Calm, peaceful and just beautiful! Königssee is undoubtedly the number one choice on my list when asked for a recommendation on what place to see in Bavaria. Königsee translates to ‘Kings Lake’ in German and is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Berchtesgaden National Park.
I visited Königsee along with my friends in early May 2017. It was mid spring and the right time for a perfect blend of green and blue for nature photographs. Since we were a big group, we used the Bayern ticket. It is the best choice if you are using public transport for visiting places in Bavaria and quite economic when travelling in a group. It took us roughly 2.5 hours from Munich Central station via public transport which included a train to Freilassing, a suburban train to Berchtesgaden and a bus to Königssee. Travelling by a car is advised since it saves waiting time for the connecting bus at Berchtesgaden. The walk from the bus stop to the boat ticket counter is filled with souvenir shops, restaurants and a beer garden. Click here for more information on directions, timetable and accommodation around the lake.
There is a boat service which takes visitors around the Lake. The ticket to the last stop, Salet, will cost you 18 € and will include the return journey as well.
The guide on the boat will tell about the history and interesting facts about the lake throughout the ride until the boat stops at a point where the lake is surrounded by mountains on either side. Here the guide will play a trumpet to demonstrate how well the mountains respond with a perfect echo.
The boat stops at an intermediate point, St. Bartholomew’s Church on the western shore of Königssee. This red roofed chapel with two onion shaped domes was built in 1134. There is a restaurant next to the chapel with good seafood options and a nice spot to stop by for lunch if you haven’t packed one.
On reaching the boat dock in Salet, the emerald green waters will take your breath away! From here a short, 20 minute hike gets you to the main highlight, the Obersee. The water in the lake is so crystal clear that you will have difficulty differentiating what is above and what is below the water.
The hiking trail is well marked and quite safe. It continues onto a lawn which is on the other side of the lake. On reaching the lawn you will see a picturesque stunning view of two mountains perfectly mirrored in the water. We took a long relaxing break here enjoying the view and our picnic lunch.
You can continue the hike further to another open picnic spot which overlooks a thin waterfall among the mountains. I would not recommend it as I feel it cannot compete against the view of the lake. Make sure to keep track of time and reach Salet before the last returning boat. For someone visiting Bavaria and wants to explore the mountains and lakes, Königsee is a must!
To read about the other highlight of Berchtesgaden National Park, Check out my article on the Eagle’s Nest. To explore and plan a day trip to another famous montain lake in Bavaria, you can read my article on Walchensee.