Exploring Lake Constance & The 9 Beautiful Lakes In Bayern
Exploring Lake Constance & The 9 Beautiful Lakes In Bayern
We are happy to present in this article a Travel Guide that will help you very much, if you decide to visit Chiemsee, Ammersee or the other lakes around Bavaria in Germany. We will show you what have we already visited and we will tell you everything you need to know about the best hotels and holiday apartments.
Table of Contents
Our visits in Bavaria written in separate articles from this one: Munich, Nurnberg, Lindau, Starnberg, Garmisch, Ingolstadt, Landshut, Ramsau, Regensburg, Bad Griesbach, Ammersee, Bodensee, Chiemsee, Eibsee, Konigsee, Starnbergersee, Sylvensteinsee, Wachelsee, Worthsee,Tegernsee.
Germany Map
Informations
Its capital and largest city is Berlin, and its financial center is Frankfurt; the largest urban area is the Ruhr. Germany is a great power with a strong economy; it has the largest economy in Europe, the fourth largest economy in the world. As a global leader in several industrial, scientific and technological sectors, it is both the third largest exporter and importer of goods in the world.
As a developed country, it offers social security and a universal system of health care, environmental protection and free university education.
The Chiemsee is the largest lake in Bavaria and is situated in a picturesque foothills of the Alps. It is not only the scenic beauty that makes it so attractive, but also the wide range of leisure activities. The Chiemsee with Herreninsel and Fraueninsel is one of the most important sights in Germany.
Language: The official language is German.
Currency: Euro
Food Prices: Meal in a cheap restaurant=14 EUR, Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant=50 EUR
You can find more information about the visa here.
Things to do
So if you want to spend the holidays here you can have great activities like: take a boat and explore Fraueninsel and Herreninsel, rowing boat or pedal boat across lake Chiemsee, sail or surf on the lake and or swim in the lake. Our choice was to explore Herreninsel and Fraueninsel and these are our memories:
Photos on the shore and on the boat:
Chiemsee shore
Herreninsel
Herrenchiemsee is a complex of royal buildings on Herreninsel, the largest island in the Chiemsee lake. Together with the neighbour isle of Frauenchiemsee and the uninhabited Krautinsel, it forms the municipality of Chiemsee, located about 60 kilometers (37 mi) southeast of Munich.
Herrenchiemsee is accessible to the public and a major tourist attraction.
Fraueninsel
The Fraueninsel is the second largest of the three inland islands in the Chiemsee after the Herreninsel. It belongs to the municipality of Chiemsee in the Upper Bavarian district of Rosenheim, the smallest political municipality in Bavaria.
On the 15.5 hectare and car-free Fraueninsel, around 300 residents live in about 50 houses (for comparison: on the Herreninsel, which covers 238 hectares, only a few people live all year round). This settlement on the island forms the town of Frauenchiemsee, which is why the two terms Fraueninsel (=island) and Frauenchiemsee (=place) are often used synonymously. There is a 1.5 km long footpath around the island. Cycling is not permitted on the island. Motor vehicle operation is also prohibited on the island. Delivery vehicles are only allowed onto the island from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m .
Top hotels we recommend in Chiemsee: Hotel Gut Ising , Hotel Unterwirt, Hotel Seiserhof & Seiseralm.
Ammersee
Ammersee is a lake in Upper Bavaria, Germany, southwest of Munich between the towns of Herrsching and Dießen am Ammersee. With a surface area of approximately 47 square kilometers, it is the sixth largest lake in Germany. The lake is at an elevation of 533 metres, and has a maximum depth of 81 meters.
If you come here, you will see that you can do countless activities, depending on what you like. We have seen posters with activities like: Boats & Ships ,Bike Tours, Bad weather activities, hikes, water sports.
There would also be 2 unique activities that you can try:
Jump in the water in Utting Daring people plunge into the cool water from the diving tower, while sun worshipers can find a spot on the small sunbathing lawn or on the wooden pier. Hike to the waterfall in the Pähler Gorge How about a little outdoor activity? A walk through the Pähler Gorge is the right balance to sunbathing. The path in the nature reserve and geotope, with a view of the Hochschloss Pähl, leads to a 16 meter high waterfall and can be easily mastered within two hours. If you come by car, park it at the church and ask your way to the beginning of the gorge, because this is only poorly signposted.
Top hotels we recommend in Ammersee: Ammersee-Hotel, Ammi Hotel Garni, Hotel Goldammer.
Lake Starnberg
Lake Starnberg is Germany’s second-largest body of fresh water, having great depth, and fifth-largest lake by area.
Located in southern Bavaria 25 kilometers (16 mi) southwest of Munich.
If you ever visit Garmisch or Munich and you have some free time and you don’t know where to go, then we totally recommend you to prepare everything you need for a picnic and eat near the Starnberg lake.
Top hotels we recommend in Starnberg: Landgasthof zum Brückenwirt , Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Starnberg , Hotel Starnberger See.
We had seen some beautiful pictures of a lake near Lengriess, a town 10 km from Bad Tölz so we wanted to see it, of course. Arriving in Lengriess we could not figure out where this beautiful lake could be, so we asked a woman who lived there, where we can find this wonderful lake. She told us that it was about 10 minutes by car and we found out that the lake is called Sylvensteinsee.
When we arrived by car near the bridge, we was honestly speechless. Nobody spoke in the car and we all admired the beautiful landscape. It’s wonderful to see everything with your own eyes. It’s an experience you will never forget.
Main attractions: Residenz Würzburg, Festung Marienberg, Alte Mainbrücke, Würzburger Cathedral and Wallfahrtskirche Käppele.
Sylvensteinsee
Lake Constance - Bodensee
Lake Constance is an inland body of water in southwest central Europe and consists of two lakes and a stretch of river Rhine connecting them, namely the Obersee (with the Überlinger See), the Seerhein and the Untersee (with Rheinsee, Zeller See and Gnadensee including the Markelfinger Winkel). The largest inland body of water in Germany is in the Lake Constance basin, part of the northern foothills of the Alps;
The Rhine flows through the lake: the inflow is called the Alpenrhein, the outflow is called the Hochrhein. The three states of Germany, Austria and Switzerland border on Lake Constance. There is only a recognized border in the Untersee between Germany and Switzerland. In the area of the Obersee, no consensual boundary line was defined. In addition to Lake Constance itself, this article also deals with the surrounding Lake Constance region, which, depending on the spatial definition, extends far into the hinterland.
Eibsee
The Eibsee is a lake 9 km southwest of Garmisch-Partenkirchen below (3.5 km north) the Zugspitze in the Wetterstein Mountains in Bavaria. It belongs to the municipality of Grainau and is privately owned. In the northeast, the 4.8 ha and 26 m deep Untersee is almost completely separated from the main part of the lake, the Weitsee with its 172 ha, by a 50 m wide and only 0.5 m deep bottleneck.
A hiking trail along the north shore of the Eibsee leads over a small bridge at this bottleneck. The deepest point of the entire lake at 34.5 meters is only about 90 meters from the eastern southern shore (roughly at the level of Lake Frillensee). The fully separated small neighboring lakes include the Frillensee to the south (not to be confused with the larger Frillensee near Inzell), and Braxensee, Steinringpriel, Steinsee, Froschsee and Drachenseelein to the north.
Königsee
Königsee is a small town in the Thuringian district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, of the same name as the district of Königsee. Until December 31, 2018, the town was called Königsee-Rottenbach. Königsee lies on the north-western border of the district, at an altitude of 377 m.
Tegernsee
The Tegernsee is located around 50 km south of Munich in the Bavarian Alps and is a destination for excursions and tourists. It is one of the cleanest lakes in Bavaria, as a continuous ring sewage system was created around the lake as early as the 1960s. The lake is located in the conservation area of Tegernsee and the surrounding area. It is owned by the Free State of Bavaria and is managed by the Bavarian Administration for State Palaces, Gardens and Lakes, Chiemsee branch in Prien.
Walchensee
The Walchensee is one of the deepest (maximum depth: 190 m) and at the same time one of the largest (16.40 km²) alpine lakes in Germany. It is 75 km south of Munich in the Bavarian Prealps, at 800 m above sea level and with its entire area including the island of Sassau in the municipality of Kochel am See. In the east and south its shore borders on the municipality of Jachenau. The landowner of the lake and island area is the Bavarian state (managed by the Bavarian State Forests[5][6] in contrast to most of the other larger lakes in Bavaria, which are subject to the administration of the state palaces, gardens and lakes).
Wörthsee
The Wörthsee, formerly Ausee, is located in the northern district of Starnberg in Upper Bavaria, about 25 km south-west of Munich, and is framed in the north by four districts of the municipality of Wörthsee and in the west by two places in the municipality of Inning. It is one of the lakes in the Five Lakes Region (Ammersee, Wörthsee, Weßlinger See, Pilsensee, Starnberger See) in Upper Bavaria. The mean water level of the lake, which is in its own basin, is around 27 m higher than that of the neighboring Ammersee to the west.
Its catchment area is small, depending on the source it is given as an area of 17 or 26.35 km². The lake area is divided between the municipalities of Wörthsee (northeast) and Inning (southwest); a small part in the southeast belongs to the municipality of Seefeld am Pilsensee. Most of the shore is privately owned and not accessible. There are a total of five larger bathing areas on the lake. The lake is owned by Count Cajetan zu Toerring-Jettenbach.
Note: we have even more beautiful pictures in our Facebook album! If you want to see more of our adventures to the lakes click here !
Where to stay
A good night’s sleep is particularly important when you are travelling. Germany offers its guests a host of luxurious, charming and also out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.
Whether in the heart of the city, near the lake or surrounded by nature – Germany’s hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses guarantee a relaxing and invigorating stay.
We managed to find the best three companies that offer hotels, holiday homes and transportation. These are: Booking.com, Trip.com and Vrbo. We have already tested these companies and we warmly recommend them. As a result this will just bring you good deals for your next vacation in Germany.
Where to eat
Traditional Food and
Desserts to try in Germany
Wurst- There are an estimated 1,500 varieties of sausage in Germany. These are prepared in many different ways and include a range of ingredients and unique spice blends.
Rouladen – This typical German dish consists of bacon, onions, mustard, and pickles wrapped in thinly sliced beef or veal which is then cooked.
Spätzle is especially popular in the south of the country. These soft egg noodles are made from wheat flour and egg and are often topped with cheese (Käsespätzle) and roasted onions.
Eintopf – means ‘one pot’ and refers to the way of cooking rather than its contents. That said, most recipes contain the same basic ingredients: broth, vegetables, potatoes or pulses, and pork, beef, chicken, or fish.
Sauerbraten (meaning ‘sour’ or ‘pickled’ roast) is one of the country’s national dishes. You can make a pot roast by using many different types of meat, which you marinate in wine, vinegar, spices, herbs, and then season for up to ten days.
Kartoffelpuffer are shallow pan-fried pancakes made from grated or ground potatoes mixed with flour, egg, onion, and seasoning.
Kartofflelknödel is the German term for potato dumplings. Potatoes serve as the base for the dumplings, but you can add any spices and croutons you like.
Maultaschen are small sheets of dough filled with various ingredients. Some people like ground beef, while others add smoked meats, including sausages. You can also add onions and herbs to your dumplings.
Of course, all travel enthusiasts and everyone who loves to try new foods have heard about these foods, but these foods are specific to Germany and you must try them when you are here: pretzel, pork schnitzel, potato salad, fried potatoes, currywurst.
Black Forest cherry torte – Alternating layers of rich chocolate cake, cherries, and whipped cream are topped off with more cream, maraschino cherries, and chocolate shavings for a luxurious finish.
Stollen is an authentic German Christmas food. It dates back to the 16th century, and it is most popular in Dresden. It is a flatbread with dried and candied fruits. You can also add chopped or whole nuts and then top the bread off with powdered sugar.
Saving Tips
- CHOOSE YOUR AIRPORT WISELY: If you’re flying from North America, you’re likely to find the best flight deals into Frankfurt, home to Germany’s largest international airport. However, Frankfurt is five hours away from Berlin and almost four hours away from Munich. Since train tickets can be pricey and gas is expensive, it may be worth paying a little extra to fly closer to your destination.
- TRY A LOW-COST AIRLINE: Consider low-cost airline options from the US to Germany, including Norwegian Airlines.
- Get city tourism cards – Most of the major cities in Germany offer city tourism cards. These include free admission to major museums and attractions, discounts on restaurants, and usually unlimited public transportation. If you plan on seeing a lot, these cards can save you money.
- Get transportation day passes – If you’re going to be using public transportation a lot in a city, get a day pass. Paying for single rides adds up quickly.
- SEASON” SAVINGS: If you can, try to visit Germany in June or September. You’ll find better deals during these months and the weather is still usually very pleasant.
- Book your train early – Trains in Germany are expensive but you can get a saver ticket that is around 40-50% off the standard fare if you book at least a week in advance.
- You can get online for free and make use of the free Wi-fi. Many cafes and renowned chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks offer free Wi-Fi in Germany, as do the various municipal buildings, libraries, parks, and some museums.
- Look out for free museum days – Most museums in Germany offer free admission on certain days or evenings.
- KEEP AN EYE ON SCHOOL HOLIDAYS: Public school in Germany has five main school holidays: winter holidays, spring break, summer holidays, autumn holidays and Christmas holidays.
- Hop-On Hop-Off bus tours or Big Bus tours
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Getting Around
There are a wealth of options when it comes to avoiding driving in Germany. With an effectively nationalized railway network, crossing the country by train means buying a ticket from Deutsche Bahn. At the local level, Germany’s states manage buses, trams, metro networks, suburban trains, and ferries. Public transportation systems in Germany are safe, efficient, and fairly easy to use. As a result, some German cities are starting to shake off the stereotype of being a car-loving nation. Across the country, 30 million passengers use public transportation in Germany on an average day.
There are a wealth of options when it comes to avoiding driving in Germany. With an effectively nationalized railway network, crossing the country by train means buying a ticket from Deutsche Bahn. At the local level, Germany’s states manage buses, trams, metro networks, suburban trains, and ferries.
Modes of public transport in Germany:
S-bahn (city rapid rail), and, as the name suggests, is the fastest form of public transportation.
U-Bahn is the German version of the metro.
Tram – They travel on rails alongside regular roads and have multiple stops within city center areas.
Buses are the mainstay of many German towns and cities, linking further-afield places and operating into the night when the other forms of transport stop running (although S-Bahn and U-bahn trains typically run all night over the weekend in larger cities).
Regional trains are either RB (Regionalbahn), with multiple stops, or RE (Regionalexpress), which are faster and have fewer stops.
Week ticket (Wochenkarte) are valid within specified zones for a week.You can also purchase tickets that are valid for longer (e.g. a month pass) but these usually have to be purchased from an official at the ticketing office.
Group day ticket (Gruppentageskarte) While tickets in Germany generally don’t come cheap, the group day ticket actually offers great value for money if you are travelling in a group of three or more. Usually valid for groups of up to five people, they give unlimited travel for a day or 24 hours within specified zones.
If you are required to validate your ticket it will be printed with something along the lines of “Bitte entwerten” (please validate). To validate it, push your ticket into the slot of one of the validator machines (Entwerter), which you can usually find next to the ticket machines or on the station platform.
In general, there are three types of train services in Germany connecting major urban areas: Intercity-Express (ICE): high-speed trains that reach speeds up to 320km/h. ICE trains have first-class seating and a dining car. Intercity (IC): express trains. IC trains have first-class carriages and usually also have catering services of some kind. EuroCity (EC): Intercity trains with scheduled stops outside of Germany. Not all Intercity-type trains that travel outside of Germany are EC trains, however.
International trains
Germany lies right in the middle of Europe, counting nine different countries as neighbors. As a result, there are plenty of direct international trains running from German train stations. Deutsche Bahn’s high-speed service, the ICE, runs a number of international routes from countries like: Austria, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Poland.
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Getting here
There are a total of 36 international airports in Germany, ranging from smaller airfields only operating a few routes and airlines, to mega complexes such as Frankfurt and Munich that transport tens of millions of passengers per year.
In total, there are 16 international airports, 12 of which are considered major airports with over 50,000 passengers. With more than 500,000 aircraft movements and 70 million passengers per year, Frankfurt Airport is the largest in the country.
Airlines are mainly divided into the areas of passenger transport, freight transport, charter flights and ambulance services. By far the largest German airline is the formerly state-owned Lufthansa, which has been fully privatized since 1997.
Frankfurt Airport is the busiest in Germany. Munich Airport, which transported 46,3 million passengers in 2018, is the second busiest, and 24,28 million passengers puts Düsseldorf Airport into position three.
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