For a lake reached by U-Bahn, take the U2 to Messestadt Ost for Riemer See. For shade and a lakeside walk, take the S1 to Fasanerie. Feringasee in Unterföhring and Heimstettener See near Feldkirchen are outside the city and have separate county rules and water-quality notices. Check the latest results and signs before getting in. Munich bathing lakes and Munich county bathing-water quality
Updated
For me a lake trip is a different day from a dip in the Isar. I want somewhere to put down a picnic, a stretch to walk around and a way home that doesn’t depend on finding a parking space. Some of these feel like neighbourhood lakes. Feringasee is the one where I can almost forget how far Munich is from the sea.
Riemer See for the U2 and a marked beach
From Messestadt Ost, walk south to Riemer Park. The lake has an east-side pebble beach and a promenade on the north shore. The city restricts swimming to marked spots and lists a ramp with handrails. Check which bathing area is open before you go. Official tourism directions and Riemer See access and water results
I’d go to Riemer See when I want the simplest U-Bahn trip. Pick the promenade if someone in your group wants a walk rather than a swim. The pebble beach is a different proposition from the sand at Feringasee. If the swimming area is closed or it’s too cold, there is still space to spend time in the park.
Which lake should you choose in northwest Munich?
- Fasaneriesee for a shaded walk and a picnic. The S1 stops at Fasanerie. The lake has broad lawns, a shaded circuit and some shallow shore sections. Use the signed barbecue area if you bring a grill. City Fasaneriesee guide and official tourism directions
- Lerchenauer See for a neighbourhood lake and playground. The city lists a large playground, lawns and a small barbecue area. Use Lerchenauer See as your destination in the journey planner for the latest bus options. City Lerchenauer See guide
- Feldmochinger See for the east-shore playground or a bathing ramp. Take bus 172 from Feldmoching to Feldmochinger See and check the times for your day. The city lists an accessible water entry and a designated naturist section on the southwest shore. City Feldmochinger See guide and MVV route timetable
The three northwest lakes are known as the Dreiseenplatte. They feel quite different even though they are close together. At Lerchenauer See you still see housing from the water. It was the least like a holiday spot to me, but I liked it for a quieter evening and a sunset. The water gets deep in places. Use the shore and playground if you’re with children rather than treating the whole lake as a shallow beach.
At Fasaneriesee I’d bring a picnic and leave room for a game. There were always people with a ball or a frisbee on the grass when the weather was good. This is the one I’d suggest if half the group wants to sit in shade and the other half wants to do something. Feldmochinger See is the biggest of the three and feels farther out of town. Decide which shore you want before setting off. I think of the east shore for a stop with children, and the other side for more space and a longer walk. The facilities are spread around the lake.
Which lakes just outside Munich are worth a trip?
Feringasee. Come for the sandy shore and beach volleyball, with a walk from Unterföhring S-Bahn station. Check the county’s page for the latest swimming and access details. Munich visitor directions · County Feringasee guidance
Heimstettener See. Take the S2 to Feldkirchen for the lake east of Munich. The north side has a playground and accessible toilet. The county issued swimming advice after detecting blue-green algae in August 2026. Check the county page and notices at the lake before deciding whether to go in. S-Bahn bathing lakes guide, county Heimstettener See guide and August 2026 county notice
Feringasee was our favourite because it felt like a little piece of Bali. I remember lounging near the water with palms and music at the beach club. If you’ve missed the beach, this is where I’d go, even if the water feels a bit too frisch for a long swim. The lakeside operator treats the beach club as seasonal and weather dependent, so look before planning a day around it. The railway’s lake directions use the S8 to Unterföhring. Check your MVV journey if you don’t want to walk from the station.
I’d choose Heimstettener See instead for a quieter outing east of the city, particularly if the north-side playground matters more to your family than a beach club. Make a walk or a picnic your backup plan. The county publishes different advice for each lake, and a good day at one doesn’t say anything about the water at the other.
What should you check before swimming?
Check the current bathing guidance and read the signs when you arrive. A water-quality result describes the sample taken that day. Watch children closely, follow the lake’s marked areas and check the rescue station’s hours if you are relying on it. Follow winter signs and stay off natural lake ice. For more options farther from Munich, see our Bavarian lakes guide. Munich lake guidance, county bathing-water results and Munich winter advice
