Bestseller232 reviews
9 hFrom Munich: Königsee Day Tour by Van
★ 4.6 · 232 reviews
- Nine hours, Pickup and hotel drop-off
- St. Bartholomä Chapel visit
- Bestseller
- Free cancellation
$146$16.22 / hour
Check availability→ Königssee in one day
Munich to Berchtesgaden day trip: Königssee by van
A Munich to Berchtesgaden day trip on this site means one listing: a 9-hour van tour with hotel pickup, a boat across Königssee to the chapel of St. Bartholomä and a drive along the German Alpine Road. It costs $146 per person before the boat tickets, and 232 reviewers rate it 4.6. Below: what the price covers, how the day runs and what changes from mid-October.
Quick answer
The short answer. Book this Königssee day trip from Munich if you want the lake and the mountains without planning a single connection: you are collected at your hotel, driven into the Berchtesgaden Alps, put on the boat by your guide and dropped back at your hotel. Budget for the boat tickets on top, paid in cash to the guide, and for lunch. If a lower price matters more than the door-to-door van, the lake day to Herrenchiemsee is $66.
The Munich to Berchtesgaden day trip at a glance
- Price
- $146per person
- Length
- 9 hourshotel to hotel
- Transport
- Vanpickup and hotel drop-off included
- On the lake
- Boat to St. Bartholomäboat tickets not in the price
- Paying for the boat
- Cashdirectly to your guide
- Lunch
- Not includedyou buy your own
- Guide languages
- English, Germanlive guide
- Mid-October to mid-April
- St. Bartholomä onlyold town of Berchtesgaden instead
- Reviews
- 232rated 4.6
- Cancellation
- Free cancellationcheck the deadline on the listing
How the day works
Nine hours, one van, one lake
Door to door: what the 9 hours are made of, and what reviewers say about them.
Königssee sits in the Berchtesgaden Alps of Bavaria, and on this site one listing goes there: a van tour that starts at your hotel door. The listing describes the lake as Germany’s third deepest, surrounded by towering rock faces, and the drive in as part of the German Alpine Road. That door-to-door start is the first thing to understand about a Munich to Berchtesgaden day trip by van: you do not find a meeting point, catch a train or change to a bus. The van does that work.
Guan-Jhou from Taiwan summed it up: «Very good arrangement and schedule, the lake is absolutely beautiful. Picking up from hotel is very convenient and comfortable.» Connie from the United States said the same thing more bluntly: «Being picked up at my hotel was awesome so I didn’t have to search for a tour bus etc.»
At the lake, your guide sorts out the boat. The tickets are not part of the $146; the listing asks you to pay for them in cash directly to the guide. Lunch is not included either. Neither is a big surprise on a lake day, but both belong in your budget before you book a Munich to Berchtesgaden day trip.
Stop by stop
From your hotel to the lake and back
How the listing describes the Munich to Berchtesgaden day trip, in the order you see it.
- Pickup in Munich
The van collects you at your hotel. Pickup is included in the price, which is rare among day trips on this site: only this one and the Neuschwanstein van tour include it.
- The German Alpine Road
The drive south runs along the German Alpine Road into the Berchtesgaden Alps. The listing also points out a ridge it calls the «Sleeping Witch».
- The boat on Königssee
Your guide gets the boat tickets, paid in cash. On the water, the listing names the echo of Königssee, and the Watzmann rising to 2,700 metres (8,900 feet) above the lake.
- St. Bartholomä
The boat stops at the chapel of St. Bartholomä, which the listing dates back to 1134. This stop is on the program all year.
- Salet and the Obersee, outside mid-October to mid-April
Outside those months the boat continues to Salet, from where you walk to the Obersee and the Röthbachfall waterfall. From mid-October to mid-April this part is not on the program.
- Berchtesgaden, mid-October to mid-April
In those months the boat goes only as far as St. Bartholomä, and the day adds the old town of Berchtesgaden in place of Salet.
- Back to Munich
The day ends with a return to Munich and a hotel drop-off.
On the water
Königssee, frame by frame
Three frames from the lake. The first one is on the program all year; the Obersee is part of the day outside mid-October to mid-April.
St. Bartholomä
The white chapel with its red onion domes at the water’s edge, a few houses beside it and a sheer rock wall rising behind.
The Obersee, outside mid-October to mid-April
Clear green water over pale stones, with the cliffs and a green meadow mirrored in the surface.
The old boathouse
A grey wooden boathouse on stilts with a short jetty, mossy rocks in front and steep rock walls on both sides of the water.
Every trip, current fare
What the lake day costs, next to three other long days
Königssee next to the cheaper lake day and two days at Neuschwanstein. Lunch is not included on any of them, and each leaves one ticket for you to pay.
| Trip | Price | Price is for | Length | What the price covers | Where it starts | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Königssee and the German Alpine Road | $146 | per person | 9 hours | Van with hotel pickup and drop-off, live guide in English or German, the boat to St. Bartholomä. Boat tickets not in the price: cash to the guide. | Pickup from your Munich hotel | 4.6 · 232 |
| Herrenchiemsee Palace and Chiemsee | $66 | per person | 9.5 hours | Train with a guide, the ferry to the island, a 40-minute guided palace tour. Boat and palace entrance not in the price: paid at the office before the tour. | Dachauer Str. 4; arrive 15 minutes early | 4.9 · 150 |
| Neuschwanstein by van | $140 | per person | 10 hours | Comfortable van, group limited to 8, a guided tour of the castle. Castle tickets not in the price: cash to the guide after the tour. | Pickup included | 4.9 · 1,371 |
| Neuschwanstein, our top pick | $89 | per person | 10 hours | Train or bus ride with a guide, Füssen and a walking tour of the castle grounds. Entry to the castle not in the price: bought on the morning of the tour. | Dachauer Str. 4 | 4.7 · 4,387 |
The price
Why the Königssee van costs more than the other lake day
What the higher fare pays for, in hours and in comfort.
At $146 per person, this is the highest fare on the site. Spread over the 9 hours on the listing, it works out at $16.22 an hour. What you pay extra for is the van: a seat from your hotel and back to it, and a guide who drives you into the mountains rather than walking you to a platform.
Day trips on this site start from $66 per person, for the 9.5-hour day to Herrenchiemsee Palace and Chiemsee by train and boat. The listings at $22 to $59 are the aquarium ticket, the hop-on hop-off bus, the bike ride and the three guided visits to the Dachau Memorial Site.
So the honest comparison for a Munich to Berchtesgaden day trip is with the other lake: for the difference you get the Alps and a van from your door, instead of a train, a ferry and a 15-minute-early arrival at the office.
Not in the price
Four things the Königssee day does not include
Read these before you book a Munich to Berchtesgaden day trip. None of them is hidden; all four are on the listing.
- The boat tickets
Paid in cash directly to your guide at the lake, so bring cash with you.
- Lunch
Not part of the price. Plan to buy your own on the day.
- Salet and the Obersee from mid-October to mid-April
In those months the boat goes only to St. Bartholomä. If the Obersee is your reason to go, check your date first.
- No Eagle’s Nest
It is not on this itinerary. The day is the lake, the chapel and the Alpine road, plus the old town of Berchtesgaden from mid-October to mid-April.
Who it suits
Book the van, or take the cheaper lake day?
The Munich to Berchtesgaden day trip suits some travellers very well and others less. Four honest tests.
- Book it if you want mountains, not museums
Mackenzie from the United States: «Our guide was wonderful! Beautiful mountains and a great purchase overall!» A Munich to Königssee day trip is about the lake and the peaks, not museums.
- Book it if you would rather not plan anything
One booking covers the van from your hotel, the guide and the drop-off at the end. The boat tickets are the one thing you pay on the day.
- Take the Herrenchiemsee day if the budget is tight
It is the lowest day-trip fare on the site, $66, and it also has a lake, a boat and a palace. You meet in town instead of being collected.
- Not for you if the Eagle’s Nest is the goal
This day does not go there, and no listing on this site does.
The same day by another name
Königssee, Schönau and Berchtesgaden: one outing
Three names, one listing: where each of them really leads.
Königssee and Berchtesgaden are often named together, and for this day that is fair. The lake lies in the Berchtesgaden Alps, so a Berchtesgaden tour from Munich on this site is this van and this boat. The boats on Königssee leave from Schönau am Königssee, the village at the northern end of the lake: a Munich to Schönau am Königssee day trip is the same outing under the name of the village.
Only the town of Berchtesgaden changes with the date. From mid-October to mid-April, the listing puts its old town into the day in place of Salet, which makes it a Berchtesgaden day trip from Munich in the full sense. Outside those months, Berchtesgaden is the name of the Alps you drive into rather than a stop.
Before you book
Five things to check before you pay
Two minutes on the listing saves surprises on the Munich to Berchtesgaden day trip.
- Your date
From mid-October to mid-April the boat stops at St. Bartholomä and the day adds the old town of Berchtesgaden. Outside those months it continues to Salet.
- Cash for the boat
The listing asks you to pay for the boat tickets in cash, directly to the tour guide.
- Your hotel address
Pickup is included, so the address you give when you book is where the van comes for you.
- Your language
The live guide speaks English and German.
- Cancellation
The listing offers free cancellation and lets you reserve now and pay later. Check the deadline on it before you book.
Our verdict
Our verdict on Königssee in a day
Book the Munich to Berchtesgaden day trip if you want the Alps without a timetable. For $146 you get hotel pickup, a guide in English or German, the German Alpine Road and the boat to St. Bartholomä, and 232 reviewers rate it 4.6. Add cash for the boat and money for lunch.
If the price is the deciding factor, take the Herrenchiemsee day at $66. If the Obersee is the point, travel outside mid-October to mid-April.
Book direct
The Munich to Berchtesgaden day trip and three other long days
The Königssee van first, then the lake day to Herrenchiemsee, the Neuschwanstein van tour and our top pick. All four are priced per person.
Bestseller9.5 h
9.5 hFrom Munich: Herrenchiemsee Palace and Boat Trip Day-Tour
★ 4.9 · 150 reviews
- 9.5 hours, Train from Munich with guide
- 40-minute guided palace tour
- Bestseller
- Free cancellation
$66$6.95 / hour
Check availability→ 
Likely to sell out1,371 reviews
10 hFrom Munich: Neuschwanstein Castle Full-Day Trip by Van
★ 4.9 · 1,371 reviews
- Ten hours, Limited to 8 participants
- Pickup included
- Likely to sell out
- Free cancellation
$140$14.00 / hour
Check availability→ 
Our top pick4,387 reviews
10 hFrom Munich: Neuschwanstein Castle Full-Day Trip
★ 4.7 · 4,387 reviews
- Ten hours, 2-hour train or bus ride
- Guided walk around castle grounds
- Bestseller
- Free cancellation
$89$8.90 / hour
Check availability→ Common questions
Munich to Berchtesgaden day trip: questions, answered
Is the Königssee boat ride included?
No. The listing says boat tickets are not included in the tour price and asks you to pay for them in cash directly to the tour guide. Your guide gets the tickets for the group.
Does the boat go to Salet in winter?
No. From mid-October to mid-April the boat goes only to St. Bartholomä, without Salet, the Obersee and the waterfall. In those months the day visits the old town of Berchtesgaden instead.
Is there hotel pickup for Königssee?
Yes. Pickup is included, and the day ends with a return to Munich for a hotel drop-off.
Is lunch included?
No. The listing says boat tickets and lunch are not included in the tour price. None of the day trips on this site include lunch.
Is it a small-group tour?
The listing gives no group size. On this site, the only day trip with a stated limit is the Neuschwanstein van tour, limited to 8 participants.
Can I cancel?
Yes. The listing offers free cancellation; check the deadline on it before you book.
Go deeper
More on day trips from Munich
Into the Alps
Into the Alps
Which outings reach the mountains: lakes, castles and Alpine roads.
HerrenchiemseeHerrenchiemsee
The palace on the island in the lake, reached by boat.
Neuschwanstein comparedNeuschwanstein compared
Three ways to see the king’s castle from Munich, side by side: coach, van, or with Linderhof.
SalzburgSalzburg
Mozart’s city across the border by train, with a guide on the day.
Which one to pickWhich one to pick
Choosing by time, budget and interest: castles, cities, lakes or history.
