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Lake Eibsee, Germany is one of the prettiest lakes in the Bavaria region. Read this post for everything you need to know before visiting.
Lake Eibsee is often regarded as Germany’s most beautiful lake, and for good reason. While there are many lakes you can visit in the south of Germany, also called Bavaria, this one is a must-see. From the crystal clear water to the impressive peak of the Zugspitze, the Eibsee Lake is popular among tourists and locals alike. In Germany, when referring to this spot, simply saying Eibsee is enough as “see” in German means lake. However, in this guide, I will still be referring to it as Lake Eibsee for clarity’s sake.
In this blog post, I will be sharing everything you need to know about visiting Lake Eibsee. I will start by answering some frequently asked questions and providing you with general facts about visiting. This includes what is allowed and what is not. Then, I will share how to get here, both by car and public transportation, as well as when is the best time to visit. Furthermore, I will provide you with a detailed guide on how to hike around the lake and all of the things you can do here. This will include some close attractions I highly recommend combining with a visit here. Lastly, I’ll share some places to stay nearby.
Overall, I hope this guide will inspire you to add Lake Eibsee to your Germany itinerary, as this is one of the prettiest nature spots in the whole country.
FAQs about Lake Eibsee
Can you swim in Lake Eibsee, Germany?
Yes, you can absolutely swim in Lake Eibsee, Germany. In the summertime, the water temperature is usually anywhere between 17-22° Celsius. However, in the spring and autumn, the water is much colder. That being said, you are welcome to swim anywhere you like, all year round. One of the best things about Lake Eibsee is that there are so many nice spots along the water, that you can easily find a secluded area all to yourself.
How long is the walk around Eibsee Lake?
The walk around Lake Eibsee is just over 7 km and will take anywhere between 1:30 – 2:15 hours depending on your pace. It is a fairly easy walk looping around the whole lake. However, there will be more or less elevation gain depending on which direction you walk in. I will be explaining which direction is best below in my hiking guide.
What town is by Lake Eibsee?
The closest town to Lake Eibsee is Grainau. Both the lake and Grainau lie at the foot of the Zugspitze, Germany’s tallest mountain. Due to this, the whole area around Lake Eibsee is very popular among both tourists and locals. Grainau can make a great base for a trip to Lake Eibsee, as it serves as a gateway to many attractions in the region.
This post is all about how to visit Lake Eibsee, Germany in 2023
Visiting Lake Eibsee – Important Information to Know
Location: Bavarian Alps
Elevation: Lake Eibsee is located at an elevation of 973 meters
Maximum Depth of Lake: 35 meters
Allowed: swimming, dogs, cycling, water activities (SUP and boat rental can be found at the lake)
Not Allowed: camping (both wild and car), grilling, campfires, drones, fishing (unless you are a guest at the Eibsee Hotel and only between May 1st – October 1st)
Important Note: Lake Eibsee is privately owned. Therefore, please try to be respectful of the area and make sure to abide by the rules.
How to Get to Lake Eibsee
Arriving by car:
The easiest way to get to Lake Eibsee is by driving. There are large parking lots on either side of Eibseestraße called “Eibsee Parkplatz” and “Parkplatz am Eibsee”. The latter is also connected to the parking lot for the Seilbahn Zugspitze (the cable car station). Both parking lots are quite large and while parking should not be an issue, they may be full during the peak season. Therefore, I recommend arriving either in the morning hours (before 9:00 AM) or in the late afternoon/ evening (after 17:00 PM).
The parking here is paid and you have to visit the lake between the parking lot times. The operating times of the parking lot are between 5:00 AM to 22:00 PM and prices can change according to when you arrive.
Earlybird Parking: Between 5:00 – 09:30 AM – 2.5 euros
Parking up for 4 hours: 8 euros
Additional fee: If you stay longer than 4 hours then it will cost 1 euro per each additional hour
Fine: If you park past 22:00 PM you will get a fine of 50 euros as there is a night parking ban
Additionally, you are not allowed to park with campervans here. For more information regarding parking prices etc. check out the official website guidelines here.
Free Parking
You may also be able to find free parking along the Eibseestraße road at a parking spot called “Wanderparkplatz” on Google Maps. There are two of these lots, one is a small parking lot and the other is a small space along the road. Both of these spots require a bit of walking to reach the lake, but the second spot is much closer than the first. This is not an ideal parking space since spots here run out quickly. Keep in mind that some travelers have found these parking spots to be closed or blocked so you may not be able to park for free.
Arriving by public transportation:
You can easily visit Lake Eibsee with public transportation from nearby towns. The easiest and most common bus to take departs from Garmisch-Partnekirchen, a famous ski village nearby. The bus runs every hour and the journey lasts about 40 minutes. Please note that the last return during the summer is at 20:00 PM and around 19:10 PM between October – mid-June.
The bus is called the Eibsee bus (via Grainau) and it stops just by the lake. The timetable can vary slightly during peak season as more busses may be added. Click here for an up-to-date schedule.
If you want to come here from Munich, you will have to first get to Garmish-Partenkirchen. It takes around 1 hour to arrive and you can take several trains and busses, including the FlixBus, for an affordable price.
Pro tip: If you are staying in the area overnight, you should receive a regional guest card. Most of these will grant you access to the Eibsee bus (and any other bus in the region) for free. Make sure to take advantage of this!
When To Visit
Honestly, a trip to Lake Eibsee is always recommended! However, there are several times of the year when the lake is extra beautiful.
Autumn: If you like visiting in the shoulder/off season then this is perfect for you! During this time you can witness the changing colors of the trees. Combined with the dramatic peak of the Zugspitze, this is probably one of the most picturesque lakes in the fall time. If you don’t mind the cold water, you can also still swim here during this season.
Winter: Lake Eibsee is the perfect spot to witness winter wonderland. This region typically gets a lot of snow so it would be so worth it to combine a trip to the Alps with a stop here. As far as I know, you can even go ice skating on the lake if it’s frozen enough!
Summer: It probably won’t come as a surprise that my personal favorite time to visit is during the summer. The water has such an amazing color when the sun is shining, and the trees are so lush. In addition, it’s the perfect lake for a swim or to rent a paddleboard in the heat.
Best time of day: While this will depend on which season you come at, the best time to visit is usually early morning or late afternoon/ early evening. The light during these times casts such a special glow over the lake and surrounding mountains. If you are a photographer, then sunset is probably the best, although both times of day will be great. These times are also ideal for avoiding the crowds, as Lake Eibsee is definitely one of the more popular spots in Bavaria.
Hiking the Eibsee Circuit Trail
Lake Eibsee actually has a panoramic circuit trail around the whole lake, which is the best activity to do while visiting. Below are some statistics regarding the trail, as well as an interactive map with different interest points and the marked trail. I will also give a short description of how to hike around Lake Eibsee.
Distance: ~ 7 km
Difficulty: Easy
Time needed: 1:30 – 2:15 hours depending on walking pace
Elevation gain: ~ 70 – 200 meters (depending on the hiking direction)
Direction: counter-clockwise (more on that below)
Hiking Description
I highly recommend hiking the lake in a counter-clockwise direction. This means that the trail will start behind the Eibsee Hotel, and you will walk in the direction of Untersee. I recommend this circuit for several reasons.
First of all, the weather in the Alps can be unpredictable. The best photo spots lie along the north coast of the lake, which will ensure you get to capture the beauty of the lake if you end up running out of time. Additionally, even if it is a clear day, you risk having clouds cover the Zugspitze peak by the time you reach the side of the lake facing the mountain. While the lake will still be beautiful, it’s extra special with a clear view of the Zugspitze.
Secondly, this trail will have less elevation, and go more downhill. This makes for an easier walk to simply focus on enjoying the beautiful scenery. You could definitely do the hike clockwise for more of a challenge if you would like.
Important note: On the embedded map you can see a black trail going towards the water near the photo spots. While there is no trail on Google Maps, you will be able to find a well-established trail around here leading you to the edge of the water. This is how you can reach the best photo/ view spots, as well as find a secluded beach area. Once you are done, simply take one of the paths back to the main trail to continue the circuit.
This walking direction is also ideal as you will finish the walk around the boat rental and restaurant. Consider stopping to enjoy one of the various water activities here, or enjoy a beer with a view. The trail ends when you reach the main parking lot.
Activities and Attractions around Lake Eibsee
Things to do at Lake Eibsee
Besides taking a scenic walk around the lake, the other best activities to do here are water activities. You can rent paddle boats and a SUP directly at the boat rental shop on the lake. Please note that for SUP rental you must provide a driver’s license, ID, or passport as a deposit. Additionally, if you prefer, there is also a 20-minute tour on an electric boat available. You can find the exact opening times and prices on the official website here.
If you are hungry, there are several restaurants and cafes located here as well. The seeRestaurant-Eibsee Pavillon is located right by the boat rental. If you only want a drink, then they also have a Biergarten outside overlooking the lake. For ice cream check out Eisdiele am See, and if you want a highly-rated meal, then check out Eibsee Alm. This last spot is located by the Zugspitze cable car station.
Nearby Attractions
Some of the best attractions near Lake Eibsee include the Zugspitze Mountain, Grainau, and the Höllentalklamm Gorge.
Zugspitze
To reach the summit of the Zugspitze you can either hike up or take the cable car. The hike is challenging and it takes around 8-10 hours (20 km one way) to reach the top. Make sure to properly research the route before attempting to hike up Germany’s tallest mountain! Alternatively, you can take the cable car up to the summit. The tickets are quite expensive, so this may not be the ideal activity for everyone. For more information regarding the opening hours and prices click here.
Grainau
Grainau is actually the closest town to Lake Eibsee. It lies at the foot of the Zugspitze and offers a beautiful view of the mountain. The town has many great guest houses, but one of the best spots to check out here is a church. The St. Johannes church is a beautiful spot to visit here for its postcard-worthy view.
Höllentalklamm
Translated into “Valley of Hell”, the Höllentalklamm is a must-visit spot in the area. This gorge offers a unique experience that every visitor should check out for themselves. Make sure to bring a rain jacket if you don’t want to get wet, and consider putting on a rain cover for your bag as well. The entrance fee is around 6 euros per person, but it’s definitely worth it in my opinion. Please note that the gorge is only open seasonally from late May until late October. For any updates on the gorge and opening times, check out the official website here.
Where to Stay When Visiting Lake Eibsee
If you are looking to relax, then you should definitely look into staying the night at Eibsee Hotel. Not only will you wake up to a gorgeous view over Lake Eibsee, but visitors here get to enjoy extra amenities. From a private beach on the lake to free boat and SUP rentals, this is the perfect place to relax for the weekend.
As previously mentioned, Grainau is the closest town to Lake Eibsee. In addition, it is the starting point of several hikes around the Zugspitze. This makes Grainau a great base for a trip to Lake Eibsee thanks to its prime location.
Best mid-range hotel: Hotel am Badersee
Best luxury hotel: Eibsee Hotel
Alternatively, you can also stay in the bigger and more central town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. In Garmish you can find lots of sleeping options to suit all budgets. Additionally, this is the largest town in the area, so if you are relying on public transportation, this will be the best place to base yourself during a visit.
Best mid-range hotel: Werdenfelserei
Best luxury hotel: Obermühle 4*S Boutique Resort
That concludes my guide on Lake Eibsee, Germany. I hope that you found the information above useful and that you have an amazing time at Bavaria’s prettiest lake. If you have any questions please let me know in the comments below.
