Kehlsteinhaus Berchtesgaden including a panoramic view of the valley in the surroundings of Munich.

Kehlsteinhaus

Hitler’s tea room

At a height of 1,834 metres, Kehlsteinhaus is a historical lookout high above Berchtesgaden, offering a stunning panoramic view.

Kehlsteinhaus was completed in 1938. Among other purposes, it was intended for the entertainment of official guests during the dictatorship, which is why it was also referred to as the “Teehaus” (tea room). In fact, Adolf Hitler himself rarely visited the Kehlsteinhaus: it is thought that the journey to get there was considered too long and too risky.

The Kehlsteinhaus – today a mountain restaurant – has been retained in its original form as a historical monument from the Third Reich, and is among the most popular destinations for trips in Germany. Its location permits a unique view from the terrace, over the Berchtesgaden alpine landscape and the area around Salzburg.

However, it is important to regard it not simply as a lookout point and beauty spot, but also as an admonishment and reminder of the atrocities of the inhuman National Socialist regime.

How do you get to the Kehlsteinhaus?

By bus and lift: Kehlsteinstrasse, which leads to the Eagle’s Nest – as the Allies referred to the property after the Second World War – is inaccessible to private traffic. Buses take visitors to the viewing platform, and a 124-metre-long tunnel leads from there to a brass-lined lift in which guests travel 124 metres up into the Kehlsteinhaus.

On foot: A hike from the Ofnerboden car park to the Kehlstein takes between 2.5 and 4 hours, depending on your physical condition. It is only a few metres from the Kehlsteinhaus to the summit, where the panoramic Kehlstein circular trail begins.

 

Kehlsteinhaus: general information

All the information on opening times, guides, and how to travel up to the Kehlsteinhaus is available at www.kehlsteinhaus.de. The Kehlsteinhaus is closed in the winter season.

Video: Lakes & Mountains

Tip: Anyone planning a day trip to Berchtesgaden should rise early, as the trip from Munich takes around two hours.

Got curious? A day trip with Gray Line Sightseeing takes you along the Alpine Road into the Berchtesgadener Land – to the Obersalzberg and Eagle's Nest. In case of bad weather, the salt mine can be visited alternatively. Click here for booking.

 

Frequently asked questions about Kehlsteinhaus

 

You can reach the Kehlsteinhaus by car via the A8, exit Salzburg Süd and then continue in the direction of Obersalzbergstrasse. There are two parking spaces at Obersalzberg.

From Berchtesgaden train station, bus line 838 goes directly to Obersalzberg. Once there, change to the Kehlstein bus, which will take you directly to the Kehlstein. For barrier-free access, there is a lift from here that takes you to the entrance hall of the house.

The hike from the Obersalzberg car park takes 2.5 to 3 hours. You also have the option of hiking to the Kehlsteinhaus in approx. 2 hours from the Ofnerboden car park (Roßfeldhöhenringstrasse).

Obersalzberg was Hitler's holiday home from 1923, and after 1933 it became the second seat of government next to Berlin. Since 1999 it has been possible to visit the learning and remembrance site “Dokumentation Obersalzberg“. It offers the opportunity to learn about the history of Obersalzberg and the history of National Socialism. A new permanent exhibition will open in spring 2023. Areas of the former bunker can also be visited.

No – the Kehlsteinhaus remains closed in winter.

 

 

Photos and Video: Tobias Schnorpfeil, Carolin Unrath
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