Germany’s ‘Eagle’s Nest’ AKA Kehlsteinhaus: 10 Things To Know Before You Go

27.12.2023 - 18:55 / forbes.com

Situated in the German Alps, Kehlsteinhaus, aka the Eagle’s Nest, offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. It’s a strange sight, this squat stone building perched on the edge of a cliff. It was liberated at the end of WWII by Easy Company, made famous by the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. Today, it’s predominantly a restaurant, its dark history mostly obscured by modern kitchens and dining rooms.

The views, however, remain. There are even hikes that let you explore the mountaintop. In all it’s an extremely pleasant way to spend a day, but there are a few things to know before you go.

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There’s not much reason to go if it’s raining or cloudy. The main reasons to go are the views and the hikes. The building is interesting, but not that interesting.

Kehlsteinhaus’s dark history is certainly worth learning about, but there’s not much that feels particularly historic when you visit. In fact, if you didn’t know about its history, it would just feel like a slightly old-fashioned, or somewhat quirky, restaurant. Yes, the brass mirrored elevator is unique, but many of the rooms were converted to be a working restaurant a long time ago. Others have been left empty.

The sun terrace, a long, tall corridor that faces west with floor to ceiling windows, is a notable exception. Here, the history of the building is explained in a series of posters.

You can take the 838 bus from the Berchtesgaden’s train station, which drops you off at the Busbahnhof Kehlsteinhaus. From here you can buy a ticket to take another bus up to Kehlsteinhaus. During peak times, you’re better off buying this bus ticket online in advance. If you forget, don’t bother waiting in line, you can still buy a ticket online from your phone. This ticket functions as your ticket for Kehlsteinhaus, as there is no fee to enter.

The parking lot at the Busbahnhof Kehlsteinhaus, also referred to as the Obersalzberg car park, isn’t particularly large, so you’re better off just taking the bus. In fact…

The narrow-twisting road to Kehlsteinhaus is only open to buses.

You’re paying for the location and the view. The food is fine. I’m not a huge fan of German cuisine, so it’s possible I’m biased in that direction. It’s not overly expensive, though, which is rather surprising given the location. There are sandwiches for around 10 euros, and full meals for a little more. The most expensive options are still less than 20 euros.

You don’t need to eat at the restaurant if you don’t want to.

There are some hikes that start at Kehlsteinhaus. The easier ones just go to the adjacent peak, and there are paths and