Three great bike rides from Munich to Bavarian lakes

In the summer of 2020 we showed you how to pedal from Munich to the region’s best swimming lakes. Five years on, the answer remains the same: Wörthsee, Lake Starnberg and the Langwieder lake chain are the three rides that still deliver the most. One is turquoise and calm, the second brims with culture, the third sits right on the city’s edge. We’ve ridden the routes again and tell you what to expect today.

Munich is still spoiled with nature right on its doorstep. You don’t need to fly south to find water that rivals the Mediterranean. A day trip by bike is all it takes. We’ve ridden our three favourite routes again, checked the distances and brought the key stops up to date. Pack a towel, sunscreen and a small snack; the rest will fall into place along the way.

Lake Wörthsee: turquoise waters, short trip

Sun, sand and palm trees lure us on holiday every year. While palms would struggle to survive a Bavarian winter, Lake Wörthsee still offers a touch of the Mediterranean. That’s thanks to the crystal-clear, turquoise water for which the lake in the Five Lakes region is famous. If you prefer warm to icy, you’re in the right place: in high summer the water temperature climbs to 26 °C, measured continuously by the Starnberg district office. Three long bathing jetties invite you to dive straight into the deep.

You can swim at several easily accessible spots around Steinebach, Walchstadt and Auing. In Steinebach there are two lidos, one at Seehaus Raabe and one by the Augustiner am Wörthsee brewery, both with lawns for sunbathing, boat hire and food and drink. If you’d rather avoid the lido, you’ll also find freely accessible shoreline sections.

Getting there: Lake Wörthsee is only about 25 km from Munich; at a leisurely cycling pace you’ll be there in roughly two and a half hours. If you don’t fancy cycling back after your swim, simply hop on the S8 towards Munich and alight at Steinebach station.

You don’t need to fly south to find turquoise water. Lake Wörthsee is just a bike ride away from the city.

Lake Starnberg: the classic with culture

Lake Starnberg is probably the best-known lake in the Munich area and one of the most beautiful. It’s ideal for anyone who wants more than just a day on the beach, because there’s plenty to see and do on and around the lake. We recommend a drink with a lake view at the North Baths Tutzing restaurant, which is open in all weathers, and a trip by wooden barge to the Isle of Roses.

The Isle of Roses is the only island on Lake Starnberg and can only be reached by Zille, the region’s flat wooden boats. They depart from the Bell Pier at Feldafing and run from May to mid-October, in May between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. and from 10 a.m. in high season. Two things to note: Mondays see reduced ferry services, and in the rain no Zille will sail. So plan your island visit for a sunny day.

Getting there: The prettiest route takes you through the Würm valley, past Pasing City Park and along the River Würm. Roughly 25 km of green scenery, for which you should allow about two hours. The same applies here: if you only want to cycle one way, take the S-Bahn back.

Langwieder Lakes: spontaneous and close to the city

Finally, a tip for spontaneous planners. You don’t even need to leave the city to go swimming, because Munich itself has some lovely bathing spots. We recommend the Langwieder Lakes in the west of the city, a 120-hectare recreation area opened in 2000. It comprises Lake Langwieder, Lake Luß and Lake Birkensee, each with its own character.

Lake Langwieder is the oldest of the three and sits right beside the A8 towards Stuttgart. It offers rowing-boat hire, mini-golf and a beer garden. Lake Luß was created at the end of the 1990s from a gravel pit and has wide lawns for sunbathing. The smaller Lake Birkensee lies to the north and is officially designated as an FKK area-good to know before you wonder why there’s no one around. Water quality is good, and there’s a kiosk plus beach-volleyball courts.

Getting there: West Munich residents are there fastest. But even from the city centre you can usually cycle there in under an hour. If you arrive by S-Bahn, alight at Lochhausen, from where a shuttle bus runs to the lakes when the weather’s fine.

How to Make the Most of Your Lake Tour

Three routes, three personalities: Lake Wörth is the serene beauty with the clearest water, Lake Starnberg the classic with culture and gastronomy, and the Langwieder lake district the spontaneous choice when the weather forecast suddenly changes. None of the tours require a racing bike or professional fitness. A standard trekking bike is enough, and if the return trip feels like too much, the S-Bahn will take you back.

If you want to make it more athletic, you can also read the lake tours as training sessions. On the sister site InspiredBySports explains how DACH outdoor athletes in 2026 switch from gravel bikes to touring formats-great inspiration if your day trip turns into a multi-day adventure.

And if Munich’s summer demands even more from you: in our summer bucket list we’ve gathered the activities you shouldn’t miss this year. When winter rolls around again, we’ll show you the five best tobogganing routes around Munich-the surrounding area offers year-round excursions.