Ostallgäu: Mountains, Forggensee and Culture
Accommodation in Ostallgäu
Ostallgäu combines alpine scenery, lake experiences and culture. In the southwest, the mountains in the district are part of the Vilser Gebirge; in the southeast, they belong to the Ammergebirge. At 2,082 metres, Hochplatte is the highest mountain in Ostallgäu. Forggensee, hiking and cycling activities, and the royal castles offer a variety of highlights. When planning your trip, you can start by considering whether mountain scenery, water, outdoor activities or culture should take up the most of your time.
Routes for active days
The Ostallgäu Cycling Travel Region includes regional routes throughout Ostallgäu. Each is 25 to 76 kilometres long, consistently signposted and dedicated to its own theme. For hiking, Ostallgäu has 32 local routes that showcase special natural and local treasures. The two offerings have different focuses: the cycling routes are themed and spread across the region, while the hiking routes draw attention to nature and local areas. The Forggensee circular cycling route is another option for planning a bike ride: it leads around Forggensee. This lets you decide whether you are looking for a themed route, a hike through nature and local areas, or a ride around the lake.
Forggensee as a destination in its own right
At more than 15 km², Forggensee is Bavaria’s fifth-largest lake and Germany’s largest reservoir. In addition to the circular cycling route, Forggensee boat trips are a seasonal offering: regular tours run during the summer season. This gives you two different options to plan around the lake: a bike ride and a boat trip. If you are planning a boat trip, check the timetable for your travel dates. This helps you fit it into your itinerary for the summer season without mistaking it for a year-round offering.
Winter experiences and culture
In Nesselwang, the Alpspitzbahn cable car provides access to the ski run around the 1,575-metre-high Alpspitz. The ski area offers family-friendly slopes and a children’s ski area; operating conditions may vary by season. For families looking for winter activities, the designated slopes and children’s ski area are useful starting points. They offer a different way to shape your trip alongside the region’s cycling and hiking options.
Cultural discoveries can also give your plans a distinct focus. The South Seas Collection, next to the Obergünzburg Local History Museum, now displays more than 1,500 everyday and cultural objects. Since 12 July 2025, Neuschwanstein Castle has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Linderhof Palace, the King’s House on Schachen and Herrenchiemsee Palace. There is an important condition for visiting Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau: both royal castles can only be visited as part of a guided tour. If you plan to visit these castles, be sure to factor in a guided tour from the outset.
Choose accommodation to suit your itinerary
If your plans bring several of these themes together, you can prioritise which activities will shape your days. Then compare specific locations and settings based on the tours and sights you actually plan to visit. This way, your choice reflects the itinerary you want rather than a generalised impression of the destination as a whole. For boat trips, also check the timetable for your planned travel dates; for the royal castles, a guided tour is part of the visit.
Discover more destinations: Westendorf, Pforzen, Biessenhofen, Eggenthal, Füssen, Lechbruck Am See, Nesselwang, Pfronten, Halblech, Eisenberg, Kaufbeuren, Marktoberdorf, Roßhaupten, Schwangau, Seeg, Buchloe, Stötten Am Auerberg, Unterthingau, Mauerstetten, Waal, Germaringen, Lamerdingen, Oberostendorf, Ronsberg, Obergünzburg and Rieden am Forggensee.
For the higher-level travel overview: Bavaria.
