Bavarian Oberland: lakes, gorges and Ludwig’s Linderhof
A monastery brewery, two alpine lakes, the Partnach Gorge and Eibsee below the Zugspitze, then a rococo church and a royal palace.
- Distance
- 204 km (127 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 49 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 9
- Countries
- Germany
- Updated
- June 22, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 204 km (127 mi) with 9 stops, from Munich to Füssen. About 2 h 49 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Germany
Route description
From Munich head south-west to Andechs, about 45 km, where the Holy Mountain abbey stands above the Ammersee. Then drive south by Weilheim and Murnau to Kochel am See. Here the Kesselberg road climbs in tight bends to the Walchensee, a big, clear lake at 800 m. The Kesselberg has a reputation with motorcyclists, so drive carefully on weekends; the lay-bys at Urfeld are the best place to stop.
Follow the lake shore south and join the B11 to Wallgau and Mittenwald, a violin-making town with painted houses under the Karwendel wall. Then take the B2 to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Park at the Olympic ski stadium and walk to the Partnach Gorge, about an hour for the round trip. It is open all year, but in winter parts may close after heavy frost or rockfall.
West of Garmisch, a side road climbs from Grainau to the Eibsee, a green lake below the Zugspitze. Walk the 7 km path around it early, before the car park fills. Then drive to Ettal Abbey and turn west into the Graswang valley for Linderhof, the one palace Ludwig II saw finished. The road is narrow but fine for motorhomes, with a large paid car park.
Drive back past Ettal to Oberammergau and follow country roads west by Saulgrub and Wildsteig to the Wieskirche, a white-and-gold pilgrimage church in open meadows. The last stretch to Füssen, about 25 km, passes Steingaden. This loop works from May to October; the gorges are dramatic in snowmelt, and the lakes are warm enough to swim in July and August. Expect heavy traffic around Garmisch on summer weekends.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Munich
Germany - 243 km
Andechs Abbey
HistoryAndechs, GermanyA Benedictine pilgrimage church on a hill above the Ammersee, with a rococo interior and a monastery brewery known across Bavaria. Park in the paid car park below and walk up the steep lane.
- 354 km
Walchensee at Urfeld
NatureKochel am See, GermanyOne of Germany’s deepest and clearest alpine lakes, reached over the Kesselberg road from Kochel. Urfeld has a beach and lay-bys on the shore; the Herzogstand cable car at Walchensee village gives the view from above.
- 423 km
Mittenwald
Germany - 514 km
Partnach Gorge
NatureGarmisch-Partenkirchen, GermanyA narrow limestone gorge with a path cut through tunnels and galleries above roaring water. Park at the Olympic ski stadium and walk 25 minutes to the fee entrance; open all year, with icicles in winter.
- 614 km
Eibsee
NatureGrainau, GermanyA green lake with small islands at the foot of the Zugspitze wall. A 7 km path circles the shore; the large paid car park also serves the Zugspitze cable car and fills early on sunny days.
- 716 km
Linderhof Palace
HistoryEttal, GermanyThe smallest of Ludwig II’s palaces and the only one he saw finished, set in formal gardens in the quiet Graswang valley. Palace tours are timed; the artificial Venus Grotto in the park reopened in 2025 after restoration.
- 816 km
Wieskirche
HistorySteingaden, GermanyA UNESCO-listed rococo pilgrimage church standing alone in meadows, with a bright white-and-gold interior by the Zimmermann brothers. Entry is free; there is a paid car park beside the church.
- 924 km
Füssen
Germany
FAQs
How long is Bavarian Oberland: lakes, gorges and Ludwig’s Linderhof?
4-day road trip of about 204 km (127 mi) with 9 stops, from Munich to Füssen. About 2 h 49 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Bavarian Oberland: lakes, gorges and Ludwig’s Linderhof?
We suggest 4 days: about 2 h 49 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Bavarian Oberland: lakes, gorges and Ludwig’s Linderhof start and end?
It starts in Munich and ends in Füssen.
Which countries does Bavarian Oberland: lakes, gorges and Ludwig’s Linderhof pass through?
Germany.
