Eibsee Lake Travel Tips: How to Reach and stunning Photo Spots
Zugspitze, part of the majestic Alps, is Germany’s tallest mountain. Nestled at an elevation of 1,000 meters lies the tranquil Eibsee Lake. With its sparkling emerald-green waters, crystal-clear reflections, and a backdrop of snow-capped peaks, Eibsee feels like a slice of paradise. Ducks playfully swim in the lake, and the serene atmosphere invites you to connect with nature, leaving all worries behind as your soul finds peace.
🚗 Road Trip Adventure: Passing Through Austria’s Tirol
Our journey to Zugspitze began on a bright, sunny January day. With shorter winter daylight, the sun started setting around 4:30 PM. We made the most of the morning driving from Frankfurt toward Zugspitze—a five-hour trip in total.
From Frankfurt, there are two routes:
- Stay entirely within Germany.
- Take a detour through Austria’s Tirol region, which saves about 30 minutes.
Since there’s no border control in this Schengen area, we chose the latter for a quicker and more scenic drive.
For travelers flying into Germany, starting your journey from Munich Airport is a great option. From there, it’s only a 1.5-hour drive via the A95 highway to Eibsee—no need to cross into Austria.
Passing through Tirol unexpectedly became one of the trip’s most memorable moments!
Tips for Road Trip:
If you’re driving a passenger car, keep in mind that Germany’s highways are mostly toll-free. However, if you cross into Austria, make sure to purchase a vignette (road toll sticker) at a nearby gas station and stick it on your windshield.
🅿️ Parking at Eibsee
Finally, we arrived at Eibsee! After parking the car, we were greeted by the sight of Zugspitze and the mountain cable car station. By then, it was already 2:30 PM. Feeling a bit tired from the long drive and inspired by the sunny weather, we decided to take a leisurely walk around the lake first to stretch our legs and soak in the scenery.
(Looking back, maybe we should’ve headed straight to the peak while the skies were clear—but that’s all part of the adventure!)
The parking lot is conveniently located just 100 meters from Eibsee, making it super easy to start exploring right away.
🚗 Parking Fees
Opening hours: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
| Rates | |
| Early bird special (5:00–9:30 AM) | €2.50 |
| Up to 4 hours (after 9:30 AM) | €8.00 |
| Each additional hour (up to 10:00 PM) | €1.00 |
| Overnight parking violation (after 10:00 PM) | €50.00 |
Important: Camper vans are not allowed to park here.
How to Reach Eibsee by Public Transport
The Cogwheel Train (Zugspitzbahn/ Zahnradbahn)
If you’re not driving, taking the historic Zugspitzbahn (cogwheel train) is a fantastic option. Operating for nearly 100 years, the BZB RB64 line connects Garmisch-Partenkirchen Zugspitzbahnhof to Eibsee Zugspitzbahn Grainau station. The journey takes about 30 minutes, with trains departing every hour. From the station, it’s just a short 300-meter walk to reach Eibsee—super convenient!
For more details, check the Deutsche Bahn website.
🚌 Bus
Another option is the RVO BUS LINE 9840, which departs from Landratsamt Garmisch-Partenkirchen. This is a great alternative for those who prefer a scenic bus ride to Eibsee.
Scenic Highlights of Eibsee
🚶 Hiking Trail: Walking Around the Lake
The trail circling Eibsee is about 7 kilometers long, making it a relaxing and easy hike. The path is mostly flat and takes around 2 hours at an average walking pace. However, during winter, the chilly temperatures and our frequent photo stops (not to mention the early sunset) made it impossible for us to finish the loop.
From the photos I’ve seen online, the lake looks even more stunning compared to my limited photography skills. I highly recommend allowing plenty of time to complete the full hike and soak in the breathtaking views.
📍 Picture-Perfect Spot: Eibsee-Pavillon Terrace
At the start of the hiking trail, you’ll find a lakeside restaurant called Eibsee-Pavillon. Initially, we hadn’t planned to stop there, but our daughter discovered a small path leading to the restaurant’s observation terrace. Since no one dines outdoors during the winter, the restaurant didn’t mind visitors using the terrace for photos. We were so glad for our daughter’s curiosity in uncovering this hidden gem!
From my research, I found that during the summer, the restaurant transforms its terrace into an open-air dining area where guests can enjoy meals with a stunning lakeside view. If you’re visiting in the warmer months, I recommend making a reservation to savor this unique experience.
Address: Seeweg 2, 82491 Grainau
📍 Stunning Highlight: Frillensee (Grainau)
One of my favorite spots along the hiking trail is the enchanting Frillensee, located at Geo 18 on the trail map.
In winter, the lake’s frozen surface gives off a hauntingly beautiful vibe, with Zugspitze towering majestically in the background. It’s truly a magical sight!
Story time: At Frillensee, I noticed a female visitor repeatedly queued for photos again and again (Yes! There was a queue here at Frillensee for photos.) However, she grew increasingly frustrated when the pictures her boyfriend took, didn’t meet her expectations. It made me reflect on how photos are meant to capture happy memories, not the other way round…Nowadays social media could be toxic…After all, what’s the point of a stunning picture if it leaves behind bad memories? Since the trail is well-traveled, we kept running into the same group of hikers. At the time when we were leaving the area to pick our car, I saw they were still arguing…
Everyone’s camera settings seem so different—what a variety of color tones!
Feel the Serenity of the Lake
These ducks are common to see in Germany. The first time when I travelled to Germany, I found them so adorable—especially when two ducks of different colors were swimming together. Later, while reading a German children’s book, I learned something fun: the brown duck is female, while the one with green feathers is male!
It was a freezing day, and our little one was constantly wiping her nose with tissues. Perhaps the ducks thought she was holding a snack because one kept waddling closer to her.
Unable to endure the biting cold any longer—and with the sun starting to set—we decided it was time to check in at our hotel. We also made a quick stop at the supermarket to grab ingredients for dinner and gear up for an exciting day of skiing tomorrow!
A Bird’s-Eye View of Eibsee: The Zugspitze Cable Car
The Zugspitze cable car station is conveniently located right next to the Eibsee parking lot, just a short walk away. This cable car holds three world records and offers a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of Eibsee. While the tickets are on the pricey side, the experience is absolutely worth it. Pro tip: when boarding the cable car, try to position yourself facing Eibsee to soak in the panoramic views of the lake and the surrounding snowy peaks.
Because of time, weather, and energy constraints, I decided to save the cable car ride for another day. However, if you have a packed itinerary, you can easily combine both Eibsee and the Zugspitze cable car into a single day.
A Note on Seasons: Eibsee has a completely different vibe in winter and summer. In the summer, you can swim in the lake, rent a boat, or even try stand-up paddling. Keep in mind that boat rentals may vary depending on the weather, so it’s always a good idea to check Eibsee’s official website for the latest updates on weather forecasts and available facilities before heading out.
Conclusion
Eibsee is stunning and definitely worth a visit when exploring the Zugspitze and Garmisch-Partenkirchen area. If you found this blog post helpful, feel free to subscribe to my email list or follow me on Instagram. Have a wonderful trip to Germany!
Continue reading about our ski trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen:
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