If you want to head to the water on a whim during warm weekends or after work, you often end up in the midst of a tourist frenzy around Munich. At Lake Starnberg, towels are lined up one after another, and finding a parking spot at Lake Ammer becomes a test of patience. Yet the solution for a genuine, stress-free getaway is much closer than you think. Hidden in the middle of a dense forest, just under 30 minutes by car from the Munich city limits, lies a natural gem that even many locals haven’t heard of . If you really want to relax, you should head to the Deininger Weiher in the Gleißental valley.
Just a stone’s throw away
Deininger Weiher is located just about 20 minutes from Munich, and yet many have never heard of it. The lake was formed during the Würm Glacial Period from the Egling-Deininger glacier tongue. The inflow comes from Deiningen, and the outflow runs via the Gleißenbach into the Gleißental valley, at the southern end of which the lake lies. It is therefore also called Gleißentalweiher.
Since the Deininger Weiher is considerably smaller than Lake Starnberg, for example, you can easily walk around it. The small moor lake measures just 1.2 kilometers in circumference. Parts of the shore lie within a biotope where you can observe slow worms and turtles, among other things. If you’re in the mood for a longer walk, you can extend it into the surrounding moor, or take a detour into the Gleißental valley.
New life for the Waldhaus
Swimming is also possible at Deininger Weiher; you’ll even find a diving board at one of the swimming spots. The maximum water depth is just 1.80 meters, but due to the murky bog water, you can’t see the bottom. Afterward, you can refuel with food and drink at the Waldhaus. The inn is a popular spot for day-trippers who stop by to relax. In winter, you can enjoy ice sports on the ice near the inn, provided it’s thick enough.
In early January 2026, the popular tavern unfortunately had to close, but fortunately this situation won’t last long. Three new owners have taken over and plan to reopen the Waldhaus for this year’s beer garden season. Then you can enjoy Alpine cuisine under the open sky and round off the perfect day on the eastern shore of the small lake.
