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Just over an hour from Munich, you’ll find a dreamy spot that looks like you’ve been transported into a fairytale.
Where is this magical place, you ask?
Lake Eibsee in Germany, which is known for having stunning emerald-hued water and a magnificent backdrop of the Bavarian Alps.
The lake sits at the bottom of Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze, and is surrounded by dense forest, making it an incredibly picturesque spot.
Some who’ve been claiming it ‘looks like you’re in Canada’, while others have jokingly dubbed it the ‘Bavarian Caribbean’.
What to do at Lake Eibsee
Lake Eibsee is located in the middle of a hiking region in the Werdenfelser Land, meaning it’s an ideal place to get outdoors.
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There’s a circular trail that covers 7.1km and takes roughly two hours to complete, depending on how fast you walk. You might also want to allow for some time to stop and snap photos, as the place really is dreamy.
If you’re not up for walking and the weather is nice, you can always go for a swim. The lake has a depth of over 30 metres, and while the water is mostly cold, it reaches 18 to 22 °C in summer.
The best months to swim are July and August, when the water is at its warmest.
Other activities include stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, boating, and fishing. You can rent most of the equipment you need for these, and there’s also a boat tour from the Eibsee Hotel known as the Reserl.
For those who want the best views of the area, there’s a Zugspitze cable car which runs from the lake to the top of Zugspitze. It’s thought to be the world’s longest free-span cable car at 3,213 metres and offers incredible views.
What do visitors say about Lake Eibsee?
As you’d expect, people have been singing the praises of the area’s natural beauty in reviews on Tripadvisor. One visitor, known as Vero F wrote: ‘Divine place to visit one hour from Munich.’
While Tushar Jogi hailed it as ‘heaven under the foothills of the Alps.’
Similarly, a reviewer known only as Laloesje said: ‘Absolutely worth it. Brilliant. Really just as beautiful as in all the pictures you see, lovely walk.’
And Vilma added: ‘Amazing place to visit, no matter what the weather is. Visited on a sunny day, and it was wonderful to go full track around the lake (around 7 km), with stops in hidden spots that can be accessed only if you’re brave. Bring good shoes and snacks; however, be thoughtful and leave no trace, because the place is magical.’
A few people complained that the area is rather busy, and there have been reports that the lake has been a victim of overtourism, but given how pretty it is, we’re not surprised people want to see it.
A poster known as travelfan gave it four out of five stars, sharing: ‘You can tell it’s an Instagram-famous spot.
‘Definitely worth a visit and worth walking around, but beware, it was quite busy.’
While Denis S only awarded one star, due to all the people. He posted: ‘We went to Eibsee on a July weekend, and the school break had just started. It was awful. The pictures I have seen before never had any people in them. There were people everywhere! It was hot, and there was no place to sit and chill. Never ever go there during that time if you mind huge crowds.’
Others complained about issues with getting a parking space, long waits for parking, and the car parks being ‘expensive’.
Do you think it looks like Canada?
How to get to Lake Eibsee
From London, you’d want to take a flight to Munich, which is around one hour and 55 minutes, and according to Skyscanner, you can get flights from as little as £45 each way from Gatwick with easyJet.
Prices vary depending on when you book your flights, but the £45 ones are for April 2026.
Once you arrive in Munich, it’ll take an hour and 10 minutes to get to Lake Eibsee by bus, or you can rent a car and drive there.
You can also get a Deutsche Bahn regional train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which takes about an hour and a half, then hop on the Eibsee bus (Eibsee-Bus), which runs regularly and is a 30-minute trip.
Train lovers can take a Zuspitze round trip in summer and winter, using three mountain railways – a cogwheel train, plus two different alpine cable cars.
The full trip takes between three and four hours, and includes a ‘nostalgic’ train ride with scenic views, 360-degree views from the summit of Zugspitze, and a visit to the Zugspitze plateau, right by the glacier.
Prices start from €69 for adults, and €34.50 for children (6-15 years). Disabled tickets and family options are available.
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English (United States) ·