The Ultimate Guide to Lake Königssee in Germany+ Secret Infinity Pool

Lake Königssee is one of the most beautiful lakes in Germany, if not in Europe. It is for those who want to experience nature at its peak and enjoy hiking on well-marked trails. 

In fact, the word Königssee means “king’s lake,” and it truly is a natural kingdom. This lake is one of Germany’s most popular destinations because of how picturesque and beautiful it is. 

We have made a complete guide to help you plan your trip and get the best out of it. So if you are ready to have one of the most amazing experiences in your life, read on!

How to Get to Lake Königssee and Where to Park

Since Lake Königssee is very close to Berchtesgaden, it is best to get to the lake from Munich or Salzburg. Here is how to reach the lake from both cities:

• Lake Königssee From Salzburg

Salzburg is the faster option to reach Lake Königssee. If you take a bus, it will take around one hour and twenty minutes to reach. However, you will need to change the bus only once. 

Firstly, you will take bus no. 840 from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden. Once you reach Berchtesgaden, you need to take bus no. 841 to the lake. If bus no. 841 is full or not available, you can take bus no. 842, but it has some more stops.

The bus ticket costs €7,10, one way only. 

However, if you are renting a car, it will take you even less time. The distance from Salzburg to the lake is around 30 kilometers, which will take you about 40 minutes by car. Also, cars use the same routes as buses, so you will enjoy the beautiful scenery throughout the way to Lake Königssee.

• Lake Königssee From Munich 

Reaching from Munich is a bit longer than from Salzburg. However, the trip is straightforward, and you will get to enjoy a lot more scenic routes that you shouldn’t miss. 

If you don’t have a car, you will need to take a train and a bus to reach the lake. First, you will need to book a train ticket from Munich to Königssee Seelände, Schönau am Königssee. Note that you will change your train for another train at Freilassing or Salzburg. 

Once you reach the town of Berchtesgaden, you will take bus no.841 to Lake Königssee, which will only take 10 minutes. You can take bus no.842, but it will take 20 minutes to reach the lake. 

The entire trip will take around 3 hours and 20 minutes. 

We recommend buying the Bayern Ticket, which is the cheapest option. It will cover all the buses and trains that you need for the whole day. 

However, if you are renting a car, the trip will be even easier for you. It will take you only around 1h 45m along the A8 road. You will also enjoy a lot more flexibility. Note that some rental car companies charge more money if you cross country lines. In this case, you will drive through Austria, so you might be charged more. 

For parking, there is a car park called Königssee Parkplatz (coordinates: 47.591012, 12.987959), which costs €5 for 24 hours.

The Best Time to Visit Lake Königssee

Lake Königssee is very beautiful and mesmerizing all year long. However, the best and most popular time to visit is the summer. The weather is warm and sunny, which will give you a lot more flexibility to move around easily and comfortably. 

The only downside of the summertime is that you will find many other people visiting it with you. But, it isn’t too bad. 

What can you do at Königssee Lake?

Here is a list of the things we enjoyed most at Lake Königssee:

• Boat trip

The best thing to do at Lake Königssee is taking a boat ride. It is such a wonderful experience to float on top of that crystal-clear water and watch all the fantastic scenery around you. 

You should never miss the magical moment when your tour guide plays the trumpet to hear the echo coming back 7 times from the rocks. It is something you will never forget. 

There are only two stops for the electric boats on lake Königssee, which are St. Bartholomä and Lake Obersee.

The trip takes about 35 minutes to reach St. Bartholomä. And, if you decide to continue to Lake Obersee, it will take 20 more minutes. 

A new boat departs almost every 30 minutes, so don’t worry about missing it! 

Here is a timetable for the boat trips in 2021:

For the prices, here is a detailed price list of the boat trips:

Luckily, the tickets are free for any kids below 5 years old. You can book your ticket from here. All you have to do is print the ticket at home and bring it with you to the boat dock. 

Once you reach Bartholomä, do not forget to take a small hike to the ice chapel (Eiskapelle).

This natural glacier cave is one of the most beautiful things you will see on your trip. First, however, you will need to call Königssee Tourist Info to check if the trail is accessible or not. 

• Hike to Obersee Lake  

Once your boat reaches Salet, the final stop, you should definitely take a hike to lake Obersee. It is a small hike to reach the lake, and the view is totally worth it. 

In fact, this lake used to be a part of Lake Königssee until a massive landslide separated them apart. Because of this natural barrier, the water in this lake is so clear that it makes boats look like they’re floating in the air. 

After enjoying the beauty of the lake, you might feel a bit hungry, and you should grab lunch at the Fischunkelalm hut. They sell mouth-watering homemade sausages along with fresh milk (Buttermilch). 

• Jennerbahn Cable Car

Another thing you should never miss is taking a ride in the Jennerbahn cable car. 

From 1,874 meters above the ground, you can get a spectacular view of the entire Lake Königssee, the Alps mountains, and winter ski runs. 

The cable car station has recently been redesigned and upgraded. The cabins now are spacious enough for 10 people instead of 2-4. Moreover, it is now even accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. 

The station also has a restaurant, a bar, storage lockers, a sports shop, and a fantastic open-air terrace. 

Working time: From 9 AM to 6 PM all year long (except for late fall and spring, it closes at 5 PM)

Price: Adults: 27.50€ – Kids: 11€ (This price is for a full round trip)

• Hike to the Hidden Pool of Königssee Lake

If you are adventurous and a pro hiker, then you should definitely hike to the hidden pool of Königssee. It is a natural pool right on the edge of a waterfall where you can swim and feel the waterfall flowing underneath you. 

We will discuss it in more detail later in this article.

Be really careful when you try the infinity pool – it is a little slippery and dangerous

Secret Pool Near Lake Königssee and How to Get There

This natural infinity pool at Königssee is located on top of a waterfall. The pool is 400 meters above the ground, and it attracts a lot of people to bathe in it and take amazing pictures. 

To get there, you will need to go on the first trail, which is called Malerwinkel. This is the easiest part of the journey, and it will only take you 20 minutes to finish. You can find bright yellow signs along the trail to help you out along your hike. 

Once you are done with the first trail, you will continue with the Rabenstein trail. It is steeper than the first trail, and it will take you around 30 minutes to finish. 

Then, you will start with the most challenging and most dangerous part of your hike. You will find signs warning that this is not a maintained trail, so you need to be extremely careful. 

In this abandoned trail, you will have to pass over some giant rocks and tree branches. Moreover, the path will keep getting narrower and narrower until it is wide enough for only one person. Once you reach the waterfall stream, then you have arrived at your secret destination. 

Keep in mind that this pool is hazardous, and some people died trying to swim in it. So, do not attempt to go there or swim in the pool unless you are a professional hiker who knows what they are doing. 

If you are not experienced enough to take that wild hike, you can hike to Röthbach waterfall instead, which is the highest waterfall in Germany. The only way to get there is by taking one of the electric boats at the lake to Salet and hiking from there. 

Disclaimer: Keep in mind that the hike is not a maintained trail. It is risky, especially when it is raining. So, you need to be extremely careful and do not attempt this hike without proper hiking shoes.

Where to Stay Near Lake Königssee

If you are going to stay for a few days to get the full experience, then you should stay at one of the hotels nearby. 

We highly recommend staying at one of these two hotels: Edelweiss Berchtesgaden and Alm- & Wellnesshotel Alpenhof.  Both hotels are very close to the lake, and they have very comfortable and affordable rooms. 

However, if you are a large group or traveling with your family, you should book an apartment instead. This is the best-reviewed apartment near the lake: Design Ferienwohnung Königssee.

Tips for the Visit

Here are some tips to get the most out of your trip:

• Go Early 

We highly recommend starting your day trip as early as possible while it is quiet and calm. If you go early, you will not find many people, and you will get to enjoy yourself a lot more. 

Going early will also help you avoid long, boring lines, especially for the bus back to Berchtesgaden.

• Don’t Miss the Last Boat 

The last boat leaves at around 4 PM. So, make sure to keep that in mind, so you won’t miss it. 

• Wear Hiking Shoes 

If you are going for a hike, then you should invest in some good hiking shoes. The trails are full of rocks and branches, so you need your shoes to be as comfortable and durable as possible. 

• Check These Important Links 

The following links are handy to help you plan your trip:

• Official Königssee website
• Berchtesgaden National Park 
• Boat trip timetable 
• Boat trip newest price list 

Final Thoughts about Lake Königssee

Visiting Lake Königssee should totally be the next thing on your bucket list. It will help you relax, reconnect with nature, refill your energy, and a lot more. 

Make sure to use our guide to make your trip as seamless and fun as possible!