This is such a cool experience I would recommend it if you ever do the Alps traverse from Munich to…read moreVenice. Amazing tunnel takes you through a gorge that has been created by ice melt and river water. If you are a tad claustrophobic.... maybe not the best Stunning views and gorgeous waters. Just do it

It was one of the coldest days, we caught a bus to the Olympic stadium and went back behind the…read morejumps. It was beautiful, cold and a nice hike to the top. It took us about an hour to climb to the top. It was extremely icy and very bitterly cold that day, but it was so much fun and the scenery was beautiful.

Germany's highest point. This is a really cool place to…read morevisit about an hour drive from Munich! We did the round trip up and down to experience the cable car to the top of Germany. It was a nice day and the visibility was great! Was able to see mountain peaks in different countries. "Stunning views, well-maintained facilities, and friendly staff. the experience is worth every penny, especially on a clear day when the breathtaking vistas are at their best. The panoramic views of Eisbee Lake and the surrounding landscape are truly awe-inspiring, making the journey to the top a memorable one." Easily one of the best experiences I've had in other countries. I recommend visiting if you're within 2 hours drive. Definitely worth it!

There are some German words that are more fun to yell than others, and ZUGSPITZE is the perfect…read moreword to yell when you're talking about the tallest mountain in Germany/Austria. Appropriate responses to completing the 15-minute cable car ride to the top of this mountain with a group of 20 other people include: exclaiming, "Zugspitze," taking a deep breath of fresh air, shielding yourself from the 5G towers, vomiting, and/or drinking a beer. Luckily, they offer beer at the top! Why? Because of course they do! They also offer food in a few different settings (Austrian side vs German side, you'll see). If you're feeling super fit and looking for a challenge, you can climb to the top or to the bottom of the mountain using hiking gear. There's a way for visitors who took the easy way up to climb the last bit of the mountain to the apex for a sweet photo op, or you could, like, actually do all the work and grab a beer before you take a relaxing ride back down. During winter months this is obviously a hotspot (or cold spot) for skiing and winter sports. It is still very beautiful and awe-inducing to see this over the summer/fall, and still very cold. If you buy the all-inclusive pass from the ticket booth like my aunt and uncle did, you are given one round-trip ticket to the top of Zugspitze and back, then freedom to ride all of the other cable cars in the area and participate in some of the offered activities (like tobogganing). This is one of those things you have to see at least once. genießen!

Alpsee was absolutely beautiful and one of our favorite scenic stops in the Füssen/Schwangau area…read more The lake is surrounded by mountains and forest, with gorgeous clear water and views toward Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein castles. We stopped here while visiting the castles and I'm so glad we took the time to see the lake. It was peaceful, incredibly picturesque and a nice break from the much busier castle areas. There is also a walking trail around the lake if you have more time. The full loop is about 5.2 km and takes roughly 1.5 hours, but you definitely don't have to walk the entire thing to enjoy the views. Pet friendly for walking around the lake, which is another big plus! Dogs are also welcome in the kiosk area of the Alpseebad, although not on its swimming lawn. Absolutely worth stopping at when visiting Neuschwanstein or Hohenschwangau. The scenery is gorgeous and it's a great place for photos!

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!

The Herzogstandbahn (bahn = gondola) is about a one-hour drive from Munich, making it an easy…read moreday-trip into the Alps. Beside easy access to the high country, if your family outings are like ours, you'll appreciate the many trail options and planning flexibility the Herzogstandbahn affords. You can easily customize your day's hiking to your group. For a one hour hike or less, buy a roundtrip ticket, and from the top of the gondola you can easily reach one of two nearby summits or a small chapel. For a 2 hour hike, ride the gondola one way and hike the rest. It takes about about 4 hours if you park in the Herzogstandbahn lot and hike roundtrip to the summit of the Herzogstand, skipping the gondola altogether. The Berggasthaus Herzogstand hut is about 10 minutes walk from where the gondola lets you off and provides welcome refreshment in the form of local beers and sausage and a few coffee and salad options. Dogs welcome. Once you're back down to your car, you have the option to drive a few minutes to the cove settlement of Einsiedel with its easy swimming and boating access to the Walchensee. The lake and its most famous peak, the Herzogstand, are a perfect summer-time destination for the whole family. We'll be back in the winter to try randonee skiing in the back bowl!

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.

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.

Gorgeous, relaxing, alpine town -- definitely worth visiting as a either day trip from Munch, or to…read morerelax for a few days in a beautiful setting where you can meet tons of friendly German tourists on holiday. Cold, clear waters. Shops and restaurants. Hiking, boating, etc. Excellent for activities, for nature, and for people-watching. There is something special and fun about holiday/tourist towns that mostly have domestic tourists. If Tegernsee had a U.S. counterpart, it would be Lake Tahoe: Sure, folks come from all over the country and world to Lake Tahoe, but the majority come from all over California and Nevada. This is a town where people have second homes and spend the whole summer there -- that sort of thing. As an international visitor, I loved seeing Germans from all over the country on vacation and hanging out.

One of my favourite places to visit in Bavaria and less than an hours drive from Munich and…read moreprobably about the same by train. Beautiful lake surrounded by the Bavarian Alps and stunning scenery. A great place to visit in the Winter or Summer. Nice shops, bier garden the palace and church make it a great day out.