Most of us don’t think of Germany as a ski destination. But Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany’s largest ski resort, offers more than just the opportunity to carve down some mountains. Pairing a ski trip with a city break can be a great way to enjoy some of the local culture.
Fly into Munich, enjoy a day or two of world-class German beer and hearty, soulful food, then jump on a fast train to reach Germany’s largest ski resort within a couple of hours. Or simply drop in to enjoy a weekend of skiing and escape some of the high-prices of the neighbouring Alpine countries.
Lets find out why this is a great call in our Garmisch-Partenkirchen ski resort review.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Overview
- Ski area: ⭐⭐⭐
- Price/affordability: ⭐⭐⭐
- Apres ski: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Accessibility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Total: ⭐⭐⭐
Situated near the border with Austria, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the result of two merged towns (Garmisch and Partenkirchen) which were forced to combine into one civic entity before the 1936 Winter Olympics were held there during Hitler’s Olympic year.
Nowadays, the resort (or rather, resorts as there are two sections) is the largest in all of Germany with 60 km worth of runs up to an elevation of 2,720m at the foot of Germany’s highest mountain: Zugspitze.
60 km in theory should keep you occupied for a good few days but one thing to bear in mind is that you need to hop on a one-hour mountain train (quite the experience) to access the Zugspitze area which is where the best skiing can be had.
Closer to the town awaits the Garmisch-Classic ski area which whilst it has more runs than Zugspitze, the runs tend to be shorter and lower meaning that the snow isn’t quite as reliable.
The town itself is charming and unlike many ski towns in Europe, it seems to be full of life throughout the year with full-time residents and tourists alike.
From Garmisch, several smaller German resorts can be accessed by car including:
- Kolbensattel – Oberammergau
- Kranzberg – Mittenwald
- Hörnle – Bad Kohlgrub
They’re all small-town ski areas and nothing like what you’d get in the more famous French or Austrian resorts, but there’s something to be said about getting off the beaten path.
In fact, if you’re looking for a ski trip with a more authentic and less resort-like vibe, we’re big fans of heading to these smaller and more localcentric resorts. You usually end up meeting more people, spending less money and enjoy some awesome terrain too.
How to get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen
One of the beautiful things about Garmisch-Partenkirchen is that it’s accessible, even without a car!
Visitors can choose to fly into Innsbruck across the border in Austria or into the Bavarian capital of Munich. There’s very little between them so it all depends on where you can snag a better deal on your flight or if you want to combine your trip with a city break.
Innsbruck is just under an hour’s drive or a 1 hour 20 direct train whilst Munich is a 90-minute drive or a 1 hour 20 direct train from the city centre.
Another option is by bus and Flixbus can be a great cost-effective option directly from Munich airport, removing the need to change in the city centre.
Ski Passes
Confusingly, the Garmisch-Classic provides access to both the Garmisch-Classic and Zugspitze ski areas. At 69 Euros for an all-day adult ticket, it’s a little on the expensive side but discounts can be obtained for under 18s and a family tariff parent.
View ticket prices at Zugspritze.
Should you be exploring other ski areas throughout Bavaria and Tyrol, it might be worth looking into a Top Snow Card which starts from 120 Euros for 2 days. This also makes it a little cheaper than buying two days just for Zugspritze, and it does cover the same ski area around Garmisch-Classic and Zugspitze as well as others.
This will get you access to Bavarian ski resorts such as Mittenwald, Lermoos and Biberweir and
Apres ski and eating out
As noted, the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a lovely little town and there are some great options for drinking and eating, as well as being relatively easy going on the wallet.
For authentic Bavarian fine dining, check out Husar. Shaka Burgerhouse meanwhile does some outstanding burgers, whilst a decadent pork knuckle can be found at Bräustüberl Garmisch.
For drinking, the vibes get going at Peaches until late, The Irish Pub does what it says on the tin and Pub 33 is a delightful little bar.
Should you find yourself in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in February, you might even be lucky enough to see the Carnival atmosphere of Fasching which can only be described as a mad merge between Mardi Gras and Halloween!
Who is Garmisch-Partenkirchen good for?
If you want a full week of skiing the world’s finest slopes through thick powdery snow then Garmisch-Partenkirchen probably isn’t for you.
What Garmisch-Partenkirchen does offer is something different and it’s a place to spend a few days skiing whilst appreciating the warm hospitality of Bavaria.
Whether it’s to combine a city break in nearby Munich with friends as I did or to enjoy a family friendly ski trip with options away from the slopes, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a lovely little town. With the added bonus of having 40-60 km (including Zugspitze) on its doorstep!
If you’re looking for a bit more inspiration, check out our guide to the cheapest ski resorts in Europe which features some proper gems.
