Eibsee is a stunning lake in Bavaria, Germany, located near the famous Zugspitze mountain. With its crystal-clear, green-tinted water and surrounded by picturesque landscapes, it's considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the Bavarian Alps.

Eibsee is a wonderful place to visit all year long. The lake is surrounded by a 4.4 mile (7.2 km) walking trail. I recommend walking the trail counter clockwise to reach the best views early in the hike.

In the summer, you can rent pedal boats, bring stand up paddle boards, or find a spot on the shore to picnic and take a refreshing dip. You should expect the water to feel chilly even in summer.

In the winter, Eibsee is just as beautiful covered in snow. Sometimes the lake even freezes over. Please be very careful if you visit in winter. You shouldn’t try to walk out on the ice here, falling through the ice can be deadly.

Getting to Eibsee

By Car

Eibsee shares a parking lot with the Zugspitze cable car. If you’re ambitious, you could visit the Zugspitze in the morning and spend the afternoon at Eibsee.

Pay for parking at the machines before you exit. It is 8 Euros for the first 4 hours, then a euro per hour after that.

In the summer, especially on weekend days, it is important to try and arrive by 10 AM.

On a nice day the parking lot will fill up early and back the traffic up onto the access road.

If you hit a line of traffic while still driving to the lot, that’s a bad sign and you may want to scrap your plans for another time. Try coming back in the late afternoon after some people have left.

By Train

If you want to avoid the parking fees, traffic, or won’t have a car it is possible to get here via the Zugspitzbahn from Garmisch.

The Zugspitzbahn is separate from the DB trains and requires a special ticket which you can buy from the ticket office near the beginning of the line.

Ticket Office:

Olympiastraße 27, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Google Maps

By Bus

To take the bus you will need exact change to buy a ticket on board. You can check the timetable and stops here.

Facilities at Eibsee

There is a restaurant on the lake where you can grab a meal and use the restrooms. If you aren’t eating at the restaurant bring small change to use the restroom (WC).

In the summer there is also a beer garden and an ice cream stand.

A little further back from the lake is the Eibsee Alm restaurant which also has a playground.

Along the lakeside trail you will only find one or two port-a-potties.

Badersee is a picturesque lake located in the Bavarian Alps of Germany. It is much less crowded than Eibsee but still very picturesque. You can see the fish swimming in the lake and even buy fish food to feed them.

Seebensee is a stunning mountain lake in Austria with epic views of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak. The hike to Seebensee offers panoramic vistas of the surrounding mountains. It's a great spot for outdoor enthusiasts looking to capture some Instagram-worthy shots while enjoying the beauty of nature.

This hike is well worth it! Kids can make it here but plan to set out from the top of the Ehrwalder Almbahn first thing in the morning to have enough time to hike there and back with plenty of breaks and not miss the last cable car down.

There is one restaurant before you get to the lake and it is cash only. Pack plenty of snacks and water! But the view is well-worth the hike. If you're ready for more of a challenge, continue the hike up to Drachensee.

The hike to Lake Drachensee is a stunning adventure in the Austrian Alps, just a short drive from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It's a moderate to moderately difficult hike that rewards with unforgettable alpine scenery and a peaceful mountain lake experience.

Start this hike at the top of the Ehrwalder Almbahn. First you'll reach the Seebensee, another stunning lake. From there you'll continue on a short trail of steep switchbacks. It is challenging but doable. At the top you'll see the gorgeous Drachensee and be able to relax at the Coburgerhütte while enjoying the view.

Tirolerhaus is a cozy and charming restaurant located at the top of the Ehrwalder Almbahn with breathtaking views of the Austrian Alps.

We love to come here in summer and winter for the outdoor activities, great food, and stunning views. Use this as a jumping off point or end point to hike to the Seebensee or do the more kid-friendly Almsee loop.

In the summer you'll find cows and horses up here grazing.

Almsee Rundeweg is a scenic but short hiking trail that can be started from the top of the Ehrwalder Almbahn. It is a short loop that goes by the Almsee, a small but beautiful alpine lake. The path continues down to a smaller lake that has a pull-raft for kids to play on. Caution: they WILL get wet!

This is one of the first trails I ever hiked in Garmisch. It is pretty flat which makes it great for all ages and abilities.

You get a great panoramic view of the mountains and over the town as you walk.

Rewarding little ones with the playground and giant creampuffs at Berggasthof Almhütte is the perfect motivation for them to hike! Giant creampuffs (windbeutal) only available after 2 PM, and the restaurant is CASH ONLY.

Don’t miss the war memorial on the plateau, a very interesting thing to see.

Along this trail you can also get to the Werdenfels Castle ruins, and Pflegersee. Pflegersee is a beautiful lake with an excellent restaurant.

Distance

Depends on how far you want to walk. From Berggasthof Almhütte to the Pflegersee is 4.2 km one way.

Berggasthof Almhütte is a charming alpine restaurant in Garmisch-Partenkirchen with killer views of the mountains. It's the perfect spot to chow down on some traditional Bavarian grub while soaking in the mountain scenery.

Plus, they're known for their giant cream puffs, so you can satisfy your sweet tooth too. Just make sure to bring cash because they don't take cards!

The Hohenrain-Panoramaweg from Grainau is a scenic and easy hike with stunning views along the way. The trail is mostly flat but offers stunning views. Park in Grainau and walk to the trail.

When going with kids, park at the Grainau pool (Zugspitzbad Grainau) so you can spend some time at the playground before/after your hike.

You can start and end the trail from either direction. We usually start here and end here.

The Höllentalklamm Gorge, also known as Hell Valley Gorge, is a stunning natural wonder near Garmisch Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany. Visitors can hike through the narrow rock walls alongside a turquoise river, passing waterfalls and tunnels along the way. The trail starts in Hammersbach village and takes about 3 hours round trip, offering breathtaking views and a unique experience of nature's beauty. Don't forget your rain jacket and waterproof shoes to stay dry on this wet and wild adventure!

This was my favorite hike in Garmisch! If you've done the Partnachklamm this is similar but more intense and more spectacular.

Make sure to check online before you go that the klamm is open. If it is closed, do not attempt to do it anyway, it's very dangerous. This hike is only open from May-October.
Entrance to the gorge is 7 euros per adult.

I personally would. not bring a child under 6 on this hike due to the large openings in the safety rails and the power of the water rushing through the gorge.

The Partnach Gorge in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a jaw-dropping natural wonder that will leave you in awe. Picture yourself surrounded by towering rock faces as the wild waters rush below you. It's like stepping into a whole new world carved out by centuries of water flow. Just make sure to show your online ticket at the entrance, keep an eye out for closures, and leave the baby stroller at home – it's not allowed.

Walking through the Partnachklamm is always an impressive experience. The icy blue glacier water cuts through a rock canyon with impressive power.

Wear waterproof shoes and coats, this hike is wet! The path is not stroller accessible, you’ll need to wear babies in a carrier.

Always check online to make sure the gorge is open, as it often closes for weather related issues.

In the winter, you can pay to take a guided torchlit hike here. Book with the Garmisch tourism website or via the Klammhaus.

Extend your hike by exiting the gorge and continuing on trails to either:

• Partnach Alm

• Das Grasseck

• Eckbauer

Pair the Partnachklamm with a visit to the Olympic Ski Jump, Eckbauer playground, and Alpine Coaster.

Tickets

€7.50 adults

€3 kids ages 6-17

€2 dogs

Distance

1 mile for the actual gorge from gate to gate, 20 minute walk to the entry gate from the Olympic Stadium.

WC Facilities

At the entry point of the hike.