A Guide To The Bavarian Alps
Image taken at Eibsee
The Bavarian Alps is home to the most stunning castles, picturesque mountain ranges and crystal clear glacial lakes. It had been on my bucket list for years so I was very excited to finally explore the beauty of the region. We went in June which was a lovely time to go; warmer weather so it’s great for hiking but still less crowded than in peak summer.
Affordability: €€€
Transport: Car hire recommended
Food: Delish sausages & pretzels (obvs)
Where to go?
Gaisalpsee
Gaisalpsee is a beautiful lake half way up the mountain of Rubihorn, complete with its own waterfall. What more could you want! The hike starts in Reichenbach and follows the river passed lots of waterfalls. The lake itself is so peaceful and due to the fairly long ascent, and ‘off the beaten track’ location, there was barely anyone there when we went. You can hike all the way up to the top of Rubihorn (1,957m above sea level) if you fancy a challenge.
2. Neuschwanstein castle
Arguably, the most picturesque castle in the whole of Europe and the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty castle. Neuschwanstein Castle should be on your list when visiting Bavaria. I would arrive early if you visit this castle as it gets very busy and fills with coach-loads of tourists. Once you get passed Mary’s Bridge, the crowds fizzle out a bit as you walk further up the mountain. We actually carried on going right to the top of Tegelbergkopf and what a hike it was! If you fancy just staying at castle-height, you can book tickets to see the inside which looks beautiful. We actually stayed nearby in the Jagerhaus at AMERON Alpsee Resort & Spa for one night as a treat and oh my!! Not only did we have full access to the pool facilities and buffet breakfast, but we also had golden swan head sinks in our bathroom! You have to see it to believe it.
3. Eibsee
Eibsee is labelled the most beautiful lake in the whole of Germany and it’s very obvious to see why. Crystal clear, turquoise waters surrounded by trees and located at the foothills of the highest peak in Germany - Zugspitze. We tried for a sunrise, only to be greeted by rain however, the photos of Eibsee at sunrise look unreal so I would recommend trying it and hope for better weather than we had. Thankfully, the sun did come out so we managed to see the colour of the water. The carpark gets busy very quickly at peak times of the year but by 9am, the carpark was still pretty empty so you don’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn if you don’t want too! It takes approx. 2 hours to walk around the whole lake and I really recommend doing it as there are sections of the lake that are just too pretty to put into words. Wild swimming in the lake is also encouraged - I would have loved to do that but we were there at 6am, so a bit too chilly for my liking…
4. Zugspitze (Top of Germany)
From Eibsee, you can get the ‘Top Of Germany’ Cable Car up to the highest mountain in Germany, Zugspitze. 72€ and you’re being lifted up into a winter wonderland, 2,962m above sea level - bargain I’d say! Once you're up, there is a 360 degree viewing platform, a small snowflake museum, gift shop and restaurant. From there, you can get another cable car down to the lower point of the mountain where they have free sledges! This is the highest place where you can ski from in Germany in Winter and it’s also home to the highest church in Germany. You can even go on a guided glacier walk (these are at set times so make sure you plan ahead.) From here, there is a mountain train that takes you all the way back down to Eibsee. All of this, (excluding the restaurant & gift shop) is included in your ticket - told you it was a bargain!
5. Mount Wank
The name may have slightly inspired our decision to climb it… But name aside, it was such a great hike to do at 1,780m above sea level. We managed to do it in about 2 hours but we were pacing it (despite me getting into a bit of a strop because I wished I put shorts on!) The trail is fairly steep but oh so rewarding when you get to the top with a view of Zugspitze and the rest of the Bavarian and Austrian Alps. There are affordable mini cable cars that will take you all the way up to the top of the mountain where you can grab a drink at the bar. We got the cable car back down and it was 18.50€.
6. Mittenwald
Mittenwald is such a pretty town with its ornate painted buildings, wooden shutters and a small stream running through the centre. A quick stroll around this town has you wondering what house prices are like…. We finished the trip off with a pint of beer (and a peach iced tea for me) at one of the bars on the main street, a perfect end to a perfect trip.
The best thing about Bavaria, besides the mountains, is that it’s not short of adorable towns, cured sausage and beer. All of the towns & villages we drove through or wandered around were beautiful in their own way, so it’s worth doing a pit stop at a few of them on your journey. I would also recommend Fussen and Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
@amys_littletrips x