Tatra National Park is the only national park in Poland located within Alpine mountain range. Berchtesgaden National Park can be regarded as an analogous example in Germany. So far, as many as 23 national parks have been established in Poland (1% of country’s total area), and 14 national parks in Germany (0.55%). The main aim of this article is to compare the availability of both these mountainous areas for touristic activity including legal foundations, elements of touristic development, and tourist arrivals. Touristic activity in Tatra and Berchtesgaden Alps dates back to the last decade of 19th century. No permanent tourist facilities existed in both considered parks during their offi cial establishment: in 1954 (Tatra National Park) and 1978 (Berchtesgaden National Park). Presently, chiefly the Tatra National Park grapples with very intense tourist attractiveness. Mountain hostels available to the general public exist in both parks, but they are diverse as far as their functions and elevation above the mean sea level are concerned. Other forms of tourist facilities found in both parks include: accommodation for advanced activities (available for mountaineers and cavers) and food service. Nevertheless, ski resorts operate only in Tatras. These mountains are also distinguished by roads and parking lots located within the National Park’s boundaries whereas in Berchtesgaden Alps such infrastructure is located beyond the protected area. Both parks are comparable with respect to the length of mountain trails, but not to the number of tourist information points, something more typical for Berchtesgaden National Park. Lastly, all of the considered elements of touristic development are confronted with fixed protected zones in order to detect man-made impacts upon natural resources in both parks.