The 15-meter-deep Eibsee is one of Germany's most popular lakes. The lake at the foot of the Zugspitze is an ideal hiking area where you can swim in the lake. And if that wasn't enough, the irregular shape of the lake offers an exciting panorama, and the 8 islands of different sizes are just icing on the cake.
It is 3.15 km long and 560 meters wide. Its deepest point reaches 35 meters, and the loop trail around the lake is 8 km long.
Overview
| Eibsee | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Bavaria, Germany |
| Location | Alps, Zugspitze |
| Parking | Hotel Eibsee (4 euros) |
| Average depth | 12 meters |
| Deepest point | 35.4 meters |
| Shore length | 8 km |
| Surface | 177 hectare |
| Can you swim in the Eibsee? | Yes |
| Boat rental | 10 euros/hour (10:00-17:00) |
| Loop trail | 6,9 km | 2 hours | Easy |
| Attractions nearby | Zugspitze, Leutaschklamm, Höllentalklamm, and Partnachklamm |
Photos
Where is Eibsee located?
Eibsee is located in Germany, in the province of Bavaria, near Grainau. It is at the foot of the famous Zugspitze - next to the lower station of the cable car. The Austrian border (with the state of Tyrol) is only a few minutes away.
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- Distance from Zugspitze: 0 km
- Distance from Munich: 100 km / 1.5 hours
- Distance from Innsbruck: 75 km / 1.5 hours
- Distance from Vienna: 550 km / 5.5 hours
Parking
You can park in the large parking lot at the Eibsee Hotel (P1, P2). The daily fee for this is 4-5 euros per car.
Map
Around the lake there are several small peninsulas and a total of eight islands. The names of the islands are as follows: Almbichl, Ludwigsinsel, Scheibeninsel, Maximiliansinsel, Schönbichl, Braxeninsel, Sasseninsel, and Steinbichl.
On the right side of the map, on the east coast, is the Eibsee Hotel, north of which is the iconic small bridge next to the Untersee, which many tourists visit to take a photo.
Can you swim in the lake?
Bathing, boating and other water sports are allowed in the lake.
More about the lake
Besides the unique atmosphere of the lake, perhaps the most interesting information is that it is in private hands. Since 1884, it has been owned by the German Terne family, who in 1920 built the large building on the shore of the lake - the Eibsee Hotel. By the way, they run the hotel - or at least they still own it for the time being.
Although the initial recovery of the lake is due to fishing, we, unfortunately, have no information on whether fishing is allowed for tourists.
Formation of the lake
The lake was created almost 4,000 years ago by a huge landslide starting from the northern side of the Zugspitze mountain. The collapses at that time created several small and large crater lakes - the deepest and largest of which is the Eibsee.
Boat rental
Undoubtedly, the most popular program is boating, which enthusiastic tourists like to combine with bathing. Take your boat to each island and spend an hour sunbathing on the beach or swimming.
- Address: Sportbetriebe am Eibsee Seeweg 1-3 82491 Grainau
- Prices: 10 euros/hour
- The boat house on the shore of the lake is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Video
Hiking route
Expect a simple, comfortable and family-friendly walk. You can use the hotel as a starting point, where you will return after walking the loop trail.
| Eibsee hiking route | Details |
|---|---|
| Loop trail? | Yes |
| Length | 6.9 km |
| Duration | 2 hours (plus breaks) |
| Level difference | 200 m |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Barrier-free? | Yes |
| Child-friendly? | Yes |
| Dog-friendly? | Yes |
The pebbled, evenly laid out path is stroller-friendly, so you can even walk around it with a baby carriage. You should expect a minimum elevation rise of roughly 200 meters.
During the tour, feel free to get off the road here and there or break it up by taking a bath. Hidden in the forest on your right, you find several small lakes. Feel free to take a peek and discover these too.
Barrier-free?
Yes, the walking path around the lake is barrier-free so you can do it with wheelchairs and baby strollers.
Child friendly?
Yes, the circular trail is easy both in terms of length and elevation gain, so even children under the age of 6 can do it.
Dog friendly?
Yes. Feel free to take your dog for a walk or a bath.
Sights in the area
You are right at the foot of the Zugspitze, where one of the cable cars goes up from the lake to the top of the mountain. The mountain is the highest in Germany; hence it is the number one attraction in the area. However, it is worth knowing that there are several gorges within a convenient distance, each of which offers a great pastime:
- Distance to Zugspitze: 0 km by cable car
- Distance to Partnachklamm gorge: 15 km
- Distance to Höllentalklamm gorge: 25 km
- Distance to Leutaschklamm gorge: 35 km
We hope you found the summary useful. If so, save this link for later or share it with your friends. Have a nice trip! Trekhunt team ❤️