Lake Achensee | The Largest Lake in Tyrol!

In this article, you will find information about activities around the lake in summer and winter.

Lake Achensee – General Information
Summer Activities at the Lake: Hiking Trails, Cable Cars, and Boating
Skiing Around the Lake
Additional Essential Information for Your Visit

Lake Achensee – General Information

The lake lies at an altitude of 950 meters above sea level and is surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Karwendel and Rofan mountain ranges. The highest summit in the area, Sonnjoch, rises to 2,457 meters. The lake’s clear, bluish-green waters, set against the backdrop of towering mountains, create a scene worthy of a postcard.

The water is so transparent that visibility can reach up to 10 meters, but swimming can be a chilly experience—temperatures often remain below 20 degrees Celsius even in summer. The southern part of the lake is slightly warmer, making it the best spot for those eager to take a dip. Several bathing beaches and a public swimming pool can be found along the shore.

Several villages surround the lake: Achenkirch to the north, Pertisau to the west, and Maurach to the south.

The large lake is an ideal place for windsurfing and sailing. What’s more, there are many hiking trails around it on the various peaks that surround it.

This is what Lake Achensee looks like

Lake Achensee in Summer – Hiking Trails, Cable Cars, and Boating

Hiking Trails in the Lake Achensee Area

The area surrounding the lake is full of marked and well-maintained hiking trails. There are no less than 500 kilometers of trails in this area alone. The trails are of varying difficulty levels; you can do short and easy family trails or challenging trails to the peaks near the lake. For those who prefer not to hike uphill, cable cars offer a convenient way to reach higher viewpoints. You can ride from the village of Maurach up to the Rofan peaks or from Pertisau into the Karwendel mountains, both providing stunning panoramic views.

If you’re not interested in taking a cable car to the peaks or tackling the hiking trails, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the well-maintained lakeside path. The route is mostly flat and requires little effort. Another popular option is to explore the lake by boat, offering a relaxing way to take in the scenery from the water.

You can find a long list of recommended hiking trails in the entire lake area here by different difficulty levels.

Ascending to the Mountain Peaks by Cable Car

In the villages near the lake, you have the option to take a cable car up to the mountain peaks, look out over the lake, and go on enjoyable hikes. The popular cable cars are:

1. Rofan Seilbahn (Rofan Cable Car)

The enclosed cable car connects the village of Maurach to the Rofan mountain south of Lake Achensee. At the top of the mountain, there are about 150 kilometers of various hiking trails at an altitude of 2299 meters. The most impressive trail on this peak is the one that leads to the Dalfazalm hut and the Dalfazer waterfalls. This is a short hike that takes about an hour.

If you are interested in a bit of adrenaline, you can try the AirRofan flying attraction or try paragliding over the lake (more information on paragliding is available on the paragliding company’s website.

Cable Car Operating Times:

The cable car operates every day.

Off-season (April – mid-June, September – early November): from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Summer months (mid-June to the first week of September): from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

Costs:

Adult (round trip): €29.50
Child (round trip): €18
There are also family tickets, starting from €66

Official Website with detailed prices

Map:

2. Karwendel Bergbahn (Cable car to the Zwölferkopf peak)

The cable car from the village of Pertisau reaches the Zwölferkopf peak at an altitude of 1500 meters, from where you can enjoy magnificent views of the lake or try paragliding. From the summit, you can go on an enjoyable and simple walk towards the Bärenbadalm hikers’ hut, which offers Tyrolean-style meals, and on the way, enjoy the wonderful nature and the animals roaming the area. In addition, you don’t have to take the cable car back down; you can walk for about an hour along the beautiful Tunnelweg path until you get back to the valley.

Cable Car Operating Times:

The cable car operates from the beginning of May to the end of October in summer mode. It departs every 15 minutes from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. There is no break in the middle.

Costs:

Adult (round trip): €24.50
Child (round trip): €15.50

Official Website with detailed prices

Map:

Boating on Lake Achensee (Achensee-Schifffahrt)

An experiential boat trip on the lake has been available since 1887! This is undoubtedly an enjoyable and relaxing way to view the scenery surrounding the lake from a different perspective. The boats make a circular cruise and stop at various stations around the entire lake. Through the cruise, you can see the entire lake from the northernmost point to the southernmost point. You can get on and off at several stations around the lake, thus visiting all parts of the area easily. There is an option to join a special cruise that includes a hot meal (for an additional cost, of course).

Cruise Operating Times:

End of April to the end of October. The cruise departs every hour. Here you can read the Timetable for the exact departure times.

Cruise Cost:

A circular cruise that passes all the stations and lasts about two hours costs €34.
There is a family ticket for 2 parents and a child that costs €68.
You can sail for just a few stops, or even just one stop, and pay accordingly. A cruise from one stop to another costs around €5. The more stops you sail, the higher the price. You can see a detailed price list here.

Official Website

Lake Achensee in Winter – Skiing

The Lake Achensee ski area may be smaller than Austria’s major resorts, but it offers a charming experience, especially for families. During the winter months, numerous cable cars operate around the lake. In addition to those reaching Mount Rofan and Mount Zwölferkopf, there are the Christlum cable car in Achenkirch and lifts in Steinberg and Wiesing. Across the entire lake region, skiers can enjoy around 53 kilometers of slopes catering to all skill levels.

In addition, there are six ski schools offering private lessons for children and adults throughout the week. Here is the list of ski schools.