Chiemsee cycle path

The sporty Chiemsee cycle path circles the Chiemsee over 54 kilometres on a good surface. It is one of the most beautiful cycle paths in Bavaria, if not Germany, with numerous viewpoints of the Chiemsee islands, the Alpine panorama and the Bavarian Alpine foothills.

The Chiemsee cycle path circles 54 kilometres of the "Bavarian Sea", Germany's second largest inland lake with an area of 80 square kilometres. The Chiemsee cycle path is ideal for normal to sporty cyclists and e-bikers. The route leads along country lanes, tarmac cycle paths and side roads and can be travelled on standard touring bikes. At 159 metres in altitude, the cycle route only has a few slight inclines.

Why the Chiemsee cycle route is worthwhile:

• It alternates between panoramic sections on roads with little traffic and numerous bathing spots
• Several landing stages offer the opportunity to visit the Herreninsel with the famous Herrenchiemsee Castle and the Fraueninsel.
• The route passes nine villages with numerous places to stop for refreshments and is well signposted in both directions.
• The impressive lake and Alpine panorama accompanies cyclists on the entire circular tour.
• It is better surfaced than the more leisurely Chiemsee circular route, which we recommend for leisure and family cyclists.

Our tip: Ideal combinations with the Chiemsee circular route

The Chiemsee Ringlinie is a regular bus service that transports cyclists and their bikes around Lake Chiemsee from the end of May to mid-October.

The Chiemsee circuit is a particularly busy tour in summer. It is recommended to cycle the route in spring or autumn or, as a slower leisure cyclist or family cyclist, to choose the "Chiemsee Rundweg" foot and cycle path. An alternative tour suggestion would be the 16-lake circuit by bike, which also includes numerous bathing spots around the Eggstätt-Hemhofer lake district along the way.

Further paths along the water are listed here.

The trail is signposted in both directions and cyclists can start from anywhere. The route circles the Bavarian Sea.

Here we describe the tour from the Chiemsee Info Centre in Bernau/Felden in a clockwise direction:

• At the Felden lido(sights: Chiemsee boat trip to Herreninsel and Fraueninsel, viewing tower at Irschener Winkel) northwards towards Prien past the Schöllkopf lido, Schramlbad and the Prien climbing forest to Prien-Stock.

• From Prien (sights: Prienavera, heimatMuseum, Chiemsee railway, Chiemsee boat trip to Herreninsel and Fraueninsel), the route continues towards Rimsting via Osternach and Westernach. The rest area on the Kapellenberg near Hochstätt offers a marvellous view of Lake Chiemsee and the Alps. The route continues along the shortest route to Breitbrunn.

• Passing the Breitbrunn town hall, you reach the village of Gollenshausen via a quiet side route through the wonderful Chiemgau cultural landscape.

• The route continues to Seebruck (sights: Spa gardens with observation tower, Roman museum, Chiemsee boat trip to Herreninsel and Fraueninsel). A detour to the Seeon Lakes nature reserve with its monastery complex is well worthwhile.

• With the Alpine chain in view, the route now heads south towards Chieming (sights: barrier-free viewing platform, Chiemsee boat trip to Herreninsel and Fraueninsel). In Stötthamer Straße, turn left into Fuchsengasserl in the direction of Oberhochstätt. From the Venusberg you can enjoy a marvellous view of the Tiroler Ache river and mountains.

• On the onward journey to Grabenstätt, the tour takes you past the nature observation tower in Hirschauer Bucht. There you have a marvellous view of the Achendelta. In the village of Grabenstätt itself, you will find several sights: St John's Church with frescoes, the Roman Museum, a worthwhile detour to Lake Tüttensee with its lido, the Chiemgau-Impakt event. At the end of the village, turn off in the direction of Achentalbrücke.

• Continue along the straight cycle path to Übersee-Feldwies (sights: Künstlerhaus Exter, Übersee lido, Chiemsee boat trip to Herreninsel and Fraueninsel) and along the A8 motorway back to Bernau/Felden.

• In Übersee/Feldwies there is an alternative route via the Westerbuchberg (watch out for the 18% gradient) and via the Moor and Peat Museum.

• The route with a gradient leads over the Osterbuchberg and the Chiemseemoor to Bernau and then back to the starting point in Felden.