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Voykit pocket guide · Germany
Spitzingsee
Spitzingsee is a half-day or full-day trip from Munich, not a base: go for the lake walk and winter skiing, then return to Schliersee or Munich for the night.
Spitzingsee is a small alpine lake and hamlet in Upper Bavaria, 1 hour from Munich by car or train+bus. It is a popular day-trip for swimming, hiking and skiing. The village has a handful of hotels and guesthouses, but most visitors come for the lake and the slopes, not to stay overnight.
- Country
- Germany
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (hiking, swimming); Dec–Mar (skiing)
- Avoid
- Nov (many lifts closed, weather unsettled)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Card acceptance has improved but some bakeries, bars and small restaurants are still cash only.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–50 (day-trip, no accommodation) · Mid €80–150 (including a night in a guesthouse) · High €200+ (hotel, dinner, ski pass) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US devices need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.; Bar and café: Round up to the nearest euro.; Taxi: Round up by €1–2.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night, optional.; Free walking tour: €10–15 per person.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Restaurants usually sell bottled water; fizzy (mit Kohlensäure) is the default, ask for 'still' or 'ohne'.
- Toilets
- Station toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers; the 'WC' at motorway rest stops takes coins and gives a voucher.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee and cake at Klausenhütte | €8–12 |
| Main dish at a lakeside restaurant | €12–20 |
| Ski pass (day, winter) | €45–55 |
| Bus Schliersee–Spitzingsee single | €3 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MUC · Munich Airport
- About 1.5 h by car or train+bus
Typical fares
- Munich Hbf → Schliersee (BOB train)
- about €12 single, 50 min (check)
- Schliersee → Spitzingsee (bus 360/361)
- about €3 single, 10 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
On foot around the lake (about 2 km (1.2 mi)). Bikes can be rented in Schliersee. In winter, ski lifts and a free ski bus operate.On foot around the lake (about 1.2 mi (2 km)). Bikes can be rented in Schliersee. In winter, ski lifts and a free ski bus operate.
See and do
Known for
- Spitzingsee lake
- Skiing in winter
- St. Bernard Parish Church (Germany's highest parish church)
- Klausenhütte café
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Schliersee | Bus 360/361, 10 min | 15 min |
| Munich | Bus to Schliersee, then BOB train, about 1 h 15 min | 1.5 h |
| Tegernsee | Bus to Schliersee, then train to Tegernsee, about 30 min | 45 min |
Sleep
- Spitzingsee lakeside
- A few hotels and guesthouses; quiet, but limited dining and services.
- Schliersee
- 5 km (3.1 mi) away, more accommodation and restaurants; bus connection.3.1 mi (5 km) away, more accommodation and restaurants; bus connection.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hallohah-loh |
| Thank you | Dankedahn-keh |
| How much is it? | Wie viel kostet das?vee feel koss-tet dahs |
| Where is the bus stop? | Wo ist die Bushaltestelle?voh ist dee boos-hahl-teh-shteh-leh |
| One ticket to Spitzingsee, please | Ein Ticket nach Spitzingsee, bitteine tik-ket nahkh shpit-zing-zay, bit-teh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; 'Guten Tag' or 'Hallo'; avoid: Hugs with people you have just met
- Names: Herr / Frau plus surname until invited to use first names; avoid: Using 'du' with officials or older strangers
- Punctuality: Arrive on time for tours, dinners and appointments; avoid: Being more than 5–10 minutes late without a message
- Queues and rules: Follow signs, wait at red lights, sort rubbish; avoid: Walking in cycle lanes
- Conversation: Direct and factual; people say what they mean; avoid: Taking directness as rudeness, or joking about the Nazi era
- Home visit: Bring flowers (odd number, not red roses) or wine; shoes off if the hosts do; avoid: Arriving early
- Paying: Say the total including tip as you pay; avoid: Leaving coins on the table and walking off
Scams and watch-outs
- No direct train: take the BOB (Bayerische Oberlandbahn) to Schliersee, then bus 360 or 361 to Spitzingsee.
- Last bus from Spitzingsee to Schliersee is around 20:00; check the schedule.
- Parking fills up by 10:00 on sunny weekends and ski days.
- Ski lift opening hours vary; check the official site.
Spitzingsee is very safe. The main risks are slippery paths in winter and sunburn at altitude in summer. Ski slopes are marked; stay on marked runs.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Spitzingsee yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Spitzingsee lake
- Skiing in winter
- St. Bernard Parish Church (Germany's highest parish church)
- Klausenhütte café
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Spitzingsee, revision 4960038 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4960038
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/spitzingsee). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.