Ruhpolding Holidays

Holidays to Ruhpolding are a stellar start to any tour of central Europe, with alpine meadows, lively festivals and time-honoured traditions.

Tonnes of tradition

There are few places more Bavarian than Ruhpolding – a little folk village in south-east Germany, near the Austrian border. This is the quaint sort of place where you can find someone selling 'weisswurst' – a Bavarian sausage made from pork and veal – while wearing a traditional 'dirndl' dress or 'lederhosen'.

Wild alpine adventure

Resting on the Danube plain near the foothills of the Alps, Ruhpolding's right on the doorstep of some incredible natural beauty. There are hiking and cycling routes to suit all abilities, or you can just take a gentle stroll through the surrounding meadows and have a picnic by one of the hidden lakes.

Capital idea

Bavaria's capital, Munich, is a little over an hour's drive away, and makes for an easy daytrip. With bustling streets, museums, galleries, shops and stunning architecture, it's certainly worth the trip. There's always something lively happening too, so keep an eye on the calendar – Oktoberfest and the Christmas Market are key highlights.

Out and about

Here are some ideas of things to do when staying in Ruhpolding:

• Lakeside path
• Boat trips
• Sailing
• Nordic walking
• Cycle routes
• Minigolf
• Fishing
• Electric bike hire
• An array of museums
• St Georg church

At a glance

Experience Bavarian culture in a traditional alpine village
Wander through colourful streets lined with cafes
Tour the surrounding forests, lakes and hilltops

Trio of lakes

Around 15 minutes' drive from Rupholding are the bathing lakes of Lödensee, Mittersee and Weitsee. This trio makes up some of the warmest waters in Bavaria, as well as the most photo-worthy scenery in Germany.
Mittersee

Mittersee has spectacular mountain views, a charming fisherman’s hut, crystal-clear waters and an enchanting forest area - all coming together in a scene of unique beauty. A gentle hiking trail circles the water too, and takes about an hour to complete.
Weitsee and Lödensee

Weitsee is easily accessible by road, has a great cycle path and is pretty popular in the summer months. Be warned though, the far side of the lake is popular with naturists. Lödensee is a peaceful place to enjoy a swim and comes with lots of greenery and sunbathing spots. There’s not much by way of facilities though, so make sure to come prepared with a picnic.

Bargain Buys

The local farmers market in Ruhpolding is well worth a visit, not only for the colours and atmosphere but also the chance to pick up some excellent bargains. It's held every Saturday from 8am - 12:30pm, in front of the tourist office, at the bottom of the Haupstrasse.
Mid-Range Buys

Ruhpolding has a limited assortment of shops to visit during your stay. There are a few sportswear places though, selling standard activewear and accompanying accessories. There's also an outlet store that stocks more casual attire.

Laid-back evenings

For a quiet Friday night, enjoy a few drinks at Stachus Bar and watch the sun set. Enjoy a few spritzes or pints of local beer while listening to the band that plays here every week. Sometimes it’s traditional Bavarian music, sometimes more classic pop sounds.
Lively evenings

Rupholding has a whole host of weekly evening events on offer, so keep an eye out for what's on when you’re there. Regular fixtures include the opera and concert days, running from July-October, and the traditional evenings at the Kurhaus in the centre of town, where you can enjoy a night of Bavarian music and dancing.

Eating out

Restaurants and cafés dominate Ruhpolding and are spread out, so you’ll be seeing a lot of the beautiful town as you eat. Make sure you try Bavarian classics like weisswurst - a sausage of minced veal, pork and back bacon - or the famous Ruhpoldinger schnitzel, breaded pork escalope covered with cheese and tomatoes.
Famous desserts at Windbeutalgrafin

Ruhpolding has a famous café, the Windbeutelgrafin, on Branderstrasse. The café attracts coach parties from all over Europe to sample their famous dessert, the Windbeutal, which is made with choux pastry and ice cream, and comes with a paper swan-neck telling you what number customer you were - there have been over 6 million already.
Worldwide specialities at Janos Café

Hugely popular with our customers is the Janos Café, the only restaurant in town that has a menu written in English and serves up classic German, Italian and even Hungarian specialities.
Satisfy your sweet tooth at Brot & Kaffehaus

Next to the station for easy convenience is the Brot & Kaffehaus, a contemporary café and bakery with beautiful interiors. This counter-service establishment is great for breakfast, lunch or just for cake. And if you’re going to the train station, you can ask for your food to take away.

On foot

Walking around Ruhpolding is relatively easy, and you’ll come across a variety of shops, pavement cafés and colourfully painted facades to feast your eyes on.
Trains

Ruhpolding’s train station is located at the bottom of the Hauptstrasse and runs an hourly service to Traunstein, the local market town. From there you can catch other trains to cities around Europe.
Buses

There are numbered and lettered buses, leaving from both sides of the train station’s ticket office. All lettered buses service the local village and the summer lifts, while the numbered buses travel further afield. The Mozart Express takes you to Salzburg on weekdays, leaving at 9.35am and returning at 4pm.
Summer lifts

Both the Unternberg chairlift and the Rauschberg cable car are open daily during the summer, to give you access to the beautiful mountains of Bavaria. The Rauschberg runs between 9.15am and 5pm while the Unternbeg operates between 9.30am and 5pm. You even get a free round trip a day on each lift with a 7-day Chiemgau card.

Walking

Wherever you are in Ruhpolding, nature is always on your doorstep. There are 250km of walking trails over valley floors, rolling hills and steeper mountains – so there really is something for everyone. Start by ambling past traditional Bavarian buildings, along the banks of the River Traun, and through open meadows. Follow trails through the woods to discover hidden lakes, or climb up through the trees for wonderful views over the town and valley. The Unternberg and Rauschberg lifts will take you higher into the mountains, where forest trails, mountain huts and tranquil views await.
Walk around the valley

Spend a couple of hours rambling around the village’s many districts and out into the surrounding valley, towards the marble quarry – which was mined for hundreds of years to provide architectural and decorative marble, and was once named Bavaria’s Most Beautiful Geotope. Then wander through picturesque meadows and pastures at the base of the Unternberg before circling back to town.
Unternberg peak hike

This route offers some fantastic experiences, but it can be demanding, so it’s not one for casual walkers. Head to the Unternberg chairlift and follow path 40 up a gentle incline to the Unternberg Ridge. From there it’s more of a hike, and you’ll pass meadows and mountain huts until you reach the restaurant at the peak. Stop for lunch with a view and watch hang gliders and paragliders taking flight. You can also catch the chairlift up.