Lakes near Munich
Over twelve lakes lie within a good hour of Munich, and the nearest ones are on the S-Bahn.
Tegernsee
726 m · 72.6 m max. depth
Tegernsee is an hour by train from Munich, with clear water, mountains on all sides and the Ducal Brewery Tavern.
Schliersee
777 m · 40.5 m max. depth
Schliersee is smaller and quieter than Tegernsee.
Kochelsee
600 m · 65.9 m max. depth
At Kochelsee the Alps meet the foothills head-on.
Staffelsee
649 m · 39.4 m max. depth
Staffelsee near Murnau has seven islands, warm moor water and the Blue Land of the painters around it.
Riegsee
659 m · 15.4 m max. depth
Riegsee lies next to Staffelsee with wide views to the Ester Mountains and Karwendel.
Starnberger See
584 m · 127.8 m max. depth
Starnberger See starts almost at Munich’s city limits: 56 km² of water, an S-Bahn to the shore and Rose Island, where Ludwig II met Empress Sisi.
Ammersee
533 m · 81.1 m max. depth
Ammersee is Bavaria’s third-largest lake and a little more down-to-earth than Starnberger See.
Wörthsee
562 m · 34 m max. depth
Wörthsee is Munich’s swimming lake: warm, clear and only 35 minutes from the city.
Pilsensee
534 m · 17.1 m max. depth
Pilsensee is the smallest of the big Five Lakes, between Wörthsee and Ammersee.
Frequently asked questions
Which lake is closest to Munich?
Starnberger See and Wörthsee are about 35 minutes from the city centre.
Which lakes are on the S-Bahn?
Starnberger See (S6), Ammersee, Wörthsee and Pilsensee (S8).
How do I avoid weekend traffic?
Leave before 9 am or take the train. See reaching the lakes without a car.