Surroundings

Gently undulating green hills where Bavarian cows graze in peace, picturesque farming communities huddled around towering onion-top spires where old traditions are lovingly preserved, glittering crystal-clear lakes and imposing mountain summits that turn into a white winter wonderland – that’s what Munich’s scenic surroundings that teem with attractive destinations are all about.

Bavaria’s Lakes, Mountains and Valleys

Folks of all ages enjoy hopping on a boat, cruising Upper Bavaria’s lakes such as Tegernsee, Ammersee, or Starnberger See, and skipping ashore to enjoy coffee and cake in a cafe right by the water. An outing to one of the beautiful cities in Munich’s vicinity is of equal appeal, whether you are heading for the spa of Bad Tölz on the River Isar with its picturesque old town, the old bishop’s seat of Freising, or Garmisch-Partenkirchen, whose fame extends far beyond Bavaria’s borders on account of its exceptional choice of winter sports options.

Starnberger See and Ammersee

Time and again, people will attest to Munich’s outstanding array of recreational options. And who would be surprised, what with all of the lakes and mountains that so picturesquely dot the countryside just outside the city’s gates? All it takes is a half-hour drive or thirty minutes on the S-Bahn, and you’ll be right on the shore of Starnberger See (Lake Starnberg), “Munich’s bathtub”. Bavaria’s second largest lake is as much a part of the attractive Five-Lake Region as is 18-square-mile Ammersee, where the Bavarian Lake Cruise Company’s (Bayerische Seenschifffahrt) fleet plies the waters in summer.

Tegernsee and Schliersee

Located southeast of Munich, Tegernsee is another lake where ships will take you on a relaxing cruise - and that’s all year round. But it’s worth getting off at one of the stops, such as the spa of Bad Wiessee, which boasts a casino, the sophisticated and historic retreat of Rottach-Egern, and, naturally, the town of Tegernsee itself, where an eponymous palace adorned by a Baroque church is living testimony to Bavaria’s splendid past.
Not far from Tegernsee, more fun can be had on the water: Schliersee and Spitzingsee, which is located at an altitude of 3560 feet, impress not only with their first-rate water quality but also with their surroundings, where hikers have a field day. Rotwand, the area’s tallest mountain, is an ideal destination for a Sunday excursion. Stop at Rotwandhaus for a meal or a snack.

Chiemsee

If, on the other hand, you drive from Munich in the direction of Salzburg, you will note from the autobahn the reflections bouncing off the many colourful sails chasing a brisk breeze on the Bavarian Sea, as Chiemsee is affectionately called. Whereas some indulge in athletic pursuits on Bavaria’s largest lake, others get their fix of culture, marvelling at King Ludwig II’s sumptuous Herrenchiemsee palace tucked away on an island.

Berchtesgaden and Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Many tourists will rave just as much about a cruise on Königsee – a lake located in the heart of Berchtesgaden National Park. Emerald-green, the crystal-clear lake is brilliant, surrounded by the majestic rock faces of the Watzmann range, which was named after the 8904-foot Watzmann, one of Bavaria’s tallest mountains. The Zugspitze is both Bavaria’s and Germany’s tallest mountain, towering 9718 feet above the Garmisch-Partenkirchen region. It’s a joy to mountaineers, skiers, and visitors alike because it can also be scaled without expending any effort by taking the rack railway. Once at the top, where it’s windy and fairly cool even in summer, you will find a snow cover to admire all year round.

But Bavaria’s mountains are not only attractive during the warm season. Upper Bavaria’s skiing resorts of Bayrischzell, including Wendelstein and Sudelfeld, Lenggries, including Brauneck, and oft-frozen Schliersee are extremely popular with skiers, snowboarders, skaters, and winter hikers alike. So let’s go!

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site

A half-hour drive outside of Munich, Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site keeps alive the memory of a place where the Nazis interned political prisoners, Jews and other persecuted groups. Today, it is a destination that both shocks and enlightens, relating facts and showing images from Germany’s recent past.