Lake Königssee

The mighty cliffs of the Berchtesgaden Alps plunge almost vertically to the shores of Lake Königssee, which reaches a depth of 192 meters at its deepest point. To experience the spectacular scenery surrounding Bavaria’s best-known mountain lake, you’ll need to take a boat—and hear the famous echo.

Königssee: a popular destination in Berchtesgaden

Glide silently across the fjord-like lake aboard one of the electric boats operated by Königssee Schifffahrt. Emerald-green water sparkles in the sun, blue-and-white skies stretch overhead, and the famous trumpet echo reverberates between the steep rock walls. Surrounded by the mountains of Germany’s only Alpine national park and the imposing Watzmann East Face, a boat ride across Lake Königssee is an unforgettable experience in any season.

The only way to truly explore Lake Königssee is by boat. Steep cliffs plunge all the way to the water, leaving no roads, hiking trails, or bike paths around the lake.

There’s plenty to see and experience along the way. The first stop, St. Bartholomä, is about 35 minutes away by boat. Visit the world-famous Baroque pilgrimage church and enjoy a relaxing break at the historic restaurant. Right next door, the Königssee fisherman serves freshly smoked fish.

An easy and varied loop trail takes you through the forest and across the Eisbach creek before returning to the boat dock in about 45 minutes. Depending on the season, you can also hike from St. Bartholomä to the former Eiskapelle (Ice Chapel), the lowest-lying permanent snowfield in the German Alps at the foot of the Watzmann East Face. Even though the Ice Chapel has unfortunately collapsed, the round-trip hike to the site takes about two and a half hours and is still well worth it.

Salet, the second stop on Königssee, is served only from Easter through mid-October and is another 20-minute boat ride from St. Bartholomä. From here, it’s about a ten-minute walk to idyllic Lake Obersee, followed by another hour to picturesque Fischunkelalm at the far end of the lake. During the summer months, you can enjoy refreshing drinks and light Bavarian snacks here.

If you still have energy to spare, continue for about 30 minutes to the Röthbach waterfall, Germany’s highest waterfall, with a drop of 380 meters. On your way back to the boat dock, stop for a bite to eat at Saletalm, traditionally run by two local farming families, or at the Salet restaurant.

The St. Bartholomä and Salet stops, along with the request-only Kessel stop, are starting points for challenging alpine hikes into the Berchtesgaden Alps. Routes lead to destinations such as Gotzenalm, Wasseralm, Kühroint, Watzmannhaus via the exposed Rinnkendlsteig, and Steinernes Meer. Because of the distances involved, some routes require an overnight stay in a mountain hut.

Since Lake Königssee lies within the national park, all water sports are prohibited except swimming. During the summer, rowboats are available to rent.