Last updated on February 5th, 2021

St Martin Parish Church, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

St Martin Parish Church, Garmisch

Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Zugspitze

One of the main reasons people come to Garmisch-Partenkirchen is to go up the Zugspitze (“train top”) mountain. You can reach the top of the Zugspitze by starting out on the cog train (Zugspitzbahn) right next to the main train station in Garmish. The Zugspitzbahn takes you to just short of the top of the mountain. A short gondola ride on the Gletscherban completes the journey. At the top of the Zugspitze, you can choose to take an exciting gondola ride back down the mountain on the Eibsee Seilbahn Cable Car. If you choose to return by cable car to Eibsee you will then catch the train or a bus back to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The Zugspitze is the highest peak in Germany.

Zugspitze, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Zugspitze

Old Town Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Wander the streets and shops. You will find Barvarian architecture and churches along a number of pedestrian areas near the main train station. Try streets like Am Kurpark in Garmish and Ludwigstrasse in Partenkirchen. They are close enough to each other to make a leisurely hike. The Olympic Ice Stadium is near the main train station too. In October the old town is filled with beer tents for Oktoberfest.

Ludwigstrasse, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Ludwigstrasse

Olympic Ski Jump Stadium

Visit the Olympic Ski Jump Stadium built in 2008. The stadium is located at the southeast edge of town beside the Eckbauerbahn train station that takes you up Mt Eckbauer. At the Olympic Ski Jump Stadium you will also find the start of the Partnach Gorge – a deep river gorge with a riverside path.

Alpine views from Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Alpine views from Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Hotels

Hotel Königshof – right at the train station and an easy walk to the Old Town pedestrian areas.

Staudacherhof History & Lifestyle – luxury inside, Bavarian style outside.

Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten – at the train station

Austrian Alps near Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Austrian Alps near Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Winter Skiing

Enjoy Garmisch-Partenkirchen winter skiing on several mountains, including the Zugspitze, Alpzpitze, Hausberg, Eckbauer and Wank. You can get to any of these by a short train ride to their cable car gondola stations. These mountains are great excursions in the summer or great winter skiing. On the Alpzpitze, visit the AlpspiX platform for a vertigo experience looking down 3,280-feet and then if you still have an appetite, have something to eat at the Alpzpitze Restaurant.

Am Kurpark Street, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Am Kurpark Street, Garmisch

Get to Garmish-Partenkirchen

You can get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen easily on frequent rail service from Munich to the north or from Innsbruck to the south. The express from Munich takes about an hour. A non-stop train to Innsbruck takes about 1.5 hours. There is a combination of bus and Ausserfern Railway that connects Garmisch-Partenkirchen with Füssen and Neuschwanstein Castle.

Ludwigs Apotheke, Bavarian exterior, Ludwigstrasse, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Ludwigstrasse, Partenkirchen

The city center and popular pedestrian areas are a short stroll from the train station. The cog wheel train to the Zugspitze starts beside the main train station and stops at several gondola stations along the way up the Zugspitze. Once you get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen you are in a prime ski area of the Alps, so expects lots of options for trains, cable cars, gondolas and chairlifts. Check out the options on the Zugspitze Map.

Partnach River divides Garmisch from Partenkirchen

Partnach River divides Garmisch from Partenkirchen

Garmish-Partenkirchen Weather

Garmisch-Partenkirchen weather makes two distinct tourist season. In summer, tourists to Europe arrive, but in winter the skiers take over. Average temperatures peak in July and August at 75 F (24 C), while lows are about 55 F (12 C). By December and January average highs are 36 F (2 C) and average lows are 25 F (-4 C). July and August are the rainiest months while January sees the lowest precipitation. May and September offer good weather, making them great months to visit.

Garmish-Partenkirchen – Background

The towns of Garmish and Partenkirchen are separated by the Partnach River. Although the river is small and the towns are basically not distinguishable, they have retained separate identities. Garmish-Partenkirchen is in southern Germany near the Austria border in the area called Bavaria. Just south of town are the Alpspitze and the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain. The area has been populated since Roman times. Garmish-Partenkirchen hosted the 1936 and 1972 Olympics, so you will find quality Olympic venues there today.

Related Blogs