Lakes in Germany - The Seven Most Beautiful Swimming Lakes in the Federal Republic

Chiemsee, located in Bavaria, attracts many visitors not only in the warm summer months. The third-largest lake in Germany is a true paradise for sailors. But rowers and pedal boaters can also enjoy their sport while taking in the mountain panorama.

Around the lake, there is also a scenic walkway that leads along the lake's most beautiful spots.

Did you know? The lakes in Germany are some of the cleanest waters in Europe. This is confirmed by the results of the European Environment Agency (EEA), which examines thousands of water samples annually and sets minimum standards for water bodies.

97 percent of all tested German lakes meet these standards, and almost 90 percent received top ratings. Thus, the lakes are even cleaner than the popular coastal waters. A relaxing vacation by the lake with the whole family is therefore without obstruction.

Located in the heart of Schleswig-Holstein, Großer Plöner See covers 28 km² and is one of the ten largest lakes in Germany. In this northern state, you can spend not only a day at the Baltic or North Sea but also in the recreational area in Plön.

By the way, there are other beautiful lakes in Schleswig-Holstein, such as Ratzeburger See, which belongs to the Mecklenburg Lake District.

The Müritz is part of the Mecklenburg Lake District in the north.

Paddle through the nature reserve in a canoe or explore the diverse region by bike: Hardly any other region in Germany offers such varied landscapes and more species than the approximately 107 lakes belonging to Müritz National Park.

Popular excursion destinations are the many small towns located around the lake. The largest town is Waren, one of the most picturesque villages is Buchholz.

In the heart of the Black Forest lies Schluchsee, one of the clearest lakes in all of Germany. The reservoir is the largest lake in the vacation region and has developed into a water sports center in recent years.

On an 18-kilometer circular path, you can walk around the lake and discover the health resort of the same name. Due to its altitude, Schluchsee is also refreshingly cool in summer. This, combined with a variety of easily accessible bays, makes it one of the most popular lakes in Germany.

Eight kilometers north of the Berlin city limits, you can hardly feel the hustle and bustle of the big city anymore. Liepnitzsee is a popular destination for Berliners and Brandenburgers on warm summer days. It belongs to the Wandlitz lake area and is one of the cleanest lakes in Brandenburg.

In the middle of the lake lies the 34-hectare island Großer Werder, which can be reached by ferry. Besides a large swimming area with sandy beach, there are more unofficial swimming bays along the northern shore.

Crystal clear water and breathtaking mountain panoramas are offered by Walchensee. This deepest alpine lake is located 75 kilometers south of Munich amid the Bavarian Pre-Alps.

Despite its alpine location, a mild climate prevails here due to the location in a valley and a relatively low mountain range. However, the water temperature rarely rises above 20 degrees Celsius. If that's too cold for you, you can explore the lake from a paddle boat.

Germany has many beautiful lakes and swimming lakes. From north to south and east to west, locals and foreign vacationers find wonderful opportunities to cool off or engage in water sports.

Whether with impressive mountain panoramas or in flatlands, German swimming lakes score high with very good water quality. Jump in and test the cool water for yourself.