Camping at Hopfensee in the Allgäu Alps

With direct access to the lakeshore, you will find the campsite at Camping Hopfensee is situated on a hill with a panoramic view of the lake and the Alps. The campsite is one of the most popular in the whole of Europe and was the first German campsite to be awarded ´five stars superior` in 2021.

The 9-hectare campsite borders the eastern shore of the lake and offers space for about 350 mobile homes. Each pitch has a water and waste water connection, a well with drinking water and cable TV. The plots for rent are each 80 to 100 square metres in size, so you have enough peace and privacy.

You (and your family) will want for nothing at the campsite. In addition to generously equipped sanitary facilities and a restaurant, you will find an indoor swimming pool and a children's pool, a large playhouse, a kindergarten and a cinema. If you want to work out, you can use the fitness room or play a game of tennis or football. In winter, there is also an ice-skating rink and a toboggan run.

Surprisingly, the luxurious wellness and spa department has little in common with the typical idea of camping.

You can choose from a wide range of oil and Ayurvedic massages, rasul, peelings and baths. Various cosmetic services are also offered, such as lymphatic drainage and meridian head massages.

If required, the campsite's physical therapy practice also offers visitors a comprehensive range of spa services with specialist staff and modern equipment.

In the high season, adults and young people pay about 13 euros per night on the pitches, children up to 11 years 8.10 euros and dogs 5.30 euros. The price of the overnight stay includes some services such as the sanitary facilities, the indoor swimming pool, the children's playground, the cinema, childcare and more.

However, because the campsite is so popular and known as one of the most beautiful destinations in Europe, you have to book well in advance to get a pitch during the summer months. Most visitors are regulars and book their pitch again when they leave.

In addition to Camping Hopfensee, there are other great campsites that are a little further away from the shores of Lake Hopfensee, but still offer the opportunity to be in the midst of nature and enjoy the view of the surrounding Alpine landscape. These include Camping Brunnen on the shores of Lake Forggensee, Camping Bannwaldsee on the shores of Lake Bannwaldsee and the campsite Camping Pfronten located on the outskirts of the municipality of Pfronten, towards the Austrian border.

The Hopfensee was formed by the Lech glaciers of the Würmeiszeit, the last ice age on earth within the Alpine region. Located in the Ostallgäu region, this lake lies north of the town of Füssen and its western shore borders the municipality of Hopferau, offering you a great view of the surrounding mountain landscape of the Alps. The Hopfensee has an area of about two square kilometres and is considered a popular excursion destination due to its many different possibilities.

The Hopfensee is known for its clear water and is often called ´the Riviera of the Allgäu`. In summer it invites you to swim, sunbathe and do water sports. Due to the shallow water depth of a maximum of 10 metres, the Hopfensee is already warmed by the sun from the end of May and, as one of the warmest lakes in the foothills of the Alps, invites you to swim and linger on the eastern shore early on. As a shallow bathing water with a shallow shore, it is particularly suitable for families with children.

The town has been a health resort for over 50 years and offers visitors spa hotels, sanatoriums, therapy centres and the Enzensberg specialist clinic with a wide range of services for your health. But apart from the health centres, the lake and the region around it are already enough of a cure: the Hopfensee is the ideal destination to switch off from everyday life and enjoy the summer days on the beach of the lakeshore or on the sunbathing lawn. The areas around the Hopfensee are equipped with children's playgrounds and barbecue facilities. In the area around the Hopfensee you will find beautiful walking and cycling paths that invite you to relax and explore. You can walk along the lakeside promenade and enjoy the landscape. Relaxed walks are not really your thing? No problem, because the region also offers you numerous more challenging cycling tours and hiking routes that offer you views of the lake and the surrounding mountains.

At the Hopfensee you can try out several water sports in addition to relaxing baths. For example, you can rent a boat from Marina Hopfensee, practice your balance on a stand-up paddle or take part in a windsurfing or kitesurfing course.

For older people or families with children, the circular trail with a distance of just under 7 km without any incline around Lake Hopfen is a good way to let the Alps take effect on you.

To be able to look down on the surrounding lakes from above and enjoy the view over the Alps, various hikes of medium difficulty are recommended, including this one:

Route: 10km | Level: Medium | Duration: 3:00h | Ascent: 260hm

You start in the old town of Füssen and first walk to the St. Mang monastery and the Hohe Schloss. From there you continue to the Kalvarienberg, from where you can look down on the Schwansee. The route continues behind the Schwansee lake. Here you can not only see the lake and the Alpine landscape, but also have a great view of Neuschwanstein Castle. Afterwards, you go to the Lech Falls and the Lech Gorge and then back to Füssen.

In addition to various hiking routes, the area around the Hopfensee is also ideal for cycling tours:

Route 43km | Level: Medium | Duration: 3:30h | Ascent: 335hm

The tour starts at the tourist information office in Füssen. From there you cycle to Hohenschwangau past the Alpsee and via Unterpinswang and Vils on to Pfronten. The route then takes you via Zell and Eisenberg to Hopferau. From there you reach Hopfen am See, where your destination may be, or you continue to the starting point in Füssen.

On your castle tour you will see the High Castle of Füssen, the royal castles of Hohenschwanggau and Neuschwanstein, the castle ruins of Vilsegg, Falkenstein, Eisenberg and Hohenfreyberg, Hopferau Castle and finally the castle ruin of Hopfen am See.

Route: 17km | Level: Easy | Duration 1:30h | Incline: 170hm

Leave the Camping Hopfen campsite and follow the cycle path by the lakeside road towards Hopfen am See. Leave the village and turn right at the first junction outside the village to ride up the road. After about four kilometres, turn right again and follow the forest road. Stay on the path and you will arrive at Faulensee, where you can relax and take a break. Continue along the path until you reach the village of Rieden am Forggensee. Cycle through the town, briefly follow the cycle path on the right-hand side of the main road and then follow the signs to Osterreinen. From there you cycle directly along the shore of Lake Forggensee to Café Maria. Continue your ride to the Festspielhaus and finally to Füssen. At the first roundabout near the church, turn right and follow the road back to Hopfen to your starting point.

You can find more detailed information on these and other tours at Komoot. If you not only want to have your hiking and cycling tours planned, but also want to give everything out of your hands, then why not book our Travel Planner. Our travel designers will put together your holiday according to your individual wishes and preferences, whether it's the location, the campsite, restaurants or possible activities.

In the immediate vicinity of the Hopfensee there are a few super nice excursion destinations that you canvisit while spending time at the Hopfensee.

A must-see, the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, is located on a hill and offers you a super view of the surrounding landscape, i.e. the Alps and the Alpsee. From the nearby Marienbrücke, you have the best view of the imposing castle. You can also visit the castle from the inside, but you should buy the tickets online in advance due to the high number of visitors.

From the Hopfensee, you can reach the castle by car in about 15 minutes. But you can also reach the castle on foot via various hiking trails within about two hours and enjoy the surrounding landscape. Or you can take a bicycle tour, the paths are signposted and you can reach it in about 30-40 minutes.

You can conquer the 10-kilometre route to the Tegelberg on a 2-3 hour hike. If you don't want to hike up the mountain, you can also take the Tegelberg cable car in the valley and ride up to the top of the Tegelberg. From the top you have a great view of the surrounding Alps, Neuschwanstein Castle, the Hopfensee lake and the town of Füssen.

Lake Forggensee is the largest reservoir in Germany and is very close to the Hopfensee. Depending on where you start at the Hopfensee, it takes about half an hour to an hour on foot or you can take a bicycle. On the Forggensee you also have the opportunity to try out many different types of water sports.

For a bit of variety during your nature-rich holiday, you could take a trip to Bavaria's highest town, the old town of Füssen. The town can be reached on foot in about an hour from Lake Hopfen. In the Reichenstraße, the heart of Füssen, you will find traditional Bavarian architecture, cosy cafés and restaurants and small shops to stroll around in. If you are interested in architecture and history, you can visit the High Castle or the Benedictine monastery of St. Mag or you can visit the museum of the city of Füssen. You can also go to Franziskanerplatz to take a look over the roofs of the old town.

The region around the Hopfensee is one of the most popular camping destinations in Germany and known throughout Europe. Hopfensee and the Camping Hopfensee campsite offer you a holiday surrounded by the most beautiful Alpine panorama and the water practically right on your doorstep. You decide whether you want to take advantage of the spa programme offered by the region or whether the nature surrounding you is spa enough for you. But no matter what you decide, you can look forward to a relaxing time away from everyday life! Rent your camper now and start your next adventure!