Mountain lakes in Bavaria
From turquoise Eibsee to high-Alpine Seealpsee, these lakes lie in the mountains. Many take only a short walk; some can be reached on foot only.
Königssee
603 m · 190 m max. depth
Königssee lies like a fjord between the Watzmann and the Hagen Mountains.
Obersee
613 m · 51 m max. depth
Obersee lies behind Königssee and can only be reached on foot from the Salet landing.
Hintersee
790 m · 23 m max. depth
Little Hintersee at Ramsau sits beneath the Hochkalter and Reiter Alm.
Thumsee
527 m · 21 m max. depth
Thumsee near Bad Reichenhall is small, ringed by mountain forest and surprisingly warm in summer.
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.
Spitzingsee
1,084 m · 16.3 m max. depth
At 1,084 m, Spitzingsee is one of the highest lakes along Munich’s Alpine edge.
Sylvensteinsee
767 m · 3.92 km²
Sylvensteinsee is a reservoir on the Isar with turquoise water and a high bridge.
Walchensee
801 m · 189.5 m max. depth
Walchensee glows like the Caribbean in the Alps: turquoise, up to 189.5 m deep and with winds that draw surfers from across southern Germany.
Kochelsee
600 m · 65.9 m max. depth
At Kochelsee the Alps meet the foothills head-on.
Eibsee
973 m · 36 m max. depth
Eibsee lies directly below the Zugspitze and shimmers green to turquoise depending on the light.
Geroldsee
927 m · 6.1 m max. depth
Geroldsee, also known as Wagenbrüchsee, is small, but everyone knows the view: hay barns in front, the Karwendel behind.
Barmsee
885 m · 30.6 m max. depth
Barmsee near Krün lies in a wooded hollow facing the Karwendel and Wetterstein.
Lautersee
1,013 m · 18.6 m max. depth
Lautersee lies in a high valley above Mittenwald, a short walk from town and from Ferchensee.
Ferchensee
1,060 m · 19.2 m max. depth
Ferchensee sits at 1,060 m beneath the Wetterstein and has a beer garden with a boat jetty.
Badersee
766 m · 18 m max. depth
Tiny Badersee in Grainau covers about one hectare but is famous for its emerald water and the mermaid on its bed.
Alpsee bei Hohenschwangau
814 m · 62 m max. depth
Alpsee lies at the foot of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles.
Weißensee
788 m · 24 m max. depth
Weißensee west of Füssen sits right on the road to the Tannheim Valley but stays calm.
Großer Alpsee
725 m · 22.7 m max. depth
Großer Alpsee near Immenstadt is the largest natural lake in the Allgäu.
Seealpsee
1,622 m · 42 m max. depth
Seealpsee sits high above Oberstdorf at 1,622 m below the Nebelhorn.
Freibergsee
931 m · 25 m max. depth
Freibergsee near Oberstdorf is one of Germany’s highest swimming lakes with a lido.
Großer Arbersee
935 m · 16 m max. depth
Großer Arbersee lies below the Großer Arber in the Bavarian Forest.
Rachelsee
1,071 m · 13.2 m max. depth
Rachelsee is the only cirque lake in Bavarian Forest National Park and sits quietly beneath the Großer Rachel.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the highest mountain lake?
In our selection, Seealpsee above Oberstdorf at 1,622 m.
Can you swim in mountain lakes?
At many, yes, but the water stays cold. Bans apply in some protected areas.
Which needs no hike?
Eibsee, Spitzingsee and Königssee can be reached directly by bus or train.