All About our Eagle’s Nest Historical Group Tour
What’s so special about this tour?
Created by David and Christine Harper in 1990, this original and comprehensive tour covers the Eagle’s Nest, as well as Hitler’s former HQs compound, and includes a visit to the site of Hitler’s former home, the Berghof, (now a ruin).
This history-intensive tour is conducted by professional guides who are accredited for Third Reich / WWII history and whose mother tongue is English. They conduct the tour in an objective and comprehensive manner, making the history of the area easily understandable to all.
What is the skip-the-line “Eagle’s Nest Historical Group Tour?”
Our half-day, educational, 3-part group tour emphasizes the historical significance of the whole mountain, not just the Eagle’s Nest teahouse. The Eagle’s Nest attracts several hundred thousand visitors each summer but our tour allows you to skip the line and avoid long waiting times or the risk of Eagle’s Nest bus tickets being sold out as is often the case.
Eagle’s Nest
You will board a specially equipped mountain bus for a breathtaking drive up a 6.5 km (4 mile) road with a 27% incline to a high mountain parking lot, just below the Eagle’s Nest. The original brass-lined elevator will then transport you up through the heart of Kehlstein mountain straight into the building itself. After an in-depth tour of the Eagle’s Nest (now a restaurant) you’ll have some free time to enjoy the views or refreshments.
Hitler’s Headquarters Compound
Aboard our private coach, your guide will take you on a driving tour around Obersalzberg, a small community above Berchtesgaden. Here the history of the community’s takeover by the National Socialist Party and the transformation of the mountain into Hitler’s Southern Headquarters will be recounted. During the driving tour you will view some original Third Reich buildings dating back to when the area was Hitler’s second seat of government. The description of Obersalzberg and the importance of Hitler’s Berghof in world history will be made easy to understand with the use of original photographs.
The Berghof: Hitler’s home and HQS
On the driving tour of Hitler’s former alpine compound, we stop to visit the historically significant site of Hitler’s former home (now a ruin). Known as the “Berghof” the sprawling structure, once famed for its extensive terrace, is located on a promontory on the flank of the Obersalzberg mountain far below the more-famed “Eagle’s Nest.” Hitler’s 30-room Berghof estate became the venue for national and international political decision-making, a place visited by foreign heads of state and frequented by Nazi leaders, as well as by members of European high society who were often hosted by the “lady of the house”, Eva Braun.
As Hitler spent well over one-fourth of his twelve years in power at his Berghof, the National Socialist Party’s effective propaganda apparatus made use of their Führer’s move to the Obersalzberg mountain to present him as a “country gentleman” whose chosen home was Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps.
On the one hand, the repeated focus on the dictator’s presence on the mountain lent him the German roots that he did not possess, on the other, it created an image of the Nazi leader as a man living close to the common people in an idyllic alpine countryside. Hitler and his home on the Obersalzberg provided a subsequent mass-merchandizing of the politician as an allegedly friendly and hospitable man who made time to receive and welcome hordes of German admirers and followers.
Photos of these large pilgrimage-like events, as well as postcards and picture-books of Hitler relaxing with, and entertaining, his associates such as Goebbels, Göring, Speer and Bormann, were widely distributed in an effort to create a Hitler myth. This “superstar” spotlighting was extraordinarily successful in contributing to Hitler’s popularity both before and after his rise to power. With the additional use of photographs, our narrative brings to light the historic importance of the Berghof site and the dark designs made there on a political and military level as well.
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Times & Prices
The Eagle’s Nest Historical GROUP TOUR is offered ONLY Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 1:15 p.m., departing from our office at the Berggasthof Obersalzberg restaurant at Obersalzberg above Berchtesgaden (Germany).
It operates when the Eagle’s Nest is open, (usually from mid-May through October, weather permitting) and lasts till about 4:45 p.m.
The price of the tour in 2025 is €75 per person and €50 for children from 8 through 14 years of age (due to the intense historical focus of this tour we do not accept bookings for children under 8). The price includes all entrance fees and transportation. As our group tours are limited in size, it is advisable to book in advance.
Note: As an alternative, our private Eagle’s Nest Historical Tours are offered daily on request, depending on the availability of our accredited guides.
How much walking is involved?
– Walk through tunnel (406 ft / 124m) for elevator ride into the Eagle’s Nest
– Tour of building (about 20 steps)
Limited Mobility and Wheelchair Access
Those with limited mobility may prefer to book a private tour with us where we can tailor the program to a slower pace and reduce the number of stairs if need be.
Unfortunately, the public half-day Eagle’s Nest Historical Tour is not possible with a wheelchair because:
The local coach company that we contract for our tours has no wheelchair ramps in their buses and our tour participants need to climb up the 3 or 4 steps to get into the bus.
The Eagle’s Nest mountain buses have wheelchair ramps, however up at the Eagle’s Nest our tour participants need to go down two different flights of stairs to get into the main rooms of the building and climb back up them as well.
Children
Is this tour suitable for children? Do I have to take a tour to visit the Eagle’s Nest?
We are sorry that we no longer accept children under 8 years old on the group tours. An alternative would be to either book a private tour with us or visit the sites on you own. You simply take the Eagle’s Nest mountain bus from the Eagle’s Nest bus departure point (address: Salzbergstr. 41 Berchtesgaden Germany). Buses depart every 25 minutes and you do not require advance reservation.
Salzbergstrasse 43
83471 Berchtesgaden Germany
Telephone: +49 8652 62172
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