Deutsche Alpenstraße by Motorcycle: Lake Constance to Berchtesgaden

The Deutsche Alpenstraße, the German Alpine Road, follows the northern rim of the Alps across the whole of southern Bavaria, from the shore of Lake Constance at Lindau to the Königssee below Berchtesgaden. Work on it began between the wars, which makes it Germany's oldest holiday route, and it is signposted along its length with a white sign. The official route is a little over 450 kilometres. It is not a high-pass ride like the Swiss or Italian Alps; instead it strings together lakes, low passes, onion-domed churches and some genuinely good bends, with the big mountains filling the view to the south all the way.

Ridden end to end it is three to four relaxed days. Many riders do it as a week, with the odd day hopping south into Austria, which is never more than a few kilometres away.

Day 1: Lindau to Füssen (about 120km)

Start on the island old town of Lindau and ride east into the Allgäu through Lindenberg and Oberstaufen. The road rolls over green hills with long sweeping bends to Immenstadt and Sonthofen. From Bad Hindelang comes the first proper climb of the trip: the road up to Oberjoch, a stack of hairpins up a steep wooded slope that is one of the most famous stretches of tarmac in Germany. Expect bikes, cyclists and coaches, and a speed limit that is enforced.

From Oberjoch the route continues through Wertach, Nesselwang and Pfronten to Füssen. Two detours are worth the time. West of Sonthofen, the Riedbergpass climbs from Obermaiselstein to Balderschwang; at just over 1,400 metres it is the highest pass road in Germany, steep and narrow with gradients up to 16 percent. And from Oberjoch you can drop over the Austrian border into the Tannheimer Tal and back via the Gaichtpass and Reutte; see the Tyrol noise rule below before you do.

Day 2: Füssen to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (about 100km)

From Füssen ride past the royal castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, then on through Steingaden, with a short side road to the Wieskirche, a pilgrimage church in the meadows. The Alpine Road then runs through the Ammer country to Oberammergau, famous for its painted houses and passion play, and Ettal with its big Benedictine abbey. The descent from Ettal to Oberau is a steep, fast run down a mountainside, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen sits below the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain.

Day 3: Garmisch to Tegernsee and the Inn valley (about 120km)

East of Garmisch the route runs through Krün and Wallgau and along the Isar to the Sylvenstein reservoir, a turquoise lake with a long bridge across it. From there the road climbs over the Achenpass area toward Tegernsee, with lake views, then on to Schliersee. Between Schliersee and Bayrischzell the Spitzingsattel (around 1,130 metres) is a short, steep climb to a mountain lake that most riders add. Beyond Bayrischzell the Sudelfeld road runs over open pasture and down to the Inn valley near Oberaudorf.

Many riders also detour to the Walchensee and the Kesselberg road (B11) to Kochel. The Kesselberg is one of the best-known bike roads in Bavaria and has carried motorcycle restrictions for decades because of accidents. Uphill from Kochel, motorcycles are banned on weekday afternoons and evenings during the summer season, and the rules have changed in recent years. Check the signs and the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district office before you plan the climb.

Day 4: Inn valley to Berchtesgaden (about 120km)

Cross the Inn and ride into the Chiemgau through Sachrang or along the Alpine Road to Reit im Winkl, a ski village on the Austrian border. The run through Ruhpolding and Inzell is the most enjoyable riding of the eastern half: forest, lakes and smooth bends. From Inzell the route goes over to Bad Reichenhall and on to Berchtesgaden.

The finale is the Rossfeld Panoramastraße, a toll road that climbs above Berchtesgaden to around 1,600 metres along the Austrian border, with views over the Salzburg basin on one side and the Berchtesgaden Alps on the other. It is wide, well surfaced and full of long bends: a fitting end. The Alpine Road officially finishes at Schönau am Königssee.

Rules, tolls and traffic

Most of the Deutsche Alpenstraße is free. The Rossfeld road charges a toll, and a few private mountain roads off the route do too. If you cross into Austria on a detour and use an Austrian motorway, you need an Austrian vignette; the ordinary roads are free.

Tyrol bans motorcycles with a stationary noise figure above 95 dB(A), as shown on the registration papers, on a list of roads in the Reutte district each summer season, including the Tannheimer Tal road, the Lechtal and the Hahntennjoch. Check your papers and the Land Tirol page on the motorcycle ban if you plan to ride those detours.

Bavaria's popular bike roads see regular police checks and fixed and mobile speed cameras. Traffic is heavy on sunny weekends, especially around Füssen, Garmisch and the Tegernsee; a weekday makes a big difference.

When to go

May to October. The route itself stays low and is open all year, but the Oberjoch, the Riedbergpass and the Rossfeld can see snow early and late in the season, and the Rossfeld can close in winter conditions. June and September are ideal: long days, green meadows and fewer coaches. Check road conditions with Bayerninfo, the state traffic service, before you set off.

Where to stay

Good overnight stops are Füssen or Pfronten, Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Oberammergau, the Tegernsee or Bayrischzell, and Berchtesgaden. See our biker hotels in the Bavarian Alps. The Alpine Road links easily to the Austrian passes: the Timmelsjoch and Jaufenpass loop is a morning's ride south of Garmisch, and from Berchtesgaden the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is about two hours away. Riders heading west can carry on into the Black Forest. Browse all places to stay in Tyrol for the cross-border days.