— Wellness
Spring water, wood and quiet.
A sauna with five climate zones, a Kneipp pool fed by our own mountain spring, a one-kilometre barefoot trail and a sunbathing lawn with panoramic views.
To the spa— Experience
Four seasons, one starting point.
Around 130 experiences from the doorstep – with driving time, a hosts’ tip and the official link.
All activities— Contact
We are here for you.
The Selbertinger family and their team reply in person – by phone, by e-mail or via the enquiry form.
Enquiry & contact— Spring in the Berchtesgaden region
Hellebores and cherry trees flower in the valley while the peaks are still white. Between March and May the gorges, the alpine huts and the Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest) reopen one by one – with Bischofswiesen right in the middle.
— March to May
Spring climbs the mountains week by week: the first snow roses (wild hellebores) flower in March, April brings cherry blossom, the gorges and the boats to Salet, and in May the Kehlsteinhaus and the first alpine huts open. Easter 2027 falls as early as 28 March, when many places are still on winter hours and the gorges and many huts are likely to be closed. Valley walks, local customs, the salt mine and the spa are the better choice then.
April
Cherry blossom in the spa gardens, with the Watzmann behind
April/May
The Almbach and Wimbach gorges reopen after the snowmelt
Late April
Boats on Lake Königssee run through to Salet again
Guest card
Free regional buses and trains, bus 841 from Bischofswiesen
— Our recommendations
Tap a card to jump to the full story below – with travel time from the hotel, duration and our personal tip.
01 · Blossom time · Berchtesgaden
When the Japanese ornamental cherries flower in Berchtesgaden’s spa gardens (Kurgarten), you get one of the loveliest spring scenes in the Alps: rows of pink trees with the Watzmann, usually still snow-capped, behind them. Full bloom lasts only ten to fourteen days, so if you catch it, you see the town at its most delicate.
The lawns invite a picnic while spring water trickles through two basins. Most recently, the town held its spring festival “Berchtesgaden blüht auf” (Berchtesgaden in bloom) here on a Saturday during the blossom. For coffee and cake, the town centre is just a few steps away.
When
Mid-April to early May, depending on the weather
From the hotel
approx. 12 min by car · bus 841/839
Time needed
30–60 min, ideally with a stroll through town
Spring festival
2026: Sat 18 April from 2 pm · 2027 date not yet set
Admission
free
Our tip
Early morning brings the softest light – and you will have the gardens almost to yourself.
02 · Lake and summit · Schönau am Königssee
Silent electric boats glide across Lake Königssee, a fjord-like lake up to 192 metres deep, and at the rock face the boatman plays his trumpet to wake the famous echo. Until 23 April 2027, Easter included, the winter timetable runs to St. Bartholomä pilgrimage church only. From late April the boats continue to Salet, where a footpath leads on to the smaller Obersee.
Nearby, the Jennerbahn cable car rises via its middle station to 1,800 m, and a short summit path reveals the “Königsblick”, the view down onto the lake. Snow often lingers up here while spring has already reached the valley – and until 30 June the See-Gipfel-Ticket combines boat and cable car at a special price (2026 terms).
Boats
St. Bartholomä only until 23 Apr 2027, Salet from late April
Jennerbahn
2026 summer season from 25 April, after weeks of maintenance
Combined ticket
See-Gipfel-Ticket 2026: €56, sold only at the lakeside pier
From the hotel
approx. 17 min by car · bus 841, no change needed
Our tip
Set off early on one of the first boats, and you will have plenty of time left for the Jenner in the afternoon.
03 · Summit hike · straight from Bischofswiesen
The Toter Mann (“Dead Man”) is the viewpoint mountain above Bischofswiesen, and the hike starts at the station, about 20 minutes’ walk from the hotel. You climb via Loipl and past the Götschen ski area to the unstaffed Bezoldhütte on the summit, just under 1,400 m. Just beyond, the Hirschkaser inn has a sun terrace and viewing platform facing the Watzmann and Hochkalter, with the Wimbach valley between them.
The out-and-back route is 12.4 km with 786 m of ascent, so allow four to five hours of walking. The certified SalzAlpenTour “Rund um den Götschenkopf” loop from the Götschen ski area also crosses the summit and is shorter (9.2 km, approx. 3.5 hours). From May, the Hirscheckbahn chairlift at Hochschwarzeck runs in good weather – ride up, then walk down via the Söldenköpfl to Engedey.
Route
12.4 km there and back · 786 m ascent · moderate
Walking time
approx. 4–5 hrs without breaks
Refreshments
Hirschkaser, 2026 daily 9 am–5 pm · Bezoldhütte unstaffed
Start
Bischofswiesen station, approx. 20 min on foot from the hotel
Our tip
Snow can linger on north-facing slopes in spring – ask about trail and snow conditions at the Alpine Club’s advice desk by the Kurgarten (Mon–Fri 4–6 pm).
04 · First flowers · Maria Gern
In early spring – usually March or April, depending on the winter – hundreds of snow roses, as the wild hellebores are called here, line the woodland path below the Kneifelspitze, while winter heath flowers on the Marxenhöhe, a ten-minute detour. The loop starts at the Maria Gern pilgrimage church and covers 6 km with some 425 m of ascent to the viewpoint summit at 1,188 m.
From a bench along the way, the view stretches across the valley basin to the Watzmann and the Hochkalter, and at the top the Paulshütte enjoys an all-round panorama. The hut opened on 3 April in 2026, so it may still be closed at Easter 2027. The route is graded easy but is very steep in places.
Flowering
usually March/April, after mild winters from late February
Route
6 km · approx. 3 hrs · 425 m ascent · easy, steep in places
Refreshments
Paulshütte, 2026 from 3 April, daily 9 am–5 pm, weather permitting
From the hotel
approx. 12 min by car to Maria Gern
Our tip
Snow roses are strictly protected, so please take them home only as photographs.
05 · Season opening · Ramsau and Marktschellenberg
About 15 minutes’ walk from the Wimbachbrücke car park in Ramsau, the Wimbachklamm gorge begins: for some 200 metres, bridges and walkways lead through the narrow rock cleft past waterfalls and cushions of moss. Beyond it the Wimbach valley opens up at the foot of the Watzmann, and the Wimbachschloss, a former hunting lodge, serves food and drink.
The Almbachklamm near Marktschellenberg is much longer: 29 bridges and walkways, 320 steps and a rock tunnel follow the torrent up to the Theresienklause, a 14-metre dam built in 1834–36. At the entrance, the Kugelmühle has been grinding balls from Untersberg marble since 1683. Both gorges open only after the snowmelt, so they are likely to be closed at Easter 2027.
Season 2026
Almbachklamm from 17 April, Wimbachklamm from 30 April
Wimbachklamm
walk 8.5 km · approx. 2 hrs · tickets from the machine only
Almbachklamm
to the Theresienklause and back 6.3 km · approx. 2.5 hrs
Admission 2026
Wimbach €4 from age 7 · Almbach €9, €8 with guest card
From the hotel
approx. 15 min (Wimbachbrücke) or 21 min (Kugelmühle)
Our tip
The walkways in the Almbachklamm in particular are wet and slippery, so sturdy shoes with good grip are essential.
06 · Mountain lake · Ramsau
The emerald-green Hintersee in the mountaineering village of Ramsau drew 19th-century painters such as Rottmann, Waldmüller and Gauermann, and a painters’ trail with information boards recalls them today. The lakeside loop is 2.7 km long, almost level and gravelled, so it is easy going with a pushchair.
Right next door lies the Zauberwald (“enchanted forest”): after a huge rockfall thousands of years ago, moss and trees grow among giant boulders, with a mountain stream rushing between them. The national park’s Klausbachhaus information centre, free to enter, explains alpine dairy farming, and from mid-May the first Almen (summer pasture huts) in the Klausbach valley open.
Lakeside loop
2.7 km · approx. 1 hr · level · suitable for pushchairs
Zauberwald
loop approx. 1 hr · 55 m ascent · not for pushchairs
Klausbachhaus
national park information centre, daily 9 am–5 pm, free
From the hotel
approx. 22 min by car · bus 846 from Berchtesgaden
Our tip
The lake is at its most atmospheric early in the morning, when a fine mist often lies over the water.
07 · Right here in Bischofswiesen · Aschauerweiher
The 2.7 km loop starts at the Aschauerweiher natural swimming lake, and eight boards along the way explain habitats such as swamp forest, nutrient-poor meadow, calcareous fen and mixed mountain forest. It passes through the hamlet of Hochgartdörfl with its listed farmhouses; the old Hochgartlehen farm with the Watzmann behind it is a favourite photo spot.
The trail is well signposted, has only around 50 m of ascent and suits pushchairs, with views of the Watzmann and the “Schlafende Hexe” (Sleeping Witch) mountain silhouette. At the end, the free Kneipp pool at the Aschauerweiher invites you to wade through its cold water. If it has not yet been filled in early spring, our own Kneipp facility with barefoot path awaits you at the hotel.
Route
2.7 km · approx. 1 hr · 52 m ascent · easy, all year
Start
Aschauerweiher car park · trail and Kneipp pool free
From the hotel
approx. 8 min by car · approx. 50 min on foot
For children
Märchenpfad fairy-tale trail from the Aschauerweiher, 2.7 km
Our tip
The Hochgartlehen is a private farm, so please take your photos from the public path.
08 · Short loop · Berchtesgaden
The Berchtesgaden panorama loop starts at the Weihnachtsschützenplatz square by the Bier-Adam inn and climbs to the Kalvarienberg, then follows the brine-pipeline boardwalk (Soleleitungssteg) to the Kirchleitn chapel. From this “Chapel of the Beatitudes” on the Ponnzenzenbichl you look over rooftops and church towers straight at the Watzmann – according to berchtesgaden.de one of the most photographed scenes in Bavaria.
The way back leads through the Nonntal to the palace square, past the parish church of St. Andreas (1397) and the collegiate church. Since 2022 a stele beside the chapel has honoured the Blessed Father Kaspar Stanggassinger. The loop is 2.3 km with around 100 m of ascent and can be walked all year, but it is not suitable for pushchairs.
Route
2.3 km · approx. 1 hr · 100 m ascent · easy, all year
Start
Weihnachtsschützenplatz by the Bier-Adam inn
From the hotel
approx. 12 min by car · bus 841/839
Please note
not step-free and not suitable for pushchairs
Our tip
Start on a Friday morning, when the weekly market on the Weihnachtsschützenplatz sells regional cheese, bread and cakes from 8 am to noon.
— More ideas
Stage 8 of this certified long-distance trail from Lake Chiemsee to Lake Hallstatt starts at the Bischofswiesen tourist office, climbs steeply via Winkl and Weißbach to the Mordaualm and ends along the old brine-pipeline path (Soleleitungsweg) at Ramsau church. For a gentler day, walk just the sunny Soleleitungsweg from Ramsau past the Maria Kunterweg pilgrimage church to Ilsank in Bischofswiesen, with the Gerstreit and Söldenköpfl inns, both open in March 2026. According to berchtesgaden.de, our hotel is a SalzAlpenSteig partner.
Stage 8 at berchtesgaden.de (German) ↗
The former monastery of Augustinian canons, founded between 1122 and 1128, stands on a peninsula in a small lake left behind by the Ice Age. A level, broad shoreline path takes you round in just over half an hour, pushchairs included, past a Kneipp pool and the Klosterwirt inn’s beer garden. The well-known Holy Sepulchre (Heiliges Grab) in the monastery church is only set up every three years – not in 2027.
Lake loop at berchtesgaden.de (German) ↗
The Kührointalm mountain pasture lies right below the Kleiner Watzmann, and from the nearby Archenkanzel viewpoint you look steeply down onto St. Bartholomä and about two thirds of Lake Königssee. The hut serves food from mid-May and can be reached on foot from Hammerstiel or Wimbachbrücke, or by (e-)mountain bike. Old snow may still lie higher up, so check trail conditions with the Alpine Club advice desk (Alpine Auskunft) first.
Kührointalm at berchtesgaden.de (German) ↗
This high pasture at 1,685 m faces the Watzmann east face, and ten minutes away the Feuerpalfen viewpoint looks more than 1,100 m straight down to Lake Königssee and St. Bartholomä. Every approach is long and demanding – from Hinterbrand via the Königsbachalm and Priesbergalm it is 21.5 km and about 8.5 hours. The hut opened on 22 May in 2026, so it may still be closed at Whitsun 2027 (16/17 May).
Gotzenalm at berchtesgaden.de (German) ↗From early or mid-May, depending on the weather, special buses once again climb the Kehlsteinstraße; a 124-metre tunnel and a lift inside the mountain then take you up to the Kehlsteinhaus at 1,834 m. Down at Obersalzberg, the award-winning Documentation Centre explains the site’s Nazi history, open daily 9 am–5 pm except during maintenance weeks – a good choice on rainy days too.
Kehlsteinhaus at berchtesgaden.de (German) ↗Dressed in miners’ overalls, you ride the mine train into the mountain, whizz down the miners’ slides and drift across the underground Spiegelsee lake on a raft. Salt has been mined here since 1517, the mine is still working, and the temperature inside stays at 12 °C all year. Until 29 March 2027, Easter included, winter hours of 11 am–3 pm apply; the mine is closed on Good Friday and Whit Monday.
Tours and opening hours (German) ↗
In the Alte Fronveste on the palace square, a former prison dating from around 1510, the Berchtesgadener Handwerkskunst shop sells “Berchtesgadener War”, the region’s traditional painted woodwork: chip boxes, toys and, in spring, hand-painted wooden Easter eggs from its own workshop. A turner in Ramsau makes the blanks, and the patterns are applied with carved wooden stamps and a fine brush. The Schloss Adelsheim museum, open again from March, tells the story of the craft.
Berchtesgadener Handwerkskunst (German) ↗
The “Berchtesgadener Radstern” links four cycle routes radiating from Berchtesgaden; the northern branch runs through Bischofswiesen, along the Bischofswieser Ache stream to Hallthurm and back past the Aschauerweiher (28.3 km, easy). The southern branch follows the Königsseer Ache to Lake Königssee (12 km). E-bikes can be hired from Bergsportverleih Bischofswiesen at the Aschauerweiher, among others, with helmet and lock included.
Radstern Nord at berchtesgaden.de (German) ↗In March and April you may find firn snow on the mountain in the morning and spring in the valley in the afternoon. The classic is the Kleine Reibn over the Schneibstein with a long descent to Lake Königssee; right from Bischofswiesen station, a piste tour leads up the Götschen for as long as the snow lasts. Ski touring is only for experienced people with full avalanche kit and the latest avalanche bulletin – everyone else should go with a mountain guide.
Bavarian avalanche bulletin (German) ↗The Haus der Berge national park centre takes you from the bed of Lake Königssee to the summit of the Watzmann in its “Vertikale Wildnis” (Vertical Wilderness) exhibition, and the “Bergvitrine” window frames the real Watzmann. Afterwards, warm up at the Watzmann Therme spa: Berchtesgaden brine pools indoors and out, an 80-metre slide and four saunas, open daily until 10 pm. If you would rather stay in, our own sauna and infrared facilities are waiting.
Haus der Berge at berchtesgaden.de (German) ↗— Customs & dates
Mid-March to mid-June
Visit three of nine spring destinations with the SummitLynx app – in 2026 these included the Kastensteinerwand in Bischofswiesen, Lake Hintersee and the Kirchleitn chapel – to earn a digital certificate, a small spring gift from the tourist offices while stocks last and, for a small fee, the pin itself. The 2027 dates and check-in points have not yet been published.
Palm Sunday
In every parish, Bischofswiesen and Oberau included, children carry palm bundles decorated with colourful ribbons of dyed wood shavings (Schaberbandl) to be blessed, followed by a procession and Mass. The best place to watch is outside the church shortly before the service; times are listed in the Stiftsland parish bulletin.
More about this custom →Easter
The Easter Vigil begins with the Easter fire outside the church, and at the Vigil and on Easter Sunday morning the food that families bring for their Easter breakfast is blessed. As Easter falls early in 2027, many places are still on winter hours: boats on Lake Königssee only go to St. Bartholomä, and the gorges and many huts are not expected to open until mid-April or May.
More about this custom →Mid-April
While the cherries were in bloom, Berchtesgaden most recently held its spring festival “Berchtesgaden blüht auf” in the Kurgarten on a Saturday in mid-April (from 2 pm in 2026). Whether and when it takes place in 2027 will be shown in the events calendar.
Around 1 May
The maypole – in the valley basin usually a peeled, natural trunk – is hauled upright centimetre by centimetre by sheer muscle power, with brass music, dancing and often maypole climbing. Not every village raises one every year; where the celebrations take place in 2027 will be listed in the events calendar.
More about this custom →In May
May is the month of Mary, and parishes hold evening devotions with hymns and prayers, often in chapels and pilgrimage churches. Guests are welcome; places and times appear in the Stiftsland parish bulletin and on church doors.
Whit Monday
For more than 500 years the salt miners have celebrated their guild festival: on Whit Monday they walk in historic dress with their traditional tools from the mine to a thanksgiving service in the collegiate church at 10.30 am, then parade through the town from around 11.30 am. On Whit Sunday evening the miners’ band plays a concert on the palace square; the salt mine is closed on Whit Monday.
More about this custom →Corpus Christi
On this feast day, processions with costume societies, flag bearers and brass bands make their way through the parishes to decorated altars; Marktschellenberg even has its own Corpus Christi riflemen. It is a public holiday in Bavaria, and times and routes are published shortly beforehand in the parish bulletin.
More about this custom →Book directly with us – over breakfast we are happy to help you plan your days.
