Nestled in the picturesque Allgäu region of the Bavarian Alps, Oberstdorf is a mountain resort town popular with hikers in the summer months and snow sports enthusiasts in winter. It’s the southernmost settlement in Germany and one of the country’s highest altitude towns, located just a stone’s throw from the border with Austria.
Things to do in Oberstdorf
If you’re visiting in the winter months, you can hit the ski and snowboard trails of the Kanzelwand/Fellhorn, Kleinwalsertal or Nebelhorn ski areas, with spectacular views on offer from their cable cars. Experienced skiers can attempt the second-largest ski-jumping hill in the world, the Heini-Klopfer-Skiflugschanze, which is named after its Oberstdorf-born designer, Heini Klopfer.
Visiting in the warmer months? Hikers can explore the picturesque Breitch, Stillach and Oybach valleys on one of the countless trails or trek part of the E5 European long-distance path that traverses the Austrian Alps to Merano in Italy. Oberstdorf is also a popular starting point for mountain bikers negotiating the transalpine Heckmair Route to the shores of Lake Garda.
Adventure seekers can go whitewater rafting on the Iller River or explore one of the many gorges around Oberstdorf on a guided canyoning tour. Are you a history enthusiast? Discover how residents survived in this remote mountain landscape at the 17th-century Heimatmuseum Oberstdorf and admire the soaring steeple of the town’s iconic St. Johannes Baptist Catholic.
Getting around Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf is around two hours’ drive from Munich and Munich International Airport, with regular trains connecting to the Bavarian capital. Buses travel throughout the region and bicycles can be rented in Oberstdorf for getting around. Cable cars connect to many of the surrounding peaks, while the centre of Oberstdorf is compact enough to explore on foot.