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The starting point of the walk is the car park at Schwansee, just around 500 metres as the crow flies from Neuschwanstein Castle. You can reach it via Parkstraße, just past Alterschrofen.
(S/E) From the car park, we do not continue along the wide, tarmac road (Königssträßchen), but take the nature trail to the left of it. This leads straight ahead through a small wooded area at the end of the car park. At the fork, we keep to the right and soon reach the shore of Schwansee, where there is also a kiosk and toilets.
(1) We continue straight on, past the bathing jetty on Schwansee. There is a kiosk on the right-hand side (not always open). We keep to the left, following the shore of Schwansee.
(2) On the opposite side of the lake, after just under 1 km, we turn right onto the Fischersteg (signposted), which leads us in a zigzag pattern up a relatively steep slope over the wooded hilltop.
(3) At the top of the ridge, we come to a wide path, which we follow briefly to the right before immediately turning left onto the narrow track that leads us over hill and dale to the viewpoint high above the Alpsee. From the viewing platform, we continue to the left along a narrow nature trail. It takes us through the woods along the mountainside of the Alpsee. We slowly walk round the Alpsee in idyllic surroundings.
(4) On the western shore, after a short detour following a sweeping left-hand bend, we reach the Mariendenkmal on the shore of the emerald-blue mountain lake. It’s worth taking a short break here, as you can already see the two royal castles glimmering in the distance on the opposite shore.
From here, we continue walking to the left close to the shore; in places, the narrow path is secured with a wooden handrail. On the southern side, we walk along a wider path through the forest. At the southern tip of the Alpsee, the path curves to the left.
(5) We pass the Alpsee lido, which offers a welcome chance to cool off in summer. The lido was opened as far back as 1900. Incidentally, the Alpsee is considered the cleanest lake in Bavaria. We continue round the Alpsee, with views of the two royal castles.
(6) Just past the Alpsee boat hire on the left, we reach the tourist section of the route. On fine days, this area is teeming with people.
(7) Straight ahead, we can see the Museum of the Bavarian Kings, with hotels and guesthouses behind it.
(8) If you like, you can take a detour to Hohenschwangau Castle (on the left) and Neuschwanstein (slightly to the right, up on the hill) (it’s best to buy tickets online in advance).
Otherwise, we keep to the left along the shore, following Fürstenstraße along the northern bank. After just a few metres, it becomes quiet again. Tourists rarely walk more than a few metres around the lake.
(9) We reach the fishing jetty again, which leads us down the hillside to the right. At the bottom (2) we turn right and then keep slightly to the left on the König-Ludwig-Weg through the birch-covered moorland around Schwansee.
(S/E) Just before the jetty and the kiosk, we turn right and arrive back at the car park from which we set off.
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