Chiemsee (Lake): Islands, Nature and Culture

At Chiemsee, protected natural areas, island destinations and activities on the water come together. When choosing accommodation for your stay, it is worth deciding first what you want to focus on: Would you like to experience the landscape around the lake, visit islands, discover culture or get active on the water yourself? The available paths and boat connections offer different starting points for planning, without implying any particular location for your accommodation.

The lake and its protected natural areas

At 84 square kilometres, Chiemsee is Bavaria’s largest lake and is protected under the international Ramsar Convention. The delta of the Tiroler Ache at its mouth into the lake is a special natural area: its mudflats have been a protected refuge for many endangered waterbirds and wading birds since 1954. This is a specific point of interest for travellers who would like to consider Chiemsee’s natural landscape alongside its islands.

The Chiemsee circular walking and cycling route goes around the lake. It is different from the walking path around Herreninsel: this route is just over seven kilometres long and circles the 240-hectare island. Both routes offer a way to combine your stay with some exercise; the details describe different routes and should not be taken to mean they are one and the same.

Islands, architecture and history

On Fraueninsel, buildings from different centuries stand side by side. The Marienmünster is a three-aisled basilica; its ambulatory vaults contain Romanesque frescoes dating from 1150. The Carolingian gate hall dates from the 9th century. Together, the two buildings provide a specific reason to take in both architecture and the site’s long history during a visit to the island.

Frauenchiemsee remains a place of pilgrimage. The remains of Blessed Irmengard, the first abbess known by name, rest in the minster. Frauenchiemsee has also been one of Europe’s oldest artists’ colonies since 1828. The Benedictine monastery is known for its many monastic liqueurs and sweet marzipan. These religious, artistic and culinary connections add to the island’s appeal without prescribing a particular itinerary.

By boat and on the water

The Chiemsee boat service connects Herreninsel and Fraueninsel with the mainland all year round; timetables may vary. The East Island Tour includes a walk around the island and visits to the minster, the gate hall and the thousand-year-old lime tree. Some departures are available only seasonally. If you are planning this tour, check the timetable and the departures scheduled for your travel dates in advance.

At Chiemsee, activities include sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, kitesurfing, windsurfing, kayaking and canoeing, as well as hiring electric boats. Activities and availability may vary depending on the provider and location around the lake. If watersports are an important part of your stay, take these differences into account when planning rather than assuming the same options are available along every stretch of shore.

Choose the focus of your stay

To make your decision, weigh up the experiences you would like to have: the circular walking and cycling route goes around the lake, the walking path circles Herreninsel, and boat services provide year-round connections between the islands and the mainland. On Fraueninsel, the Marienmünster, gate hall, pilgrimage tradition and artists’ colony offer additional cultural points of interest. Consider which of these themes matters most to you, then look for accommodation that suits your stay at Chiemsee.

More destinations: Aschau Im Chiemgau, Feldkirchen-Westerham, Prien Am Chiemsee, Riedering, Bad Aibling, Nußdorf Am Inn, Bad Feilnbach, Gstadt Am Chiemsee.

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