Osterseen (Easter Lakes) and other Munich, Germany Off The Beaten Path Tips

If you want to go on a long walk or hike in a beautiful lake and peat landscape with a view on the Alps then chose the Osterseen. These lakes are located at the southern tip of the “Starnberger See” (Lake Starnberg). The area is declared as a nature preserve and excellent for bird watching. If you go on a sunny week day you will not meet too many people. If in summer also swimming is allowed in some areas of the many lakes. The landscape changes between lake shorelines, beautiful mixed forests, peat and reed areas and rolling meadows. The area is also nice to take a blanket, a good book and some picnic food to spend a day in the sun, just chilling.

The main parking area for hikes, walks and strolls around the lakes is west of the village of Iffeldorf. Take the car on Highway A-95 to the exist of Iffeldorf and follow the signs to this village.

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Website: http://www.ganz-muenchen.de/freizeitfitness/baden/see/ostersee_osterseen/ueberblick.html

The best known public swimming area at the lake of Stanberg is the village of Kempfenhausen, just one mile east of the town of Starnberg. However, in summer this area is often crowded with people and the lake floor is muddy. Due to the many people the water is stirred up and appears muddy also. Therefore the central eastern shores of lake Starnberg offer much nicer places to relax, picnic, and swimm. Pepply beaches with clear turquoise water and nice waterfront cafes and fish restaurants can be found everywhere on the central eastern shore of lake Starnberg. Especially around the village of Ambach swimming is good.

You need a bike or car to get there. E.G. you can take the S-Bahn 6 to Starnberg and then take your bike down the path on the eastern side of the lake until you find a nice spot. If you arrive by car park in one of the above mentioned villages. For map details on the eastern shore of lake Starnberg look at www.stadtplan.de and investiagte the area south of Starnberg.

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Website: http://www.erholungsflaechenverein.de/erhgeb/ambach/b_amba.htm

The north western shore of the Ammersee (lake) offers a beautiful path for walking and some nice swimming places with public piers and docs. Especially around the village of Schondorf you can find nice swimming places. Directly on the lake just south of Schondorf (actually between Schondorf and Utting) is a wonderful lake side beer garden where they have good grilled fish, corn on the cob and typical beer garden food like Brezn, saussages, grilled meat and of course liters of Bavarian beer. The name of the beer garden is “Alte Villa” and most people strolling along the lake side path will know it. This area is not frequented by tourists and very tranquil.

You can take S-4 and exit at “Geltendorf”. From there take the regional train (direction of Weilheim) to Schondorf. Trains run every 20 minutes. Otherwise take a car and drive to this village (Schondorf), where you can easily find parking.

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Website: http://www.alte-villa-utting.de/index.html?anzeige=impressum.html

Only a 10 minute walk from the S-Bahn station (S-train, S-5) Wessling you can find the Wesslinger See (Lake Wessling). This lake is very small, but very scenic. You can cross it swimming in maybe half and hour. The northern side of the lake has some meadows for picnicing and sun bathing an a small kiosk selling refreshments, ice-cream, drinks, saussages, cakes and salads. This place is a good place for families and nice to spend a day in the sun.

From the S-Bahn station of Wessling cross the main road at the station to the other side and walk into the little street where there is a “Schlcker” drugstore and a bakery at the corner. Walk up the slight hill and then take the first road to the right. You will arrive in a street with waterfront houses and find a small footpath to the lake.

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The Wörthsee (lake) is a beautiful lake with alpine panorama in the south and many nice swimming spots along the shore. If you walk or run around the lake it is about 12 kilometers. You cannot surround the lake fully on walking paths – sometimes you will have to walk alongside a road, but the tiny villages scattered along the lake, where the air smells like cows and farming and the houses in old Bavarian style a worth the asphlt walking.

Take the S-Bahn (S-train) number 5 to Steinebach. Along the waterfront of Steinebach are some beautiful lakeside homes of modern architects. You can also drive to Steinebach by car – there is a public parking lot west of the small town. Look at www.stadtplan.de for detailed driving directions from Munich. Search for Steinebach.

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