Head to head
Tegernsee or Lindau?
Two Bavarian state casinos on two lakes, 21+ at both, and the same gap in the record: neither state casino publishes its hours in a form we could read.
Our verdict
In short
Tegernsee is the bigger, more luxurious stay; Lindau is the more compact (Munich is 2 h 15 by train with one change). The Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt has three Michelin Keys, a one-star restaurant, a spa redesigned in August 2026 and a private beach. The Bayerischer Hof in Lindau is a five-star hotel with a lake-view kitchen and a heated indoor pool open all year, on an island of about 70 hectares; Munich is 2 h 15 away by train with one change.
Both casinos run under the same Bavarian state rules, so the playing age, ID rules and 18–20 accompanied-entry rule are identical. Check hours and dress with each casino.
The facts
| Tegernsee | Lindau | |
|---|---|---|
| Casino | Spielbank Bad Wiessee | Spielbank Lindau, Chelles-Allee 1 |
| Playing age | 21; 18–20 only if accompanied and not playing | 21; 18–20 only if accompanied and not playing |
| Entry | Free (dated source) | Free (dated source) |
| Dress | Neat clothing; jacket rule unverified | Neat clothing; jacket rule unverified |
| Hours | Not verified | Not verified |
| Games published | Not verified | Not verified |
| Hotel | Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt: 174 rooms, 3 Michelin Keys | Hotel Bayerischer Hof: 5 stars, 101 rooms |
| Spa | 4 elements spa, redesigned August 2026; free for guests | Maximilian SPA, indoor pool open all year |
| Kitchen | Restaurant Überfahrt (one star); two-star Dichter in the village | Lake-view hotel kitchen; one-star KARRisma |
| Arrival | Hourly train from Munich to Gmund or Tegernsee, then bus or taxi | Munich in 2 h 15 by train with one change |
| Check before you go | Bayernstube closed until 20 Dec; lake boats stop 9 Nov – 24 Dec | Bad Schachen closed until 2028–29; ferries finished for 2026 |
The scores
| Tegernsee | Lindau | |
|---|---|---|
| Easy to walk in | 3 21+; free entry per a dated magazine; neat clothing and Tracht welcome (jacket rule unverified). | 3 21+; free entry per a dated magazine; neat clothing (jacket rule unverified). |
| Spa and wellness | 5 A redesigned spa (the hotel says 3,000 m²) with a 28 m indoor pool, three saunas, steam bath and a private lake beach; guests use it free. | 3 The Maximilian SPA: heated indoor pool all year, Finnish sauna, sanarium, steam bath and caldarium. |
| Kitchen and bars | 5 A one-star restaurant in the hotel; the two-star Dichter and one-star Haubentaucher are in the same village. | 4 A lake-view hotel kitchen with Bodensee fish; one-star KARRisma and VILLINO nearby, and Mangold across the border. |
| Casino heritage | 2 Casino opened 1957; on its present site since 2005. | 2 Casino opened 1950; round building since 2000. |
| Ease of arrival | 2 Hourly train from Munich to Gmund or Tegernsee, then bus or taxi; 60 km by road. | 2 Munich in 2 h 15 with one change; long-distance trains stop on the mainland at Lindau-Reutin. |
| Scenery and green space | 5 A lake with a private hotel beach and boat stop, in the Bavarian Alps foothills. | 4 An island of about 70 ha on Lake Constance, with a lighthouse and a lion at the harbour. |
| Equal-weight total | 3.7 | 3.0 |
Who should choose which
Choose Tegernsee if…
- you want a starred hotel restaurant and a big spa
- mountains behind the lake matter
- you are driving from Munich (60 km) or can use the hourly train and a taxi
- you want a private beach and boat stop at the hotel
Choose Lindau if…
- you want a compact island town and a five-star hotel
- you plan to go to Bregenz or Zurich as well
- you want to arrive by train from Munich (2 h 15, one change) or Zurich (1 h 51, one change)
- you would rather have two nearby one-star restaurants than a hotel with one
Questions
Which is better, Tegernsee or Lindau?
Neither is better for everyone. See "Choose Tegernsee if…" and "Choose Lindau if…" above, and weight the criteria yourself on the scorecard.
What is the playing age at each?
Tegernsee: 21; 18–20 only if accompanied and not playing. Lindau: 21; 18–20 only if accompanied and not playing.
What does it cost to get in?
Tegernsee: Free (dated source). Lindau: Free (dated source).