--- title: "Crossing the Alps on Foot - Munich to Venice" type: "tour" trip_type: "self-guided" lang: "en" distance_km: 167 elevation_plus_m: 8015 elevation_minus_m: 7080 difficulty: "Hard" duration_days: 15 from_price_eur: 2900 season: "June to September" accommodation: "Mixed (hotels and mountain huts)" start_point: "Munich" end_point: "Venice" url: "https://dolomites-guide.com/tours/crossing-alps-munich-venice/" description: "Cross the Alps from Munich to Venice in 15 days. Self-guided trek through Bavaria, Austria, and the Dolomites with hotels and mountain huts." --- # Crossing the Alps on Foot - Munich to Venice A 15-day self-guided traverse on foot from Munich to Venice, crossing Bavaria, the Austrian Tyrol and the Dolomites before finishing at the Venice lagoon. Hotels and mountain huts throughout. ## Overview Walking from Munich to Venice means crossing three countries, climbing out of the Bavarian plains, pushing through the Austrian Alps and descending through the full depth of the Dolomites before reaching the Adriatic. Over 15 days and 12 hiking stages, this route takes in Neuschwanstein Castle, the Krimml Waterfalls, Lago di Braies and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. A private transfer on the final day delivers you directly to Venice. ## Stats - Trip type: self-guided - Difficulty: Hard - Duration: 15 days - Daily hours: 3-7h - Distance: 167 km - Elevation gain: 8015 m - Elevation loss: 7080 m - Accommodation: Mixed (hotels and mountain huts) - Start: Munich - End: Venice - From price: €2900 per person - Season: June to September ## Highlights - Neuschwanstein Castle above Hohenschwangau on the first hiking day - Partnach Gorge - a narrow limestone canyon east of Garmisch - Krimml Waterfalls: the highest waterfall in the Alps at {{400 m | 1,312 ft}} - Crossing three countries - Germany, Austria and Italy - Lago di Braies - the emerald lake at the heart of the Dolomites - Tre Cime di Lavaredo circuit on the penultimate hiking day - Private transfer through the Dolomites to arrive in Venice ## Included - 14 nights accommodation (hotels and mountain huts) - 14 breakfasts and 7 half-board dinners (refuge nights) - City and tourist taxes - Digital travel packet with route notes and GPX files - Private taxi transfer on Day 14 (Antorno Lake to Venice) - Luggage transfer on most days (not Days 1, 2, 6, 8) - 24/7 phone support throughout the trek ## Not included - Transport to Munich and from Venice - Lunches on the trail - 7 dinners (hotel nights in valley towns) - All public transport and local bus tickets - Drinks - Travel insurance - Entrance fees (Partnach Gorge, etc.) - Printed travel packet (optional supplement) ## Availability - 06/2026: available - 07/2026: available - 08/2026: available - 09/2026: available - 06/2027: available - 07/2027: available - 08/2027: available - 09/2027: available ## Day-by-day itinerary ### Day 1: Arrival in Munich - Distance: 0 km - Time: 0 h - Ascent: 0 m - Descent: 0 m **The starting city.** Arrival day in Munich. Check in to your hotel and take the afternoon at your own pace - a walk along the Isar, a visit to the English Garden or simply time to rest before the days ahead. The Alps are already visible on the horizon to the south on a clear day. ### Day 2: Füssen to Hohenschwangau - Distance: 6 km - Time: 3 h - Ascent: 160 m - Descent: 160 m **Under the fairy-tale castle.** A short train to Füssen opens the walking. The first stage follows wooded paths to Hohenschwangau with Neuschwanstein Castle looming above - the most visited castle in Germany, built on a forested bluff above two lakes. An easy afternoon leaves time to visit the castle before settling in for the first night. ### Day 3: Hohenschwangau to Kenzenhütte - Distance: 17 km - Time: 7 h - Ascent: 1120 m - Descent: 685 m **Into the Ammergau Alps.** The route leaves the tourist crowds behind and pushes south into the Ammergau Alps. A long climbing day through forest and open ridge terrain leads to the Kenzenhütte - a classic Bavarian mountain hut with a working farm, enormous portions and a terrace overlooking the first proper mountain panorama of the trip. ### Day 4: Kenzenhütte to Ettal - Distance: 15 km - Time: 6 h - Ascent: 500 m - Descent: 850 m **Down to the Benedictine abbey.** A descent through the Ammer valley brings you to Ettal, home to a vast Baroque monastery where Benedictine monks have brewed beer and distilled liqueur since the 14th century. A gentler day after the long effort of Day 3 - arrive early and visit the abbey before dinner. ### Day 5: Ettal to Mittenwald via Partnach Gorge - Distance: 19 km - Time: 5.5 h - Ascent: 500 m - Descent: 300 m **Through Garmisch and into the gorge.** The route passes through Garmisch-Partenkirchen and detours through the Partnach Gorge - a narrow limestone canyon where the trail is carved into the cliff face above the river. After the gorge, the path continues to Mittenwald, a town famous for its painted facades and violin-making tradition. ### Day 6: Mittenwald to Solsteinhaus - Distance: 14 km - Time: 5 h - Ascent: 1100 m - Descent: 360 m **First Austrian ridge.** A steep climb from Mittenwald gains the Karwendel ridge above the Inntal valley, crossing from Germany into Austria. The Solsteinhaus sits on a high shelf with a direct view down into the Inn valley and across to Innsbruck's urban sprawl far below - a striking contrast between the wild ridge and the city. ### Day 7: Solsteinhaus to Innsbruck - Distance: 7 km - Time: 3 h - Ascent: 0 m - Descent: 940 m **Down to the Tyrolean capital.** A short descent from the Solsteinhaus drops sharply into Innsbruck along a steep ridge trail. The rest of the day is free in the city - the old town, the Golden Roof, the Hofburg and the famous view of the city backed by the Nordkette mountains are all within easy walking distance of the hotels. ### Day 8: Train to Krimml - Krimml Waterfalls to Krimmler Tauernhaus - Distance: 11 km - Time: 4 h - Ascent: 600 m - Descent: 50 m **The highest waterfall in the Alps.** A train across the Ötztal to Krimml, then the classic walk alongside the three-stage Krimml Waterfalls as they drop 400 m (1,312 ft) through forest and open valley. The Krimmler Tauernhaus at the head of the valley is the last stop before crossing into Italy the following day. ### Day 9: Krimmler Tauernhaus to Bruneck via Prettau - Distance: 19 km - Time: 7 h - Ascent: 1035 m - Descent: 1055 m **Crossing into Italy.** The longest hiking day of the trip climbs over the Krimmler Tauern pass and crosses into South Tyrol - the Italian Alps. The descent passes through the Prettau valley, once a copper-mining region, before reaching Bruneck (Brunico), a handsome medieval town in the Puster valley where German and Italian cultures overlap. ### Day 10: Bruneck to Lago di Braies via Sennes - Distance: 14 km - Time: 5.5 h - Ascent: 800 m - Descent: 850 m **The emerald lake.** The route climbs from Bruneck through the Pederu valley and across the high Sennes plateau before dropping to Lago di Braies - one of the most striking lakes in the Dolomites. The vivid green water and the sheer cliff of Croda del Becco rising from its shore make this one of the visual highlights of the entire traverse. ### Day 11: Lago di Braies to Prato Piazza via Croda del Becco - Distance: 15 km - Time: 5.5 h - Ascent: 940 m - Descent: 350 m **Up over the ridge.** Climbing away from Lago di Braies, the trail ascends to the Croda del Becco viewpoint before traversing the high ground to Prato Piazza - a wide natural shelf above the Landro valley that serves as an open-air viewpoint for the first silhouette of the Tre Cime. The day ends with the three towers visible on the horizon for the first time. ### Day 12: Prato Piazza to Antorno Lake via Tre Cime - Distance: 18 km - Time: 6.5 h - Ascent: 760 m - Descent: 980 m **The Tre Cime arrival.** A long day drops to Landro, follows the Rienza valley east and climbs steadily through wild terrain to reach the Auronzo refuge beneath the Tre Cime south face. After the full Tre Cime loop - past the Lavaredo refuge and along the north face - the route descends to Antorno lake for the night. ### Day 13: Tre Cime Loop and Lavaredo - Auronzo Circuit - Distance: 12 km - Time: 4 h - Ascent: 500 m - Descent: 500 m **Final mountain day.** A shorter day loops from Auronzo around the full Tre Cime circuit at a relaxed pace. With the hard mileage behind you, this is the day to stop at the Locatelli refuge with a coffee and simply look at the north face - one of the great mountain walls in Europe. Return to Antorno lake in the afternoon. ### Day 14: Private Transfer to Venice - Distance: 0 km - Time: 0 h - Ascent: 0 m - Descent: 0 m **The lagoon.** A private taxi collects you from Antorno lake and drives through the Dolomites, the Belluno valleys and across the Venetian plain to Venice. The journey itself is a final reminder of the distance covered - watching the mountains shrink behind you as the flatlands of the Veneto open up ahead and the lagoon comes into view. ### Day 15: Departure from Venice - Distance: 0 km - Time: 0 h - Ascent: 0 m - Descent: 0 m **Farewell from the water city.** Departure day. A final morning in Venice before heading to the airport or train station. If time allows, a walk from the hotel to the Piazza San Marco at dawn - before the crowds arrive - is the best possible way to close a journey that began 14 days and three countries ago. ## FAQ ### How hard is the Munich to Venice trek physically? This is a Hard-rated (Level 4/5) multi-country trek. Hiking days average 5-7 hours with elevation gains between 500 m (1,640 ft) and 1,120 m (3,674 ft). Previous multi-day trekking experience is strongly recommended. You should be training regularly in the months before departure. ### What is the accommodation split between hotels and mountain huts? Roughly half the nights are in valley hotels with private rooms and half in mountain huts with shared dormitory rooms. Hotel nights coincide with valley stages in towns like Ettal, Garmisch, Mittenwald, Innsbruck and Bruneck. Hut nights include half-board - dinner and breakfast. ### How is luggage managed over 15 days? Luggage transport is included on most days. On Days 1, 2, 6 and 8 you carry your own pack, as logistics do not allow vehicle access. Your travel packet details exactly which days require a daypack only and which allow luggage transfer. ### Do I need to speak German or Italian? German is useful in Bavaria and the Austrian sections. In South Tyrol and the Dolomites both German and Italian are spoken. In all cases the refuge and hotel staff along established routes are accustomed to English-speaking walkers, and your travel packet is written in English. ### What happens if I need to leave the route early? The route crosses several major valley towns with good rail connections - Innsbruck, Bruneck and Cortina all allow easy exit if needed for personal or weather reasons. Your 24/7 support line can advise on the best options from wherever you are on the route.