Starnberg and Ammersee: Successful shipping attracts 495,000 passengers!

Starnberg and Ammersee: Successful shipping attracts 495,000 passengers!

Boat trips on the Bavarian lakes are becoming increasingly popular. In 2025, a total of around 495,000 passengers were counted on Lake Starnberg and Lake Ammer, which means a pleasing increase for the region. Around 200,000 passengers were welcomed on Lake Starnberg, an increase of 40,000 passengers or 25% compared to the previous year. This shows that shipping is doing good business even in uncertain times like these. In contrast, the number of passengers in 2023 was still 185,000, which underlines the positive development.

The situation is completely different at Ammersee, which also had around 295,000 passengers. This corresponds to an increase of 21,000 compared to 2024 and brings the numbers closer to the pre-Corona level of around 325,000 vehicles. \"It is refreshing to see that shipping on Lake Ammersee is getting a boost again,\" says a spokesman for Bavarian Lakes Shipping, which has been using electric boats and traditional steamers to present the magical sight of the Bavarian landscape for decades.

Seasonal progression and maintenance

The Bavarian Lakes Shipping season ended in mid-October 2025 without any major breakdowns, which is definitely an exception when you look at the past year. This year only four ships were in use on Lake Starnberg, including the popular catamaran MS Starnberg, the 21-year-old flagship of the fleet. The ships undergo maintenance every winter, and engine overhauls and dock repairs are planned for 2025. A spokesman also reported that the popular MS Bayern, which was scrapped a few years ago, will not be replaced.

Prices and offers

Despite the good news, shipping is not unaffected by general inflation and prices are rising moderately. A large tour on Lake Starnberg now costs 27 euros, previously it was 25.80 euros. If you want to take your bike or dog with you, you have to pay 3.50 euros - a small increase from the previous 3 euros.

The boat trip not only offers an opportunity to spend your free time, but also a wonderful view of the many magnificent villas and castles along the shores of Lake Starnberg. Offers range from nostalgic paddle steamers such as DIESSEN and HERRSCHING on Lake Ammersee to elegant electric boats on Lake Königssee, where passengers can enjoy the magical nature while listening to the echoes of waterfalls and taking time for a tour. According to the lake shipping website, guests have the opportunity to view new schedules and find out about different boat trips.

For passionate river romantics and nature lovers, the coming seasons should offer interesting perspectives, while the measured passenger numbers will hopefully continue to develop positively. The new season begins on April 5th, 2026 and ends on October 18th, 2026, and so we can only hope that shipping in Bavaria remains a popular destination for many.

For more information about timetables and offers, visit the website Bavarian lake shipping.