Where to Stay in the Allgäu? An Honest Comparison of the Towns

“We want to go to the Allgäu – but where exactly?” Our short answer: for families and swimming holidays, Immenstadt on the Großer Alpsee is ideal; for excursions in every direction, Sonthofen; for peace and quiet, the Gunzesrieder Tal near Blaichach; and for the big mountains, Oberstdorf. On the map the towns lie close together, and in the brochures each one sounds just as lovely. Yet every town has its own character.

We live in the Oberallgäu ourselves and have holiday apartments in several of these towns. Here we tell you what makes each place special and who it suits – so you can find the town that is right for your holiday.

Immenstadt on the Großer Alpsee

Suits: families, water lovers, anyone who wants to see a lot.

Immenstadt is our home, and we are happy to recommend it because this is where lake and mountains come together. Covering around 247 hectares, the Großer Alpsee is the largest natural lake in the Allgäu – swimming, sailing and stand-up paddleboarding are just a few minutes away. At the same time, the Mittag rises above the town as a proper local mountain with a chairlift, and the Alpsee Bergwelt with the Alpsee Coaster, high-ropes course and Abenteuer Alpe adventure area offers variety even on changeable days. In the evening the historic old town invites you to stroll and stop for a bite.

Good to know: on hot summer weekends the lake gets busy; early in the day you will find the quietest spots. With a railway station and the B19 and B308 roads, getting here is easy. If you are looking for complete silence, the Gunzesrieder Tal is the better choice.

View our holiday apartments in Immenstadt

Sonthofen

Suits: hikers, winter sports fans, anyone who wants to head somewhere different every day.

Sonthofen, Germany's southernmost town, lies right in the middle of the Oberallgäu. The Grünten is right on the doorstep, the Hörnerkette and the Nebelhorn are quickly reached, and it is just under a quarter of an hour's drive to Bad Hindelang and around 20 minutes to Oberstdorf. If you want to set off in a different direction every day, Sonthofen is an ideal base. Shops, doctors, restaurants and an indoor pool are all right in town.

Good to know: Sonthofen is a lively small town. If you are dreaming of a sleepy mountain village with geraniums on wooden balconies, you are more likely to find that in the nearby Gunzesrieder Tal.

View our holiday apartments in Sonthofen

Blaichach and the Gunzesrieder Tal

Suits: anyone who really wants to switch off.

Blaichach lies exactly between Immenstadt and Sonthofen. Drive from there into the Gunzesrieder Tal and within a few minutes it goes quiet: alpine meadows, cheese-making alpine huts and the Nagelfluhkette nature park, just as you imagine the Allgäu. Your walk starts a few minutes' drive from your apartment in Blaichach, and the Ofterschwang-Gunzesried ski area is right next door. Yet Immenstadt and Sonthofen are still only around ten minutes away.

Good to know: in the valley a car gives you the most flexibility, and the choice of restaurants is limited – for going out and evening entertainment you pop over to Immenstadt or Sonthofen. Many guests discover the valley on their second or third trip to the Allgäu and then keep coming back.

View our holiday apartments in Blaichach

Oberstdorf

Suits: anyone whose main goal is the big mountains.

Oberstdorf is Germany's southernmost municipality and the best-known town in the Allgäu. The Nebelhorn, Fellhorn, Breitachklamm gorge and the ski-flying hill are all here, along with a picture-book town centre. For mountaineering, long descents or the big sights, you are right in the thick of it here.

Good to know: Oberstdorf is the most sought-after and most expensive town in the Allgäu, and in peak season it is correspondingly busy. It lies at the southern end of the valley, so for trips to the rest of the Allgäu you first have to drive north. If you want both, stay more affordably in Immenstadt or Sonthofen and visit Oberstdorf on a day trip.

View our holiday apartment in Oberstdorf

Oberstaufen

Suits: wellness and spa guests, leisurely hikers.

Oberstaufen lies further west and has a character all of its own: the Schroth cure, thermal baths and wellness hotels shape the town, along with its local mountains Hochgrat, Hündle and Imberg, which offer pleasant walks without a high-alpine feel. If you want to relax while enjoying gentle hikes, you are in good hands here.

Good to know: for high-alpine tours, the towns further south are closer to the big mountains. We don't have a holiday apartment in Oberstaufen itself, but from our apartments in Immenstadt you can get there in around 20 minutes.

View holiday apartments for Oberstaufen

Which town suits you? The short version

Everything at a glance – just as we would recommend it to friends:

• With children or by the water: Immenstadt.
• Lots to do, somewhere different every day: Sonthofen or Immenstadt.
• Simply peace and quiet: Blaichach by the Gunzesrieder Tal.
• Right in the big mountains: Oberstdorf.
• Wellness and gentle hiking: Oberstaufen.

And the best part: Immenstadt and Oberstdorf are only a good half-hour apart. Wherever your holiday apartment is, the whole region is within reach. What you can experience from there is shown on our map of places to visit in the Allgäu, and which season is worth it for what is explained in our article on the best time to visit the Allgäu.

Frequently asked questions about choosing a town