The 10 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in the Bavarian Alps

The Bavarian Alps or German Alps are one of the most beautiful regions in Germany – at least we think so, and many tourists agree! This area is full of amazing hiking trails, beautiful nature, and historic castles. In the Bavarian Alps, you will find high mountains with gorges and waterfalls, cute alpine villages, and fantastic views everywhere.

Every year, millions of tourists visit the Bavarian Alps. It’s especially popular with German visitors and people from nearby countries, but more and more international tourists are coming too.

Why is it so popular? There are many reasons: wonderful places to visit, great infrastructure, exciting hiking trails, famous ski resorts in winter, Bavarian culture and food, and much more. Who wouldn’t love a summer holiday in nature, with beautiful mountain peaks, green alpine lakes, fresh air, tasty local food, and a safe and clean environment?

We love the Bavarian Alps too and go back almost every year. We usually stay for long weekends or 4–7 day trips, often visiting nearby Tyrol in Austria as well. We love hiking here, breathing the fresh mountain air, meeting friendly local people, and seeing the clean lakes and beautiful nature. That’s why we really recommend you to visit this area if you love nature and hiking – it’s truly one of the best places in Europe!

In this article, you’ll discover the 10 best places to visit in the Bavarian Alps, from famous spots to hidden gems. First, we list the 10 most beautiful places, then we answer some common questions, and finally, we give detailed info about each place.

Frequently asked questions about visiting the Bavarian Alps

Let’s see what questions might come up when planning a trip to the Bavarian Alps.

Where are the Bavarian Alps located

The Bavarian Alps are in Bavaria, in the south of Germany, right next to the Austrian border.

Geographically, they form the northern edge of the Eastern Alps and include several smaller mountain areas.

This region stretches from Salzburg to Allgäu and is very popular with tourists all year round. It’s easy to reach from the big Bavarian cities and has excellent infrastructure for visitors.

How to get to the Bavarian Alps

The three most popular towns in the Bavarian Alps are Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Füssen, and Berchtesgaden. Many people have questions about how to get there.

Most visitors come from Munich.

By car, you can reach Garmisch-Partenkirchen mostly on the A95 highway. This highway (like all highways in Germany) is free to use. The drive takes a bit more than 1 hour.

Füssen is a bit farther. You can reach it mainly by the B16 or B17 roads. From Munich, the drive takes a little over 1.5 hours.

The shortest route between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Füssen goes through Tyrol in Austria.

Berchtesgaden is a bit harder to reach. By car, it takes about 2 to 2.5 hours from Munich.

If you prefer public transport, you can reach all these places by train and sometimes by bus. However, travel time will be much longer than by car, and it’s difficult to reach many mountain spots without a car. We only recommend public transport if you really don’t want to drive or can’t book a private transfer.

Best things to do in the Bavarian Alps

The Bavarian Alps are perfect if you want to spend a few days in nature. Here are the best things you can do:

• Hiking: This area has some of the best hiking trails in Germany. You can walk around the famous Eibsee, hike near Königssee, or explore trails around Zugspitze.
• Water activities: Big lakes like Eibsee and Königssee are great for water fun. You can go boating, rent a rowboat or pedal boat, and sometimes even swim.
• Try local food: Don’t miss the famous alpine dishes like Bavarian sausages, schnitzel, Kaiserschmarrn (sweet pancakes), and apple strudel.
• Wellness and relaxation: The region has many wellness hotels, perfect for relaxing. Enjoy spa time with beautiful mountain views.
• Other outdoor activities: Cycling is popular in summer, and skiing is a top activity in winter.

Best time to visit the Bavarian Alps

The best time to visit the Bavarian Alps is from spring to autumn, usually from May to early October.

The absolute best months are June, July, and August, but this is also when you will find the biggest crowds and the highest prices.

However, this is when the lakes are most beautiful, the nature is colorful, and the temperatures are nice.

The only thing to watch out for is the rain, which is common in the Alps.

Travel costs in the Bavarian Alps

To be honest, the Bavarian Alps are not the cheapest destination. In fact, they are one of the most expensive areas in Western Europe.

Overall, for a middle-class couple or family, you can expect to spend around €200–400 per day for two people. Of course, budget travel is also possible if you stay in cheaper campsites and don’t eat out or do many paid activities.

But it’s good to know that this is true everywhere in the Alps. Tyrol, the Dolomites, and Switzerland are also expensive places. Accommodation is especially pricey compared to other regions, but everything costs more – activities, parking, restaurants, and so on.

So if you want to enjoy fresh mountain air, hike in flower-filled fields, and see clear green lakes with beautiful alpine views, you’ll need to pay for it. But we believe it’s worth it because the alpine environment is healing for both body and soul.

The 10 best places to visit in the Bavarian Alps

Now let’s see the 10 most beautiful places in the Bavarian Alps that we recommend you visit:

1. Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is a castle in Bavaria built in the 19th century. It is the most photographed building in Germany and one of the country’s most visited tourist destinations.

Neuschwanstein Castle was the inspiration for the Disney fairytale castle of Sleeping Beauty. And in fact, Neuschwanstein Castle really does look like a fairytale castle.

Located in the southern part of Germany, in the municipality of Schwangau, it was built by Louis II, King of Bavaria, to fulfil his own childhood dreams. His admiration for Richard Wagner inspired him to decorate some of the rooms and furnishings of the castle with characters from his operas.

Rising above the picturesque Alpsee, the castle is built on the lonely rock of the Pöllat Gorge, from which you can see almost the whole countryside in a panorama. The Neuschwanstein Castle is the main attraction of the area, visible from a distance on the road leading up to it.

Entrance to the inside of the Neuschwanstein Castle is for a fee, while the outside is free of charge.

There is plenty of parking available in Schwangau, but with so many tourists, you need to plan your trip well. The closest car parks to Neuschwanstein Castle are P1, P2 and P3.

You can get up to Neuschwanstein Castle on foot or by local bus, which only costs a few euros. The hike is a bit steep, but not too long, so it shouldn’t be a problem for people in good physical condition.

The most famous photo spot, from which you can see the castle from one of the best angles, is the Marienbrücke. To get there, you have to go around the castle from the west.

2. Hohenschwangau Castle

Another great attraction in the Bavarian Alps and Schwangau is Hohenschwangau Castle. It is located close to Neuschwanstein Castle, so you can easily visit both in one day.

Hohenschwangau Castle was the childhood home of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who later built Neuschwanstein. This castle was built by his father, King Maximilian II of Bavaria. It stands on the ruins of the old Schwangau fortress, which was first mentioned in historical records in the 12th century.

In Schwangau, the P4 car park is the closest to Hohenschwangau Castle. From there, it’s a short and easy walk uphill.

You can visit the inside of the castle only with a guided tour, and you need a ticket for that. The gardens and fountains around the castle are free to visit.

3. Lechfall

The Lechfall is a spectacular waterfall in the town of Füssen. It is especially beautiful in summer, when the water flow is lower, and the water turns a bright turquoise color.

The best place to see it is from the bridge over the Lech River, which is also a great spot for photos. There is a car park close to the bridge, and it’s an easy walk from there to the waterfall.

It’s not a must-see attraction, but if you have extra time, it’s worth a quick visit.

4. Eibsee

Lake Eibsee is a true must-see in Bavaria. It has become very popular on social media in recent years, and for good reason.

At the foot of the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain, you will find this beautiful lake with amazing views and great hiking trails. Surrounded by green pine forests, the crystal-clear, emerald-green water of Lake Eibsee, with the huge white limestone mountains behind it, looks like a perfect postcard.

Lake Eibsee, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, is one of the most popular tourist spots in the area.

In summer, there are many things to do here, like hiking, climbing, and boating. But it’s also a great place to visit in other seasons. For example, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is famous in winter for its ski resorts.

There is good infrastructure around the lake, with several parking lots, a hotel, restaurants, and boat rental places. You can hike all the way around the lake (about 7 km), and the path is well-maintained, so you don’t need any special hiking gear.

There is also a small lake on the south side of Eibsee called Frillensee, which is worth a visit during your hike.

5. Zugspitze

The Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak, is located right next to Lake Eibsee.

From the car parks near the lake, you can take a cable car up to the peak, where you can enjoy amazing alpine views. The area also offers many hiking and climbing opportunities for visitors.

A special thing about Zugspitze is that it has cable cars not only from the German side but also from Austria. The mountain stations of the cable cars are located right on the border between the two countries.

At the top of the mountain, don’t just enjoy the breathtaking views – you can also see many other distant peaks of the Alps. There are several restaurants at the top too, where you can relax and try some local food.

6. Lake Geroldsee

Lake Geroldsee is a small, quite hidden lake near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the village of Gerold (Krün). It feels so peaceful and private that we almost don’t want to advertise it! But because we think Geroldsee is one of the most photogenic places in the Bavarian Alps, we had to include it on the list.

This small mountain lake, with its wooden chalets and rocky mountains in the background, is a breathtaking sight. The best photo spots are on the grassy hillside opposite the lake.

As mentioned, Geroldsee is a quiet and secret spot, and the locals value their peace, so please respect that. You can park your car in front of a guesthouse on a street called In Gerold. This is a paid car park, and parking elsewhere is not allowed. From there, it’s about a 1 km walk to the lake.

7. Hintersee

The next places on the list are a bit closer to Salzburg, on the eastern side of the Bavarian Alps. One of them is Hintersee, a real little paradise hidden in the mountains.

Hintersee is a small, green lake with beautiful alpine views all around. Green pine forests surround the emerald-green water, and the clear Klausbach river flows nearby.

You reach Hintersee by narrow roads, and although it feels hidden, there are actually many tourists. There are several guesthouses and restaurants in the area, and you can also rent a boat. There is plenty of parking around the lake – our favorite spots are on the northwest side because the best photo points are closest there.

You can walk all around Hintersee, about 2.5 km in total. The best photo spots are on the north and west shores of the lake, where you get amazing views of the green water, the mountains in the background, and small rocks sticking out of the lake, sometimes with trees growing on them. On social media, these photos are often mistakenly labeled as Eibsee, but they are actually Hintersee.

8. Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden

Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden is located halfway between Hintersee and the town of Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps.

It was added to the list mainly because of its great photo opportunities. The turquoise water, small wooden bridges, and the church in the background, together with the often snow-capped alpine peaks, make Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden one of the best photo spots in the Bavarian Alps. In my opinion, it is also one of the most charming places in the region.

Not far from the village is a gorge called Wimbachklamm. Here, a raised walkway takes you through the beautiful gorge, where several waterfalls cascade into the river below. If you have extra time, it’s definitely worth a visit.

9. Königssee & Obersee

At the base of Germany’s third-highest peak, the Watzmann mountain, you will find the beautiful Lake Königssee, a very popular tourist destination.

Königssee is the third-deepest lake in Germany. It was created by glaciers during the last ice age. The lake is about 7.7 km long (north to south) and around 1.7 km wide at its widest point.

The best way to explore Königssee is to take a local boat tour, which is very popular. One of the main stops is St. Bartholomew’s Church, where you can get off the boat and walk around. During the boat trip, you’ll see stunning cliffs and waterfalls, and a musician on board will show you the lake’s famous echo.

A wonderful extra trip from Königssee is to visit Lake Obersee. This smaller lake can only be reached by boat. You need to sail to the end of Königssee and from there take a short walk to Obersee. There is no other way to get there. If you visit Königssee, it’s really worth seeing Obersee too. The green mountain lake is possibly even more beautiful than its bigger neighbor.

There are charming wooden chalets on two sides of Obersee, and the surrounding area is very photogenic. You can’t walk all the way around the lake, but you can follow the path along one side. There is also a restaurant on the other side of the lake that has very good reviews.

Back at Königssee, you’ll find large parking lots a short walk from the lake. Between the car parks and the lake, there are shops selling local products and restaurants with Bavarian food. It’s best to plan enough time—maybe even a whole day—because the area is big, the boat trip takes a while, and there are often long lines.

If you want to read more about the two lakes, you can check out a full guide by clicking the link.

10. Partnach Gorge

Partnach Gorge (Partnachklamm) is one of the most famous natural attractions near Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Bavarian Alps.

This beautiful gorge is about 700 meters long and 80 meters deep, with high rock walls and crystal-clear water rushing through it. You can walk along safe paths right next to the river, and even through tunnels in the rock. It’s a magical place, especially in spring and summer, when the waterfalls and small streams are full of water.

In winter, the gorge is also worth visiting, because the water freezes into huge ice formations, making the whole place look like a winter fairytale.

The entrance to the gorge is about a 20-minute walk from the Olympic Ski Stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. You can park your car at the stadium (large parking area) and follow the signs to Partnachklamm.

The gorge is open all year round, but you need to pay an entrance fee. Good shoes and a light rain jacket are recommended because the path can be wet and slippery. The whole walk through the gorge and back takes about 1–1.5 hours.

So this was our list of the 10 most beautiful places in the Bavarian Alps. We hope you enjoyed the list and got lots of inspiration for your next trip.

The Bavarian Alps offer plenty to see and do—much more than we could list here. It’s worth spending a few days or even a whole week there, relaxing and enjoying the wonders of nature. The magical alpine scenery and German culture fascinate every tourist who visits the Bavarian Alps.

Plus, the area is a great starting point for more adventures in other parts of Germany or in nearby countries. If you have more time, don’t miss the Austrian Tyrol, for example Ehrwald’s Seebensee and Drachensee, the easy-to-reach Plansee, and of course Bavaria’s capital, Munich.

And if you’ve already decided to visit the Bavarian Alps, now’s the time to book your trip, hotels, and tickets—and get ready to enjoy the amazing Bavarian Alps!