Europäischer Fernwanderweg E5, Deutschland

The Europäischer Fernwanderweg E5 is a 3,200 km waymarked point-to-point trail running from the Atlantic coast of France through Switzerland, Austria, Germany and over the Alps to Italy. Its German alpine section around Oberstdorf covers roughly 50 km of rugged mountain terrain with several thousand metres of climbing, rated demanding, and forms the iconic Oberstdorf-to-Meran crossing.

About the Europäischer Fernwanderweg E5, Deutschland

The Europäischer Fernwanderweg E5 (E5 European long distance path) is one of the twelve great European long-distance paths coordinated by the European Ramblers' Association. Stretching 3,200 km in total, it begins at the Pointe du Raz in Brittany on the French Atlantic coast and ends in Venice, Italy, after threading through France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and back into Austria before crossing the main Alpine chain.

In Germany the route is maintained by the Deutscher Wanderverband, the national federation of hiking clubs founded in 1883. While the full E5 is an epic undertaking of several months, the German portion is best known for one celebrated segment: the alpine crossing that starts in the Bavarian resort town of Oberstdorf. From here the path climbs roughly 50 km through the Allgäu Alps before passing into Austria at the Kemptner Hütte. This Oberstdorf start is the gateway to the famous "E5 Alpenüberquerung" — the Alpine crossing from Oberstdorf to Meran (Merano) that draws tens of thousands of walkers each year.

The wider E5 corridor was conceived in the 1970s as part of the European Ramblers' Association's continental network, stitching together pre-existing national trails into a single signed route. The German section profits from this heritage: it follows long-established Alpine Club paths through the Allgäu, with red-white-red waymarks, signposts and the distinctive E5 logo guiding walkers. Because the route links three countries within a single week of walking, hikers experience a remarkable cultural and linguistic shift — from Bavarian Germany, through Tyrolean Austria, to South Tyrol's German-Italian blend — without ever leaving the trail.

The E5 carries the status of an International Walking Network (IWN) route, one of the world's most significant long-distance hiking corridors. As a point-to-point trail, it is fully waymarked across its length, and the heaviest-used 600 km section from Lake Constance to Italy — around 30 walking days — requires no technical climbing experience, only fitness, sure-footedness and a head for exposure on the high passes.

It is worth being clear about what \"the E5 in Germany\" means in practice. Strictly, only the first stage and a half — from Oberstdorf to the Mädelejoch — lie on German soil before the trail crosses into Austria's Tyrol. Yet because Oberstdorf is the universally recognised starting line, the entire Alpine crossing to Meran is marketed, guided and signposted as the German E5 experience. Most tour operators, DAV sections and guidebooks treat the six-stage Oberstdorf-to-Meran route as a single coherent trek, which is how it is described throughout this guide.

Route Overview & Stages

The table below covers the classic German-to-Tyrol alpine crossing that begins on German soil at Oberstdorf. Distances are the most commonly walked daily stages; many hikers shorten the first day by riding the Fellhorn cable car.

The standard Oberstdorf-to-Meran crossing covers roughly 100–120 km depending on the chosen variants and is usually walked in six days, blending hut-to-hut hiking with a few short bus or cable-car transfers across the deep Inn and Pitztal valleys. Fitter walkers occasionally compress the route into five days, while those wanting to savour the scenery add a rest day at the Memminger Hütte or a side ascent of a nearby 3,000 m summit. The total ascent across the crossing exceeds 5,000 m, so realistic daily pacing matters more than raw distance.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Oberstdorf (813 m) — Germany's southernmost market town and the trailhead, surrounded by the Allgäu Alps and well served by rail.
• Sperrbachtobel gorge — a dramatic stepped ravine on the first stage, climbing beside cascading water toward the Kemptner Hütte.
• Mädelejoch (2,033 m) — the historic pass marking the crossing from Germany into Austria's Tyrol.
• Holzgau suspension bridge — a 200 m-long pedestrian footbridge hanging 110 m above the Höhenbach gorge in the Lechtal.
• Seescharte (2,599 m) — a high notch in the Lechtal Alps offering panoramic views over remote alpine lakes.
• Pitztaler Joch (2,995 m) — the highest point on the entire E5, set among the glaciated peaks of the Ötztal Alps.
• Braunschweiger Hütte (2,759 m) — a classic Alpine Club refuge perched beneath the Mittelbergferner glacier.
• Meran / Merano — the Mediterranean-flavoured South Tyrolean spa town that crowns the crossing, framed by vineyards and palm-lined promenades.

Best Time to Hike the Europäischer Fernwanderweg E5, Deutschland

The German alpine section and the wider Oberstdorf-to-Meran crossing are firmly a summer undertaking. The high passes — Seescharte at 2,599 m and Pitztaler Joch at 2,995 m — hold snow well into early summer, and the staffed Alpine Club huts only open once the routes are clear.

The realistic window runs from late June to late September. The single best month is September: snowfields on the passes have melted, summer thunderstorm frequency drops, the air is crisp and clear for long-range views, and hut crowds thin out after the Central European school holidays end. July and August are warmest and most reliable for hut services but also the busiest, with afternoon thunderstorms common in the Allgäu and Ötztal — early starts are essential.

As of 2026, most DAV (German Alpine Club) and ÖAV (Austrian Alpine Club) huts along the route plan to staff from mid/late June until the third week of September, though exact dates shift each year with snow conditions. Always confirm current 2026 opening dates and weather windows before committing, and avoid the shoulder weeks if you lack winter alpine experience — early-season snow on the high cols can be hazardous.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The crossing is a hut-to-hut hike. Mountain refuges such as the Kemptner Hütte, Memminger Hütte and Braunschweiger Hütte are run by Alpine Club sections and offer dormitory bunks (Matratzenlager) and a few private rooms. Expect roughly €25–€45 per night for a dormitory place; members of the DAV, ÖAV or an affiliated club (including the Austrian Alpine Club UK) receive substantial discounts and booking priority. Half-board with dinner and breakfast typically adds €25–€35. In valley towns — Holzgau, Zams, Wenns — guesthouses and hostels run €40–€90 per night. Reservations are essential in July and August; book individual huts directly by phone or via the Alpine Club online portal months ahead. A sleeping-bag liner (Hüttenschlafsack) is mandatory in huts.

Getting There & Back

Oberstdorf has its own railway station at the southern end of a branch line, reachable by direct or single-change trains from Munich (around 2.5–3 hours) and Ulm. Munich Airport (MUC) is the nearest major international gateway, roughly 3–3.5 hours away by rail. From the finish in Meran (Merano), trains run to Bolzano and onward to Innsbruck or Verona; many hikers book a return shuttle bus back to Oberstdorf, which several operators run as a same-day transfer of about 4–5 hours. Innsbruck Airport (INN) is the closest airport to the Tyrolean midsection of the route.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to hike the E5 in Germany, Austria or Italy — the trail is freely accessible to the public. Costs come from huts, food, the occasional cable car (the Fellhorn lift out of Oberstdorf is optional) and valley transfers by bus. Alpine Club membership is the single most worthwhile "fee": annual dues of roughly €60–€95 pay for themselves quickly through hut discounts and include mountain rescue insurance valid across the Alps.

Gear & Packing List

This is genuine high-alpine terrain, so pack for sudden weather swings: sun and 25°C in the valleys, sleet and near-freezing temperatures on the 2,995 m Pitztaler Joch. Sturdy B-rated hiking boots with ankle support, trekking poles, a hardshell rain jacket, warm midlayer, hat and gloves are non-negotiable. Because huts provide bedding and meals, you can travel light — a 35–50 litre pack is plenty. Reliable choices include the Aircontact Lite 45+10 for those who want a supportive harness, the Abisko Hike 35 for a trimmer hut-to-hut load, or the ultralight Arc Blast 55L if you are counting grams. If you are weighing up which pack suits a fast hut crossing, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 compares seven tested options. Don't forget a hut liner, headlamp, basic first aid, sun protection and at least one litre of water capacity for the long climbs between refuges. Because alpine days burn through energy fast, plan your trail snacks deliberately — see our guide to how many calories you need hiking a full day to dial in food weight against the climbing.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the scale of the E5 appeals, Germany's other branches of the European long-distance network offer equally ambitious cross-country routes through varied landscapes — from river valleys to upland forests. These make natural follow-ups for hikers who enjoy waymarked international corridors:

• 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 but spectacularly scenic point-to-point in the Balkans, our guide on how to hike the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania covers another classic mountain crossing.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the German section of the E5?
Late June to late September is the only realistic window, because the high passes hold snow earlier and the Alpine Club huts close in autumn. September is the single best month: the snowfields have melted, thunderstorms are less frequent, the air is clear for views, and the trails are quieter once school holidays end across Central Europe.

How difficult is the E5 alpine crossing?
It is demanding but non-technical. The Oberstdorf-to-Meran crossing reaches 2,995 m at the Pitztaler Joch and involves long climbs of over 1,000 m, sustained descents and some exposed, narrow paths. No climbing or glacier skills are needed, but you must be fit, sure-footed and comfortable with heights and changeable mountain weather.

How many kilometres per day should I expect?
Daily stages on the German and Tyrolean alpine section typically run 12–22 km, but distance matters less than elevation: 700–1,500 m of climbing per day is normal. Most hikers walk 5–8 hours daily and complete the Oberstdorf-to-Meran crossing in six days, using a couple of short bus or cable-car transfers across deep valleys.

What accommodation is available along the route?
The crossing is hut-to-hut, using staffed Alpine Club refuges such as the Kemptner, Memminger and Braunschweiger Hütte. Dormitory bunks cost roughly €25–€45 per night, with half-board adding €25–€35; valley guesthouses run €40–€90. Reservations are essential in July and August, and a sleeping-bag liner is required in all huts.

Do I need a permit or fee to hike the E5?
No permit is required anywhere on the E5 in Germany, Austria or Italy — the trail is freely open to the public. Your only costs are huts, food, optional cable cars and valley transfers. Joining the German or Austrian Alpine Club (about €60–€95 per year) earns large hut discounts and includes Alpine mountain-rescue insurance, making it well worth it.

The official E5 route is documented by the European Ramblers' Association, and hut bookings plus current opening dates for the German and Austrian sections can be checked through the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club).