Well, I was with 3 other cycling friends, and we rode this route and then continued along other routes in Austria. So if you want to see some of the best sights in Bavaria, consider this route.
Interested in cycling the Bodensee to Königsee Route across Bavaria?
Use this helpful guide to the Bodensee to Königssee bike route to plan your trip.
Distance – total distance is 410 km (255 km) from Bodensee to Königssee across Bavaria
Difficulty – varied terrain with hilly sections
Surface – the entire route is on bicycle paths and local roads on both paved and gravel sections
Best suited for – long-distance bicycle touring
Germany’s Bodensee to Königssee bike route is one of those undiscovered gems you sometimes find in Europe, and the best way to see southern Bavaria. The 410 km (255 miles) Bodensee to Königssee bicycle route is a signed route that travels across southern Germany from Lake Constance (Bodensee) near the Austrian and Swiss border to Königssee National Park in Berchtesgaden near Salzburg.
Highlights of the Bodensee to Königssee Bike Route
Lindau – historic harbor on Lake Constance
Schwangau – fairytale castles
Wies – famous church, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Benediktbeuern – church
Bad Tolz – spa town along the Isar River
Tegernsee – resort area on a scenic lake
Chiemsee – the largest lake in Germany, an island palace copied after Versailles
Berchtesgaden – a town in the mountains, salt mine tour
Konigssee – National Park in the mountains
Cycling from Lindau to Schwangau
Lindau
I started the route in Lindau, where it connects with the Lake Constance cycle route (Bodensee) and is part of the Rhine Route. In fact, some call this route the Lake Constance-Konigsee cycle path. You may wish to ride to some of the lakeside towns before starting and see attractions such as the nearby Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen.
This route runs parallel to the German Alpine Road, a drive that is one of the oldest tourist routes in the country.
Lindau is a town that deserves a day to explore before you even start. When I started on the Bodensee Konigsee cycle route, I was riding through the wooded Allgau region from Lindau-Oberstaufen.
I continued the Bodensee to Konigsee Route along the shores of the Alpsee Lake and other small lakes near Immenstadt, with great views. Later, I also passed the much larger Lake Forggensee. One of the next towns is Bad Kohlgrub, a small ski resort with breathtaking scenery.
Fussen
Then it is into the foothills of the Alps, and you approach Fussen with its castle overlooking the center of the city.
Schwangau
However, I continued on the bike route beside the River Lech to Schwangau and spent a few nights. In the early morning, I cycled a short distance to get my tickets for Schloss Hohenschwangau and Schloss Neuschwanstein.
The English language tour must be completed in that order, and visiting both of these fairy tale castles built by King Ludwig II is well worth it. To see both of the picture-book Neuschwanstein Castles, you will first see Hohenschwangau, and then you will have enough time to hike down and then back up to the other castle. There is an outdoor cafe near the entrance of Neuschwanstein if you arrive early.
After the tour, I cycled nearby and took the Tegelberg cable car to the top for great views of the Ammergau Alps while having a beer and watching the hang gliders take off. There are also excellent hiking trails at the top.
An optional side trip is to the church at Wies, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just ride north on a section of the Romantic Road Cycle Route to get there.
Cycling from Schwangau to Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Leaving Schwangau, I was also on a section of the Romantic Road Bicycle Route, and then it was over flat terrain with the Alps on my right. On our ride, I encountered a beer festival in Halblech right along the bike path.
Insider Tip: We took a short side trip along a local bicycle path to lovely Garmisch-Partenkirchen, surrounded by mountains and with a pedestrian-friendly main street, and worth stopping for a night or two. A typical Bavarian town where we took a rest day to explore.
Cycling from Garmisch to Bad Tölz
Continuing from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which is located south of Munich, the local bike trail here is a paved path separate from the road and fairly flat, which I followed a short distance to get back to the Bodensee to Konigsee bike route. I soon went into the hilly country of Bavaria with dense forests, and this section had a lot of gravel and dirt roads, so it was a bit slower with our loaded bicycles.
Benediktbeuren
Very special was when, approaching the quaint village of Benediktbeuren I heard music in the distance, and as I was traveling in late September, I discovered a beer garden in full swing right beside the Benedictine Monastery. Guided tours in Germany are available at the monastery to see the basilica and chapel. They will do English-guided tours for groups only when arranged in advance.
Of course, we stopped as had numerous other cyclists. It was tough cycling to our next overnight stop, which we had reserved in advance.
Bad Tolz
The next major town on the bike tour was Bad Tölz, an overnight stop, which is an interesting spa town along the Isar River. The historic town center has shops and restaurants, which are located on the side of a hill and are worth a stroll. There is a connection here with the Isar River cycle route.
Cycling from Bad Tolz to Fischbachau
Tegernsee
The next day turned out to be very rugged with numerous steep hills through a forested area. What made the going tough was that the route in this section is gravel until Lake Tegernsee.
Tegernsee is a lakeside resort town with paved bicycle trails going in every direction, and it provided us with a wonderful lunch stop with views of the mountains and the lake. On the far side of the lake, our ride took us through a resort area.
Fischbachau
Off again up a large hill and down the other side, we soon were cycling along the lakeside paved bicycle paths of the Schliersee. I arrived in the small town of Fischbachau, which makes a great stop to stop for the night, although there are only a few restaurants and hotels.
While I had reservations at a small local hotel late late-arriving cyclists could not find accommodation and had to move on to the next town. Too bad as this was a nice village to visit.
Cycling from Fischbachau to Chiemsee
The next day was minor roads at first, but mainly paved bicycle paths for most of the journey, and it was not as hilly as some of the previous days. I traveled through small villages via gaps in the mountains before reaching the resort area of Bernau on Lake Chiemsee, the largest lake in Germany.
Chiemsee
There is a bicycle path around the entire lake, should you wish to spend a few days as we did. Also, consider taking the ferry to the island of Herrenchiemsee to see the palace built by King Ludwig II and modeled after Versailles. Another ferry ride takes you to Frauenchiemsee, a charming fishing village with plenty of restaurants and art galleries.
For dinner, I stopped at one of the many restaurants along the shore. One of our group even went to Chiemsee for a refreshing dip.
Cycling from Chiemsee to Königssee
The last stage of the Bodensee-Konigssee bike path is a long stretch, and yes, the hills are back in a big way, but also skirting the marshes of Bergener Moos and going through towns such as Teisendorf. Continuing along the Bodensee Route, you soon get into this hilly section near Traunstein
Bad Reichenhall
I followed the Saalach River for a while and continued to Bad Reichenhall near the German-Austrian border. The Tauern bicycle route from Salzburg joins in the town center, along with a few others, such as the Mozart Route.
Note: at this point, you can cycle directly to nearby Salzburg while we take the Tauern cycle route, which loops around Zell am See and goes through a valley that passes hilltop fortresses, massive caves, and sites from the Sound to Music to Salzburg. It ends further north, where it connects with the Danube Cycle Route.
Berchtesgaden
Immediately leaving the town, I started to climb a mountain as the bicycle trail meandered through the forest, becoming steep at times, until I reached the highest point on the route. I stopped near the top to admire the alpine meadows and high mountains. One of our group members had her bicycle fall on her as the kickstand did not work on the slope. Despite the bruises, we continued.
After a long climb, it is an amazing all-downhill ride to Berchtesgaden. Enjoy the ride! If you are a history buff, you may wish to check out the Eagle’s Nest of WWII fame.
Recommended option: If you have time, take the salt mine tour where you are dressed in black suits with leather seats and take an underground railway. There are slides, which is why you have leather pants and underground lakes along the tour route. They also talk about salt production.
Konigssee
I reached the end of the route and stayed in nearby Schönau, which is a short walk from the picturesque Lake Königssee. Take a cruise on the lake or take a hike around the shore. Accommodation in this area can be tough to find, so reservations should be considered.
The 8 km boat trip (recommended) takes about 2 hours if you don’t get off at the far end or visit the famous pilgrimage church of St. Bartholomäurch, otherwise, allow about 4 hours.
Accommodations
Booking.com – excellent choices of hotels of all sizes
Expedia has a large selection of accommodations along the route, as does HostelWorld and VRBO.
Also consider travel insurance from Safety Wing.
FAQs: Bodensee Konigssee Cycle Route
How long is the Bodensee to Königssee Bike Route?
The route is 410 km (255 miles) and crosses southern Bavaria in Germany. It runs parallel to the German Alpine Road driving route.
Is the Bodensee to Königssee Bike Route paved?
It is mainly paved bicycle paths and local roads, but there are some sections with dirt roads and gravel surfaces.
Where does the Bodensee Konigssee cycling route start and end?
The cycling route starts in Lindau, Germany, on Lake Constance (Bodensee) and goes to Königssee National Park near Salzburg and the Austrian border.
Best time to ride the Bodensee Königssee route?
Go in May/June and September/October to avoid summer crowds and to find accommodation. Some festivals along the route in September.
Bodensee to Konigssee Bike Route Map
I used the Bikeline Bodensee-Konigssee Radweg, which is published in German, but I found the detailed maps easy to follow. Also, the German tourist office has great information on cycling on its website.
Looking for more information on cycling in Germany?
If you’re planning a bike trip to Germany and looking for more information, consider reading some of our other posts:
- Cycling the Rhine River Valley is a popular route that connects with this one at Lindau
- Also, the Tauern Bike Route through Austria connects with this route
- At Fussen, the Romantic Road Cycle Path joins with this route for a few kilometers
- Cycling around the Bodensee, is a good choice before or after riding this route
- The Salzkammergut cycle route starts in Salzburg, near the end of this route
- Starting in Germany and heading into Austria is the Danube Bike Path
Wrap-up: Germany’s Bodensee to Königssee Bike Route
With mountain scenery, a variety of terrain, lakes, quaint villages, and a well-signed route, we enjoyed our ride across Bavaria. Considering your next European Bike Routes, the little-known Bodensee to Königssee Bike Route (Radweg) provides a wonderful tour of Bavaria.
