Bavaria is home to spectacular outdoor lakes, including the famed ‘Five Lakes’ area, where you can take a plunge in clear, natural waters surrounded by stunning scenery. Pack your swimsuit and join us for a wild swimming tour of the region, all an easy train or car journey from the sumptuous surrounds of The Charles Hotel in Munich.
Lake Walchen (Walchensee)
The gleaming turquoise water of Lake Walchen often reminds visitors of the Mediterranean. Clean and pure, the water is chilly, but hike up the Jochberg first during the summer and you’ll welcome a bracing plunge in the deep water.
Lake Ammer (Ammersee)
A day trip here involves swimming in pristine water, as well as the opportunity to go windsurfing, sailing, hiking, and cultural sightseeing. You can even visit the pretty Benedictine Andechs Monastery, perched on the hill above the lake.
Lake Starnberg (Starnberger See)
Located between Munich and the Alps, Lake Starnberg offers incredible mountain views as well as some fantastic wild swimming spots. The northern bank is a particular favourite among locals, thanks to its verdant lakeside greenery.
Lake Pilsen (Pilsensee)
With a generous shallow area near the shore and lots of overhanging trees providing shade, Lake Pilsen is popular with families. Swim further out to enjoy views of the picturesque lakeside, as well as the eye-catching Seefeld Castle.
Lake Chiem (Chiemsee)
The biggest lake in Bavaria—with glistening water, nature trails, and historical sites—Lake Chiem (nicknamed ‘the Bavarian Sea’) is a popular day trip destination from Munich. Keep an eye out for King Ludwig II’s unfinished Herrenchiemsee Palace when you visit.
Lake Wessling (Weßlinger See)
One of the smallest of Bavaria’s ‘Five Lakes’, you can hike around Lake Wessling in half an hour, before cooling off with a swim surrounded by plants, flowers and innumerable species of birds.
Lake Wörth (Wörthsee)
With beautiful, clear water and bucolic scenery, a wild swim here is likely to be one of the warmest and most relaxing in Bavaria. Just under half an hour from Munich, get here early in the day to enjoy the serene setting before other swimmers arrive.
Located within easy reach of Bavaria’s lakes, The Charles Hotel in Munich is the ideal jumping off point from which to enjoy some wild swimming.
The festive season brings its own kind of sparkle - a flurry of celebrations, feasts, and time with those who matter most. To make gifting simple, we’ve curated a selection of bespoke experiences to delight everyone on your list. From candlelit dinners and Italian wine tastings to tranquil spa escapes and moments devoted to yourself, each experience thoughtfully crafted to offer moments of joy.
In a time when beauty shaped every facet of life — from the curve of a staircase to the vivid bloom of a painted iris — Italy’s Stile Liberty captured the optimism of a new century. Across Europe in the late 19th century, the Belle Époque blurred the line between art and the everyday, celebrating craftsmanship, elegance, and expressive freedom. Now, a new cultural itinerary, From Mucha to Florio, traces that movement between Hotel de la Ville in Rome and Villa Igiea in Palermo, two different cities, two glorious expressions of the same artistic impulse.
Preparations were in full swing at the North Pole - ribbons tied, sleigh bells polished, and lists checked twice - yet Father Christmas kindly agreed to pause his busy schedule for an interview. We met him at SCOTCH at The Balmoral, just as the famous clocktower struck 12:03 - it stands watch over Waverley Station, running three minutes fast, so no one ever misses a train. Settled into a deep armchair with a favourite dram in hand, he shared his most treasured places to pause, indulge and unwind across Europe every festive season.
