Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Top Insider Tips & Things to Do

Tips and Info for a Vacation in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Before we dive into our favorite things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, here are a few practical travel tips to help you plan your trip.

Location

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is located in the state of Bavaria, in the far south of Germany, right on the border with Austria.

From Munich, it’s a little over an hour by car. Innsbruck is also just an hour’s drive away.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen sits in the Bavarian Alps, right at the foot of the Zugspitze. The Allgäu region is reachable in about an hour and a half by car.

Neuschwanstein Castle, one of the most stunning attractions in Bavaria, is about an hour away.

Our Hotel Picks

Here are our hotel recommendations for Garmisch-Partenkirchen across all price ranges.

Interview with Two Locals: The Best Insider Tips for Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Our Experts

We’re Line and Sebastian from the adventure travel blog Off The Path, and we travel the world in search of unforgettable experiences.
We spent the last few years living in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and had quite a few adventures right on our doorstep. From hiking and sledding to SUP paddling tours and even spending the night in an igloo on Germany’s highest mountain.

On our blog you’ll find even more tips for unique experiences and activities in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Three Words

Adventurous, idyllic, traditional.

Why Go There!

There’s genuinely something to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in every season. In summer, the mountains and valleys all around invite you to hike, mountain bike, cycle, and climb.
In winter, the region transforms into a stunning winter wonderland that you can explore on skis, a snowboard, cross-country skis, or a sled.
Water sports enthusiasts and thrill-seekers are also very well catered to here. How about a whitewater kayak course on the Loisach? Or a tandem paragliding flight from the Alpspitze? A real adrenaline rush is guaranteed.

Unique to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

That’s clearly the Zugspitze — at 2,962 meters, Germany’s highest mountain. We’ve summited it not just in summer, but also in winter amid ice and snow, and enjoyed a breathtaking panorama of the snow-covered Alps.

Things to Do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Must Sees

For us, it’s clearly the Zugspitze. Rather than taking the gondola up like most visitors, though, we’d recommend climbing the Zugspitze as part of a hut-to-hut tour through the Reintal valley — of course, only if you have the time, fitness, experience, and gear for it. We’ve also written a detailed article with tips for climbing the Zugspitze.
In second place for us is the Eibsee, whose turquoise water and the Wetterstein massif in the background make it feel like a mountain lake in Canada.
You can swim in the lake, stroll around it, or rent a SUP board on-site — that way you can paddle to corners where you’ll have the Eibsee entirely to yourself.
Also seriously impressive is the Partnach Gorge, a narrow canyon with roaring turquoise waters. Since it gets quite touristy, your best bet is to visit early in the morning or late in the evening, when sunbeams bathe the gorge in golden light — it creates a magical atmosphere and beautiful photos.
By the way, you can also admire the Partnach Gorge from above — from the Iron Bridge.
If you have the time, it’s also worth hiking up to the Wank — ideally for sunrise. From the top you enjoy a 360° view that takes in not only the Zugspitze and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but also the wild Upper Isar Valley, Lake Starnberg, and on a clear day even as far as Munich.

On Rainy Days

On a rainy day, the best thing to do after all those adventures is relax in the sauna. We can really recommend the Boutique Hotel Werdenfelserei, which has stunning views of the surrounding mountains and offers a day pass for their wellness area. The standout highlight is the heated pool on the hotel’s rooftop terrace, from which you look directly at the Zugspitze.
Alternatively, the Museum Werdenfels is well worth a visit: it tells the history and culture of the Werdenfels region. Incidentally, this is also where you’ll find the original summit cross from the Zugspitze, which weighs a full 150 kilograms.
The Richard Strauss Institute tells you everything about the life and works of the famous composer, who spent his final years in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

With Kids

We already mentioned the Partnach Gorge — and it’s also a fantastic pick for vacations with kids! The gorge is easy to walk through, and the colors, sounds, and dark tunnels along the way provide plenty of variety. Above the gorge, the Kaiserschmarrn-Alm awaits — a perfect destination for a day trip that makes everyone happy, parents included!
Also great is the Genuss-Erlebnisweg trail. It runs three kilometers from the mountain station of the Alpspitzbahn to the Kreuzeckbahn station and is mostly gently downhill.
Right at the start, the AlpspiX platform is a real standout: from here you look down 1,000 meters into the Höllental valley below. Then you pass 18 stations that turn the hike into a fun-filled adventure for kids.
Right next to the Olympic Stadium — which with its massive ski jump is also worth seeing for kids — there’s a summer toboggan run. Over a length of 850 meters, you navigate a mega loop, lots of curves, and a drop of 41 meters. For kids who need even more action, there’s also a trampoline to burn off some energy.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Winter

Winter is seriously impressive here. Near Garmisch-Partenkirchen lies the Garmisch Classic ski resort, which combines the three ski mountains of Hausberg, Kreuzeck, and Alpspitze.
The famous Kandahar downhill run is also located here. It’s the venue each year for the well-known Kandahar Race: a 92% gradient that delivers a serious adrenaline rush! But the resort also features blue and red runs, as well as a children’s ski area for the little ones.
Alternatively, the region can be explored on a ski tour, while cross-country skiing, or on a winter hike. We love grabbing our sleds and hiking up to either the Tannenhütte on the Wank or the St. Martinshütte on the Grasberg, then racing back down the snow-covered forest paths.
Pretty cool and truly unique is the Igloo Village on the Zugspitze. Here you spend the night in a hotel made of ice and snow that is built from scratch every winter. It’s located at an altitude of 2,600 meters and offers not only a restaurant and a bar, but also ice art and even an outdoor hot tub under the stars!

For Relaxation

For us, the mountains and nature are the best place to unwind — and you don’t need to go far. Just hiking a few hundred meters uphill is enough: for example up to the Tannenhütte on the Wank, or head to the Eibsee.
To truly recharge, we also recommend the previously mentioned wellness area at the Werdenfelserei. Whether in the sauna, in the rooftop pool, or reading a book in the relaxation room with mountain views — you’re guaranteed to switch off completely here.

Best Viewpoint

We love the Wank. From up here you look out at the Zugspitze and enjoy a 360° vista taking in the Zugspitze, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the wild Upper Isar Valley, and Lake Starnberg. On a clear day you can even see all the way to Munich. We especially love it at sunrise.
Compared to the Zugspitze, the summit is also far less crowded, and the gondola ride is cheaper.

Best Photo Spot

Right next to the Eibsee is the Untersee, which you can reach by SUP board or via a narrow hiking trail. On the eastern shore of the lake, a rope hangs down from one of the trees that you can use to swing out and drop into the water. With the Zugspitze in the background, it makes for a fantastic photo!
To get the Zugspitze even more prominently in the frame, your best bet is to head to the Riessersee. The shot is especially beautiful in fall, when the summit is snow-capped and the leaves are turning colorful.
Near Farchant you’ll find the little-known Kuhfluchtwasserfälle: behind the name hide three waterfalls with a combined drop of around 270 meters, making them among the tallest in Germany — a great spot for long-exposure photography.
Another beautiful subject is the village of Wamberg, located in the direction of Krün. The Zugspitze towers behind the church, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen is also visible in the scene.
Go a little further and you’ll reach the Sylvensteinspeicher reservoir, which, much like the Eibsee, looks like it could have come straight out of a Canadian travel photo. Especially with a drone, you can capture stunning aerial shots here, such as from the Faller-Klamm-Brücke bridge.
And if you’re already in the area, it’s worth driving even further to the Ahornboden in Austria. Especially in fall, when the leaves turn orange-brown, you’ll get spectacular shots here.

Craziest Activity

Spending the night in an igloo on Germany’s highest mountain is, in our opinion, already pretty wild — but also pricey. Slightly more affordable but at least just as crazy is a tandem paragliding flight.
We launched from the Osterfelderkopf, right below the Alpspitze — and you can even fly in winter.
If you’ve caught the flying bug, you can learn it properly at the Paragliding School Garmisch-Partenkirchen!

Best Event of the Year

Probably the best-known event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the New Year’s Ski Jumping, the traditional second stop of the Four Hills Tournament. At least as famous are the Oberammergau Passion Play, considered the most famous passion play in the world.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen also hosts the Richard Strauss Festival, which pays tribute to the composer.

Food and Drink in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Culinary Specialty

Clearly Haxe! Traditionally, the pork knuckle here is braised in dark beer and served with mixed dumplings and apple red cabbage — absolutely delicious.

Favorite Restaurants

For authentic Bavarian cuisine, head to Restaurant Zum Wildschütz: the pork knuckle here is seriously good, generous in size, and relatively affordable.
At Café Süße Augenblicke you’ll find delicious cakes, and for the best coffee head to the Wild Kaffee roastery.
For a cozy evening with drinks in a cool atmosphere, we recommend the bar Cuatro Hombres, which is housed in a former auto repair shop.

Best Ice Cream

In our opinion, the best ice cream is at Eiscafé Bellini. We’re big fans of spaghetti ice cream, and it’s genuinely great here. The ice cream shop sits on a main road but has a small, cozy outdoor seating area right next to a walking path.

Best Breakfast

A great breakfast spread can be found at Café Bar Berge: classic bread and rolls with cold cuts and cheese, eggs, granola, bowls, croissants — they’ve got it all.

Day Trips into Nature near Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Best Swimming Spots

Great for swimming — and also with kids — are the Eibsee, the Barmsee and the Grubsee. The latter two are a bit outside of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the direction of Krün, but are less crowded as a result.
If you don’t want to drive quite as far, you can also head up to the Pflegersee. The water reaches temperatures of 19 to 23 degrees Celsius in summer, and the natural sunbathing spots at the lido invite you to relax.

Most Beautiful Hike

The most beautiful — but also longest — hike leads up to the Zugspitze. The easiest route winds through the Partnach Gorge and up the Reintal valley to the Knorrhütte and then on to the summit.
While it’s possible to do the hike in a single day, we’d really recommend turning it into a three-day hut-to-hut trek, descending afterward via the Gatterl pass into Ehrwald in Austria.

Most Beautiful Cycling Route

From Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a lovely bike ride leads to the Geroldsee: you pedal through the valley between the Estergebirge and Wetterstein mountains, with beautiful mountain views along the way.
You can choose whether to take it easy and follow the bike path along the main road, or cover part of the route via the Alte Gsteig and the Gschwandtnerbauer.
Alternatively, there’s also a narrow forest road that’s a bit steeper through the woods. All in all, this bike ride covers around 27 kilometers.

Day Trip from Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Very close to Garmisch-Partenkirchen lies the Murnauer Moos, the largest continuous peat bog in Central Europe. This nature reserve is great for hiking, such as along the Murnauer Moos circular trail.
Also really cool is a mini road trip along the two toll roads between Wallgau and Vorderriß and between Jachenau and Walchensee.
Much like the Eibsee, the Walchensee has turquoise-blue water and is often nicknamed the Bavarian Caribbean.
The region also has two castles that are absolutely worth seeing: Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle — the latter is one of Germany’s most famous attractions.

Where to Stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Favorite Hotel

Hands down the Werdenfelserei! Here tradition meets modernity, the scent of Swiss stone pine wood fills every room, the rooms are cozily furnished, and the hotel’s location — peacefully situated on the Kurpark yet still central — is perfect.
On top of that, you get to enjoy not only a hearty breakfast in the morning, but also great drinks in the evening — or treat yourself to some time in the hotel’s wellness area.