Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Two towns stitched together beneath Germany's highest mountain, with a superb non-skiing menu: the frozen-blue Partnach Gorge, where ice curtains hang from seventy-metre walls, curling on the Riessersee, and the painted houses of Partenkirchen's Ludwigstrasse for the evening stroll.
- Best forWalkers & hikers · Skiers & snowboarders · Families
- In April11°C · 16 rainy days
- Ideal stay3–5 nights
- Approx. flying time~12h 05m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageGerman
- Local time12:361h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+49
Why go
Two Bavarian towns merged for the 1936 Winter Olympics and still visibly distinct: Partenkirchen keeps the painted houses and the older street plan, Garmisch keeps the shops. Above them stands the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain at 2,962 metres, reached by cog railway and cable car. The valley floor is broad and green in summer, and reliably snowy at altitude from December onwards.
It works as a base for a week in either season, with Munich ninety minutes north by train and Innsbruck about the same to the south. The skiing is decent rather than vast, while the walking, gorges and lakes make the stronger case. January delivers the frozen gorge and the cold; June to September gives high trails, wildflowers and long light evenings.
- Ideal stay
- 3–5 nights
- The vibe
- Alpine, painted, briskly outdoorsy
From our guides
Ride the cable car up the Zugspitze for glacier views without effort. The gorge is at its crystalline best in deep January cold — bring grippy soles and gloves for the handrails.
Featured in Ten cosy winter resorts for people who don't really ski
Things to do
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Partnach Gorge
A 700-metre chasm with walkways cut into the rock and walls up to eighty metres high, hung with ice curtains in midwinter.
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Zugspitze summit
A cog railway and cable car reach Germany's highest point, with a glacier plateau and views into four countries on clear days.
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Eibsee
A green-blue lake at the foot of the Zugspitze with a flat seven-kilometre shore walk and rowing boats through the summer.
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Ludwigstrasse
Partenkirchen's old main street, lined with frescoed houses and painted façades, and home to the town's more characterful cafés and traditional inns.
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Olympic ski stadium
The 1936 jumping hill, still used for the New Year's Day competition in the Four Hills tournament, and open to visitors otherwise.
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Riessersee
A small lake south of town with skating and curling when it freezes hard, and an easy walking loop the rest of the year.
Getting there
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Fly to
Innsbruck (INN)
Nearest airport to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, about 32km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Garmisch-Partenkirchen
About an hour and a quarter by car from Innsbruck (INN) over the Seefeld road, or a similar time by train with a change at Mittenwald. Munich airport is the more common arrival, roughly two hours by car or two and a half by train via Munich Hauptbahnhof.
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On the ground
Getting around
The twin towns are walkable and linked by local buses, with the Partnach Gorge reached by a 25-minute walk from the Olympic ski stadium. The cog railway and cable cars up the Zugspitze start from the edge of town.
Public transport: Strong: hourly regional trains from Munich, local buses to the valleys and the mountain railways all connect, and guest cards often cover the buses.
Flights
Los Angeles Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
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Roughly 12h 05m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 4°C in January to 22°C in July. Driest in January and October and November; wettest in May, with rain on about 22 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
April11° · rain 16 daysCool and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Bavarian gasthofs and family-run hotels with balconies and geraniums, plus a great many Ferienwohnungen, holiday flats let by the week. Very few international chains.
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Best base overall
Partenkirchen
The older, calmer half, with painted facades along Ludwigstrasse, the walk to the Partnach gorge from the Olympic stadium and quieter evenings. Fewer shops than the Garmisch side.
Find stays in Partenkirchen -
Closest to the sights
Garmisch
The busier half holds the main station, the Zugspitze train, the pedestrian shopping streets and most of the bars. Convenient, though the architecture is postwar rather than picture book.
Find stays in Garmisch -
Best with children
Grainau
A village at the foot of the Zugspitze with meadows, a lake for paddling and the cable car station nearby. Buses into town are regular but stop early in the evening.
Find stays in Grainau -
Best value
Farchant
Five minutes north, a working village of guesthouses charging noticeably less than the resort, with the same trains and the same trails. Little atmosphere, generous breakfasts.
Find stays in Farchant
Worth knowing before you book: Rooms vanish around the New Year ski jumping and in the February half terms, and many places want at least three nights in winter.
Search everything else in Garmisch-Partenkirchen by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Pack this
- Grippy boots and gloves for the gorge in winter, when the walkway is icy and you will be using the handrails constantly.
- Getting there
- Direct trains from Munich take about ninety minutes and run hourly, which makes a car unnecessary for most trips.
- Timing
- The gorge is at its best in deep cold, roughly January to February. High trails are usually clear of snow from June.
- Crowds
- The Zugspitze railway is busiest between ten and two. Going up first thing gives clearer air and much shorter queues.
- Cash or card
- Card acceptance has improved but small Bavarian inns and mountain huts still often want cash. Carry euros.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Zugspitze
Germany · 11km away →
Seefeld
Austria · 19km away →
Innsbruck
Austria · 34km away →
A Tyrolean farmhouse
Austria · 44km away →
Alpbach
Austria · 65km away →
Munich
Germany · 80km away →Elsewhere in Germany
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
Daytime highs run from about 4°C in January to 22°C in July. Driest in January and October and November; wettest in May, with rain on about 22 days.
How long should I spend in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
Our suggestion: 3–5 nights.
How do I get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
About an hour and a quarter by car from Innsbruck (INN) over the Seefeld road, or a similar time by train with a change at Mittenwald. Munich airport is the more common arrival, roughly two hours by car or two and a half by train via Munich Hauptbahnhof.
Do I need a car in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
No. Strong: hourly regional trains from Munich, local buses to the valleys and the mountain railways all connect, and guest cards often cover the buses.
What currency and language are used in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: German. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is Garmisch-Partenkirchen best for?
Best for walkers & hikers, skiers & snowboarders and families. In a phrase: alpine, painted, briskly outdoorsy.