Tag 8 V1 Traumpfad München Venedig
The place
The Traumpfad München–Venedig is one of the most romantic long-distance hiking routes in Europe: 550 km over 24 stages from the Bavarian state capital to the lagoon city of Venice, straight through the Alps. The route crosses the German Pre-Alps, the Karwendel, the Tyrolean Alps, the Pustertal and the Dolomites, before descending into the Venetian plain and down to the sea. Not an officially waymarked route, but a recommended itinerary that hikers have followed since the 1970s. Demanding but rewarding: an adventure from the city to the sea.
Why go
Neuschwanstein Castle visible from afar. Zugspitze (2,962 m) close to the route. Innsbruck. Brenner Pass (historic Alpine crossing). Brixen/Bressanone and Sterzing/Vipiteno in South Tyrol. The Dolomites. Venice and St Mark's Square as the finish.
A bit of history
The Traumpfad goes back to the book 'München–Venedig zu Fuß' ('Munich–Venice on Foot') by Ludwig Grassler (1979), who sketched out a possible walking route. The route has since inspired countless hikers and produced several alternative variants, without ever receiving official waymarking.
Getting there
Munich: Hauptbahnhof (hub of German long-distance rail traffic). Venice: Santa Lucia station (from Milan, Rome, Vienna). Venice Marco Polo International Airport.
Recommended gear
High trekking boots (Alpine passes). Trekking poles. Rain gear. Sleeping bag (not all accommodations provide bedding). Passport (AT/IT border crossing).
Best season
June to September. Earlier months: passes may still be snow-covered. October: fine weather, fewer hikers.