I found a crystal blue sea and fairy tale village just an hour from the UK (Image: Holly Morgan)
I took a 1.5 hour flight from London and landed in a part of the world that felt magical. It's like being in a fairy tale.
Like me, you may have never thought about flying to the small airport in Memmingen in southern Germany. But when I found out it was just an hour's drive from the world's most iconic castle, and from the bright blue lake, I thought I'd give it a try.
Bavaria's Memmingen Airport is less than an hour's drive from Neuschwanstein. The castle was believed to have inspired Disney Princess Castle, which can be seen at theme parks around the world. So of course I got into a rental car and headed straight there.
Neuschwanstein Castle and Lake Alpsey
The iconic castle is surrounded by the Bavarian Alps. To get there, you'll find yourself passing through a stunning mountain range at the southeastern corner of Germany and extending along the border with Austria.
Built in the 19th century, Neuschwanstein Castle became a symbol of romantic architecture and German cultural heritage. (Image: Joshua Reynolds)
Lake Alpsey is the perfect place to swim on a summer day (Image: Holly Morgan)
Before taking the 5 euro shuttle to the castle, park in an idyllic village called Hohenschwangau near Schwangau and Husen. The bus will come every 10-15 minutes and take you from the top of the mountain and drop you off at a bus stop, a 5 minute walk to Neuschwanstein. It's truly breathtaking.
Once you've finished at the castle, you can take a bus back to Hohenschwangau and take a 2-minute walk to Lake Alpsey. Here you can rent a boat for 15 euros, roam the lake, fly around the water from the pier, grab a German beer and Bratwalst and enjoy views of the mountains, crystal clear blue waters and of course the castle.
You pass through a lot of farmland to travel to Bavaria (Image: Joshua Reynolds)
Located about 45 minutes from Hohenshwangau, the brightest blue lake in all of Germany, Lake Abesey and the tallest mountain in Germany, Zugspitze. It is also just an hour and a half drive from the famous Munich city.
Staying at the chalet here cost around £50 in May, car rental costs £75 including 3-day insurance, and my total trip total was just £175. In terms of spending money, almost everything is free, as all the amazing things to see are outdoors.
After a good night's sleep in the guesthouse, it's time to explore Lake Abesey and Zugspitze.
Zugspitze and Lake Eibsee
Hidden at the foot of Germany's finest mountains, Zugspitze is Lake Abessie, one of the most breathtaking natural treasures in the Bavarian Alps. With clear waters, forest coastlines and sturdy peaks against the backdrop of Absy, it's a destination that feels more than real.
Formatted during the last Ice Age and later shaped by a giant rock slide over three,000 years ago, Absey's dramatic landscape features eight small islands and several underwater ridges. These geological quirks add to their fascinating atmosphere and make them one of the most photographic production locations in the region.
Often called the “Caribbean of the Alps” because of its emerald green and turquoise seas, Absy is a year-round destination that is popular with nature lovers, photographers and outdoor enthusiasts. (Image: Joshua Reynolds)
View of Lake Eibsee from Zugspitze (Image: Joshua Reynolds)
Rent a boat or paddleboard here for less than 20 euros and take it out to explore the eight small islands in the middle of the lake. Visiting the lake was free and the whole day parking was returned 13 euros.
The appeal of Ivsey is not only in its beauty, but also in its diverse outdoor experiences offered throughout the year. In summer, the lake becomes a hot spot for swimming, paddle boarding, rowing and picnics. The sunny water takes on surreal turquoise tints on sunny days, attracting photographers and nature lovers all over Europe.
Lake Abe is one of Germany's most beautiful and clear alpine lakes (Image: Joshua Reynolds)
For hikers, an 8km trail that circumvents the lake, Abseylandweg offers constantly changing scenery and quiet forest paths. It is a relatively easy walk, suitable for families, with benches and route points scattered along the route.
Lake Abe also serves as the lower station of the Zugspitze Gondola, which will make visitors to the summit cry in just 10 minutes. From the top, you are rewarded with panoramic views to Germany, Austria and even Italy on a sunny day.
Partnach Valley
Deeply located near the resort town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, about 20 minutes from Granau, the Partnach Valley is a stunning natural wonder that attracts visitors from all over the world.
The canyon walls are made up of limestone containing dark shells (Image: Joshua Reynolds)
Walking through the narrow canyons will give you a raw, immersive experience of the Bavarian Alps, admiring the thunder waterfalls, steep limestone walls and the airy atmosphere, and acclaiming the Raw, immersive experience of the Bavarian Alps worth an admission of 10 euros.
It stretches to about 702 meters (2,303 feet) long and plunges to a depth of 80 meters (262 feet), and the Partnach Valley was carved into the Partnach River.
At the foot of German mountains, traditional villages such as Grainau and Mittenwald are (Image: Joshua Reynolds)
The valley walls are made up of limestone containing dark shells deposited during the Triassic period, more than 240 million years ago. As the Alps rose and the Partnach River flowed, the canyon was slowly carved into its dramatic form.
In 1912, the canyon was declared a natural monument, protecting its unique features and opened it to safe public access via carved tunnels, narrow passages and handrails along the edge of the cliff.
Lake Abe has eight small islands (Image: Joshua Reynolds)
Many hikers use it as a starting point for more ambitious trekking to the Wetterstein Mountains and even a few days' trip to Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak.
But even on standalone visits, Partnach Gorge is unforgettable – a place where geology, water, and time conspired to create truly adorable sights.
So for under £200, I was able to see some of the world's most distinctive alpine seas and some of the most iconic castles, as well as a breathtaking geology display.
