Swimming Lake
Lake Vilsalpsee is located in Tyrol at the foot of the Gaishorn (2,247 meters) and Rauhhorn (2,240 meters) in the Tannheimer Valley. Beautifully nestled in the Allgäu Alps, Lake Vilsalpsee impresses with its magnificent mountain panorama and crystal-clear water.
Swimming, Rowing, and Hiking
Swimming is generally permitted at Lake Vilsalpsee. However, as is typical for a proper mountain lake in the Alps, the water temperature rarely exceeds 17 degrees. If that’s too cold for swimming, you can rent a rowboat at the Fischerstube restaurant. A hike around Lake Vilsalpsee is highly recommended.
Vilsalpsee Nature Reserve
Since 1957, the lake has been surrounded by the Vilsalpsee Nature Reserve, which is home to around 700 plant species, including the yellow gentian and rare orchids. The area around Lake Vilsalpsee is also home to numerous bird species. For the great crested grebe, it is the highest-altitude breeding ground in Austria.
Things to do
At the Fischerstube restaurant, you can rent rowboats for a trip on Lake Vilsalpsee. The boats typically seat up to three people. Contact: Fischerstube Restaurant, Tel.: +43 5675 6278
Video about Swimming Lake Vilsalpsee
How to get there
Lake Vilsalp can only be reached by car from Tannheim, located about 5 km to the north. There is no other access road.
Important to know
The road from Tannheim directly to Lake Vilsalp is closed to general traffic between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Until 10:00 a.m., you can drive all the way to a paid parking lot at the lake. Parking elsewhere, by the way, can be extremely expensive, because parking outside of designated parking areas in the nature reserve is not punished with a standard warning but with hefty fines.
