Eibsee
Turquoise lake at the foot of the Zugspitze
Photo: Octagon / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
The Eibsee at the foot of the Zugspitze is regarded, with its clear, turquoise-green water and several small islands, as one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Bavaria. A roughly 7 km shore path circles the lake before the backdrop of Germany's highest mountain. From the shore the cable car to the Zugspitze also starts.
Highlights
- Turquoise-green water with small islands
- Shore loop (around 7 km) before the Zugspitze
- Rowing boats and bathing in summer
- Valley station of the Zugspitze cable car
Good to know
| Location | at the foot of the Zugspitze, Grainau |
| Water | clear, turquoise-green, several islands |
| Loop trail | rund 7 km |
| Connection | Zugspitze cable car |
Practical info
Getting there: By the Zugspitze railway to the Eibsee; by car via Grainau.
Best time: Bathing June to September; shore path May to October.
Cost: Lake and shore path free; parking, boats and cable car payable (please verify).
Safety: Mountain lake, cool water; shore path easy and family-friendly.
Tips:
- Walk the shore path anti-clockwise for the best views
- Combine with the Zugspitze ascent
Background & History
The Eibsee lies at the foot of the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany, and with its turquoise-green, often astonishingly clear water is regarded as one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Bavaria. Its charm lies not least in the mirror image of the mighty summit, which appears on the surface in still weather, a view that ranks among the most striking pictures of the Werdenfels region. Geologically the lake owes its origin to a tremendous rockfall, which crashed down from the massif thousands of years ago and dammed the valley with rock debris. The numerous small islands and bays are visible witnesses of this debris stream.
The name refers to the yew, that long-lived and once widespread conifer whose wood was sought after for bows in the Middle Ages. For centuries the lake lay secluded in the forests, before the rising Alpine tourism discovered it and made Garmisch and Grainau popular summer retreats. With the building of the Zugspitze railway the region moved still closer to the world of the peaks. Whoever walks around the shore path alternates between shady forest and open views of the Wetterstein mountains and quickly understands why this place has always drawn painters and photographers. In the hot months the unusually clear, cool water tempts one to bathe, while in the background the cable cars to the Zugspitze and the spectacle of the changing light on the mighty rock wall complete the charm of this Bavarian natural jewel.
To make your trip run smoothly , our guides and gear tips for this destination:
