The Most Beautiful Lakes in Bavaria: Swimming Spots and Beaches

Turquoise mountain water, long sandy beaches and Alpine views: Bavaria’s lakes are among the most beautiful swimming spots in Central Europe – and most of them are only one to two hours’ drive from Munich Airport. This guide presents the ten most beautiful lakes with their best swimming spots, tells you how warm the water gets, and closes with where naturist (FKK) bathing is officially allowed.

The ten lakes at a glance

Lake	Character	Water in high summer	Drive from Munich Airport*
Lake Starnberg	Large villa lake, very clear	approx. 19–23 °C	approx. 50 min
Ammersee	Sailing lake, open east shore	approx. 19–22 °C	approx. 55 min
Tegernsee	Elegant, mountain backdrop	approx. 18–21 °C	approx. 65 min
Schliersee	Small, quiet, family-friendly	approx. 19–22 °C	approx. 70 min
Staffelsee	Moor lake with seven islands	approx. 21–24 °C	approx. 70 min
Chiemsee	“Bavarian Sea”, sandy beaches	approx. 20–23 °C	approx. 75–90 min
Kochelsee	At the edge of the Alps, cool	approx. 17–20 °C	approx. 75 min
Walchensee	Turquoise, unspoilt mountain lake	approx. 16–20 °C	approx. 90 min
Eibsee	Below the Zugspitze	approx. 18–21 °C	approx. 1 h 40 min
Königssee	Fjord-like, national park	mostly below 20 °C	approx. 2 h

* Guide values in normal traffic. On summer weekends, expect congestion on the A8 towards Chiemsee and Tegernsee and on the A95 towards Garmisch.

1. Lake Starnberg – Munich’s bathtub

Bavaria’s second-largest lake is about 20 kilometres long and known for its clear water. Possenhofen, Feldafing and Tutzing line the west shore; Berg, Ammerland and Ambach the east shore. Because the lake is very deep, it warms up slowly in early summer – in July and August it is pleasantly refreshing.

Best swimming spots

• Paradies recreation area (Possenhofen/Pöcking): a former castle park with large lawns, bathing jetties, barbecue areas and a volleyball court. A few minutes’ walk from Possenhofen Castle, Empress Sisi’s childhood home.
• Ambach recreation area (east shore): a large meadow with a gently shelving pebble shore – ideal for families with small children. Sun until sunset.
• St. Heinrich lido (south-east shore): with canoe, SUP and windsurf board rental.
• Kempfenhausen and Percha (north-east shore): large lawns, the quickest to reach from Munich.
• Starnberg Seebad and the lidos in Feldafing, Garatshausen, Bernried and Seeshaupt: admission charged, with changing rooms, toilets and kiosk.

Good to know: On hot days, lakeside car parks are full by around 10 am. If you are dropped off, you get out right at the entrance.

2. Ammersee – sailing lake with an open east shore

Bavaria’s third-largest lake lies west of Munich in the Five Lakes region. More than 5,000 boats are moored here, and the lake steamers connect Herrsching, Dießen, Utting and Schondorf. Much of the east shore is publicly accessible, so there are plenty of small, natural bathing coves.

Best swimming spots

• Herrsching Bay and Seewinkel lido (Herrsching): long lakeside promenade, pebble beach, restaurants within walking distance; ideal combined with a visit to Andechs Monastery.
• Eching recreation area (north shore): large leisure grounds with shallow water and two playgrounds, very family-friendly.
• Strandbad Forster (Schondorf): a classic lido on the west shore.
• Inning-Stegen bathing area: at the northern end, with lawn and jetty.
• Riederau, Utting and Dießen: smaller spots on the west shore with evening sun.

3. Tegernsee – swimming with a mountain backdrop

Tegernsee combines a beach day with mountains, fine food and Bavarian lifestyle. More than a dozen bathing spots are spread around the lake, many of them free. The water quality is considered excellent.

Best swimming spots

• Strandbad Kaltenbrunn (Gmund): for many the loveliest corner of the lake – pebble beach, long wooden jetty, shady lawn under old trees, free admission.
• Strandbad Seeglas (Gmund): freely accessible sandy beach on the north shore, good with children.
• Strandbad Point (between Tegernsee and Rottach-Egern): a small peninsula with fine sand and beach volleyball.
• Strandbad Abwinkl, Seerose and the municipal beach (Bad Wiessee): well-kept lawns on the west shore, free admission.
• Waakirchen beach (north shore): idyllic and relatively unknown.
• See- und Warmbad Rottach-Egern: admission charged, but with a heated pool.

Good to know: The Bad Wiessee lakeside promenade is about five kilometres long – perfect for a walk after swimming.

4. Schliersee – small, quiet, family-friendly

Just ten kilometres east of Tegernsee lies the much quieter Schliersee with Wörth island in its centre. It warms up faster than the large lakes and is a good alternative when Tegernsee gets crowded.

Best swimming spots

• Strandbad Schliersee: lawn and shallow sandy beach for a small fee. Dogs are not allowed here.
• Bathing area by the playground (north shore): with kiosk and pedal boat rental, ideal for children.
• Westerberg beach: at the end of the Schliersee adventure trail, on foot or by bike only.
• Lauber Beach: small spot with kiosk; toilets for kiosk customers.

Good to know: Spitzingsee, a second and even higher mountain lake, is only a few minutes away.

5. Staffelsee – the warmest on the list

Staffelsee near Murnau is a shallow moor lake with seven islands and often reaches the highest water temperatures of the lakes in this guide. Much of the shore is reed and nature; swimming mainly takes place at the lidos.

Best swimming spots

• Strandbad Seehausen (“Seehausen Riviera”): municipal lido on the north shore with a shallow entry, open from mid-May into autumn.
• Strandbad Alpenblick (Uffing): small lido with the eponymous view of the Wetterstein mountains, beer garden next door.
• Uffing municipal lido: large lawn, kiosk, SUP rental, low admission.
• Park at the former Murnau lido: free access, quick to reach from town.
• The islands: by rowing boat (rental in Seehausen) you can reach quiet stretches of shore.

6. Chiemsee – the Bavarian Sea

At around 80 square kilometres, Chiemsee is Bavaria’s largest lake. It is comparatively shallow, so it gets pleasantly warm in summer, and it has the longest sandy beaches in the region. A beach day combines well with a trip to Herreninsel or Fraueninsel.

Best swimming spots

• Strandbad Übersee-Feldwies (south shore): the longest sandy beach on the lake, a large beach park with beach bar and boat pier. The east side gets a reliable afternoon breeze – a spot for windsurfers and kitesurfers.
• Strandbad Chieming (east shore): gently shelving beach, ideal for small children, with sunsets over the lake.
• Chiemseepark Felden (Bernau): modern beach area with SUP rental, right by the A8.
• Strandbad Prienavera (Prien): lido next to the leisure pool, easy to combine with the ferry to Herreninsel.
• Chiemseepark Seebruck (north shore): spacious grounds where the river Alz leaves the lake.
• Gstadt, Gollenshausen, Breitbrunn-Urfahrn and Rimsting (west shore): smaller, quieter spots with views of the islands.

7. Kochelsee – at the foot of the mountains

Kochelsee lies right at the edge of the Alps below Herzogstand and Jochberg. Cold mountain water constantly flows in via the Walchensee power station, so it stays fresh even in high summer.

Best swimming spots

• Bathing area at the Kristall Therme (Kochel): the largest beach and lawn on the lake, SUP rental at the kiosk.
• Finckberg / Franz Marc Museum: gently shelving pebble beach, large lawn, toilets – good for children and easy to combine with the museum.
• Lainbach estuary (B11 towards Walchensee): wide pebble fan, small car park.
• Altjoch, start of the Felsenweg: natural setting below the Kesselberg.
• Schlehdorf (north-west shore): quiet spots at the mouth of the Loisach.

8. Walchensee – the Bavarian Caribbean

Turquoise water of drinking-water quality, hardly any buildings on the shore and mountains all around: Walchensee is one of Germany’s deepest Alpine lakes and a purely natural bathing lake – there are no classic lidos. It is also one of the most reliably windy lakes in the Alpine foothills and popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers.

Best swimming spots

• Bathing and surfers’ meadow (entrance to Walchensee village): large lawn with direct lake access, surf school, car park opposite.
• Zwergern peninsula: pebble beaches with views of Herzogstand and the Karwendel, kiosk in summer. Please stay off the protected areas of the peninsula.
• Einsiedl (south-west shore): gravel beach with car parks right next to it.
• Urfeld–Sachenbach (north-east shore): car-free lakeside road with many coves; five to ten minutes by bike from Urfeld.
• Niedernach sandy beach (south shore): the only larger sandy beach on the lake, best reached by bike.

Good to know: The water is noticeably cooler than at Chiemsee or Staffelsee. On summer weekends the car parks fill up early.

9. Eibsee – swimming below the Zugspitze

Eibsee lies at almost 1,000 metres directly below the Zugspitze, with eight small islands and crystal-clear, green-turquoise water. The lake is privately owned, but access to the shore is free.

Best swimming spots

• Bathing area by the boat rental: lifeguards in summer, toilets and changing facilities – the most relaxed choice with children.
• Three shallow pebble beaches on the south shore: reached via the circular trail of about 7.5 kilometres.
• Wild coves along the trail: the further from the car park, the quieter – but the shore usually drops off steeply.

Good to know: The lakeside car parks charge fees and fill up quickly on summer days. Easy to combine with a trip up the Zugspitze.

10. Königssee – for the hardy

The fjord-like Königssee in Berchtesgaden National Park is up to 190 metres deep and one of Bavaria’s cleanest lakes; only electric boats operate on it. Swimming is permitted, but even in high summer the water rarely exceeds 20 °C.

Swimming spots

• Seelände, Schönau: entry point below the bobsleigh run; do not swim near the boat piers.
• Malerwinkel (north-east shore): a far prettier cove – watch out for slippery rocks.

Good to know: Inflatable boats and air mattresses are prohibited. If you prefer warmer water, try the Schornbad in Schönau. Königssee is more of an excursion than a beach destination – with a boat trip to St. Bartholomä and the Obersee.

Naturist bathing (FKK) at Bavaria’s lakes

Most Bavarian lakes have no designated naturist area. Official sites are rare; elsewhere nude bathing is at best tolerated. Here is the situation at the ten lakes and the best alternatives nearby:

• Chiemsee – FKK bathing area Übersee (Rödlgries 10): the only designated naturist site on Chiemsee, with about 800 metres of fine sandy beach, park-like lawns, drinking-water showers, a sanitary building with hot water and a small playground. Day tickets only (most recently €6 per adult, children up to 15 free, cheaper after 4 pm), paid parking, no dogs. Quick to reach from the A8 exit Übersee.
• Ammersee: traditionally, people bathe nude on two small offshore islands near the Eching recreation area on the north shore. There is no officially signposted naturist area on the Ammersee.
• Lake Starnberg: no official naturist area. The best alternative is about ten minutes south of Seeshaupt: at the Osterseen near Iffeldorf there is a naturist meadow on Fohnsee, and another on the north-east shore of the Großer Ostersee. The Osterseen are a nature reserve – please stay on the paths.
• Walchensee and Kochelsee: no designated naturist areas. The Zwergern peninsula appears on some lists as a nude bathing spot, but parts of it are protected wet meadows that must not be entered.
• Tegernsee, Schliersee, Staffelsee, Eibsee and Königssee: no known naturist areas. Swimwear applies.
• In Munich itself: a designated naturist area on the south-west shore of Feldmochinger See, plus several official nude bathing zones along the Isar and in the English Garden.

Etiquette for relaxed naturist bathing

• Only bathe nude where it is designated or clearly customary, and look out for signs.
• Keep your distance and do not take photos – privacy is the most important rule at naturist sites.
• Do not enter nature reserves, reed beds or wet meadows.
• Apply sunscreen thoroughly: the sun reaches skin that is usually covered.

Information without guarantee, as of November 2026. Rules and admission prices may change – please check on site.

To the lake with a chauffeur

The biggest hurdle at Bavaria’s lakes is not the weather but parking: on hot weekends the car parks at Tegernsee, Walchensee or Eibsee are often full by mid-morning, and the drive home means traffic jams. With a chauffeur, you get out right at the lido and are picked up again at the agreed time.

• Straight from the airport to the lake: fixed-price transfer to your hotel on Tegernsee, Lake Starnberg or Chiemsee – with 60 minutes of waiting time included at pickup.
• Beach day with hourly hire: your chauffeur takes you there, waits or picks you up later – even with stops at two lakes on the same day.
• Luggage and equipment: SUP board, pushchair or picnic hamper fit in the van; just mention it when booking.

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Straight from the airport to the lake: transfer to Tegernsee, transfer to Lake Starnberg or to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Eibsee). A lake day with a driver: day trips with a chauffeur and hourly chauffeur hire. Online booking is in German; your WhatsApp request can be in English.