Always thought that to see mountain lakes with clear blue water set in a fairytale setting, you have to go to Canada? You don’t! These stunning lakes are closer than you think. Bavaria, in Germany, is home to several beautiful mountain lakes, including the popular Chiemsee, Bodensee, and Walchensee. Along their shores, you’ll find many campsites, hotels, and recreational areas. However, a lesser-known and much smaller gem is Lake Eibsee. Its shores remain largely untouched, free of buildings, offering a more tranquil escape.
Lake Eibsee in Bavaria
Lake Eibsee may be lesser-known than some of the other lakes, but you wouldn’t say that when you walk around; it’s incredibly crowded! This is not so much due to the lake itself, but because of the Zugspitze, which lies nearby. At 2,962 meters, the Zugspitze is Germany’s highest mountain. Lake Eibsee sits at nearly 1,000 meters in altitude at the base of the mountain, just 8 kilometers from the well-known winter sports resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. In winter, the Zugspitze offers plenty of skiing. In summer, it’s a popular destination for hikers, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts. Many people discover Lake Eibsee when they visit the Zugspitze.
Parking can be a bit tricky later in the day. There are large parking lots next to and behind the Eibseeseilbahn station, the cable car that takes visitors to the top of the Zugspitze. The Zahnradbahn Zugspitze also passes through here and you can reach the summit by this funicular train. It’s a great experience to take the cable car up and then the little train down, as each offers a different perspective of the surroundings. The train travels a large portion of the way through the mountain itself, so you’ll spend about 20 minutes in the dark!
Parking in Grainau
Want to avoid the crowded parking lot and enjoy a hike? Consider parking your car at P2 or P3 in Grainau. From Grainau, it’s a 4-kilometer walk to Lake Eibsee, with an elevation gain of 250 meters. The time you would otherwise spend stuck in traffic and searching for a parking spot can instead be spent immersing yourself in nature!
Horeca at Lake Eibsee
If you walk from the parking lot to Lake Eibsee, you can turn left to the Eibsee-Pavillon. This is a fairly large restaurant with a terrace that gets crowded when the weather is nice, so you’ll need to act fast to grab a seat! If you’d rather not waste too much time at lunch, it’s a good idea to bring a packed meal and enjoy it by the lake. In my opinion, it’s much more relaxing than waiting for a table at the restaurant. Next to the Eibsee-Pavillon is the Eibsee Hotel. The restaurant at the hotel, which boasts a beautiful waterside terrace, is only open to hotel guests.
Walking around Lake Eibsee
Our plan was to walk around Lake Eibsee, which takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. The total length of the walk is approximately 7 kilometers. Unfortunately, due to the long traffic jams, the time spent searching for a parking spot and waiting for lunch, we lost quite a bit of time and decided to relax by the lake instead. Those who have walked the Rundwanderweg around the lake have had great experiences, especially early in the day when it seems particularly beautiful.
While my husband and children were swimming, I walked along the north side of the lake. From this side, you get a stunning view of the lake with the Zugspitze in the background; what a backdrop! The further you walk from the east side of the lake, the quieter it becomes. While the beaches in the corner near the Untersee are crowded, further along the path, most places feel almost deserted. Here and there, a couple sits by the water’s edge or you might spot a boat gently bobbing in the water.
Swimming, Supping and Boating
The crystal-clear blue water is incredibly inviting for a swim. But be warned: the water is freezing cold, as is typical in many mountain lakes. Along the shore, it’s not too bad, but the temperature drops significantly as you swim toward the deeper areas. If the cold cuts your swim short but you still want to enjoy some time on the water, you can rent rowing boats, SUP boards or pedal boats, for example, from this rental company.
Cycling at Lake Eibsee
Are you a fan of mountain biking? If so, you’re in for a treat near Lake Eibsee. There are several MTB trails around the lake, some of which run right along its shores. Both mountain bikes and e-bikes can be rented at various locations in Grainau. Of course, if you prefer to bring your own bikes, that’s also a great option.
Eibsee as a stopover on your way to Austria
We stopped at Lake Eibsee on our way to Austria, after visiting the beautiful town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. When traveling from the Netherlands to Italy and/or Austria, most travelers pass through Bavaria. A stopover in this region is definitely worth it!
