📷 Photo by Aleksei Tertychnyi on UnsplashGroßer Arbersee
Bayerisch Eisenstein, Germany
A dark glacial lake with floating bog islands below the Großer Arber, the highest peak of the Bavarian Forest. An easy path circles the shore in under an hour.
The Großer Arbersee lies at 935 m at the foot of the Großer Arber (around 1,456 m) and, at about 8 ha, is a small mountain lake. It is one of three cirque lakes in the Bavarian Forest and up to 16 m deep. A floating bog mat grows along the shore: it is attached to the bank but has no firm connection to the lake bed. The floating moss islands with spruce trees, by contrast, are on the neighbouring Kleiner Arbersee. According to Wikivoyage, the Großer Arbersee is the most visited lake in the region, with around half a million visitors a year.
A well-made path runs around the lake; allow about 30 to 35 minutes for the circuit of roughly 1.5 to 1.7 km. If you want more, you can hike up to the summit of the Arber. There is a car park at the lake, for which a fee is charged.
- Nearest town
- Bayerisch Eisenstein, Germany
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 49.1117, 13.1436
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Germany: No motorway tolls for cars. No general motorway speed limit (130 km/h advised) and no tolls for cars.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Autocamp Železná RudaCampsite8 km from Großer ArberseeTentsCaravansDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- TröpplkellerCampsite12 km from Großer ArberseeTentsCaravansElectricityShowersToiletsDogs allowed
- Zwiesel GrenzlandfestplatzMotorhome stopover13 km from Großer Arbersee · 12 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Adventure Camp SchnitzmühleCampsite17 km from Großer ArberseeTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Camping HöllensteinseeCampsite20 km from Großer ArberseeTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Knaus Campingpark ViechtachCampsite21 km from Großer ArberseeTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
All campsites in Germany · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Großer Arbersee?
Großer Arbersee is in Bayerisch Eisenstein, Germany, at GPS 49.1117, 13.1436. It is about 6 km from Bodenmais.
Can you camp near Großer Arbersee?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Reisemobilstellplatz Bodenmais, about 6 km away; within 25 km there are 33 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Großer Arbersee?
Großer Arbersee is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Bavarian Forest: from Passau to Regensburg and Stone Bridge, glassworks and primeval forest peaks – by motorhome from Regensburg down the Danube and through the Bavarian Forest.
What is there to see near Großer Arbersee?
Places worth a stop nearby: Čertovo Lake (8 km), Bavarian Forest Tree Top Walk (35 km), Walhalla (68 km) and St Bartholomew’s Cathedral (73 km).
When is the best time to visit Großer Arbersee?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)