Maximiliansweg

Maximiliansweg is a long-distance hiking route through the Bavarian Alps, linking Lindau (on Lake Constance) to Berchtesgaden. It’s largely congruous with the long-distance path E4 and is signposted/managed as a multi-stage trekking route along the German–Austrian Alpine border.

At roughly 355–360 km overall, expect a sustained thru-hike rather than a single weekend outing. Typical pacing is organized into many stages (reported around 22–24), which lets you break the route into daily sections with frequent lodging opportunities in settlements.

The route is positioned in an alpine corridor: you’ll be moving between lake regions, alpine valleys, and higher ridges, with day-to-day altitude changes. The widely used guidance for the trail’s overall character places it in the “moderate to hard” range, emphasizing stamina, surefootedness, and the realities of steep mountain paths.

Along the way it connects well-known cultural landmarks, including Neuschwanstein Castle near the Füssen area, while continuing through major alpine subregions on the Bavarian side before reaching the Berchtesgaden end area south of Salzburg.

Route planning commonly includes short water crossings as part of the corridor logistics—two boat crossings are suggested: one from Lindau to Bregenz across the Bodensee, and another from Bad Wiessee to Tegernsee across the Tegernsee.

The high point reported for the route is Tegelberg-Haus at about 1,707 m, and the trail is generally framed for summer season use (May–October).

For experienced long-distance hikers, the main practical takeaway is that Maximiliansweg is a true thru-hike with alpine terrain features: it’s not just a low-level walking path, so build time buffers for long stage days and navigation workload across its many stages.

More information: Wikipedia, Crossing the Alps on the Maximiliansweg I without luggage ..., ✅ All important information about the Maximiliansweg