You can order platters of hearty food with your beer or bring your own picnic. Everybody in Germany seems to have his or her favorite, but some of the best are in Bamberg and Munich. Cruises begin and end at large cities of historic interest and last anywhere from 6 hours to 7 days. The baroque chapels and fairy-tale hamlets on its shores supplement its natural grandeur. The boat you ride will be powered by very quiet electric motors, so that you can hear the extraordinary echoes that bounce off the rock faces.
Hikers are able to observe firsthand a variety of wildlife, often including endangered species.
One of the best areas for hiking is the 4,060-foot Eckbauer, lying on the southern fringe of Partenkirchen. The tourism office in Garmisch-Partenkirchen will supply maps and details. Many visitors come in summer to hike through the Berchtesgaden National Park, bordering the Austrian province of Salzburg. The view from the top is suitably panoramic, and you'll find an appealing aura of German-ness that comes from the many hill climbers and trekkers who fan out across the hiking trails. But the real appeal of the winding road along the water is in the medieval castles scattered along the way.