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Königssee is a beautiful lake hidden in the Alps. I came across the photos on the internet years ago and thought I have to see this place. The first year I moved to Germany, I made my first trip to the Berchtesgaden region, where this breathtaking lake is located.
Berchtesgaden and Königssee Travel
Berchtesgaden National Park with this beautiful lake inside is on the Austrian border of Germany. It is very easy to reach from Munich, you can arrive by a two-hour train journey. It takes about 3 hours by bus. Even closer to Salzburg, just a 20-minute bus ride. It is definitely one of the most suitable places for a daily nature getaway during your visit to one of these two big cities.
Berchtesgaden and Königssee and Other destinations in the region
Some other great routes for nature lovers around Munich are Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Mittenwald. My favorite is Berchtesgaden anyway! Let me state in case that you have to choose one. 😊
Another recommendation for a nature getaway for your trip to Salzburg is Hallstatt.
Berchtesgaden and Königssee but Accommodation in Berchtesgaden
Accommodation options are unlimited. You can choose the one that suits your budget best: hotel, hostel, Airbnb, camping area, and caravan park.
Activities in Berchtesgaden
There are dozens of activities and hundreds of walking routes in this region. You can plan your activities with the help of its official website.
The city center is also very beautiful. You can stroll among the colorful Bavarian houses and enjoy dozens of lively cafes and restaurants to have a pleasant time.
Here I will just tell you about my favourite lakes, Königssee and Obersee.
Königssee
After arriving in Berchtesgaden, you can reach Königssee with a half-hour walk, by bus (free with the guest card you will get from the hotel you stay at), or by renting a bicycle. The lakeshore, where you can reach following the crowd, is so beautiful. It can take your breath away. But this is not the main viewpoint here. 😊
Berchtesgaden and Königssee Best Views
You can reach one of the most beautiful views by following the road that continues to the left and marked as “Malerwinkel”. Although the path starts a little steep, it gets easier later, don’t worry. 😊
On both of my two trips, my favorite activity was to put my tea/coffee in the thermos early in the morning and start the day here when it is not filled with tourists yet. It is much more beautiful early in the morning when nobody is there. This place gets really crowded in the later hours.
Of course, there are other viewpoints overlooking the lake, but getting there requires a more difficult route. However, if you want to see it from above, you can continue on the same road and hike to the next viewpoint.
Stroll on the lake
Another activity you can do in Königssee is to rent a boat. As soon as you come to the shore, you see the boats. You can stroll around the lake by paddling and costs about 9 Euros per hour. 😊
The more preferred option is the electric boats. Königssee also has a great acoustic. When you go on a tour with these boats, there is a little bonus show. I think it should definitely be experienced. The boats travel quite often in the high season. If you are going in the low season, you can check the hours on this site and guarantee your trip.
St. Bartholomä Church
One of the stops of the electric boats is where this church is located. In the iconic photos of Königssee, you always see this church and the highest peak of the region rising behind it, Watzmann.
I think the beer garden in front of it is much more enjoyable than the church in nice weather, but since you are there, reach out to the church and have a look 😊
Königssee vs Obersee
This second lake, which I could not get to on my first visit to Berchtesgaden, is definitely a must. I can say that it is the main reason for my second visit 😊
To reach this lake, you must first reach Salet stop by boat. You can reach the shore of the lake with a short walk from there. You can enjoy the view which even overshadows the Königssee.
Although it is small, this lake has incredibly clear, blue water. It is impossible not to admire. There is a hiking route around it. This is a medium difficulty route covered with quite large rocks. On my second visit, I was again unlucky with the weather and had to hike in torrential rain, but it was worth every second.
On the other side of the lake is a small chalet. Since there is no electricity here, it is not possible to eat and drink anything warm, but you can drink the milk of the cows grazing behind the hut. 😊 The pleasure of drinking beer in this view is indescribable.
Waterfalls
While you’re here, you can also hike to Germany’s highest waterfall. When you reach the lakeshore for the first time, the waterfall running from the mountains behind is Rötbachfall. It is possible to reach it by following the hiking route marked with the same name.
Another one is the Königsbach waterfall, which has created a natural pool at its beginning. This waterfall will be the reason for my third visit to this area because on both trips the weather conditions didn’t let me go here 😊
I was in Berchtesgaden twice, one in March and one in August, but the weather here is unpredictable. I hope the weather will be the way you want during your visit 😊
However, you should definitely see this region, beautiful any time of the year!
Additional note
In the Berchtesgaden region, there is also the chalet named Eagle’s Nest, which Hitler used as a base during the Second World War. I think that it is necessary to visit this building, which was established on a summit dominating the region at an altitude of 1834 meters, for both its view and its historical importance.
Unfortunately, I was not able to reach here on both visits, as the weather was not available. In winter, hiking routes are closed due to snow but if you are lucky enough to have a sunny day in summer, you can reach here by following the “Kehlsteinhaus” route.
Official website is here.
