Eibsee is one of the most photogenic lakes in the Bavarian Alps, nestled right at the foot of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak. Its emerald-green, crystal-clear water and eight scattered islands create a view that takes your breath away in any season.

The lake formed when the Isar-Loisach glacier retreated at the end of the last ice age, and its jagged shape, dotted with islands and shallows, comes from a massive rockslide that thundered down from the Zugspitze in the Bronze Age. In summer the water invites swimming and paddling, while in winter the surface often freezes over, framed by snow-capped peaks for a truly alpine scene. An easy walking trail circles the entire shoreline, offering fresh views from every angle.

How to get there

• Grainau/Eibsee — parking by the lake, circular trail around the shore, approx. 2 hours, easy
• Seilbahn Zugspitze or Bayerische Zugspitzbahn cable railways — both routes to the Zugspitze summit offer views down onto the lake

Practical information

• The lake is privately owned and lies within a protected landscape area
• Fishing season runs from 1 May to 31 October, with pike, trout, whitefish, carp and other species
• In recent years the site has struggled with overtourism, especially on sunny days

The lake takes its name from the yew trees (Eibe) that once grew abundantly along its shores. Civil wedding ceremonies used to be held on tiny Maximiliansinsel, reachable only by rowboat.