If you're planning a trip to Bavaria and considering staying near Lake Chiemsee, you might be wondering what there actually is to do in the area-and whether it's a good base for exploring.
After spending a full week there with my family during our five-week trip to Germany, I can say that Chiemsee is one of the best places to stay if you want a mix of nature, culture, and easy day trips to places like Salzburg and Munich.
What to expect at Lake Chiemsee
I'm originally from Germany (near Stuttgart), and although I now live in the United States, I return often-and Bavaria has always been my favorite region to visit. Between the mountains, the lakes, the food, and the slower pace, it offers such a special experience, especially for families.
In this post, I'll share the best day trips from Chiemsee, what we loved most during our stay, where to shop for authentic German clothing, and practical travel tips from a local perspective-including what it's really like to visit a traditional German thermal bath.
Jump to:
- What to expect at Lake Chiemsee
- Why Stay Near Chiemsee?
- Farm Stay
- Exploring Chiemsee: What to Do at the Lake
- Salzburg Day Trip from from Chiemsee
- Will you Need a Car at Lake Chimesee
- More Family Fun Near Lake Chimesee
- What to Eat at Lake Chimesee
- Shopping near Lake Chimesee
- When is the best time to visit Lake Chimesee
- Check out my Favorite Day Trip
- Zugspitze
- All about Germany
Why Stay Near Chiemsee?
We stayed at Bernau am Chimesee, and it was a great base. We found a nice Airbnb that was on a horsefarm. We could walk into town for shopping, bakeries, and food. One the of the reasons we loved being there was that it was not very tourism heavy, and it was calm and quiet.
It was part of being local, and we could walk and take a short 5 min ride to lake Chimesee. The reason this is a great place is because of the location. We planned day trips, and stayed in a remote Baverian style home. We had a day trip to Salzburg, a day to shop for german traditional dirndls, a day to explore neighboring towns, some historic day trips like the Eagels Nest and Berchtesgarden, a day to relax at a thermal bath which our kids loved, and of course some Gondel rides up high peaks.
Farm Stay
We loved Staying Here, this Airbnb was clean, and very Family Friendly
📍: Bernau am Chiemsee
💲 $$
⭐️ 4-star
Exploring Chiemsee: What to Do at the Lake
We spent a full day exploring the islands on Lake Chiemsee, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. Visiting both Herreninsel and Fraueninsel is absolutely worth it, and each island offers a very different experience.
Visiting Herreninsel and Herrenchiemsee Palace
We started our day on Herreninsel, which I think was the best way to do it. From the ferry, you can either walk to the palace or catch a ride. We chose to walk, but if you're traveling with little ones, I highly recommend bringing a stroller-it made a big difference for us.
The walk itself is beautiful, and once you arrive at Herrenchiemsee Palace, it truly feels impressive and grand. There is also a cafe and restaurant where you can sit down, have coffee, and enjoy traditional German cakes like Käsekuchen (German cheesecake) or Black Forest cake. You can easily spend a few relaxed hours here.
Why Fraueninsel Was Our Favorite
After Herreninsel, we took the ferry to Fraueninsel-and this ended up being our favorite stop of the day.
Fraueninsel has such a charming, relaxed atmosphere. There are small shops to browse, lovely restaurants, and even playgrounds, which made it especially fun for our kids. It felt more personal and lively compared to Herreninsel.
One of the highlights was the food. My husband had freshly smoked fish straight from the lake, and it was incredible. If you visit, definitely try a fish sandwich or smoked fish-it's one of those simple but memorable experiences.
A Tip for Families (Don't Skip This!)
Before boarding the ferry to the islands, we discovered a nice playground near the departure area. Our kids loved it, and it made the whole experience so much smoother.
If you're traveling with kids, I highly recommend arriving a bit early so they can play before getting on the boat.
Biking Around Lake Chiemsee
Another day, we rented bikes and rode around Lake Chiemsee-and it was such a fun and relaxing experience.
We rented bikes for about four hours and made our way along the lake, stopping along the way to enjoy the views. The paths are beautiful and very family-friendly. The cost was also very minimal.
During our ride, we came across a small fish shop where we picked up freshly caught and smoked fish from the lake. It was such a simple but special moment.
That evening, we returned to the lake, let the kids play at the playground, and enjoyed the peaceful scenery. It ended up being the perfect place for a relaxed picnic and one of those moments you just don't rush.
Salzburg Day Trip from from Chiemsee
One of my favorite Days during our 5 week vacation was the car ride drive to Salzburg. Salzburg has one of the most amazing children museums, very different from what we are used to in America. Our girls could have spend hours in that museum.
We also made sure to check off all the traditional things to do in Salzburg. We of course had original Mozart Kugeln, went to see Mozarts House. We also made sure to get Salzburg Nockerl, which is traditional to Salzburg, and a sweet thats worth the experience.
Lastly, we also stumbled upon one of the most delicious street foods called : Bosnai, it's a Balkan Sausage, in a sandwich and it's the best lunch to grab hands down.
Will you Need a Car at Lake Chimesee
Growing up in Stuttgart, I was used to a Germany without a car, but with great public transportation. However, when visiting more remote places in Germany, I would suggest renting a car. THERE IS MUCH TO SEE and much of the public transportation is not as frequent as it would be in a city.
More Family Fun Near Lake Chimesee
One thing many Americans may not realize is that Germany has many mineral baths and bathhouses. They are a big part of German culture. Usually, you pay an admission fee for the day, and many of them are very family-friendly.
During our stay at Lake Chiemsee, we visited a mineral bath that had a wave pool, play areas, and a large outdoor section. One of the best parts is that many of these places also have heated outdoor pools during the winter, which makes the experience feel extra special.
One thing to keep in mind: always check whether there are adults-only sections, especially in sauna areas. In Germany, this often means that nudity is allowed or expected. When traveling with children, it's helpful to be aware of this ahead of time.
What to Eat at Lake Chimesee
There are many wonderful places to eat around Lake Chiemsee. While it is a popular vacation destination for Germans, it is not as touristy as places like Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Zugspitze. Because of that, many of the restaurants feel more authentic, and in my experience, the more remote the restaurant, the better the food usually is.
Make sure to try Germknodel, this is a German Dumpling, usually with a fruit filling, topped with a vanilla sauce and poppyseed.
Lake Chiemsee is also known for its smoked fish, and we realized that there is also a Michelin recommendet seafood place.
Of course, we also loved all of the bakeries. Almost every morning, we would go into town and pick up fresh German pretzels and pastries to enjoy for breakfast.
Shopping near Lake Chimesee
If I had to compare buying traditional German Clothing between Garmisch Patenkirchen, and Lake Chimesee, I would recommend buying your Dirndl or Lederhosen at Lake Chimesee. Once you enter into the tourist spots, the prices are much much higher.
While we found some very high end trachent stores (this is normal), they also had great sales. A hand made dirndl can range from 200$-1000$ and even more. I ended up buying 2 of my Dirndls, that were on sale for 275$ at Trachten Speckbacher which was absolutely an amazing experience.. If I would have waited to buy my dresses near Garmish, I would have had to spend much more. You can also find many amazing second hand stores (we found some in Berchtesgaden) where you can buy many cheap second hand Trachent Gear.
When is the best time to visit Lake Chimesee
We arrived in early June, which was perfect since German schools were still in session and summer vacation had not yet begun. While Lake Chiemsee is a popular destination, most of the visitors were German tourists rather than international travelers. Visiting in early June made for a very quiet and relaxing experience. The only time we encountered significant crowds was during our trip up to Eagle's Nest.
Check out my Favorite Day Trip
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Zugspitze
My Favorite Experience in Germany
Yes. Public Transportation is not as frequent as it is in the cities. With a car, we were able to take 30 min day trips. There is much to do around.
Check out Local Mineral Baths, and also local Tobogganing. You can go hiking, biking, and also do many winter sports.
The whole process took about 5-6 hours. This included waiting for the bus, walking the tunnel, and enjoying the scenic view. We also had lunch on the mountain top.
