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I’ve been to Walchensee in Germany three times now, and honestly, it still surprises me on every visit. The first thing that hits you is the color — that unreal turquoise water looks almost tropical, especially on hot summer days when it’s perfect for a swim.
What makes this lake stand out isn’t just the scenery, though. It’s known for its crystal-clear water, peaceful atmosphere, and long shoreline dotted with quiet spots where you can easily find your own space. It never felt overly touristy to me, even in good weather.
I also love how much there is to do here. Whenever we felt like being active, we could choose one of the hikes in the surrounding mountains, scenic viewpoints, or lakeside walks. I’ve listed our favorite activities in this guide.
This post will help you plan your visit with practical tips, timing advice, and honest insights so you can decide if it’s worth adding to your trip.
Key Highlights
🌺 Activities: swim, hike, paddleboard
⭐️ Best time to visit: from late spring to early autumn
💰 Entrance fee: free
🚗 How to get there: car or public transport
Why Visit Walchensee
For me, Walchensee is one of those places that actually lives up to the photos — and that doesn’t happen often.
The first thing that always stands out is the water color. On sunny days it turns this unreal turquoise shade.
What I appreciate most is how natural it feels. Despite being easy to reach, it never felt overly built up or crowded during my visits. The shoreline is long and varied, and I always managed to find a quiet spot to relax, swim, or just enjoy the view without people all around.
If you enjoy scenic destinations that don’t feel overly touristy, this lake is easily one of the most rewarding places I’ve visited in Bavaria.
TIP: The main beach can get crowded. But the lakeshore is long and there’s plenty of empty spots. Just wander around.
Where Is Walchensee
Walchensee sits in southern Germany in Upper Bavaria, about 75 km south of Munich (roughly 1 hour by car) and about 25 km away from Garmisch-Partenkirchen (around a 30-minute drive).
Because of that, many travelers combine it with other destinations in Bavarian Alps.
📍Save the location to your Google Maps.
How to Get There
Arriving By Car
Driving is the simplest option. The route is easy to follow and well maintained, taking about 1 hour from Munich and roughly 30 minutes from Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
We had our own car for the trip and loved the flexibility. If you need to rent one, we recommend checking DiscoverCars since it’s one of the most transparent comparison platforms for rental deals.
Parking at Walchensee
There are two large paid parking areas near the main lake access points, and arriving generally feels easy thanks to clear signage. During our visit there was an employee showing us where to park.
Even though there’s plenty of space, they can fill up surprisingly fast on sunny weekends in peak season. We paid €7 for a full day of parking, which is very reasonable for such a popular alpine destination.
Arriving By Public Transport
Reaching the lake without a car usually means combining a train with a regional bus.
The buses serving the lake area are lines 328 and 329. The easiest way to check exact routes, transfers, and live schedules is through the MVV Journey Planner.
These are our top hotels in Bavarian Alps we’d book again
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hotel Das Rübezahl 4* – The most romantic stay we’ve ever had, with a spa overlooking Neuschwanstein and outstanding food. Book this if you want a memorable experience, not just a room.
⭐️⭐️ Das König Ludwig 5* – Best adult-only pick for a wellness-focused stay thanks to its huge spa, pools, and resort-style comfort after long mountain days.
⭐️ Das Graseck 4* – Choose this if you want something unique and peaceful — you arrive by private cable car and wake up surrounded by mountains.
Best Things to Do at Walchensee
1. Swim in the crystal-clear water & enjoy time on a beach
Ever since I first saw Walchensee, I couldn’t wait to swim in it. That intense turquoise color is even more tempting up close, and on warm days the lake is incredibly refreshing.
One thing I really like here is the large public beach area with maintained grass where you can comfortably lay out a towel. There are also basic facilities nearby, plus cafés and restaurants within short walking distance, so it’s easy to spend a few relaxed hours by the water.
Entry into the lake is fairly simple too — in several spots there are rock steps that make getting in much easier than scrambling over stones.
The water is definitely cold year-round, even in summer, but that’s part of what makes it feel so refreshing.
And if you prefer quieter places instead of the main beach, just drive along the shoreline. There are plenty of small access points where you can find peaceful swim spots without crowds.
2. Go paddleboarding
Exploring Walchensee from the water is one of the best ways to appreciate it. Paddleboarding is very popular here, especially on hot summer days.
If you don’t have your own gear, you can rent boards from SUKI SUP Rental, which offers equipment right by the lake. It’s an easy way to try stand-up paddling even if you’ve never done it before. They also offer guided tours.
Conditions can change quickly, though. The lake is known for sudden winds, so it’s safest to head out when the water is calm and stay close to shore if you’re inexperienced.
3. Watch the locals windsurfing
Walchensee is actually well known among windsurfing enthusiasts, thanks to the strong and consistent winds that often sweep across the lake.
On breezy days, you’ll usually spot locals gliding across the water at impressive speeds, sometimes performing jumps and turns that make it feel like a live outdoor show. Even if you’re not planning to get on the water yourself, it’s fun just watching from the shore.
4. Enjoy a lakeside picnic
One of the simplest but most enjoyable things to do at Walchensee is just slowing down and having a picnic by the water. The shoreline is long and varied, so it’s easy to find a stretch of grass, pebbled beach, or quiet lakeside corner where you can sit and take in the scenery.
Some areas near villages have maintained lawns and nearby cafés if you want convenience, while other parts of the lake feel much more natural and secluded.
That mix makes it easy to choose between a relaxed social atmosphere or a peaceful spot with almost no one around.
5. Ride along the coastal road
Driving along the lakeside road is an experience in itself. What I love about the route around the lake is that it offers constant views of the water on one side and mountains rising on the other. This alone makes it one of the most scenic drives I’ve taken in this part of Bavaria.
We found plenty of small pull-offs and parking spots along the way where you can stop for photos or simply enjoy the scenery.
It’s worth knowing that you can’t actually drive a full loop directly along the shoreline, since some sections are private or not accessible to cars. Still, even the drivable stretches are absolutely worth it for the views alone.
6. Hike the surrounding mountains
One of our favorite ways to experience Walchensee was seeing it from above. We noticed that the higher we climbed, the more unreal the water color looked — that turquoise shade somehow becomes even more intense from higher viewpoints.
There are several trails to choose from, but one of the most popular options is the short hike up to Herzogstand. What we love about this route is how accessible it is. If you combine it with the cable car, it takes only about 1 hour one way, making it a great choice even for casual hikers or anyone short on time.
If you want something longer, you can continue toward Heimgarten for a more demanding adventure with equally impressive views.
And beyond these well-known routes, there are plenty of other trails in the area too. From easy walks to full day mountain hikes, it’s easy to pick one that matches your energy level.
7. Take a cable car up to Herzogstand
Even if you’re not up for the roughly one-hour hike to the summit, taking the cable car is absolutely worth it on its own. The ride feels surprisingly adventurous — it climbs steeply above the mountainside, and the higher you go, the more dramatic the views become.
Watching the landscape open up beneath you is part of the experience, not just the way up.
From the upper station, you don’t even need to hike far to enjoy the scenery. Just a short walk brings you to panoramic viewpoints overlooking Walchensee and the surrounding Alps.
There’s also Berggasthaus Herzogstand, located about 15 minutes on foot from the station. It’s a great place to take a break, grab something tasty, and relax on the terrace while looking out over the valley and mountains.
8. Discover hidden coves
One of the things we enjoyed most about Walchensee was how easy it is to find quiet corners away from the main access points. While there are a few popular beaches, much of the shoreline is natural and undeveloped, which means you don’t have to go far to stumble upon peaceful little coves.
On our visits, we noticed that simply driving along the lakeside road and stopping where it looked inviting often led us to surprisingly calm spots with hardly anyone around.
Some are small rocky bays, others are grassy patches right by the water — and each feels like your own private viewpoint.
If you prefer nature and tranquility over busy lakefront areas, exploring these lesser-known corners is easily one of the most rewarding things to do here.
When to visit
The best time to visit really depends on what you want to do here, but based on my visits, late spring through early autumn is when the lake feels at its best.
Summer (June–September) is ideal if you want to swim or spend time by the shore. On hot days, the lake is incredibly refreshing. Just keep in mind it’s also the busiest season, especially on sunny weekends.
Spring and autumn are quieter and feel more peaceful. I personally liked these seasons for walking around the lake and enjoying the views without crowds, though the water can be too cold for most people to swim comfortably.
Winter is beautiful in a completely different way. It’s calm, dramatic, and often nearly empty — perfect for scenery and photography, but not for water activities.
Best time of day: Mornings or early evenings when parking is easier, and the lake feels much calmer than during midday. But midday is the best time for swimming.
FAQ
Older kids who are used to hiking should be fine, especially if using the cable car. The summit area has steep drop-offs, so supervision is important.
Partially, and only until yu reach the Berggasthaus Herzogstand. However, the surface is rather bumpy, better suited for terrain strollers.
Yes — if you take the cable car up and down, the remaining walk to the summit is relatively easy and manageable for most people with basic fitness. Hiking from the lake is more demanding and better suited to those comfortable with steady uphill climbs.
Final Thoughts
After visiting Walchensee three times, it’s still one of those places I’d return to without hesitation. It’s rare to find a destination that looks just as impressive in real life as it does in photos, but this lake genuinely delivers — especially when the sunlight hits the water and that vivid turquoise color appears.
What keeps drawing me back is the mix of scenery and atmosphere. It can be peaceful and quiet if you want it to be, yet there’s still plenty to do if you’re in the mood for something active.
If you’re planning a trip through Bavaria and wondering whether this lake is worth stopping for — it absolutely is. It’s the kind of place that ends up being more memorable than you expected.