Eagle's Nest
Kehlsteinhaus, a building on the Kehlstein peak, built as a gift.
🌐 kehlsteinhaus.de🕒 May-Oct 08:30-16:50
Plizio Visual Lab
Obersalzberg – Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest)
Plizio editorial teamData Sources
Historical site
The Kehlsteinhaus, internationally known as the 'Eagle's Nest,' is a historical building situated on the summit of the Kehlstein mountain in Berchtesgadener Land. It was constructed between 1937 and 1938 by the Nazi Party as a diplomatic reception house and presented to Adolf Hitler for his 50th birthday. Despite its notoriety today, Hitler rarely visited the house, preferring his residence at Obersalzberg at the foot of the mountain. The construction was a logistical feat of its time, featuring a steep access road and a lavish brass elevator built deep within the mountain rock. The building remained undamaged by Allied bombing and is one of the few surviving structures from the Nazi era in the region. Today, it operates as a seasonal mountain restaurant, offering spectacular 360-degree panoramic views of the Bavarian and Austrian Alps. The nearby Obersalzberg Documentation Center provides additional historical context about the area's role as the second seat of government for the Third Reich. Visitors typically reach the site via the historic Kehlstein road, utilizing a specialized bus service on the steep mountain pass.
- Location: Bavaria, Germany
- Top sights: Eagle's Nest · Kehlstein · Brückenruine Alpenstraße
- Nearby: Bad Reichenhall (18 km)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -5 | -4 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 1 | -3 |
| Rain mm | 91 | 72 | 89 | 85 | 151 | 176 | 184 | 184 | 135 | 102 | 76 | 82 |
📋 Practical info
Address
Kehlsteinhaus, 83471 Berchtesgaden
Hours
Mon-Sun 08:30-16:00 (only approx. May to October)
Entry
€ 30.80 (incl. bus trip and elevator), children € 16.00
Website
Transit
Bus 838 from Berchtesgaden station to Dokumentation Obersalzberg, then special bus 849
Parking
Large paid parking lot at Dokumentation Obersalzberg (approx. € 5).
Accessibility
Limited; the historic elevator is accessible, but the path to the summit cross is rocky.
Photos
Photography allowed outside and in the restaurant; no commercial drones.
Best time
Early morning (first bus 8:30 AM) to avoid the extreme crowds.
Audio guide
no
History & landmarks
ww2
1933–1945
Geography
Facts
- The Kehlsteinhaus is located at an altitude of 1,834 meters.
- Construction was completed in just 13 months under difficult alpine conditions.
- The tunnel leading to the elevator is 124 meters long into the mountain.
- The lavish brass elevator travels 124 vertical meters in 41 seconds.
- A massive red marble fireplace was a personal gift from Benito Mussolini.
- The access road climbs 800 meters in elevation with only one hairpin turn.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Obersalzberg – Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest) (10)
Kampfhäusl
Former building on the Obersalzberg, now in ruins.
Bunkerreste, altes Theater
Remains of a bunker and a former theatre.
Obersalzberg
Section of the Berchtesgaden commune, historically significant.
Alpelköpfe
Mountain peak in Germany, part of the Alps.
Dokumentation Obersalzberg🏛 museum
Museum covering the history of Obersalzberg and the Nazi era.
Dokumentation Salzberg
Exhibition on the history of salt mining in the region.
Sights nearby
Frequently asked questions
What is the Documentation Obersalzberg?
A place of learning and remembrance highlighting the history of Obersalzberg as Hitler's holiday retreat.
What is the Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest)?
A historic panoramic restaurant at 1834 m, originally built as a representative building for the Nazi party.
How do I get to the Eagle's Nest?
Special buses run from Obersalzberg up a steep road; the final stretch is covered by a magnificent brass elevator.
Are the bunker systems accessible?
Part of the extensive bunker systems beneath Obersalzberg is accessible as part of the documentation center tour.
When is the Eagle's Nest open?
Only during the summer months (approx. May to October), depending on snow conditions.
Obersalzberg – Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest): where is it located?
Obersalzberg, Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest) is located in Bavaria, Germany.
Obersalzberg – Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest): what is there to see?
Highlights include Eagle's Nest, Kehlstein, Brückenruine Alpenstraße.
Obersalzberg – Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest): when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Obersalzberg – Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest): why is it worth visiting?
The Kehlsteinhaus, internationally known as the 'Eagle's Nest,' is a historical building situated on the summit of the Kehlstein mountain in Berchtesgadener Land.
Explore with Plizio
Discover more places in Europe
More places in Germany →
Nearby cities
München
Munich, the state capital of Bavaria, combines Bavarian tradition with modern technology and cosmopolitanism.
Augsburg
Augsburg is one of Germany's oldest cities, founded by the Romans, and is located in southwestern Bavaria.
Regensburg
Regensburg is located in eastern Bavaria at the northernmost point of the Danube River and is considered one of Germany's best-preserved …
Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt is a large city in Upper Bavaria, known as the home of car manufacturer Audi and as an important university city.
Berg am Laim
A historic district in eastern Munich, famous for its Baroque splendor and modern residential areas.
Landshut
Landshut is located in Bavaria on the Isar river.
Rosenheim
Rosenheim is the economic center of southeastern Upper Bavaria.
Passau
Passau, also called the City of Three Rivers, lies at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers on the Austrian border.
Straubing
Straubing is a Lower Bavarian ducal city on the Danube, famous for its town tower and the Gäubodenvolksfest.
Neustift (Freising)
Neustift is a historic district of Freising, famous for its magnificent former Premonstratensian abbey and its Baroque architecture.
Freising
Freising is a historic university town on the Isar river, famous as the oldest episcopal see in Bavaria.
Kaufbeuren
A former free imperial city in the Allgäu, famous for its medieval townscape and the historic Tänzelfest festival.
Germering
Growing city west of Munich, known as a modern residential area with significant archaeological finds.
Fürstenfeldbruck
A Bavarian city west of Munich, famous for the magnificent Fürstenfeld Abbey and its scenic location on the river Amper.
Erding
Erding is a historic Bavarian town famous for its traditional wheat beer and the world's largest thermal bath complex.