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The five best Bavarian lakes for a spring day trip

Spring is coming to Bavaria - a little snow in April can not distract from that fact. And with the warm spring sun on your face, and greenery blossoming all around you, it's time to take a trip to the lake.

Published: 16 April 2021 17:24 CEST
The five best Bavarian lakes for a spring day trip
Archive photo shows Königsee in Bavaria in 2018. Photo: DPA

Take a long, relaxed stroll, and perhaps a swim in the cold clear water (if you dare). If you’re still in need for inspiration, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s are five of Bavaria’s most beautiful lakes.

Fichtelsee

Honestly, this is not one of the lakes you would automatically think about if someone mentioned Bavarian lakes. Where’s the mountain view, where are the masses of tourists? But that’s exactly what makes it so charming.

READ ALSO: Eight beautiful Bavarian day trips you can’t miss

Almost completely surrounded by spruces, it feels like bathing in a forest. Especially in the morning or evening sun, this feels like a place that would exist in an old European fairy tale. Due to the acidity of the water (entirely harmless to the human skin) there are little fish and other aquatic animals in the lake, which adds to its mysteriousness.

The Fichtelsee is located in northern Bavaria, about half an hour northeast of Bayreuth.

Königsee

Now this is the picture many tourists have in their mind when they hear Bavaria: clear, deep-blue water, surrounded by mountains and greenery. Some more idyllic details: the St.-Bartholomä-Church (situated beautifully in front of the Watzmann mountain) and the Schrainbach waterfall. Make sure to take a boat ride to experience the famous echo that can be heard on the lake. 

Located in the Berchtesgardener Land, the lake is located at the most southeastern point of Germany, bordering Austria. If you feel sporty, hike up the Grünstein and enjoy the view all over Königsee from above. (It’s worth it!)

Eibsee

The picturesque Eibsee in November 2020. Photo: DPA

Below Germany’s highest mountain lies one of its most breathtaking lakes. Eibsee has it all: Clear water to bathe in, a hiking trail that leads around the lake, and a gorgeous view at the Zugspitze. On a hike around the lake you are bound to find many other gems — little waterfalls, trees that grow in the water and the most instagrammable boulder in Germany. 

READ ALSO: Record-breaking cable car for tallest mountain in Germany to open

Located near Garmisch-Patenkirchen, about 1.5 hours south of Munich, the lake is easy and quick to reach, both by car and public transportation. And again: Austria’s not far, so why not make a quick trip to the other side and get some nice southern goodies.

Walchensee

Eibsee is not the only lake in Bavaria that is reminiscent of the Caribbean, or perhaps the Maldives. A deep turquoise color and quite little amount of minerals in the water, which makes the water feel incredibly ‘soft’ on your skin, makes all your swimming dreams come true.

A bonus: You can take the cable car (or hike) up to the Herzogstand and enjoy an amazing view of not only one, but two lakes — Walchensee on one side of the hill, Kochelsee on the other. 

Located about an hour south of Munich, it is a bit closer to the city than Eibsee, and therefore even easier to reach for a day trip.

Seealpsee

Archive photo shows a hiker enjoying the mountainous views by Seealpsee. Photo: DPA

This is a really special lake. Why? Contrary to the other ones on this list, this lake is actually situated at 1,622 metres above sea level. (Munich for example is situated at about 520 meters.) Instead of looking up at the mountains, you will be in the middle of them.

That makes the lake also quite hard to reach. Instead of parking your car and walking for 10 minutes, prepare to take the Bergbahn (cable car), and for a subsequent hike that really should not be underestimated. There’s another way to get there: Hiking through the Oytal without taking the cable car. Please don’t take that way unless you’re an experienced hiker!

Swimming in the lake is not advisable, as the lake is very cold and deep, and has a complex underwater cave system that remains partially undiscovered until today. 

The lake is located near Oberstdorf, about two and a half hours by car from Munich.  To avoid confusion: There is another scenic lake in Switzerland that carries the same name.

By Lisa Schneider

Member comments

  1. Inland freshwater swimming is for me one of the greatest pleasures of living in Germany. That marvellous feeling of emerging fresh and without having to shower off all that sea salt. Mind you, it isn’t always a natural lake . . . here in Baden, we live within 5km of the Rhine and the whole area is full of gravel pits, both active and abandoned. The water quality is wonderful and the feeling of tiny fish nibbling at the trapped air bubbles on the skin of one’s legs offers a really sensual free massage. Most proprietors of old gravel pits do their best to dissuade swimmers by putting up ‘danger’ or ‘no swimming’ signs, probably because they’re afraid of drownings, but in a rather un-Germanic way these are mostly ignored as the whole community, including our friend the former Burgermeister, plunge in on a hot day. Heaven!

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BAVARIA

Bar closures and no Christmas markets: How Bavaria is tightening Covid rules

Bavaria will order the closure of all bars and clubs as part of sweeping new restrictions to try and control the Covid spread and ease overrun hospitals. Here's a look at what's planned.

Published: 19 November 2021 17:32 CET
Updated: 21 November 2021 10:15 CET
Closed Christmas market stalls in Munich.
Closed Christmas market stalls in Munich. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Sven Hoppe

On Friday Bavarian state leader Markus Söder announced more tough restrictions to deal with spiralling Covid infections and packed intensive care units.

“The corona drama continues,” said Söder after the cabinet meeting, adding that 90 percent of Covid patients in state hospitals are unvaccinated. “Being unvaccinated is a real risk.”

Bavaria has a vaccination rate of 65.9 percent – lower than the nationwide rate of almost 68 percent.

READ ALSO: Bavaria cancels all Christmas markets in Covid surge

Söder said the state’s Covid package was about “blocking, braking and boosting”, adding that vaccination centres will be ramped up. 

“We must act,” he said. “Bavaria is exhausting almost all legal means until December 15th.”

Earlier this week, Bavaria introduced a state-wide 2G rule, meaning only vaccinated people (geimpft) and people who’ve recovered from Covid (genesen) can enter many public spaces. People who are eligible to get vaccinated but choose not to get it are excluded. 

Here’s an overview of the planned restrictions set to come in on Wednesday, as reported by local broadcaster BR24. 

Bars, clubs and restaurant curfew

From Wednesday, and for three weeks, all nightlife like clubs, discos, bars, pubs and brothels in Bavaria are set to close their doors. Restaurants will have to shut at 10pm. So planned Christmas nights out will likely need to be cancelled or postponed. 

Christmas markets

There will be no Christmas or Christkindl markets in Bavaria this year. In the past days, several cities had announced that they would not be holding these events this year due to the Covid situation. 

Contact restrictions on the unvaccinated

Söder announced new restrictions on the number of people those who are not inoculated can socialise with. A maximum of five unvaccinated people will be allowed to meet, from two different households. Children under 12 will not be included in the total, as well as vaccinated or people who’ve recovered from Covid.

Cultural and sporting events

All cultural and sporting events can only take place with significantly reduced spectators. At theatres, opera performances, sporting events, in leisure centres and at trade fairs, there will be a 25-percent capacity limit. The 2G plus rule also applies. This means that only vaccinated and recovered people are allowed to enter (not the unvaccinated) – and only with a negative rapid test. Masks are compulsory everywhere.

Universities, driving schools, close-body services: 2G plus

All universities, driving schools, adult education centres and music schools will only be open to those who have been vaccinated and have recovered – making it 2G. This rule also applies to body-related services, like hairdressers and beauty salons. Only medical, therapeutic and nursing services are exempt from the 2G rule. So unvaccinated people can still go to the doctor or receive a medical procedure. 

KEY POINTS: Germany finalises new Covid restrictions for winter

Shops

Shops remain exempt from 2G rules, meaning unvaccinated people can visit them. However, there is to be limits on capacity. This means that fewer customers are allowed into a shop at the same time.

Special rules for hotspots

Currently, the incidence in eight Bavarian districts is above 1,000 infections per 100,000 people in seven days. Here and in all other regions where the incidence goes above this number, public life is to be shut down as far as possible.

This means that restaurants, hotels and all sports and cultural venues will have to close. Hairdressers and other body-related service providers will also not be allowed to open for three weeks, and events will also have to be cancelled. Universities will only be allowed to offer digital teaching. Shops will remain open, but there must be 20 square metres of space per customer. This means that only half as many customers as in other regions are allowed in a shop.

If the incidence falls below 1,000 for at least five days, the rules are lifted.

Schools and daycare

Throughout Bavaria, schools and daycare centres are to remain open. However, there will be regular Covid testing. Children and young people have to continue to wear a face mask during lessons, including school sports, unless they are exercising outside. 

Bavaria is expected to approve the measures on Tuesday and they will be in force until at least December 15th. We’ll keep you updated if there are any changes. 

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