The 15 BEST things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the winter

Last updated on June 6th, 2026

We’re sharing the best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany in the winter, plus where to stay, our favorite places to eat, and more!

Set in the Bavarian Alps, near the Austrian border, is one of Germany’s ultimate mountain towns: Garmisch-Partenkirchen. This year round paradise is known for its beautiful hikes and natural sights, winter activities, Bavarian architecture, and mountain views.

Things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the winter

In the winter of 2023 we went on a magical winter European trip to Germany, Estonia, and Finland. One of the stops we were most excited about was Garmisch-Partenkirchen. And it did NOT disappoint!

During our few days in the area we visited the Zugspitze, the highest point in Germany, walked through the stunning Partnach Gorge, hiked up to a mountain hut, indulged in traditional Bavarian food, and strolled the charming streets. All while we gaped at the stunning snow covered mountains that surrounded us!

Ready to experience this German winter wonderland for yourself? We’re sharing all of the best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the winter, plus helpful tips (including some mistakes we made!) to make sure your time in the area is a success!

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15 best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the winter

While Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a year round destination, we’re solely covering the best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the winter.

However, if you are visiting in the spring or summer, you can still partake in many of these activities! Although your experience will be a bit different and much more green. Based on how much we LOVED this area in the winter, we are already dying to re-visit in the warmer months!

1. Visit the top of Zugspitze

Zugspitze is the highest peak in Germany at 2,962 meters (9,717 feet for our fellow Americans). And it is easily one of the best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen!

This peak was first summited back in 1820, which kicked off a desire to have the peak be accessible by all. But it wasn’t until 1930 that a cogwheel train took its inaugural ride up to the plateau, with a cable car the rest of the way to the summit being completed a year later. And today the mountain receives about half a million visitors!

There are two main areas to explore: the plateau and the summit. And both offer a variety of experiences!

A+K Tip: Make sure to time your visit for a clear day. Not only do they often close the cogwheel train or gondolas to the top if it’s stormy, but you also wouldn’t have any views. And with a steep entrance fee, you will want to get your money’s worth!

Zugspitze Plateau

Zugspitze | Things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the winter

The Plateau lies just below the summit and not only has AMAZING views, but also is home to the Zugspitze ski area, Germany’s highest church, a restaurant and bar, plus our favorite activity…tobogganing. You can rent a sledge and race down the handful of slopes. WARNING: You get going REALLY fast! We had a nice little wipeout and smashed some sunglasses.

You can also stay in an igloo! From the end of December until early April, a seasonal igloo hotel is created on the plateau. This is a bucket list item for us in the future!

Zugspitze Summit

Once arriving at the summit, you’ll notice a crazy glass building that looks like a villain’s lair straight out of a James Bond film. Inside this building you can find a restaurant called Panorama 2962, plus a coffee shop, which have amazing views outside of the tall windows.

Outside, you’ll find a terrace with various viewpoints of the surrounding Alps. Plus you can walk across the border into Austria! Which from our experience was much windier and colder than the Germany side.

How to get to Zugspitze

There are two main ways to get to and from Zugspitze from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The first option is taking a cogwheel train from Garmisch-Partenkirchen up to the Zugspitze plateau and then taking a cable car to the summit.

The second option is taking a car, cogwheel train, or a bus to Eibsee. From there, you’ll take a different cable car from Eibsee all the way to the summit. This cable car has multiple world records, including having the longest freely suspended section of rope in the world at 3.2 KM.

The cost is the same regardless of which route you take and you can find ticket cost and info at the Zugspitze website. We personally suggest taking the cogwheel train to the plateau on the way up, enjoying the plateau for a bit before going to the summit. And then on the way down, taking the long cable car.

Just want to visit Zugspitze for the day? If you’re coming from Munich, this Zugspitze Mountain Van Tour is a great option! Use our code APLUSK10 for 10% off!

2. Hike Partnachklamm (Partnach Gorge)

How to visit the Partnach Gorge (Partnachklamm) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Another one of the best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is hiking Partnachklamm (Partnach Gorge). This 699 meter (0.5 mile) long gorge has been formed overtime by the Partnach River, whose bright blue waters still rush through its 86 meter (282 feet) tall walls.

There is a paved pathway that takes you along the river, through the gorge, with a bunch of fun tunnels to walk through. And in the winter, you’ll be treated to waterfalls flowing down, plus icicles clinging to the rock faces. It is an absolutely magical sight and not something you’d expect to see in Germany!

To learn more about how to get to the Partnach Gorge, ticket information, what to wear, and other tips, check out our full guide to visiting the Partnach Gorge, with everything you need to know!

3. Walk around Garmisch & Partenkirchen

After visiting the Bavarian themed town of Leavenworth in Washington numerous times, it was so exciting to finally visit a real Bavarian town. And Garmisch-Partenkirchen is not only home to one, but two different towns to explore!

Before the 1936 Olympics, Garmisch and Partenkirchen were two separate towns. They were forced to merge, but still have two distinct areas. Garmisch (western side) is the more modern side of town, while Partenkirchen (eastern side) is the quieter, more historic area. In fact, Partenkirchen was originally founded by the Romans and lies along an ancient trading route!

Both areas have blocks of shops, restaurants, and Bavarian architecture. Including lots of lüftlmalerei, which are murals that tell different stories, like from fairy tales, medieval times, or more personal stories to the building owners.

And while we enjoyed walking around both, we especially loved the Partenkirchen side. The Historische Ludwigstraße is lined with cobblestone streets, pastel colored buildings, and adorned with frescos, which gives it a more quaint and charming feel. While you’re there, make sure to pick up chocolates from Chocolaterie Amelie.

4. Visit Eibsee

Eibsee is a crystal clear, turquoise lake that sits at the base of Zugspitze, with a pretty epic Bavarian Alps backdrop. It is one of the top things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen, any time of the year. And the best way to experience it is to walk the Eibsee Loop Trail!

Unfortunately, due to some rough weather, combined with not having a rental car (more on this issue later on!), we were unable to visit. But we did get a great glimpse of it from above when at Zugspitze! And it is at the very top of our to-do list for our next visit.

5. Hike to a mountain hut

Another one of the best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the winter is to hike to a mountain hut! What’s better than hiking in the snow covered forest and popping into a cozy mountain hut for a delicious meal and drink?

While the hiking is best in the area during the late spring and summer, there are many trails that are cleared during the winter, making them accessible even with snow all around. And the best part is that you can easily access them right from town!

During our visit we hiked to Tannenhütte and highly recommend it. The hike takes you from Partenkirchen, up a pretty steep walkway in the forest, and across a suspension bridge, to this modern hut overlooking town and the mountains. You can view our route here! We wanted to continue onto Eckenhütte as well, but the weather wasn’t great, so it didn’t feel worth the effort.

While at the hut you can not only soak up the stunning views, but also sit by the fire and enjoy some yummy Bavarian classics like käsespätzle and kartoffelsuppe (potato soup). Plus one of our favorite desserts, kaiserschmarrn, which are pieces of sweetened pancakes, topped with fruit or jam.

Another hut option is Kaiserschmarrn-Alm, just past Partnachklamm!

Note: Huts may have irregular hours in the winter, so make sure to check opening times beforehand. If you get to the hut and it ends up being closed, at least you’ll have gotten in a nice hike and have mountain views!

6. Enjoy Bavarian food

Speaking of food, Garmisch-Partenkirchen has a variety of local restaurants where you can try traditional Bavarian foods. Our favorite spot in town was Bräustüberl Garmisch, which has a warm and cozy tavern feel on the inside. Plus delicious food!

We had the best pumpkin soup of our lives here (admittedly, we haven’t had many, but dang it was GOOD!). And the schweinshaxe (roasted pork knuckle) was top notch!

Some other great Bavarian spots around town are Hofbräustüberl Garmisch, Mukkefukk (known for their salad dressing!), Wolpertinger, Zum Wildschütz, and Gasthaus zur Schranne.

Prefer non-Bavarian food? Colosseo is a go-to for Italian food, Kebab & Smash has burgers and kebabs, and Bungalow 7 offers pub fare and drinks.

7. Warm up with a hot drink!

On a cold winter day, one of the best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is head to a cafe for a hot drink! Our favorite spot in town was Wildkaffee, which not only had amazing coffee, but also some heavenly cakes. Plus, the interior is super nice!

We had a hard time getting ourselves to visit anywhere else, but next time we want to check out Centro Kaffeebar, Café Bar Berge, Der Laden, and Café Max.

8. Check out the Christmas market

If you’re visiting Garmisch-Partenkirchen in December, make sure to check out their Christmas Market. It typically runs until right before Christmas Eve. While pretty small, it still has a handful of delicious foods to try, and of course, gluhwein. Plus, there is no better way to get in the holiday spirit!

Unsure what foods to try at German Christmas Markets? We’ve gotcha covered! See our list of must eat German Christmas Market food and drinks!

9. See the Olympic Ski Jump

Garmisch-Partenkirchen was home to the Winter Olympics in 1936. And you can still see evidence of the games at the Olympic Ski Jump! This jump has a total height of 149 meters (488 feet) and is a sight to behold. Especially when you think about people actually jumping off of it! 😱

You can view it for free or take a tour, which is offered year round. And if you happen to be in town on New Year’s Day, go watch the ski jumping event at the Olympic Ski Jump!

10. Go Skiing

Skiing is easily one of the best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the winter. You are in the Alps afterall! Besides the Zugspitze ski area, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is home to 40 kilometers of ski runs, across three mountains, at Garmisch Classic. You can find something for all skill levels here, plus skiing lessons, a kids training area, and ski rentals.

11. Visit AlpspiX

If skiing isn’t your thing, but you still want to get up into the mountains, Garmisch-Partenkirchen has different cable cars (besides Zugspitze) that can take you up into the mountains.

Our top pick would be going up to Alpspix. This X shaped viewing platform has amazing views of town, which lies 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) below you! It’s easy to get to the Alpspix by taking the Alpspitzbahn cable car from the Alpspitzbahn valley station.

12. Visit the Werdenfels Regional Museum

For a good rainy day activity, or if you’d just like to learn more about the area’s history, pay a visit to the Werdenfels Regional Museum. The museum exhibits a historic trading house that shares what life was like centuries ago, plus the cultural history of the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district.

You’ll also see different artifacts, like traditional costumes and jewelry, crafts and folk art, the original Zugspitze cross, and more! For current hours and ticket prices visit the museum’s website.

13. Hike to Kuhfluchtwasserfälle

Just north of Garmisch-Partenkirchen lies Kuhfluchtwasserfälle, a free waterfall that plunges 270 meters (885 feet) over three levels. And in the winter, it freezes and turns into a magical veil of icicles. To access the waterfall, you can hike this trail. But beware, the trail is snowy and icy, so you will need microspikes to safely hike.

14. See Burgruine Werdenfels

Octagon, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Germany is known for having a plethora of castles and located a few minutes north of Garmisch-Partenkirchen is Burgruine Werdenfels. These castle ruins sit 80 meters (262 feet) above the valley and date back to the 13th century. After exploring the ruins, head to Berggasthof Pflegersee for a warm meal overlooking Pflegersee!

15. Take a day trip

While there are plenty of things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the winter, one huge perk of the area is that there are many other small towns and attractions nearby! So if you have a spare day, we suggest going on a day trip. Here are a few of the popular day trip options!

Explore the nearby towns

There are a handful of small towns close to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which make for a great day trip. You can explore the frescoes of Oberammergau, visit a distillery in a monastery at Ettal Abbey, and wander the charming village of Mittenwald, which German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said is “a picture book come alive.”

Linderhof Palace

King Ludwig II is known as the Fairytale King because he spent his money on building castles and art. And the Linderhof Palace is not only one of King Ludwig II’s three palaces, but is the only one completed and lived in by the King most of the time. This is one of the most popular historical sites to see in Southern Germany and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visits to the palace are only possible through a guided tour and tickets can be bought online or at the castle box office.

Innsbruck, Austria

Just a short 1 hour drive (or 1.5 hour scenic train ride!) through the mountains is Innsbruck, Austria. We decided to take a day trip here during our time in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and loved it! Not only was it fun to visit another country, but the city itself is beautiful, with colorful buildings, a bright blue river, and mountain backdrop.

We spent our day wandering around its 500 year old Altstadt (old town), strolling down Maria-Theresien-Straße, checking out its Christmas Market, and grabbing multiple hot coffees (we loved haepinest and manni.coffee).

For those looking for outdoor adventure, you can take the gondola up to Nordkette or go skiing at nearby ski resorts. And for a fun cultural experience, attend the Tyrolean Evenings with the Gundolf Family, which is a fun night of music!

Füssen & Neuschwanstein Castle

Quite possibly the most famous castle in all of Germany (and maybe the world) is the Neuschwanstein Castle near Füssen. This is another one of the castles built by King Ludwig II and is famous for inspiring Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. You can view this castle for free from Marienbrücke (often closed due to ice in the winter) or by walking the grounds. Or you can take a tour inside!

Right by Neuschwanstein is another castle you can visit and tour, Hohenschwangau Castle, as well as the beautiful Alpsee! But besides the castles, the town of Füssen is not to be missed either, with its medieval architecture, plus a rushing river and waterfall.

While only an hour drive from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in our opinion Füssen is worth more than just a day trip, which is why we wrote an entire guide sharing the best things to do in Füssen! And to learn more about visiting Neuschwanstein, check out our complete guide to visiting in the winter.

Planning your trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

How to get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is located a little over 1 hour southwest of Munich, Germany and 1 hour north of Innsbruck, Austria. You can easily get here by car or by train, which is what we did! Germany has a very well developed and functioning train system. And getting from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen was a breeze! We recommend buying train tickets through Trainline.

However, whenever we visit again, we plan to drive instead. More on why next!

Getting around Garmisch-Partenkirchen

With a walkable town, taxis, and a pretty good public transportation system, you don’t technically need a rental car in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. In fact, most lodging comes with a free bus pass, which makes utilizing public transportation even more appealing.

However, we personally regretted not renting a car. And here is why:

We were pretty limited on where we could go. While we could get around town and even to Innsbruck easily, we were at the mercy of bus and train schedules. Which made exploring the nearby area a bit tricky. During our rainier days we would’ve loved to visit some of the neighboring towns or just road tripped to see what we stumbled upon. But it just proved to be too difficult.
During our trip we had some bad weather that shut down the cog train to Eibsee. Visiting Eibsee was one of the top things we wanted to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. But without the train running (and with a super limited bus schedule), we had no way to get there. If we had a car, we could’ve driven there ourselves.

How long do you need in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?

We personally recommend spending a minimum of three days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. This will give you the chance to experience the major highlights! Plus, it gives you some wiggle room if the weather isn’t ideal to go up to Zugspitze.

Here is how you could structure your three days in the area:

First Day

Start the day with coffee and a pastry from Wildkaffee.
Head up to Zugspitze! Spend the morning and afternoon skiing or tobogganing and seeing the different views. Either pack a lunch to enjoy or eat at one of the restaurants.
On your way down, hike along Eibsee!
End the day with a hearty dinner at Bräustüberl Garmisch.

Second Day

Enjoy coffee and breakfast at Café Max.
Head to Partnachklamm. Along the way, make sure to see the Olympic Ski Jump!
After walking through the gorge, head up to Kaiserschmarrn-Alm for lunch.
Once back in town, explore the Garmisch side of town.
For dinner, enjoy one of the restaurant options we listed.

Third Day

Have breakfast at Café Bar Berge.
Hike up to Tannenhütte! After enjoying lunch, continue onto Eckenhütte for even more views.
After hiking down, spend some time in Partenkirchen. Stroll down the beautiful Historische Ludwigstraße.
For dinner, enjoy one of the restaurant options we listed.

With more time, you can add on some of the less popular stops we listed in this guide, like Kuhfluchtwasserfälle and Burgruine Werdenfels. Or go on a day trip!

Where to stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Being one of the best winter destinations in Germany, there are lots of options for accommodations in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Here are a handful of choices!

Hotels

Biohotel Garmischer Hof
Reindel’s Partenkirchner Hof
Hotel Königshof

SEE More hotel options

Vacation rentals

During our time in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, we stayed at this Airbnb and loved it! It was perfect for us, plus my two brothers and my brother’s girlfriend. We enjoyed having a kitchen, a nice large table to play games at, and two couches for movie nights. Plus it was right in town and super convenient!

Some other options that look great are:
Apartment with Bavarian Charm (1 bedroom, 1 bathroom)
Sunny studio with balcony (1 bedroom, 1 bathroom)
Best panorama of GAP! (3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms)

SEE More vacation rental options

What to bring to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Winters in Garmisch-Partenkirchen bring cold weather, snow, and possibly rain. And since you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors, you will want some solid winter gear. We are sharing our winter hiking gear list here, but below are a handful of items we want to emphasize bringing when visiting Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the winter.

Base layers

The key to staying warm in the winter are layers. And one of the most important layers to wear are wool base layers. Wearing these underneath a lighter jacket, plus our heavier winter jackets, helped us stay warm while in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

For wool base layers we both wore MERIWOOL tops and bottoms and loved them.

Winter jacket

You will also want a solid, insulated winter jacket. Adam wore an LL Bean jacket and Kathryn wore a North Face parka similar to this one. We both wore lighter jackets (like the Columbia Men’s Powder Lite Jacket and Columbia Women’s Heavenly Hooded Jacket) underneath as well.

Gloves/mittens

Gloves and mittens are a key element in staying warm. Mittens are preferred, since they keep your fingers together, which generates more heat. But they can be tricky to maneuver your hands with. So we like to do a mix of 3M Thinsulate Touchscreen Gloves with Carhartt Insulated Mittens over them.

Hat and buff

Keeping your head, neck, and face warm will make a huge difference. We like to wear a beanie or headband and also a buff.

Wool socks

We only wear wool socks in the winter. They do well with moisture, keeping your feet warmer even if wet. These MERIWOOL Merino Wool Hiking Socks are 75% wool and worked great for us.

Winter hiking boots

Besides our hands, our feet tend to struggle the most in the cold. One thing we learned while in Europe is that you actually want to buy boots one size too big, so that your feet have plenty of room, even with thick socks. The key to keeping your feet warm is circulation and if the boots are too tight, you won’t have proper circulation.

While in Garmisch-Partenkirchen Adam wore Columbia Bugaboot Snow Boots and Kathryn wore Columbia Ice Maiden Snow Boots.

Sun protection

The sun’s reflection off the snow can be incredibly intense, so make sure to not only wear sunscreen, but also sunglasses! Adam wears Men’s KALIYADI Polarized Sunglasses and Kathryn wears Women’s Ray-Ban Chris Sunglasses. Fun fact: she actually bought these in Austria after breaking her Oakleys at Zugspitze.

Hand warmers

Hand warmers are a lifesaver in the cold! We love HotHands Hand & Toe Warmers. Slip these into your gloves or boots, and they provide up to 10 hours of warmth.