved, so if you are on the tour, you are guaranteed a ticket for the special bus and elevator.
In addition, you get a guide who knows the history and the area well and will be able to point you in all the right directions. Especially the Obersalzberg area can be a bit confusing.
Disadvantages of a Guided Tour
The biggest disadvantage, in my opinion, is that your time on site is limited.
You do get enough time to look at the Eagle’s Nest building (which is not very big) and the area outside, but you have a fixed time for the bus back down.
Back at Obersalzberg, you have approximately 2 hours before your bus goes back to Munich. That’s enough for a quick lunch at the restaurant and the 40-minute audio tour of the documentation center. However, it’s not enough time to really look at any of the documentation center in more detail.
My personal suggestion: If you want to spend more time at the documentation center, pack a sandwich. That way, you don’t waste any time waiting for your lunch at the restaurant. (In Munich, there are various bakeries and other snack places in the underground shopping center at Stachus, right near where your tour starts. They are open daily except Sundays and public holidays.)
Another disadvantage (in my personal opinion): This tour does not stop in the very pretty town of Berchtesgaden. Depending on the traffic situation on the way back, you will have a drive-through the town as well as some other small towns in the area.
Let’s also be clear, a guided tour will be more expensive than if you organise your own tour. But that’s the price you pay for convenience. And for a guide.
Pro Tip: Stay Behind
Would you like to spend more time in the area? Great idea! Berchtesgaden has a lot to offer. See my separate article on How to Visit Berchtesgaden, Obersalzberg & Eagle’s Nest On Your Own for details.
You could use your guided tour as transportation to Berchtesgaden and stay behind after your visit. (Bring your bags – they can travel in the luggage compartment.) If your coach cannot drop you off in the town center, just catch a regular public bus (line 838) from the Obersalzberg to the town center.
The Berchtesgaden area is great for
- hiking and mountaineering,
- boat trips on lake Königssee,
- being lazy in the thermal spa Watzmann Therme,
- visiting the Berchtesgaden salt mine or
- taking an excursion to Salzburg.
Is An Organized Eagle’s Nest Tour from Munich Worth It?
If you have limited time and would like to see the highlights of the Eagle’s Nest and Obersalzberg, along with some stunning mountain scenery, then an organized Eagle’s Nest day trip from Munich is definitely worth it.
Do be aware, however, of the fast pace of the tour. If you would like to spend more time in the area, especially at the documentation center, you may find the tour too fast and superficial. In this case, I strongly recommend spending a few days in the area. Basing yourself in Berchtesgaden, you can visit the Eagle’s Nest and Obersalzberg as well as other places at leisure. See How To Visit Berchtesgaden, Obersalzberg & Eagle’s Nest On Your Own for details and itinerary suggestions.
Eagle’s Nest Guided Tour FAQs
Do Tours Run Every Day?
Tours from Munich run only a few times a week, operated by Grayline by Autobus Oberbayern.
From Salzburg, they run daily, operated by Panorama Tours.
I am a tour guide for Grayline by Autobus Oberbayern, but I do not use affiliate links and do not make any money if you click on the link.
I am not affiliated with Panorama Tours in any way.
Do Tours Run Throughout the Year?
No. The Eagle’s Nest is open from early May to early November only (subject to change). Tours run only during that period.
The rest of the year, you can still visit the Obersalzberg documentation center.
Does My Tour Drop Off Right at Eagle’s Nest?
No.
Your tour bus will be parked at the parking lot near the Obersalzberg documentation center. To get to the Eagle’s Nest, you will have to take a special bus. The road to the Eagle’s Nest is closed to all traffic except for these special buses.
The special bus drops you off at the entrance to the tunnel leading to the elevator. This elevator takes you right into the Eagle’s Nest building.
There is an extra cost for taking the bus and elevator, payable to your tour guide.
Must I Buy a Ticket for the Special Bus?
No. You are not required to book the special bus.
Without the special bus, however, you will not be able to visit the Eagle’s Nest within the time frame of your tour.
Walking up to the Eagle’s Nest is possible, but it will take you several hours.
To be clear, if you don’t take the special bus, your visit will be limited to the Obersalzberg. That is not necessarily a bad thing – there is a lot to see there. You can easily spend a few hours at the documentation center.
Can I Manage My Own Time at the Site?
Kind of. As part of your tour, you will be assigned to a bus for the drive to the Eagle’s Nest and back. You can theoretically change your return time. Please talk to your guide before you do anything, however!
If you spend more time at the Eagle’s Nest, you will lose that time at the Obersalzberg. Your tour will not wait for you just because you decide you need more time on the mountain.
Is There a Lot of Nazi History at the Eagle’s Nest?
Not terribly much. The Eagle’s Nest was a representative building and used mainly to impress high-level visitors.
If your main interest is Nazi history, focus on the Obersalzberg documentation center.