Linking Bavaria to the Venetian lagoon on foot and by public transport is a walking adventure on a grand scale. This transalpine route reveals a fascinating geographical transition, from the lush alpine pastures of Tyrol to the sharp limestone spires of northern Italy. In this travel journal, Christian, one of our loyal travellers, shares his experience of one of our signature crossings: the Munich to Venice trek. Combining walking, trains and buses, he chose a relaxed, reflective approach, ideal for immersing himself in the mountain culture of three different countries. Discover the day-by-day account of his self-guided trip, where the smooth logistics arranged by Grand Angle leave him free to enjoy the walking.
This is an account of a June 2026 trip. Train services, accommodation and route conditions may have changed; check current details when planning your journey.
Contents
- From Munich to Bavaria’s castles: a taste of royal life
- Crossing the Austrian Alps: water and ice
- Arriving in the Dolomites: spectacular Lake Braies and the Tre Cime
- From the mountains to the lagoon: descending towards Venice
- Our thoughts on this walking trip with Grand Angle
From Munich to Bavaria’s castles: a taste of royal life
The start of this trek in Bavaria offers a gentle way to find your walking rhythm while discovering the region’s historical and natural heritage, shaped by King Ludwig II.
Day 1: Munich (18 June 2026)
After arriving by train around midday, we quickly find our hotel, ideally located opposite the station. We settle into our comfortable room, equipped with a fan—a welcome addition during this heatwave! We spend the afternoon enjoying a wander around the Bavarian city centre. We round off the day pleasantly in one of the capital’s famous beer halls, soaking up the local atmosphere.
An unexpected optional activity: surfing on the Eisbach!
Day 2: Füssen - Hohenschwangau
It takes no fewer than two trains to reach Füssen, followed by a bus to Hohenschwangau, our destination for the day. We quickly settle into a lovely hotel near the bus stop; our navigation app proves remarkably effective for finding our way around town.
In glorious sunshine, we enjoy a beautiful circular walk around the emerald waters of the Alpsee before our visit to Neuschwanstein Castle at 17:00. A day full of discoveries ends with a fierce evening thunderstorm (a typical summer occurrence in the region).
Day 3: Hohenschwangau - Kenzenhütte
We wake early to the sound of the village cowbells (the cattle are being moved to their summer pastures this Sunday!) for a wonderful day of walking. The route is magnificent but demanding, with 18 km and 1400 m of ascent.
Our beer is well earned when we reach the Kenzenhütte. We then take a shuttle down to Halblech for the night (we will make the return journey the next morning). This is where we discover Kaiserschmarrn, a thick, fluffy, caramelised pancake typical of the region, which we highly recommend. We are delighted to enjoy it again for dessert in Austria and later in Italy!
Day 4: Kenzenhütte – Ettal
The hike begins with an easy, gradual climb through lush green alpine pastures filled with flowers to reach the Lösertaljoch at an altitude of 1682 metres. We rest at the pass before beginning the long descent to Linderhof (11,2 km; ascent 391 m). We take time to stroll through the symmetrical gardens before a guided tour of Linderhof Palace. We then take the bus to Ettal, where a lovely hotel awaits us near the cloister and the bus stop.
Day 5: Ettal – Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Mittenwald
This morning, we take the bus to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. We walk through the town to the Olympic ski jump, a prominent landmark, before setting off through the beautiful, cool Partnach Gorge (Partnachklamm), a true geological gem. We continue with a climb through alpine pastures, then follow a long path across the mountainside to Mittenwald, our stop for the day (21,4 km; ascent 650 m). We receive a very warm welcome at a lovely traditional hotel in this village, renowned for its violin making.
Crossing the Austrian Alps: water and ice
Crossing the border marks a transition into the deep valleys of Tyrol. This trek in Austria takes us into magnificent landscapes, from the Inn to Europe’s highest waterfalls.
Day 6: Mittenwald – Innsbruck
A day of rest and transition: we travel by train to Innsbruck. We explore the Tyrolean capital and its famous Golden Roof, then head up to the ridges overlooking the Inn Valley to enjoy the panoramic views. Once again, the accommodation is of a high standard and conveniently located near the station.
Day 7: Krimml - Krimmler Tauernhaus mountain hut
We travel by train from Innsbruck to Zell am See, then take a bus to Krimml. The sun is shining. We arrive at the foot of the impressive Krimml Waterfalls (Europe’s highest) around midday. This spectacular natural site is very popular and lively!
We begin a lovely climb through the forest alongside the waterfalls, with stops at breathtaking viewpoints. A long path then takes us through the peaceful Krimmler Achental valley to our hotel. The setting is magnificent and invites quiet contemplation (12 km; ascent 630 m).
Day 8: Rest day at Krimmler Tauernhaus mountain hut
Today, we choose to hike up to the Eissee (the ice lake - 8,9 km; ascent 800 m). We reach the lake after walking through a Swiss stone pine forest and alpine pastures covered in dwarf rhododendrons. From up here, we can make out the route we will follow tomorrow into Italy.
Day 9: Krimmler Tauernhaus mountain hut - Prettau (Ahrntal) - Bruneck
A long, easy climb through a beautiful valley brings us to the pass, after a few stretches across lingering summer snow (our crampons stayed at the bottom of our bags). We chose to cross via the Krimmlertauern pass. On the descent, we notice that the Italian side of the Birnlücke (another possible border crossing) looks heavily covered in snow, unlike our route, confirming our choice of itinerary.
A descent, then a bus to Brunico (Bruneck) for our first evening in South Tyrol. We receive a very warm welcome at our hotel, although the night is a little uncomfortable because of the intense heat that lingers into the evening.
Arriving in the Dolomites: spectacular Lake Braies and the Tre Cime
We now enter the rocky world of the Dolomites. Limestone massifs rise above conifer forests, offering one of Europe’s most renowned settings for hiking.
Day 10: Bruneck - San Vigilio - Lake Braies
We set off again by bus this Sunday morning. It is worth highlighting that our journeys on public transport have been entirely trouble-free; on the contrary, they have always sparked plenty of interest and lovely encounters!
Dropped off by the bus beside the small Lake Credo, we quickly have to adjust our plans: our route for the day has been closed for several days by order of the local authorities because of fallen trees. At times like these, having a good topographic map is crucial. We very quickly find an alternative (trail 25 is replaced on the spot by 19a), saving our Grand Angle contact from having to arrange a taxi to take us to Lake Braies (18 km; ascent 1130 m).
A tough, long climb follows, exposed to the sun among the pines, leading to what thankfully turns out to be a very welcoming mountain hut. The day ends with a descent along a footpath to magnificent Lake Braies, a true Alpine gem. We spend the night in a beautiful historic hotel in the valley.
Day 11: Lake Braies - Prato Piazza
Today’s hike begins with a walk around this majestic lake, whose shores fill with visitors very early in the day. We then begin an easy climb to the foot of Croda Rossa. In the mountains, the weather calls the shots: our progress is interrupted by a fierce summer thunderstorm. Fortunately, we find shelter at Grossalm in time.
Once the downpour has passed, we have just a few kilometres left to traverse to reach the bus stop at Prato Piazza (Plätzwiese). We head down to Bruckele for a well-earned rest in a lovely hotel (15,5 km; ascent 1220 m).
Day 12: Prato Piazza - The Tre Cime
We spend the morning on a long, beautiful descent through forest and flower-filled meadows towards the Landro valley. A sizeable midday thunderstorm forces us to wait under shelter for an hour. The climb back up to the Lago Antorno mountain hut begins in light drizzle, which soon gives way to more pleasant conditions.
We receive a very warm welcome at the hut in a magnificent setting: we have reached the foot of the legendary Tre Cime! (18,3 km; ascent 790 m)
Day 13: Walking around the Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Today is the grand finale of our trek around the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. It takes a little patience to find a seat on the local bus.
Once at the Lavaredo hut, we decide to take the circuit via the Pian di Cengia pass. This stark, rocky route is much quieter but longer, bringing us back to the Tre Cime via the famous Locatelli hut (Dreizinnenhütte), with breathtaking views of the three peaks (17,8 km; ascent 1026 m).
A walker’s tip: once you reach the Pian di Cengia pass, you can make a short out-and-back detour to the nearby Büllelejoch hut for a meal. Be careful not to descend towards the Zsigmondy hut, though, as you would then face a substantial climb back up!
From the mountains to the lagoon: descending to Venice
Day 14: Tre Cime - Venice
Our wonderful cross-border journey of discovery comes to an end. The return to civilisation unfolds in stages: a first bus to the romantic Lake Misurina, then a second to the famous resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo. The bus station, where we catch our third bus bound for Venice, is ideally located in the town centre. The transition from rocky spires to Venetian canals brings this journey to a striking close.
Our thoughts on this walking holiday with Grand Angle
To prepare for this extensive itinerary, we benefited from the invaluable input of Francesca and Ilaria, our local experts at Grand Angle. The trip ran without any logistical issues, confirming the reliability of meticulous planning, which is essential for a route combining so many stages. The choice of hotels largely lived up to our expectations, providing comfort and rest after rewarding days of walking.
For navigation, the route notes and the app downloaded onto our smartphone did exactly what we needed. Carrying paper topographic maps as well remains a definite advantage, however, despite the extra weight, allowing you to adapt quickly to the unexpected, as we experienced near Lake Braies.
Using the various forms of public transport, including trains and local buses, proved particularly enjoyable and relaxing. These transport arrangements worked flawlessly in all three countries we travelled through. This way of getting around also fits perfectly with the approach to low-carbon travel that we particularly value.
The variety of landscapes we walked through is remarkable. We have a soft spot for the glacial scenery of the Krimml valley, as well as the cultural immersion in the fascinating world of King Ludwig II of Bavaria at the very beginning of the trek.
We returned delighted and warmly recommend this trip, which is intended for well-prepared walkers with good stamina who want to enjoy a complete, smoothly organised journey through the Alps.
