Guide to Frutillar, Chile — A Picture-Perfect German Town

Welcome to Frutillar, a wonderful German-flavored town on the shores of Lake Llanquihue in the Lakes Region of Chile. This was one of my favorite spots in Chile — I had no idea I’d enjoy it so much!

Here you’ll find historic German homes and churches, a state-of-the-art concert theater, delicious German food and coffee culture, and beautiful views across the lake with volcanoes in the distance.

So WHY is this little German village in the heart of Chile? It could be plucked from Bavaria, with half-timbered houses galore, flower boxes dangling from the windows!

In the 1850s, Chile invited Germans to settle in the Lakes District and cultivate the land. More than 200 families made the journey. (Once again, I must point out that this is DIFFERENT from the Germans who settled in Argentina post-World War II. These Chilean Germans immigrated long before the Nazis existed.)

A lot of people visit Frutillar on a day trip from Puerto Varas, which is what I did during my time in Chile. But I loved Frutillar so much, I actually think the town would be a great place to base in the Lakes Region, especially if you prefer a quieter atmosphere. 

Waking up and walking along the scenic Frutillar waterfront each morning would be a great way to start your day before you head out and explore more of the town. This would also be a great place to get some writing or creative work done — it’s so inspiring.

Let’s take a look at what Frutillar has to offer. I think you’re going to love it here.

This post was published in August 2024 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Riana Ang-Canning.

Things to Do in Frutillar, Chile

Explore the Waterfront at Lake Llanquihue

The waterfront area of Frutillar, known as Frutillar Bajo, is the most scenic part of town. This is where you should spend your time in Frutillar. Not only does this area have gorgeous views over Lake Llanquihue, it’s also where you’ll find most of the German buildings and influence.

Take a stroll down Frutillar’s elegant dock, which extends into the lake (with the classic Volcano Osorno view in the background — assuming that you have a clear day, because I clearly did not!), discover parks and beaches along the shore of Lake Llanquihue, and admire the German architecture seen in the surrounding churches, cafes and homes.  

This traditional area of Frutillar is where you’ll find the German Colonial Museum, Teatro del Lago, and most of the other tourist sites in Frutillar. If you’re looking for a more local, commercial and residential experience, head inland to Frutillar Alto. 

Visit the German Colonial Museum

A great place to start with Frutillar’s German heritage is to visit the German Colonial Museum (Museo Colonial Alemán de Frutillar). Here you can learn the story of how German families came to settle in Frutillar in the 19th century. Here you can tour through a watermill, farmhouse and barn all set with period furniture to reconstruct what life would have been like for the German colonists in the 1800s. 

The museum also includes a family cemetery, landscaped park, local art gallery, and beautiful views over Lake Llanquihue and the Osorno Volcano behind it.

One thing that surprised me in Puerto Varas and the Lakes Region was how much colonialism is praised to this day. It was a bit seeing plaques and sculptures in honor of colonialism, truthfully. But in Chile’s case, celebrating colonialism seems to be about celebrating German heritage in the New World, without saying anything about how colonialism harms Indigenous communities.

The German Colonial Museum is a great first stop in Frutillar to understand this mindset.

Attend a Show at Teatro del Lago

Teatro del Lago (Theater of the Lake) is a large stage theater and concert hall sitting on the banks of Lake Llanquihue in Frutillar. After 12 years of work, it finally opened in 2010 and can hold over 1200 people across its various stages and rooms. Pretty impressive for such a small town!

Every year, Teatro del Lago hosts Frutillar’s largest music festival, Semanas Musicales de Frutillar (Frutillar Musical Weeks). This celebration of classical music happens every year around late January and early February, which would be a great time to visit Frutillar and take in a show. 

Outside of Musical Weeks, Teatro del Lago is still busy with shows, workshops and classes. As a visitor you can attend a performance — or go on a guided tour, eat at the Fuga del Lago restaurant, pick up a souvenir from the Tienda Teatro del Lago.

Eat German Food

If you’re in the mood for schnitzel or sausage, you’ve come to the right part of Chile! Thanks to Frutillar’s German history, this small town serves up some of the best German food outside of Germany. 

I recommend El Club Aleman de Frutillar for a hearty lunch in Frutillar. I loved their schnitzel, pork chop, and sauerkraut — but the potatoes stole the show! They were cooked in cream, cheese, and bacon. Charlie and I easily could have eaten a second portion. The beer wasn’t half bad, either.

Restaurant Cocina Frau Holle is another top-recommended option for good German food.

Enjoy German Chilean Coffee and Cake

You can’t visit Frutillar without enjoying a bit of “kaffee und kuchen” — the German afternoon tradition of enjoying coffee and cake. In the Lakes Region, they call this kuchenes (koo-KAY-nays), a German-Spanish mash-up that always made me smile!

All throughout Frutillar, you’ll see cafes and restaurants offering kuchen. There’s nothing better than enjoying an apple strudel with a view of Lake Llanquihue!

I loved a cafe called Casa Rosalba. It’s a walk to the western edge of town and up a hill, where you’ll have some nice views of the town. Walk inside and you’ll be delighted by the cozy atmosphere!

Charlie and I shared an apple strudel and a cheesecake with our two coffees, and it was such a nice way to relax in between all our exploration.

Other cafes to check out in Frutillar include Coffeehaus Frutillar, Cafe Herz, and Cafe Almendra. If I had stayed in Frutillar a few days, I have no doubt I would have tried them all!

Walk the Edmundo Winkler Park Trail

The Edmundo Winkler Forest Experimental Centre or Reserva Forestal Edmundo Winkler is a 33-hectare nature reserve located in Frutillar. It was built to help study and protect the flora and fauna of this region of Patagonia. 

Within the reserve you’ll find a scenic walking trail that should take about 40 minutes to complete. (And it’s just past Casa Rosalba, so just keep on walking!) The trail is well signposted, suitable for children and offers a cool look at the diversity of species living in Chile’s forests. 

Visit Nearby Towns

There are quite a few small towns dotted around Lake Llanquihue that you can easily visit from Frutillar. Two I recommend checking out are Puerto Octay and Llanquihue. 

Puerto Octay is about a 20-30 minute drive north of Frutillar and is also known for its German architecture and history. The same German families who moved to Frutillar in the 19th Century also settled in Puerto Octay.

There’s not a lot to do in Puerto Octay, but it has a really nice vibe. Stroll the town for a bit, and make sure to climb the hill near the cemetery for panoramic views of the lake and town. We had terrific food at Restaurant Willhause (I loved the salmon!) and coffee and cake at Cafe Meson Carpintero, which served the best flat white I had in Chile.

Heading south, Llanquihue is a 15-25 minute drive from Frutillar. This is where the Maullin River meets Lake Llanquihue, meaning there are lots of water activities and scenic waterfront views in this city. You’ll still find German houses, cuisine and history here too.

Spend a day in Llanquihue walking along the lake and exploring beaches, like Playa Los Cisnes, exploring the different churches and historic buildings in the area, and heading out on the water via kayak or fishing boat. 

Visit Puerto Varas

Many people visit Frutillar as a day trip from Puerto Varas, as did I, but there’s no reason why you can’t do the reverse! If you prefer to base in the quieter and smaller town of Frutillar, I highly recommend spending a day or two in Puerto Varas — one of my favorite places in all of Chile. 

Wander the town center where you’ll find historic churches, cool boutiques, wacky museums, and German-inspired buildings. Hike or bike up Cerro Philippi for a great view over the lake and volcanoes, or just relax on the long, smooth lake beaches.

If you haven’t had enough schnitzel, kuchenes, and German beer, Puerto Varas has plenty of that — but if there’s one place you should eat in Puerto Varas, it’s Mesa Tropera, a pizzeria and brewery. So many Chileans told us to go to Mesa Tropera, and they were not wrong. It was the best pizza I had in Chile! 

Read More: Best Things to Do in Puerto Varas, Chile

Drive Around Lake Llanquihue

From Frutillar, you’re well positioned to visit many of the other places of interest around Lake Llanquihue. I highly recommend you visit these spots by car, as they’re not super accessible by public transit. Take a day to drive around the lake; it’s beautiful-easy driving!

Petrohué Falls is a must visit site on Lake Llanquihue. Here you’ll see powerful, chute-style waterfalls with the towering Osorno Volcano in the background. Make sure you time your visit for a clear day so you can get the best view of the volcano! 

Speaking of Volcán Osorno, you can actually get up close and personal to one of Chile’s most active volcanoes (though it hasn’t erupted since 1869). You can visit the volcano on a day tour, ski at the Osorno Volcano Ski Center or head out on an overnight guided climb.  

Both Petrohué Falls and Volcán Osorno are part of Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales. Vicente Perez Rosales National Park is Chile’s oldest national park and covers 2,530 km². In addition to Petrohué Falls and Volcán Osorno, the national park is also home to the famous green Lake Todos los Santos and two other volcanoes, Tronador and Puntiagudo. 

For a less popular waterfall experience than Petrohué Falls, head to Salto Las Cascadas on the eastern side of the lake. Here you’ll drive to a makeshift parking lot and then walk down a 30 minute dirt trail until you reach a tall, skinny waterfall. Entrance is by donation. 

How Much Time to Spend in Frutillar, Chile

Most people come to Frutillar, Chile for a day trip or a half-day trip, which is enough time to see the highlights of the town. All I had was half a day, and that worked for me, though I know I would have been happier spending more time there.

But I think Frutillar would make a great base to explore Lake Llanquihue and the larger Lakes Region, as long as you have a car rental. It can even be a good alternative to basing in Puerto Varas, and it’s much smaller and quieter than Puerto Varas.

If you would rather spend a few day in a pleasant little town than a busier city like Puerto Varas, Frutillar could be a great option for you. It’s a little bit farther from sites on the east side of the lake, like Petrohué Falls and Salta Las Cascadas, but everything is still within driving distance. 

How to Get to Frutillar, Chile

The nice, village-like part of Frutillar worth exploring is called “Frutillar Bajo” on the map, and is right next to the lake. Frutillar Alto is a bigger, more industrial area that doesn’t have much tourist value.

If you’re based in Puerto Varas and have a car, it’s about a 30-minute drive to Frutillar, and the route includes highway and tolls. Unfortunately, there isn’t a small road that goes all the way around the lake; the highway is fast and easy, though.

You can also take a public bus to Frutillar, which will take about an hour.

You can also book a day tour to Frutillar and Llanquihue from Puerto Varas, which is easy and gives you tons of exploration time.

The closest airport to Frutillar and the Lakes Region is El Tepual Airport in Puerto Montt. From the airport, it’s a very pleasant 45-minute drive to Frutillar. 

And if you’re planning on explore the lakes of Argentina as well, it’s a 4.5-hour drive from Puerto Varas to Bariloche, Argentina. This route is served by tourist shuttles in Puerto Varas.

Once in Frutillar, you can easily get around on foot. But if you’re based here for days, I strongly recommend renting a car to best explore the Lakes Region and reach all of the little gems that aren’t as accessible by public transport. 

Where to Stay in Frutillar, Chile

Most people do a day trip to Frutillar from Puerto Varas or other nearby towns, but I think it’d be so nice to spend a few nights here. If you’ve decided to stay overnight, here are some of the top-rated accommodation options in Frutillar. 

• Top-Rated Luxury Hotel in Frutillar: Hotel Frutillar is an immaculate Alpine cottage set on the shores of Lake Llanquihue. Inside you’ll find rustic wooden accents, delicious breakfast, and kind staff. There are furnished apartments if you’d like a bit more space. 
• Top-Rated Mid-range Hotel in Frutillar: Amadeus Hotel Boutique is a beachfront property offering simple and bright cottage-style rooms and a wonderful breakfast in the morning. 
• Top-Rated Budget Hotel in Frutillar: Hospedaje Brisas de Frutillar is a homestay in Frutillar with a lush garden, basic rooms, a welcoming host and breakfast each morning. Note that this hotel is located in Frutillar Alto, about a 10 minute drive from Frutillar Bajo — the more scenic part of town on the lakeshore. 
• Find deals on more hotels in Frutillar here.

Best Time To Visit Frutillar, Chile

Frutillar is a pleasant place to visit year-round. Though you can expect more tourists during Southern Chile’s high season (December to March) and colder days with more rain in the low season (June to September).

To balance the crowds and the weather, you may want to aim for shoulder season, especially if you’re planning a longer trip to different parts of Chile and/or Argentina. Charlie and I visited Chile from late November through mid-December, and we enjoyed good weather for the most part, from the Atacama Desert in the north to Patagonia in the south.

However, there’s a good reason to visit Frutillar in the middle of high season — and not just for the better weather. Frutillar is known as the City of Music thanks to Semanas Musicales de Frutillar (Frutillar Music Weeks), a classical music festival that takes place every year between late January and early February. This is an amazing time to visit and catch a performance at the Teatro del Lago.

Is Frutillar Worth It?

I absolutely loved my time in Frutillar — it was one of my favorite parts of the Lakes District (which, in turn, was one of my biggest surprises and favorite parts of Chile). It is absolutely worth coming to Frutillar on a day trip, or even staying for a few days if you’d like.

I hope you have the most wonderful time in Frutillar! It’s a special place in Chile.

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Have you been to Frutillar? Share your tips!