Ever wondered what heaven on earth looks like? Here it is, a beautiful blue lake surrounded by the…read morebeautiful Swiss Alps and trees. They take chip credit cards, or cash (5 swiss francs). This is accessible by SBB bus from Zurich, so you could buy a day pass there and get here. Walk is a short 10 min, the absolute shortest I've had to walk to see such paradise. Definitely a must see place at some point in your life. Winter for best results! YouTube Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpDH9-vMtCQ

Oh my god. This place is STUNNING. We went on a Friday afternoon, the sun was shining, the birds…read morewere chirping and the water was an incredible neon blue. I've never seen anything like it... Ethereal and mysterious and peaceful. The area was crowded, but not enormously so. We walked around the water for a bit, then grabbed a lite lunch at the little cafe on the water (not great, but what tourist restaurant is?). There are tons of little hikes in the area, but we just walked along the Blau river away from the town and discovered this super quiet walk through the forest. Such a magical day. If you're in the area, Blautopf is a must-do.

If you're headed to Schloss Neuschwanstein, you'll stop first in the town of Schwangu, and before…read moreyou do any hiking up to the castle - you'll see Lake Alpsee! And it's worth visiting Schwangu and the lake in their own right, if you want to stay near Neuschwanstein and see a little/a lot of cool nature. Alpsee is nestled in the foothills of the Alps, so your view will be breathtaking as you stand on the shoreline of the lake, looking at the behemoth mountains! The water is crystal clear, so you can see the rocks and shoal right through the surface. It's heralded as one of the cleanest lakes in Germany. There are swans and other fowl that like to lay claim to Alpsee and they also make for great photos as they glide across the pristine water. There are boats available for rent, great swimming spots in the lake, and hiking trails all around Alpsee. So it's not just Insta-worthy here, there's also a ton to do and see. So definitely don't skip over Alpsee on your Bavarian adventure!

Gorgeous lake! Right next to the museum of the Bavarian Kings. There's a trail and you can kayak as…read morewell. Highly recommend walking down to the lake even if you're not doing the museum.

Woohooo. As good as it gets for a nice summer time swim. Easy access to via foot/public…read moretransportation/car. I recall going there over summer and swimming in the second lake. The scene around the lake was buzzing and filled with the full array of locals. This is a place where you can really get back in touch with nature. When swimming across the pond, you can see fishes and ducks swimming next to you. When it's hot in the city, this is the place to be. There's also a private area, if you prefer a quieter setting but it's all the same water.

We were lucky enough to visit the Eibsee in 1992, on an R&R break from a Mid-East posting. The lake…read moreitself was glorious, with crystal clear water to great depth. Surrounded by fabulous forest, and with lovely walking paths all round. There was vestigial snow on the ground. The hotel and restaurant patio overlooking the lake were super places to became acquainted with Weiswurst and Spaten beer Now in 2024 it sounds as if the peace is, alas, no more, but Eibsee will always be special for us. TIP for 2024: Go when school is in, preferably in the Autumn.

Emerald-colored lake is very enchanting. On a clear day, you will be able to enjoy looking at…read moreZugspitze (the highest point in Germany) and other peaks with a gorgeous lakeview. The circle easy-hiking/biking trail is about 8km in length, so it'll take about two hours in leisurely-paced to walk around the lake. It's worth your time and effort. It has some hilly parts, but they are not too bad. We even saw some families with strollers. If you hike in the morning, you may not be able to see the mountains too clearly (fog, the sun behind the mountains, etc.). If you wait till the afternoon, you may be able to see them clearly, but you'll risk some clouds moving in as it was the case for us. Mountain weather is very unpredictable for sure. Unfortunately, it was a little too early to enjoy colorful foliage for us, but you can see the beginning of the change. It was a very nice hike around this enchanting lake. Highly recommended if you are in the area and be able to take some time to enjoy it. If you drive to this location, parking lot will cost you about $6 (2 hours) or more depending on how much time you spend. I believe all-day parking was about $12, but I just can't remember exactly.