Europäischer Fernwanderweg E4 - Deutschland

The European Long-Distance Path E4 in Germany is a point-to-point trail following roughly 350 km of the Bavarian Maximiliansweg from Lindau on Lake Constance to Berchtesgaden, with around 20,000 m of cumulative elevation gain over about 18 days. Rated demanding, it threads the entire German Alpine foreland and high ridgelines along the Austrian border.

About the Europäischer Fernwanderweg E4 - Deutschland

The Europäischer Fernwanderweg E4 (European Long-Distance Path E4) is one of the great continental walking routes coordinated by the European Ramblers Association. At roughly 12,090 km from Cape St. Vincent in Portugal to Acheleia on Cyprus, it is the longest of all the numbered European long-distance paths, passing through Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Crete and Cyprus. It belongs to the International Walking Network (IWN), placing it among the world's most significant hiking corridors.

Germany hosts a relatively short but spectacular slice of the E4. Rather than building a brand-new path, the route adopts existing, well-marked German trails — chiefly the legendary Maximiliansweg across the northern edge of the Bavarian Alps. From Lindau on the shores of Lake Constance the E4 runs eastward through the Allgäu, the Ammergau and Bavarian Alps, the Karwendel border ridges and the Chiemgau, finishing at Berchtesgaden beneath the Watzmann. This German segment measures approximately 350 km and is the country's most demanding stretch of the entire E4.

Because the E4 overlaps with the Maximiliansweg, hikers benefit from decades of established infrastructure: red-white-red waymarking, staffed mountain huts of the German Alpine Club (DAV), and reliable public transport access to nearly every valley. In the alpine border region two difficulty variants exist — a higher, more exposed line and a gentler pre-alpine variant that largely coincides with the Maximiliansweg system. This guide focuses on the classic German alpine traverse, the version most international walkers come to hike.

Route Overview & Stages

The German E4 is usually broken into roughly 18 day-stages. Distances below are indicative day-lengths for the Maximiliansweg line; many sections involve 1,000–1,800 m of daily ascent, so kilometres alone understate the effort.

Because the route stitches together regional paths, exact stage cuts vary between guidebooks and the Maximiliansweg's official descriptions. Treat the table as a planning skeleton and adjust day-lengths to the hut spacing and your own pace. Building your itinerary day by day in a dedicated planner makes the elevation profile far easier to manage than a paper list.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Lindau & Lake Constance — the western trailhead sits on a historic island town at 400 m; the first kilometres roll gently through orchards before the Alps rise ahead.
• Hochgrat (1,834 m) — the highest summit of the Nagelfluh chain, offering a panorama over the Allgäu, Lake Constance and the Säntis massif in Switzerland.
• Oberstdorf — Germany's southernmost market town and a major Allgäu hub, ringed by 2,000-metre peaks and laced with DAV huts.
• Neuschwanstein & Plansee — the Ammergau section delivers distant views of King Ludwig II's fairy-tale castle and the turquoise Plansee on the Austrian frontier.
• Benediktenwand (1,801 m) — a striking limestone wall above Lenggries with via-ferrata-style scrambles on its summit ridge.
• Wendelstein (1,838 m) — a beloved Bavarian viewpoint above the Mangfall mountains, complete with a historic cog railway and mountain chapel.
• Kampenwand (1,669 m) — a jagged Chiemgau crest overlooking the vast Chiemsee, often called the "Bavarian Sea."
• Watzmann & Königssee — the finale beneath Germany's third-highest peak (2,713 m) and the fjord-like Königssee in Berchtesgaden National Park.

Best Time to Hike the Europäischer Fernwanderweg E4 - Deutschland

The German E4 is a high-alpine route, so the viable window is narrow. The high passes above the Allgäu and Karwendel typically hold snow into early summer, and DAV huts run a fixed season. For 2026 the practical hiking season runs from late June to late September.

July is the single best month for a continuous German E4 traverse. By early July the snow on the higher saddles has cleared in most years, the long staffed-hut season is in full swing, and daylight stretches past 21:00, giving room for the big-ascent days. Expect daytime valley temperatures of 22–28 °C and ridge temperatures around 10–15 °C, with the classic alpine pattern of afternoon thunderstorms — start early and aim to be off exposed ridges by mid-afternoon.

August offers similarly warm, stable spells but is the busiest period; reserve huts well ahead. September brings crisper air, golden larch light and thinner crowds, though by late month huts begin to close and the first snow can dust the summits above 2,000 m. June is feasible only in low-snow years and demands an ice-axe-and-crampons mindset for the higher variants. Avoid May and October for the full traverse — snow, closed huts and short days make them impractical.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The German E4 is a hut-to-hut and village-to-village walk. German Alpine Club (DAV) huts are the backbone in the high sections: a dormitory bunk (Matratzenlager) typically costs €18–€28 per night for DAV/reciprocal members and €30–€45 for non-members, with half-board (dinner plus breakfast) adding roughly €25–€35. Reservation is mandatory in 2026 — book directly with each hut online. In valley towns such as Oberstdorf, Mittenwald, Lenggries and Berchtesgaden you will find guesthouses (Gasthof) and pensions from about €60–€110 per double room, often including a hearty Bavarian breakfast. Designated valley campsites run €12–€22 per pitch; wild camping is prohibited across the Bavarian Alps, and bivouacking is tolerated only as genuine emergency shelter above the tree line.

Getting There & Back

Lindau (the western start) sits on the main rail line and is reached in about 2 hours from Munich Hauptbahnhof or roughly 2.5 hours from Zürich; the nearest major airports are Memmingen (FMM, ~70 km) and Munich (MUC, ~190 km). Berchtesgaden (the eastern finish) connects by train to Munich in about 2.5–3 hours via Freilassing, with Salzburg Airport (SZG) just 35 km away and reachable by regional bus in under an hour. Every intermediate trailhead — Oberstdorf, Mittenwald, Lenggries, Schliersee, Prien am Chiemsee — has its own railway station, so the route is easy to split into sections or escape from in bad weather.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to hike the German E4 — the trail is freely open and free of charge. The only costs are accommodation, food and transport. Within Berchtesgaden National Park you must stay on marked paths, and dogs must be leashed; there is no entry fee. Cable cars used as optional shortcuts (for example the Hochgrat or Wendelstein lifts) charge separately, generally €20–€35 return. A DAV membership pays for itself quickly through reduced hut rates if you plan more than a few hut nights.

Gear & Packing List

This is a serious alpine traverse with sustained ascent, exposed ridges and fast-changing weather, so pack for real mountain conditions while keeping base weight low. Sturdy B-rated hiking boots, trekking poles, a waterproof shell, an insulating mid-layer, sun protection and a helmet for the via-ferrata-flavoured sections (Benediktenwand, Karwendel variants) are essentials. A 40–55 litre pack handles hut-based travel comfortably; for a frameless ultralight setup the 2400 Windrider suits minimalists, while the larger 3400 Windrider or the supportive Abisko Hike 35 carry food and layers for longer carries between resupply points. Our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 compares load-carrying comfort across exactly this weight range.

Because hut half-board covers most evening meals, your food carry is mainly trail snacks and lunches — but the daily 1,000–1,800 m climbs burn energy fast. Read how many calories you need hiking a full day before you plan rations, then track each item's weight and calories so your pack stays honest. Build the full kit list, weigh every item and balance your load with HikeLoad's gear tools so you arrive at each pass without carrying surplus grams.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the cross-border, network character of the E4 appeals, Germany's other European long-distance paths offer the same waymarked continuity over very different terrain — from Rhineland river valleys to the rolling landscapes of the east. These connected routes make natural follow-ups or warm-ups for the demanding Bavarian alpine section.

• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E8, Rheinland-Pfalz — 4,390 km
• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E8, Nordrhein-Westfalen — 4,390 km
• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E11, Sachsen-Anhalt (W) — 2,070 km
• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E11, Sachsen-Anhalt (O) — 2,070 km
• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E11, Brandenburg (O) — 2,070 km

For a shorter, equally scenic alpine fix in the Balkans, our guide to hiking the Theth to Valbona Trail in Albania covers another classic mountain crossing with hut-to-hut logistics.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the German E4?
July is the best month. By early July snow has cleared from the high Allgäu and Karwendel saddles, DAV huts are fully staffed, and long daylight supports the big-ascent days. Valley temperatures sit around 22–28 °C. August is warmer but crowded, while September offers crisp, quiet conditions before huts close in late autumn 2026.

How difficult is the German section of the E4?
It is demanding. The roughly 350 km Maximiliansweg line involves around 20,000 m of cumulative ascent, with sustained 1,000–1,800 m climbing days, exposed ridgelines and short via-ferrata-style passages such as the Benediktenwand. You need solid alpine fitness, sure footing, a head for heights and the ability to read fast-changing mountain weather.

How many kilometres per day should I plan?
Plan for 18–26 km per day, but let elevation rather than distance set your pace. Because most stages climb 1,000–1,800 m, a "short" 20 km day can take 8–9 hours. Many hikers cover 15–22 km on the steepest alpine sections and stretch to 24+ km on the gentler foreland stages near Lindau.

What accommodation is available along the route?
The trail is hut-to-hut and village-to-village. DAV mountain huts charge roughly €18–€28 per dormitory bunk for members (€30–€45 for non-members), with half-board adding €25–€35. Valley guesthouses run €60–€110 per double room, and campsites cost €12–€22 per pitch. Reservations are mandatory in 2026, so book each hut directly in advance.

Do I need a permit to hike the E4 in Germany?
No. The German E4 is free to hike and needs no permit. Your only costs are accommodation, food, transport and any optional cable cars. In Berchtesgaden National Park you must keep to marked paths and leash dogs, but there is no entry fee. Wild camping is prohibited throughout the Bavarian Alps.

For the official route framework and the European Ramblers Association's E-path standards, see the European Ramblers Association, and for national park rules and conditions around the eastern finish consult Berchtesgaden National Park.