Last Updated: March 14, 2022
Best Lakes In Germany
Germany is a country that is full of beautiful lakes and they are dotted all around the country. But the majority of the best lakes in Germany sit in the Alpine region on the border of Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
There is no better way to escape the office and the duties of home life than hopping in a car or onto a train and spending some time around a beautiful lake. Whether you’re looking for stunning views, places to hike, some watersports, or being pampered at a spa for the weekend, Germany’s lakes have it all.
Join me as we take a look at the best lakes in Germany to spend some in, on, or beside..
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Lake Königssee
Lake Königssee is right in the southwest corner of Germany next to the Austrian border. It’s part of the Bavarian Berchtesgaden National Park and the name Königssee literally translates to mean Kings Lake, and it’s not hard to see why.
Lake Königssee is crystal clear, emerald blue in color, and surrounded by mountainsides of up to 2000 meters high that fall strain into its shores. If you were blindfolded and dropped there, you’d most likely think you were in a Norwegian fjord.
The lake is stunningly beautiful, surrounded by hiking trails, you can rent rowboats to explore it in, or hop on electric boat tours around the lake (petrol-run motorboats are deemed too dirty for this lake).
There are some cool things nearby to check out too including old churches, shore-side restaurants, a few stunning waterfalls, and a lot more. The town of Berchtesgaden is just 10 minutes down the road, you’re in the heart of Bavaria which warrants exploring on its own, and getting there takes just a few hours by car or public transport from Munich.
Lake Eibsee
Lake Eibsee sits in south Germany on the border of Liechtenstein just about an hour’s drive from Munich and is accessible by train from pretty much anywhere in Germany.
Lake Eibsee is crystal clear with emerald blue colored waters and spans a huge 177 hectares but it’s quite shallow with its deepest point reaching just 32 meters. Surrounding the lake is the Zugspitze mountain region which is home to hundreds of beautiful hiking trails, forests, and rivers that are worth exploring.
You can also take a lovely walk around the lake, grab a boat and visit the 8 islands within it, and hop the Zugspitze cable car to get up high into the mountains for stunning views across the lake and into the Alps.
There are a few hotels to stay at near the lake, one being the Eibsee Hotel, whose family owners just don’t own the hotel but the lake too. You can visit the lake all year round – in winter there is fantastic skiing and the lake freezes over and is great for ice skating.
Lake Constance
Lake Constance, also known as Bodensee, is the biggest lake in Germany measuring a huge 62 km in length and covering a massive 536 square kilometers.
The lake finds itself in Germany’s sunniest region, so a visit to it is likely to have better weather than any other lakes, and it has three countries meeting at its shores including Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and of course Germany which makes it quite a cultural hub to explore.
Staring across the vastness of Lake Constance is quite breathtaking and there are ferries running almost hourly that connect all the towns that call the lake’s shores home. The towns of Lindau, Meersburg, Bregenz, and the Flower Island of Mainau and all places worth exploring or staying while you visit.
You have the Alps to explore to the south via hiking trails, you can rent a boat and cruise around the lake and the rivers the branch out from it, or hop on a cable car to check out the amazing views and spend some time hiking on some mountain tops.
Lake Titisee
Lake Titisee is the largest lake in the Black Forest but it’s actually rather small and shallow covering an area of just over 1 square kilometer and hitting about 20 meters at its deepest point.
The lake is surrounded by thick and lush forests that wind their way down the hills and mountainsides to meet the lake’s shores.
Lake Titisee is a popular tourist destination in the Black Forest and is lined with streets full of delicious restaurants and street performers. There are hundreds of places to stay and you can take to the lake on or a cruise boat for a tour, hire rowing boats, try your hand at fishing, and learn to windsurf.
On the north end of the lake is the town of Titisee which is known for its spas. The town is full of spa and wellness hotels and is the perfect place to get away from it all for a weekend of pampering and relaxation.
Just 150 km away from Stuttgart, you can be on the shores of Lake Titisee within 2 hours by car or just over 3 hours by train. Both journeys offer amazing scenery and it’s almost better to get the train so the driver can enjoy the views too.
Related: Grab the best lake quote or caption for your next Instagram post.
Lake Müritz
Lake Müritz sits in central northern Germany and is just a few hour’s drive from the capital Berlin. It’s the second biggest lake in Germany and sits in the beautiful Müritz national park.
The Müritz national park is home to hundreds of species of rare birds and if you’re lucky you’re likely to see species like white-tailed eagles, cranes, and ospreys.
The lake is ideal for relaxing by, boating, canoeing, fishing, and more. It’s also surrounded by hiking and biking trails and some beautiful towns that are worth visiting too such as Röbel, Ankershagen, Sietow, Waren, and Mirow.
Lake Walchensee
Lake Walchensee sits just next door to lake Kochelsee and is one of the biggest lakes in all of Germany. Just 80 km outside of Munich, it’s incredibly easy to get to and in a beautiful area that attracts nature lovers and tourists all year round.
The lake is incredibly deep hitting 190 meters at its deepest point and there is a staggering 27 km of shoreline to discover. You can rent boats and paddleboards to explore the lake with and there is even an island you can paddle to, Sassau, and spend the day picnicking and exploring.
The lake has a multitude of restaurants, hotels, and little towns with old churches to wander around on its shores. The surrounding hills and mountains are great for hikers, bikers, and also good for skiing in the wintertime.
Lake Alpsee
Lake Alpsee is actually quite a small lake and is made famous thanks to its proximity to two ancient castles Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein both of which are worth a visit and have amazing views over the lake.
There are places to stay all around the lake and if you’re into watersports then pretty much all of them are on offer. You can go fishing, sailing, even surfing, rent rowing boats, paddle boats, or hop on a historic replica of a medieval trading ship for a tour around the lake.
If you’re not a fan of being on the water then the surrounding Bavarian Alps offer much to be desired. There are hundreds of hiking trails around the lake and up into the mountains and the natural beauty is jaw-dropping.
Getting to Lake Alpsee is easy being just a 2-hour train ride or car drive from Munich.
Lake Hintersee
Lake Hintersee is another alpine lake that sits in southern Germany right on the Austrian border. The towns of Ramsau and Antenbichl are just down the road and so is Berchtesgaden National Park.
Being an alpine lake, the water is crystal clear and changes colors from a deep green to azure blue depending on the depth and how much light catches it. The lake is known to attract a lot of photographers and artists who come to take amazing pictures of the lake and try to capture its beauty on a canvas.
Around the lake’s shores are some lovely quaint towns with great hotels and restaurants. From the towns, you can rent paddleboards and boats to explore the lake from or use them as a base to get into the mountains.
There is a multitude of hiking trails around the lake and up into the mountains that offer beautiful views of the surrounding Alps.
It’s best to get to Lake Hintersee via car and it takes 3 hours or so from Munich or under an hour from Salzburg. You can use public transport but it involves getting a train to Berchtesgaden and then a bus to the lake.
Lake Christlessee
Lake Christlessee is bar far one of the most beautiful lakes in Germany, so much so that people even drive there for photoshoots and just to add some photos to the Gram. The reason for its beauty is due to its colors and surroundings.
The water is crystal clear and shallow which gives rise to an amazing mixture of different shades of turquoise, blue and green. When you add the forested hilly backdrop, you kind of think you might have died and gone to heaven.
It’s a tiny lake at just 320 meters long, so there are no watersports or anything like that to be found. There is a hotel right next to it you can stay at and a restaurant about a hundred meters back. If you’re looking for some romance, then you can book a dinner or lunch to be set up right on the shoreline.
Getting there by public transport involves a train, bus, and a 6km hike or taxi ride. It’s best to have a car and make this a stop-off point for a night while exploring the southern alpine region of Germany.
Lake Chiemsee
Lake Chiemsee, aka the Bavarian Sea, sits in the heart of Bavaria and encompasses a huge 80 square kilometers, hence the nickname. It’s so big, it even has tides for you to navigate.
Being so vast, there are quite a few lake towns around its shores and the views across it are mega pretty. You can rent boats, go paddleboarding, fishing, and there are a lot more watersports on offer too. There are also loads of hiking trails that take you into the forests and offer some spectacular views.
The main reason to visit the lake isn’t due to the activities though, it’s the three islands within it Krautinsel, Herreninsel, and Frauenchiemsee. Herreninsel is the most popular for tourists as there is the old Herrenchiemsee Castle there which was built in the 17th century.
Chiemsee, a freshwater lake in Bavaria, is often referred to as the Bavarian Sea because of its sheer size (80 sq.km.) and tides. As with almost any other lake, delving into its heart in a boat is the best way of getting to know it and its three islands, Herreninsel, Frauenchiemsee, and Krautinsel.
Herreninsel is a magnet for tourists, thanks to the famous Herrenchiemsee Palace from the 1800s which was left unfinished by King Ludwig II which today is home to the King Ludwig II museum.
You’ll also find Frauenwörth a Benedictine convent from the 8th century that features a Gothic bell tower on the smaller Fraueninsel island (women island) and there is also an Augustinian monastery close to the lake that’s worth a visit.
Lake Tegernsee
Lake Tegernsee like so many of the best lakes in Germany sits south of Munich in the Bavarian Alps. This lake is one of the most popular in Germany and if you’re looking for an action-packed lake trip, to relax in amazing, spa accommodation, or just enjoy the stunning views and hikes, this lake has got it all.
You can take to the lake and go boating, fishing, sailing, SUP-ing, windsurfing, and more. There is paragliding on offer in the surrounding mountains as well as mountain biking plus skiing and snowboarding in the winter.
There is a cable car that will take you up into the mountains for amazing views across the crystal clear lake and the area is known for hosting fun events like a yearly film festival and more.
The lake is also a great place for a family vacation as there are loads of kids-based activities planned each day, child-friendly places to stay, and restaurants with great kids’ menus.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
