a grassy hill with trees and a house on it
a grassy field with trees and mountains in the background
a road leading to a house on a hill with trees and mountains in the background
a body of water with boats and a building by it
a forest of trees and clouds
Photo by Liviu C. on Unsplash

Holiday in Achensee

Lake in Austria — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇦🇹

Country

Austria

Type

Lake

Best time to travel

June to September for hiking and water sports, December to March for cross-country skiing and skiing

Budget/day

120-180 € (3-star hotel with half board, boat trip, mountain railway)

Getting there from Germany

By car, about 1.5 hours from Munich via the A13/Inntalautobahn, exit Jenbach. By train to Jenbach, then Achensee Railway or bus to the lake.

About Achensee

Achensee is the largest lake in Tyrol and is rightly referred to as the "Sea of the Tyroleans." Nestled between the Karwendel Mountains and the Brandenberger Alps, the fjord-like lake extends over 900 meters in altitude and impresses with its bright turquoise water, which achieves remarkable clarity in summer. For German vacationers, Achensee is a dream destination that can be reached in just a few hours by car from Munich, yet still conveys a sense of complete seclusion. The region offers a diverse activity program: In summer, hiking trails of all difficulty levels lure through the Karwendel Nature Park, mountain biking trails with breathtaking panoramas, and water sports such as sailing, surfing, and stand-up paddling on the crystal-clear lake. The historic Achensee Railway, a steam-powered cog railway from 1889, connects Jenbach in the Inn Valley with the lakeshore and is an attraction in itself. In winter, the region transforms into a cross-country skiing and winter hiking paradise, while the nearby ski areas Christlum and Rofan offer family-friendly slopes. The five towns by the lake – Achenkirch, Maurach, Pertisau, Steinberg, and Wiesing – combine Tyrolean coziness with modern infrastructure. Numerous alpine huts serve hearty Tyrolean cuisine with a view of the mountain panorama, and the Atoll Achensee adventure spa provides entertainment even in rainy weather. Achensee is the perfect place for those who love both mountains and water.

Safety
100
Nature
95
Relaxation
85
Families
85
Adventure
80

Top 5 highlights in Achensee

The places you absolutely must not miss.

1

Karwendel Nature Park

Austria's largest nature park with untouched mountain landscapes, golden eagles, and over 300 km of hiking trails directly by the lake

2

Achensee Boat Trip

Relaxing round trips on the turquoise lake with historic ships and views of the surrounding peaks

3

Achensee Railway

Steam-powered cog railway from 1889, which chugs up from the Inn Valley to the lakeshore as a technical monument

4

Rofan Cable Car & Airrofan

Panorama gondola to the Rofan with spectacular sky glider flight over the mountain world and climbing routes

5

Atoll Achensee

Modern adventure spa with indoor and outdoor pools, sauna landscape, and direct lake access

Hotels in Achensee

Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.

Über 700.000 Hotels
Kostenlose Stornierung
Bestpreis-Garantie
Hotels in Achensee vergleichen

* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.

Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen

Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie

Best time to travel for Achensee

Recommended travel time

June to September for hiking and water sports, December to March for cross-country skiing and skiing

Summer

Pleasantly warm with 20-25°C, water temperature up to 22°C in midsummer, occasional thunderstorms in the afternoons

Winter

Cold with -5 to 5°C, often sunny due to the sheltered location, reliable snow conditions from December

How much does a holiday in Achensee cost?

Average costs per person per day

🎒

Budget

60-80 € (holiday apartment, self-catering, free hiking trails)

Hostel, Street food, Public transport

🏨

Mid-range

120-180 € (3-star hotel with half board, boat trip, mountain railway)

Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions

🌟

Luxury

250-400 € (4-star wellness hotel, spa treatments, gourmet dinner)

Boutique hotel, Fine dining

Book a package holiday to Achensee

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5 travel tips for Achensee

Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.

The Achensee Experience Card offers free mountain railways, boat trips, and buses – it pays off after just 2 days

Don't forget the vignette for Austrian motorways (10-day vignette can be purchased online)

The Gaisalm is the only alpine hut in Austria that can only be reached on foot or by boat – definitely worth a visit

In the early morning at the lake, the water is calmest – ideal for stand-up paddling and swimming

In the Karwendel Nature Park, head to the Falkenmoosalm: stunning views and excellent Kaiserschmarrn

Food & drink in Achensee

These specialties you must try!

Tiroler Gröstl – fried potatoes with beef, onions, and fried egg
Kaiserschmarrn – fluffy torn pancake with plum compote in the alpine hut
Kaspressknödel – hearty cheese dumplings in rich beef broth
Tiroler Schlutzkrapfen – crescent-shaped dumplings filled with spinach and cheese
Zillertaler Krapfen – crispy baked dumplings filled with potato and grey cheese
Suitable for:lakemountainstyrolhikingwater sportsfamily vacationnature parkcross-country skiingmountain bikingwellness

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