Guten Tag, fellow travelers and hikers! If you dream of visiting the Bavarian Alps, then the enchanting town of Garmisch Partenkirchen must be on your itinerary. Located in between a breathtaking landscape of snow-capped peaks, lush valleys, and picturesque lakes, this town is a gem for nature enthusiasts. As a travel blogger and hiking fan, I can’t resist sharing my delightful time in this area and the top-notch things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen.
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HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED IN GARMISCH PARTENKIRCHEN?
The answer to this question will depend on what activities you want to do and how much time you have. If you’re an avid hiker and love nature, then you can easily spend 4 days in Garmisch Partenkirchen.
In my case, I stayed here for two days, and even though the weather was not the best, we were able to enjoy a few shorter hikes. If you want to add a longer hike, then you might want to stay here an extra day.
PLAN YOUR ROAD TRIP TO BAVARIA, GERMANY
- Book your flights with Skyscanner.com
- Book your car with Rentalcars.com
- Find the best places to stay with Booking.com
- Get reliable travel insurance.
- Find the best activities to do like this full-day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle.
- Don’t forget to pack your hiking boots, a rain jacket, and a power bank.
- Read Munich and the Bavarian Alps as a preparation for your trip and Walking in the Bavarian Alps to choose the best hikes.
ACCOMMODATION IN GARMISCH PARTENKIRCHEN
Accommodation in Garmisch Partenkirchen is a bit expensive but if you make your book reservations in advance, you might be able to find some good deals.
Here are a few recommendations:
how to get to garmisch partenkirchen?
The easiest way to reach Garmisch Partenkirchen is by renting a car and driving there yourself. It is approximately an hour’s drive from Munich (90 km).
If you don’t feel like driving, it is also possible to reach Garmisch Partenkirchen by train. There is a direct train that will bring you
from Munich in 1 hour and 15 minutes. In addition, once you’ve reach Garmisch, there are public buses and local trains that will get you to the main sites without any issue.
Another option is to join an organized day trip from Munich. However, in this case, you will not be able to do all the activities listed here.
THINGS TO DO IN GARMISCH PARTENKIRCHEN
To help you plan your trip, I have gathered all the places mentioned in this blog in the following map.
1. Eibsee
Eibsee, located near Garmisch-Parterkirchen will surely become another of the highlights of your Bavarian Road Trip. At 1000 meters above sea level, Eibsee is a blind lake. This means that water enters and exits the lake via underwater streams. The lake was created approximately 3700 years ago when the Isar-Loisach Glacier backed out and the lake’s basin was formed.
Did you know that Eibsee is private property? It was bought by August Terne in 1844 and has been in its family ever since.
One of the many things that you can do in this lake is to go for a hike along the lake. The trail is 7,5 km long and it will take you around the lake under beautiful trees with entries to small pebbled beaches where you can rest and admire the views of the lake with the majestic Zugspitze in the background.
Unfortunately, during our visit here, it was raining and very cloudy so we could not see the Zugspitze from the lake, but the lake was impressive nevertheless.
But hiking along the lake is not the only activity you can do at Eibsee. There are many possibilities depending on the time of the year that you visit:
- During the summer months, it is possible to go for a swim in the lake.
- It is also possible to rent a boat or a SUP and explore the lake from the water.
- Cycling around the lake and the surroundings is another thing that you can do. There are many cycling routes that you can follow.
2. Zugspitze
Next to Garmisch Partenkirchen, you can also find the highest peak in Germany, Zugspitze with 2962m. From there, on a clear day, you will be able to see scenic views of 4 different countries and 400 surrounding peaks in Germany. It is a breathtaking view!
Gondola tickets are a bit expensive 63 euro/person but it is so worth it! Tickets for the gondola ride can be bought either online or directly at the cable car entrance. If you’re not going during high season, there is a small discount if you show your parking ticket when buying your tickets.
Tip: Before buying the gondola tickets, make sure to check the live webcams to find out what the weather conditions are up there. In our case, it was really clouded in Garmisch but the clouds were so low, that the peak was very sunny.
3. Olympic Ski Jump Stadium
On top of all the ski resorts, Garmisch Partenkirchen is famous for hosting every New Year, a Ski Jump competition. While in Garmisch Partenkirchen, make sure to include a visit to the Olympia Stadium.
This stadium was built in 1934 and was used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games in 1936. It was also planned to be used for the 1940 Olympic Games but had to be canceled due to the outbreak of WWII. The stadium was built at the feet of the Große Olympiaschanze (Big Olympic Hill) which is 144m high and hosts 4 ski jump trampolines of different heights.
It is possible to visit the stadium and if you’re willing to do the exercise, climb to the top of the ski jump trampolines from which you will get fantastic views of Garmisch Partenkirchen.
4. Partnachklamm
Partnach Gorge or Partnachklamm in German is a deep gorge that has been incised by a mountain stream, the Partnach, in the Reintal Valley near Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The gorge is 702 meters long and, in several places, over 80 meters deep. In 1912, it was designated a natural monument.
The gorge is impressive and very pretty with many waterfalls along the way but it only takes approximately 30 minutes to visit it (including multiple stops for photos). After the gorge, you can either decide to return back Garmisch via Mount Graseck or continue to another hike.
Practical information: To enter the gorge, you will have to buy a 5 euro ticket that can be purchased either online or at the gorge directly.
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN GARMISCH PARTENKIRCHEN
The places listed before are the ones I visited during my visit to Garmisch Partenkirchen. Our activities were a bit impacted by the weather conditions and the time of the year we visited. If you have some extra time, or you are visiting during a better weather time, here are some other options you might want to consider and add to your itinerary.
1. Hike via Hollentalklamm and Kreuzeck
If you’re looking for a more challenging but beautiful hike, then you might want to try the Hollental Loop hike. This hike was on the very top of my bucket list of activities to do when in Garmisch but when we visited, the hike was not open yet due to weather conditions.
2. Visit Hollentalklamm
If the hike Hollental Loop hike is a bit too demanding for you, then you might want to make it shorter and just visit Hollentalklamm. This is another beautiful gorge, similar to the Partnachklamm with beautiful blue waters.
Good to know: This Gorge is only open from late spring until early autumn. Make sure to check the official website if you want to visit to be sure it is open.
3. Take one of the other gondolas up to the mountains
The Zugspitze Gondola is not the only one in the area. If you like beautiful views in the mountains there are many other gondolas you can take near Garmisch.
- Hausbergbahn Gondola: Taking this gondola ride will bring you to 1338 meters up the Hausberghohe.
- Kreuzeckbahn Gondola: This one will bring you to the top of the Kreuzeck at 1650 meters.
- Wankbahn Cable Car: Go up to Mount Wank at 1755 m and then hike up to the summit (1780 meters) to get magnificent views of the Garmisch basin.
And that’s it for my blog about the things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen. I hope you liked it and found it useful. Let me know what you thought in the comments!
Happy hiking!
DISCLAIMER: Did you know? This blog uses affiliate partnerships. When you click and book or make a purchase through one of my blog posts, I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting The Travelling Hiker!
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