Things to do in Eibsee

Who knows me knows that I love adventures! And lake Eibsee is just perfect for outdoor and adventure lovers! That’s why in this blogpost I would like to share my Eibsee tips with you. Read how the perfect day at lake Eibsee could look like and which things to do in Eibsee.
I show you the most instagrammable spots, where you can take stunning photos. In addition you can find the ultimative adrenaline secret tip at lake Eibsee!

Besides that, I have some additional tips on things to do CLOSE to Eibsee. Just in case you have more time than only one day. By the way, I share my equipment list (camera gear, luggage, travel gadgets & co) with you. But now have fun reading! ☺️

The Eibsee

The lake is located in Grainau, a small province in Bavaria, southern Germany. Well, to be honest, it’s nearly the southernmost point, because it’s exactly next to the German-Austrian border. With its deep blue and azure waters, the Eibsee lies secretly at the foot of the Zugspitze, which is the highest mountain of Germany.
By the way, it’s one of Germanys biggest lakes and because of its colours it’s often called “the Caribbean of Germany”. What do you think about its name?

From my hometown in the upper palatinate we need around 3 hours by car to drive there. So if you live in the south of Germany or close to it, the Eibsee is easily accessible and you should definitely plan a visit! Also, if you’re flying into Munich, it’s such a short train ride to Garmisch Patenkirchen, from where you can continue to Eibsee.

Best time for your Eibsee visit

Please be aware of the following tips for visiting Eibsee: when I was there in 2019, it was already popular. Nevertheless, the number of visitors was totally fine back then. During cov-id, Eibsee became famous and today it’s very crowded. Therefore, I highly recommend to visit Eibsee in off-season!

This means: NOT in the summertime (June-mid September), NOT during Bavarian / German holidays in general and if you’re flexible enough, NOT on weekends. Make sure to be there early on your day of visit, so you can enjoy it less crowded first, and later with it’s beautiful azure colors. In spring or autumn, Eibsee is just as beautiful as in summer and you can still swim in it. Just please check the weather forecast, as it need sun and less wind to shows off all of its beautiful colors!

Where to stay in Eibsee

I found some really beautiful places to stay on booking.com (as of August 2025) for those among us who aren’t into camping and sorted them by my recommendations:

• The Eibsee Hotel – obviously my top recommendation, since it’s the only hotel located directly on the shore of Lake Eibsee. It allows you to visit the lake at any time and experience it with the fewest other visitors – truly a dream, not just for photographers!
  Pro Tip: the parking lot right at the lake is included for hotel guests. But apparently it’s not just the unique location that makes this hotel special – it also holds an excellent overall rating of 9.2.
• The Bayern Resort Hotel – adults only, with views of the Zugspitze, close to Eibsee. It offers a wellness area and a natural pool in summer. One of the most beautiful hotels I came across!
• The 4-star Sentido Hotel – with direct access to the Höllentalklamm gorge, slightly older room interiors but a lovely wellness area.
• The Romantik Alpenhotel Waxenstein – perhaps a good choice if you’re celebrating a special occasion.
• Budget option: Hotel Quellenhof – value for money, with a wellness area and cozy rooms for relaxation.

If the links aren’t working in your country, try this link and just copy+paste the hotel names.

Getting there + parking

Getting there by car or camper

In Google Maps you can type in „Eibsee“, then it will lead you through Grainau, the small town located near the Eibsee. For parking you have several options. For options 1 + 2 you can use cash or card payment.

My insider tip for parking at Lake Eibsee: use the free hiking parking lot or the discounted early bird rate directly at the lake!

Option 1: The official parking space of Lake Eibsee is located directly at the lake and is open 5 AM to 10 PM. Earlybird parking from 5 to 9.30 AM is 2,50€, leaving later than 9.30 means 4 hours are 9€ and every hour more is 1€. Night parking is prohibited and there’s a height limit of 2,10m.

Option 2: There’s another parking lot for the Eibsee cablecar station, which is only limited in height (2,20m) from 5 PM to 8 AM. So that’s a possible way to visit Eibsee with higher cars like campervans. Be careful: overnight parking is allowed, but not sleeping there! There are also parking lots for e-cars.

Option 3: especially interesting for campervans, there’s the option to park at the ice stadium or “hausberg”, from where you can use the Zahnrad train to Eibsee (read in the next part).

Getting to Eibsee by bus or train

You can also visit Lake Eibsee in an eco-friendly way by taking bus line 9840, which conveniently takes you from Garmisch-Partenkirchen train station to the lake in about 40 minutes. A one-way ticket costs €6 for adults and €3 for children, and the Deutschlandticket is valid as well.

Another option is the so-called “Zahnradbahn” train, which reaches Lake Eibsee in about 30 minutes. This is a little adventure in itself, as it is one of the few cogwheel railways still operating in Germany. Starting from the Zugspitzbahnhof, located right next to Garmisch-Partenkirchen train station, it takes you all the way up to the Zugspitze plateau at 2,600 m. On its journey, the blue-and-white train passes Lake Eibsee, continues along the mountain track, and finally climbs through a 4,453-meter-long tunnel up to the Zugspitze.

Things to do in Eibsee

Let’s see how we can make your day in lake Eibsee perfekt: for me, “perfect” is always relative. It depends on what YOU like most and also how YOU like to spend your day, but I wanna give you my tips and show you how I designed the day. But first, here are some tours, recommended from Getyourguide:

#1 The hiking trail (loop)

Of course, my #1 recommendation is the loop hiking trail around the lake. You can start it from either the left or the right.

• The left starting point is at the boat rental in the lower left.
• The right starting point is at the uppermost parking lot on the right-hand side (coming from above).
  We started on the right.

The internet says the loop trail takes about 2 hours. However, it took us almost 3 hours, probably because we walked slowly and kept stopping to take photos.

Along the way you’ll pass many beautiful spots: a bridge, the small Untersee, several turquoise-blue coves, the islands of Lake Eibsee (formed by a rockslide), swimming areas, and more small neighboring lakes.

You can also rent e-bikes (and I believe regular bikes too) and easily ride the trail. All in all: the circular trail is an absolute must for a perfect day at Lake Eibsee.

The Eibsee Rope Swing

For the adventurers among you, this is an absolute highlight – and still a bit of a hidden gem! Looking for pure adrenaline or that unique Eibsee photo? Then the rope swing is just right for you.
⚠️ Warning: you use the swing at your own risk!

How to get there

Start the circular trail going to the right around the lake from the upper parking lot on the right-hand side (coming from above). Follow the path until you reach the bridge. Do not cross the bridge – instead, continue straight/right onto the smaller footpath into the forest. You’ll now be walking along the Untersee. Keep going until you’re higher up, then look for a clear footpath going steeply down to the water on your left. We struggled at first to find the spot!

Down at the water, you should see a tree with wooden steps fixed to it as a ladder. You can climb down there – but with extreme caution, as the path is steep, sloping, and slippery. You may also need to climb a bit up the tree to loosen the rope, since it sometimes gets tangled in the branches.

Update 2025: I’m not sure if the swing is still there! Some of my blog readers told me they couldn’t find it anymore.

#2 Things to do in Eibsee ON the water

A wonderful way to explore Lake Eibsee is from the water. As you probably know, I’m a total water lover and adore boats. Unfortunately, getting around on the lake can be a bit pricey. You have several options:

2.1 The “Reserl” – boat tour

You can join other tourists on the “Reserl,” a small motorboat with a captain, and circle the lake in 30 minutes. The price is €9.50 per adult and €4.50 per child. Dogs cost an extra €2.50, and muzzles are mandatory – so not the best choice for dog owners.

2.2 Rent a pedal boat

A pedal boat costs €18 per hour and holds 4 people (dogs not allowed). Back in 2019, we chose this option, split the price, and had the flexibility to explore at our own pace. We paid €36 for 3 hours back then, while the same would cost €54 in 2025.
Nowadays, I have my own SUP and would personally recommend that instead.

Note: In 2019, you weren’t allowed to dock anywhere with the pedal boats. I swam to shore a couple of times for photos, or got dropped on rocks. If you’re just two people, a tripod is your best friend – I used my Manfrotto, set it up, started continuous shoot on my camera (back then a different one, today my Canon R6), and got my photos without needing any help.

2.3 Rent a SUP

My favorite way to get around on the water is, of course, a SUP! It’s the perfect mix of physical activity and relaxation, since you can paddle for a while and then just lie down and drift. You can rent a SUP for €19 per hour, depending on availability. If you already own one, I’d definitely recommend bringing your own. By the way, this is the SUP I use – I can highly recommend it. Plus, with your own board, you can also bring your four-legged friends out on the water.

#3 Photospot: the Instagram-rock

What better way to describe a perfect day at Eibsee than with photos? There are countless photo spots around the lake. The most famous is the pointed rock often seen on Instagram. I actually didn’t find it during the hike but spotted it from the pedal boat! It’s located in a small green-and-blue bay behind Braxeninsel. My favorite spot at Eibsee – and in 2019, I had it all to myself. Generally, from the water you’ll discover many stunning photo spots that aren’t visible from land.

By the way you can see quite different beautiful places and photo spots from the water than from the countryside in general!
This little rock and the green bathing place were in the same bay as the “Instagram Rock”:

#4 From Lake Eibsee to the Zugspitze

Since you’re already there, it makes sense to also head up Germany’s highest mountain and enjoy the views – definitely a bucket list experience!

Unfortunately, the cable car from the Eibsee station is very expensive. Back in 2019 it was €58, now in 2025 it’s €75. The newly built cable car is state-of-the-art and spans dizzying heights – understandably, that comes at a price.

As a budget traveler, I skipped it back then. But here’s a tip for you: on the Austrian side, not too far away, there’s another cable car up the Zugspitze for €46 (2019) / €63.50 (2025). I’ll mention this again in connection with another nearby excursion.

So – does a Zugspitze visit belong to your perfect day at Eibsee? Let me know in the comments! We didn’t have time back then.

#5 From Eibsee to the Höllentalklamm and Partnachklamm

If you have a bit more time, here are two spectacular excursion tips: you can combine your visit to Lake Eibsee with a hike through either the Höllentalklamm or the Partnachklamm gorge! These dramatic natural wonders are truly unique – shaped by the raw power of wild water, with roaring waterfalls and deep ravines waiting to be explored.

Partnachklamm: Entrance fee is €10. You should buy your ticket online in advance. Please note: the nearest parking lot is at the Olympic Ski Stadium, about 2.2 km from the gorge – and it fills up quickly at peak times! By bus or train, the closest stop is also at the Ski Stadium.

Höllentalklamm: Entrance fee is €7.50. From Grainau, you can reach the gorge by taking the Eibsee bus, which stops directly at the Hammersbach trailhead. The same applies if you go by the Zugspitzbahn. The hiking trail to the Höllentalklamm starts at the chapel in Hammersbach.

#6 Häselgehr waterfall

About a 30-minute drive from Lake Eibsee, on the Austrian side, lies another hidden gem – the breathtaking Häselgehr Waterfall. If you’d like to add a small Austria stop, I highly recommend it.

Pro Tip: from here you can also take the nearby Tyrolean Zugspitzbahn up the Zugspitze. It’s less crowded than the Eibsee station and costs only €63.50 instead of €75.

The waterfall is simply WOW! It cascades down multiple levels and pools, from very high up in the mountains to an accessible viewpoint, and further down. I captured my photo here with my DJI Mavic drone – today I highly recommend the DJI Mini 4 Pro. It films in 4K, shoots RAW (for me as a photographer a must!), and also supports vertical format – perfect for Instagram.

You can easily park in a bay by the road and walk 5 minutes slightly uphill. Don’t take the steep path to the left, follow the right one.

Once there, we had the waterfall completely to ourselves for half an hour. Then only two cyclists passed by, and later three hikers. That’s exactly how I like it: remote, untouched, and plenty of time to photograph.

From below or from above?

On the right side of the waterfall you can climb up some slippery steps. A sign says that you can only do it with climbing gear, but we did it without. As always, if you do it, you do it on your own responsibility. Be careful! At the top you can stand behind the waterfall and watch as it rushes into the depths.

Where to stay – for campers 🙂

Since I have my beautiful campervan Erna now, I would like to recommend another type of accomodation. I found a beautiful camping lot, which has been run with a lot of heart and soul. It’s located only about 2 kilometres from Tiroler Zugspitzbahn, that I just mentioned. Already in 2019, this place impressed me with its stunning mountain views.

From the Eibsee you drive about 20 minutes. Actually, we discovered this place by accident. On the way to Eibsee, I called the camping places in Grainau and asked if they still have space for the night. Unfortunately, they were all quite booked.

So I searched for “campsite” in Google Maps, and I found camping Dr. Lauth, now (2025) “Camping Ehrwald”. The reviews of the place on the internet were (legitimately) great, and the location convinced us as well. So I made a short call, told them that we would come in the evening (arrival possible until 10 PM), and everything was set!
I preferred it anyway, as I don’t like the big modern campsites. Who knows me knows that I like it small and quiet rather than big and loud.

Is it easy to get to Austria?

YES, the answer is definitely YES! Of course, there is no border crossing, just a sign telling you that you are in Austria. You do not need a vignette because you are not driving on the Autobahn. Totally easy, just drive on the Eibsee from Landstraße to Ehrwald, and you are already in our neighboring country Austria. In Ehrwald you drive up and up, towards the Zugspitze, until you find the campsite between green hills and cows. PRO TIPP: The food in the restaurant is super! Make sure you try the cheese spaetzle, as well as the pizzas. The perfect day in Eibsee came to an end in Austria. 🙂

A perfect day with many things to do in Eibsee

This was my perfect day at lake Eibsee. To be honest, 2019 is some time ago, so soon it will be time for another trip to one of Bavarias most beautiful lakes. If there are any questions left on things to do in Eibsee, please feel free to leave a comment below this blogpost or write me via instagram: @samyleaves.

You can find even more beautiful places in Bavaria in our community blogpost: Der Bayern Guide.

Safe travels,
Samy