Königssee, Salzburg

Simply utterly breath taking scenery on the boat - expensive but a definite must. Get off the boat at Seeland and walk through to the other small lake, which is only accessible by foot - fantastic. A real highlight

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If you have time for a day trip out of Salzburg, Königssee in Bavaria, just across the German border, is an ideal destination. A comfortable public bus from Salzburg takes you there, via Berchtesgaden, in less than an hour.

From the pretty village of Schönau am Königssee you can take a boat trip across the beautiful alpine lake to the picturesque pilgrimage church of St. Bartholomä. Next to the church is a gorgeous building that was once the hunting lodge of princes and is now a welcoming inn. For lunch you can have scrumptious fish, freshly caught from the lake. The little settlement is only accessible by boat and is surrounded by the high mountains of the Berchtesgaden National Park.

The lake is the deepest in Germany and its water is drinking quality. To cause minimum disturbance and prevent pollution, the boats are electric and the trip was one of the most peaceful and beautiful I have ever taken.

This in one of Germany's most popular tourist destinations and the boats apparently carry approx. 6 million passengers a year. But when I visited, on a glorious November day, I was one of very few tourists and was able to appreciate the spectacular place at its best.

To get there: Take Bus No. 840 from the Mozartplatz stop in Salzburg to Berchtesgaden Hauptbahnhof (Railway Station) - cost approx. 8 euros return. Then take Bus No. 841 to Königssee - 3.40 euros return. The lake cruise costs 13 euros.