Nestled in the mountains of Germany is the quaint Bavarian Village of Oberammergau. Popular as a ski town, Oberammergau also has a lot to offer in the summer as well.
In 2019, my mom and I had planned to attend the Oberammergau Passion Play in 2020. However, as you can guess, that was canceled and postponed until 2022. So with the new date approaching, we planned a trip to Oberammergau in the summer of 2022.
Now, we went for the play, but I fell in love with this little town as well.
Now, if you’re not familiar with the Oberammergau Passion Play, let me give you a little bit of history. In 1633, Europe was being ravaged by the Black Plague. The people of Oberammergau prayed to God to protect their town. From that time, no one else from Oberammergau died from the plague. Some still become ill, but not another death.
Since 1634, the people of Oberammergau have put on a Passion Play every 10 years to give thanks to God for protecting their village. It typically takes place at the start of the decade and the performances are given from March to October.
So, the next play will take place in 2030, but if you are planning a trip to Germany, Oberammergau is still a beautiful little town in Bavaria to visit. We traveled by train and bus from Berlin, but we were able to walk everywhere and didn’t have to worry about finding parking.
Things to do in Oberammergau
Order a Radler at a local Restaurant
A Radler is half beer and half lemonade or Sprite. It’s one of my favorite drinks. During our visit, we stayed at Das Posch Hotel, and the restaurant made their own lemonade and was one of the best Radlers I’ve ever had. We also had dinner at Hotel Wolf, which had amazing food and a good selection on their menu.
Take the Express Up and Down the Mountain
In the winter, Oberammergau is a ski town, but in the summer, the ski lift stills runs and has an alpine coaster. The alpine coaster has some tight twists and turns, and it has some stunning views. My mom and I enjoyed it so much that we paid for another trip down the mountain.
Make a day trip Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is only about 45 minutes from Oberammergau, and it’s a beautiful drive. We had taken a train and a bus from Berlin to Oberammergau, so we booked a day tour to Neuschwanstein Castle with Bavarian Castle Tours https://bavariancastletour.com/castle-tours/skip-the-line-half-day-tour-from-oberammergau-to-neuschwanstein-castle/
Honestly, the castle is located in Hohenschwangau, which seemed very touristy to me. I preferred staying in Oberammergau and doing a trip over to the castle.
Have a picnic along the Ammer
The Ammer river runs through the town, and it has that runs alongside it. On our last day, we went to the local supermarket and had a picnic along the river as we waited for our bus to arrive. This is a beautiful path to take a stroll or bike along.
Catch a Show at the Oberammergau Theatre
While the Passion Play only runs every 10 years, there are sometimes other shows to see at the theatre. Check out the Passion Theatre’s website and see what’s happening.
Take a hike
The view from our bed and breakfast was stunning. Surrounded by mountains, there are plenty of hiking options. Travels with Tricia has an extensive list of outdoor activities to do during your stay.
Have you visited Oberammergau in the summer? Tell me about it in the comments!
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