Stunning Lakes In Europe We’ve Visited
There are plenty of lists on the internet telling you about the “best lakes in Europe.” This isn’t one of them. These are 10 lakes we have actually visited. Some were planned trips, some were discoveries along the way, and a few ended up being much better than we expected.
And while all of them are beautiful, they are definitely not equal in our eyes. Some are worth travelling halfway across Europe for, some are perfect for a relaxed weekend, and some are the kind of places where you arrive, look at the view and immediately understand why you came.
So, in no particular scientific order, here are our favourite lakes in Europe so far.
Lake Bled, Slovenia
The one that actually looks like the photos
Lake Bled is probably the most obvious choice on this list. And normally, when somewhere is this famous, I expect to arrive and think, “Well… Instagram definitely exaggerated this.” Not here. Lake Bled really is that beautiful.
You have the little island sitting in the middle of the emerald-green lake, the church on the island, mountains in the background and Bled Castle looking down from the hill. It almost feels suspiciously perfect. We spent time walking around the lake and exploring the area, but one of the more fun ways to see the scenery was from above, including while coming down the Rodelbahn. Suddenly you realise there are about five different ways of getting a great view of the same lake.
Of course, you can take a traditional boat out to the island, but honestly, even if you do nothing except walk around the lake, stop for photos and find something good to eat, Bled is worth the trip. For us, this is probably still number one on the list. It’s beautiful without needing much effort from you. You don’t have to hike for three hours to find the view; you just arrive and the scenery does the work.
Kerið Crater Lake, Iceland
The lake that looks like it belongs on another planet
Kerið is completely different from the alpine lakes on this list. There are no dramatic lakeside villages or little boats heading towards an island. Instead, there is a volcanic crater, and at the bottom of it is this surprisingly colourful lake.
The red and orange volcanic rock around the bright blue-green water makes the whole place look slightly unreal. Standing at the top and looking down, we genuinely had the feeling that this was somewhere on another planet. Maybe Mars.
We loved Kerið mainly because it was so different from anything else we’d seen. You expect Iceland to be dramatic, but this is a completely different kind of landscape from the waterfalls, glaciers and black beaches you normally associate with the country.
Hallstatt, Austria
Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, we’d still go.
Hallstatt is one of those places you’ve probably already seen hundreds of times without ever visiting. The little houses, the church, the mountains and the lake reflecting everything back at you. And somehow, when you finally stand there yourself, it still works.
Hallstatt is one of our absolute favourites. The scenery around Hallstätter See is spectacular, but what makes the place more interesting is that there is actually quite a lot to do around it. One of our favourite surprises was the salt mine. Hallstatt has an incredible salt-mining history going back thousands of years, so there is much more to the place than walking around taking postcard photos.
That said, we wouldn’t pretend it is some secret hidden village. It is popular for a reason, and depending on when you visit, you will definitely notice the crowds. But if you can work around that, Hallstatt is still one of those places that sticks in your memory. Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s busy. But when the lake is calm and the mountains are reflected in the water, you understand why everyone wants to see it.
Lake Bohinj, Slovenia
The quieter cousin of Lake Bled
If you visit Slovenia, chances are Lake Bled will be on your list. It should be. But don’t stop there. Lake Bohinj is where things get a little quieter.
Bohinj feels less like a place you are ticking off your sightseeing list and more like somewhere you could spend the day without having a plan.
If you have time for only one lake in Slovenia, we’d still probably choose Bled. But if you have more time, go to Bohinj. It’s the kind of place where you don’t feel like you have to constantly be doing something.
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Where you stop counting the waterfalls
Technically, Plitvice isn’t one lake. It is a huge collection of turquoise lakes connected by waterfalls, streams and cascades. And that makes walking around the park slightly dangerous for your schedule, because every few minutes you think, “Okay, this must be the best view.” Then you turn a corner and there’s another one.
The wooden walkways take you right through the landscape, so you’re not just looking at the lakes from a distance. You’re constantly moving through them, with the scenery changing around you. We visited Plitvice during our honeymoon, which probably makes the place even more memorable for us, but even without that connection, it would still be one of the most impressive natural landscapes we’ve visited.
Eibsee, Germany
The lake beneath Germany’s highest mountain
Eibsee is one of those places that made us appreciate how much incredible scenery there is surprisingly close to home. The lake sits right at the foot of the Zugspitze, and the combination of the mountain, forest and incredibly clear water makes it look almost tropical on a good day.
We actually stayed at Hotel Das Badersee, right next to the lake, and that made the experience even better. There is something special about waking up somewhere and realising that the scenery you would normally spend an entire day travelling to see is literally outside your hotel.
We visited in winter, and the snow added another completely different dimension to the landscape. The same lake that looks turquoise and almost Caribbean-like in summer becomes much more dramatic when everything around it is covered in snow.
Wolfgangsee, Austria
Save this one for autumn
Wolfgangsee is beautiful throughout the year, but if you ask us when we’d recommend going, the answer is easy: autumn.
The combination of the lake, Austrian villages, mountains and autumn colours is something else. It’s the kind of place where you don’t necessarily need a packed itinerary. Take a boat, walk around one of the villages, stop for coffee, look at the mountains and do absolutely nothing for a while. That’s kind of the point.
Wolfgangsee has a very different atmosphere from somewhere like Hallstatt. It feels less like you’re visiting a famous landmark and more like you’re spending time in a beautiful part of Austria. We loved that about it.
Königssee & Obersee
Two lakes, one very good day
Königssee is often mentioned when people talk about the most beautiful lakes in Germany, and we understand why. The mountains rise almost vertically around the deep green water, giving the lake a completely different feeling from the wide-open alpine lakes elsewhere.
And then there is Obersee. After exploring Königssee, you can continue towards Obersee and suddenly things become even quieter. Obersee feels tucked away from everything. It’s the kind of place where you stop talking for a minute because you don’t want to disturb the scenery.
Walchensee, Germany
The Bavarian lake that doesn’t look real
Walchensee is one of those places where the first thing you notice is the colour of the water. It’s so turquoise that your first instinct is to assume someone has edited the photo.
We didn’t.
The lake really can look like that.
Surrounded by mountains, Walchensee is also a great option if you want something more active. You can hike, swim, explore the surrounding area or simply find somewhere to sit and enjoy the view. And because it is in Bavaria, it’s particularly easy to visit if you’re based around Munich.
Tristacher See, Austria
The little lake we didn’t expect much from
Not every lake on this list is famous, and that’s exactly why we wanted to include Tristacher See. Tucked away in East Tyrol, this lake doesn’t have the international fame of Bled, Hallstatt or Königssee, which is actually part of its appeal.
The water is incredibly green, mountains surround the lake and the whole place feels much more relaxed. We could actually slow down here. Swim, sit around, enjoy the scenery and not feel like we had to rush around trying to see every “must-see” viewpoint.
Sometimes that’s exactly what you want from a lake.
It felt like a genuine hidden gem, and there is something particularly satisfying about finding a beautiful place that doesn’t feel like you’ve arrived at a tourist attraction. If you’re travelling around East Tyrol, we’d definitely put this one on the list.
So, which is actually our favourite?
If you force us to choose, Lake Bled probably takes the top spot. The combination of the island, mountains, water and overall atmosphere is hard to beat.
Hallstatt would be a very close second. Yes, it’s popular and yes, it can be crowded, but when the lake is calm and the mountains are reflected in the water, you understand why it has become so famous.
And then there is Plitvice Lakes, which isn’t technically one lake but is probably one of the most memorable landscapes on this list.
Of course, the answer changes depending on what we’re looking for. For peace and quiet, we’d choose Lake Bohinj. For a winter trip, Eibsee. For autumn, Wolfgangsee. For hiking and outdoor activities, Walchensee. For dramatic scenery, Königssee and Obersee. For something completely different, Kerið.
Which one should we visit next?
All of the places in this article are based on our own trips and experiences. We’ll keep adding to this list as we discover more.