Discover Chiemgau: Lake Chiemsee, cycling trails and culture
Accommodation in Chiemgau
Chiemgau offers a wide range of experiences: Lake Chiemsee, with its islands and boat trips, shapes the holiday, while cycling and hiking, museums and mountain experiences invite you to choose your own focus. Families travelling with children can find hands-on activities at the Stone Age Garden. So when looking for a holiday apartment, start with a simple question: should Lake Chiemsee, outdoor activities, culture or the Hochfelln be the main focus of your trip?
Make Lake Chiemsee and its islands the focus of your holiday
Lake Chiemsee is the hallmark of Chiemgau. Its historic islands and wide range of leisure activities attract visitors of all ages. Chiemsee boat services connect key places along the lakeshore—including Prien, Gstadt, Seebruck and Chieming—with Herreninsel and Fraueninsel. If you want to make the lake and its islands the centre of your trip, these places and connections can guide your holiday plans. There is one specific restriction for kayaks and canoes on Lake Chiemsee: they should not venture more than 300 metres from the shore.
Island history and insights into the history of the Earth
Herrenchiemsee Palace is one of the most important sights in Chiemgau. The Baroque monastery building on Herreninsel also houses several exhibitions today. These sights offer different points of interest for a culture-focused holiday, without the palace and exhibitions being combined into a single experience.
Another way to explore history is at the MammutMuseum Siegsdorf, which presents 250 million years of Southeast Bavaria’s geological history. Topics include the fundamentals of geology, the diversity of fossils, the giants of the Ice Age and the world of the Stone Age. The Stone Age Garden is next to the museum. There, children can polish stones, bake stick bread and make crafts from natural materials. Together, the museum and garden combine insights into the history of the Earth with practical activities for children.
Cycling, hiking and exploring the Hochfelln
If you like to spend your holiday cycling, Chiemgau has around 1,400 kilometres of well-signposted cycling trails. There are also 20 themed cycling tours and almost 600 kilometres of mountain bike trails. These figures represent different ways to cycle: when planning your trip, you can choose a themed tour or make mountain biking a focus in its own right.
There is a specific selection of hikes, too: Chiemgau has seven premium trails, and their number is growing. The Hochfelln offers another mountain experience. The ski tour leads up the Hochfelln, which is considered Chiemgau’s panoramic terrace. The Hochfelln cable car reaches the summit in two stages and provides access to the geological trail and the Tabor Chapel. This means your holiday plans can include hiking trails, a ski tour, and access to the geological trail and chapel as distinct mountain experiences.
Traditions throughout the year
Traditional events in Chiemgau include the Georgiritt horse procession at Easter and the raising of the maypole. The Leonhardiritt takes place in November, while summer brings traditional costume festivals and parades. If you would like to discover regional traditions alongside nature and museum visits, you can include these events as a distinct part of your travel plans.
When looking for a holiday apartment in Chiemgau, let your personal holiday priorities guide your choice. This way, you can focus your search on the experiences that matter most to your trip.
More destinations: Aschaffenburg, Inn-Salzach, Landshut, Erding, Allgäu, Dachau, Neu-Ulm, Tegernsee.
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