Sand Beaches Like the Ocean: 10 Beautiful Lakes in Germany

Germany not only has beautiful beaches on the North Sea and Baltic Sea. The country's lakes also offer great sand or pebble beaches. You don't have to travel far to experience beach vibes. We introduce you to ten very special lakes for your beach vacation in Germany.

In the historic Strandbad Wannsee, warm water around 73 degrees Fahrenheit, golden sand from the Baltic, beach chairs, and a nudist area create a vacation atmosphere.

The eastern shore of the Großer Wannsee offers space for up to 50,000 bathers and a sandy beach over a kilometer long. Additional vacation vibes come from slides, boat rentals, beach volleyball, beer gardens, and numerous water sports. This regularly attracts many visitors in the summer.

If you are flexible, you should avoid weekends in the peak summer season and instead enjoy bathing during the week.

At 117 square kilometers, the Müritz is the largest lake in the Mecklenburg Lake District and the largest inland lake in Germany. Water sports are no problem here: you can windsurf, water ski, dive, sail, canoe, or kayak. You can also paddleboard or wakeboard.

For relaxation, you can choose: there are many natural swimming spots or managed areas and beach baths, including in Waren, Ludorf, Klink, and Röbel. If you are looking for a shallow sandy beach for families with children, you should settle at the Bolter Canal at Boeker Mühle on the southeast shore or in the Mili bathing bay in Rechlin North.

The Großer Plöner Lake in Schleswig-Holstein is over 28 square kilometers, making it the largest lake in the state and a true water sports paradise. Near the up to 100 meters wide sandy beaches, you can rent SUP boards at 13 designated swimming spots. If you want to windsurf, head to the western shore by Schloss Aschberg.

You can find fine sandy beaches at the Prinzenbad swimming area in the west. Grilling is possible at the Dersau swimming area on the southwest shore, where there is also a swimming pier and a swimming island. Little swimmers can enjoy playgrounds at the Seeblick swimming area. If you prefer peace and quiet, you can find a spot at the natural beaches, and in some places, fishing or diving is also allowed.

The Steinhuder Meer near Hannover is a popular destination for cyclists. But the bathing beaches are also impressive. The natural and supervised beach 'Weisse Düne' on the northern shore in Mardorf with an adjacent surf beach invites you to swim, kite surf, and paddle board.

But the artificial bathing island Steinhude in the southeast of the lake, accessible via a bridge, is also popular. It was created in the 1980s in the large lake. There you will find a sandy beach with a shallow coastline, lawns, and two large playgrounds.

You can also find great lakes with sandy beaches in Baden-Württemberg. The Schluchsee is one of them. It is the largest lake in the Black Forest and impresses with a sandy beach at 930 meters altitude. The mountain lake was created from a glacier that was later dammed. The southeastern shore has a beach bath with an adventure pool and a 105-meter slide.

If you want to discover more sandy beaches in Baden-Württemberg, you can also relax at the Buchtzig lake near Ettlingen, in Bühl-Oberbruch, or at the Baggersee Weingarten in the Breitheide leisure area.

Lake Walchensee, 75 kilometers south of Munich, is referred to as the Caribbean of Bavaria due to its gorgeous beach. In the turquoise water, swimmers, paddlers, and nature enthusiasts alike feel at home. The lake is one of Germany's largest Alpine lakes and is up to 190 meters deep.

Its surreal setting has also been used multiple times in the film industry, such as for the movie 'Wickie and the Strong Men' or more recently in the documentary 'Walchensee Forever'.

In a nature reserve near Hürth, surrounded by forests, lies Otto-Maigler Lake. The lake southwest of Cologne is 30 meters higher than the surrounding area and attracts visitors with a bright bathing beach on the northwest shore. The beach area includes a beach club with a restaurant.

Water sports enthusiasts can exert themselves in the shimmering blue water. In addition to swimming, surfing, sailing, and rowing are also possible. If you prefer to stretch your legs, you can walk the circular trail around the lake.

Also on the edge of the Ruhr area and Münsterland, there are sandy beaches, for example at Haltern Reservoir. On 800 meters of length, beach chairs are set on natural sand. At Haltern Beach, you can also enjoy surfing, diving, beach volleyball, or table tennis. For children, there is also a playground, climbing net, and slides. At the lake terraces, the vacation feeling can be extended in an ice cream café.

Incidentally, the Silberseen are only about twelve kilometers away. These four bodies of water were created by quartz sand mining in 1924. The 200-hectare area is often referred to as the 'bathtub of the Ruhr area,' even though they lie in Münsterland.

Silbersee II is especially used as a swimming area-not least because of its 800-meter-long beach.

'Blue Adriatic'-that sounds like the sea, doesn't it? Although not quite as large, the recreation area two kilometers southeast of Ludwigshafen still gives off a vacation vibe. Here, one azure blue gravel lake with small bays and fine sandy beaches follows the next. They were created through the extension of a partially silted Old Rhine loop.

At Jägerweiher, Neuhofener Old Rhine, and Kiefweiher, swimming guests can cool off. A brief vacation is also possible thanks to a campground, along with a kiosk, toilets, and parking lots.

Those who appreciate nudism can strip down on the peninsula and on the 'Love Island', accessible on foot.

Lake Chiemsee is also called the 'Bavarian Sea.' No wonder, with a surface area of nearly 80 square kilometers, it can evoke a coastal feeling. It even enchanted Fairytale King Ludwig, who built a magnificent palace on Herren Island.

The lake's location at the foot of the Chiemgau Alps is particularly charming, and it is easily accessible thanks to the nearby Salzburg highway. If you're searching for a sandy beach, head to the eastern shore. At Übersee, you'll find both natural bays and Übersee-Feldwies Beach. On an 800-meter-long natural beach, there are deck chairs. There's also a beach bar with lounge beds, beach kiosks, and a café.

Do you enjoy swimming nude? Then head to the FKK Schwögler Beach at the lake. There, 800 meters of fine sandy beach await, as well as park-like lawns, showers, toilets, and a small playground.

Looking for more inspiration? Find travel tips for all top destinations with bettercities.net, and check out our deal page for the best travel offers.