Garmisch-Partenkirchen is one of the busiest year-round holiday destinations in the Bavarian Alps. It is located at the foot of a number of high mountains and is known as a winter sports resort. It is known for hosting the 1936 Winter Olympics, as well as the International Alpine Skiing Championships in 1978 and 2011. The city’s history can be traced back to 15 AD, when Partanum was an important stop on the trade route from Venice to Augsburg. The wide valley of the Loisach is surrounded by mighty mountains: in the north, Kramer and the Wank; to the south, the towering Wetterstein group, with the Kreuzeck, the jagged Alpspitze and the Dreitorspitze; and growing up behind the Grosser Waxenstein, the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany at 2,962 meters.
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1 Zugspitze: the highest mountain in Germany
One of the biggest attractions in this corner of Bavaria is the 2,292 meter high Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany. Popular all year round, it is during the winter months that this impressive peak is at its busiest, as skiers from all over Europe arrive to sample the many challenging pistes and enjoy the dramatic scenery. In summer, the Zugspitze comes alive with the sound of walking hiking boots, as outdoor sports enthusiasts from far and wide visit the summit (also accessible by cable car), as well as the Zugspitzplatta plateau area known for its caves and glaciers.
2 Winter sports: the Olympic legacy
The 1936 Winter Olympics left a lasting legacy in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, cementing the city’s place as one of Europe’s top winter sports destinations. Many of the colorful chalets and buildings in the community were built specifically for the event and remain in use to this day. The most notable examples are the Olympic Stadium on the Gudiberg, easily recognized by its ski jumps and still used during the ski season for international and local competitions. Skating enthusiasts can control their gear at the same time Ice Stadium used for the 1936 Winter Olympics. Today, public skating and lessons take place here, whether for speed skating or traditional choreographed dance routines. A popular venue for skating competitions and shows, the stadium also features a curling rink. In the winter months there are also numerous lakes and ice rinks for skaters to enjoy.
3 Partnachklamm: The Partnach Gorge
Just three kilometers southeast of Garmisch-Partenkirchen lies the wild and romantic Partnachklamm, the Partnach Gorge. This dramatic and rocky gorge on the River Partnach is 702 meters long and reaches a depth of more than 80 metres. Although wonderful to explore at any time of year, winter brings extra beauty in the guise of enormous ice formations clinging to the cliffs. Another notable gap is Höllentalklamm, just six kilometers southwest of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. A variety of excellent trails lead to and around the summit (1,045 metres), including a path that can be followed through numerous tunnels and over bridges to the end of the gorge.
4 Garmisch – the birthplace of Michael Ende
With its picturesque old houses – especially in the beautiful Frühlingstrasse – Garmisch sits idyllically on the banks of the 114 kilometer long River Loisach which flows from Austria. A pleasant walk through this small community will take you to the Kongresshaus, the community center in Nice Michael-Ende Kurparknamed in honor of Germany’s most famous 20th-century storyteller and a former resident (Ende wrote The story without end). Other tourist attractions include the New parish churchSt. Martin’s, built in 1733 and with a rich Baroque interior and 15th century Old parish church (Alte Pfarrkirche) with its Gothic murals.
Address: Richard-Strauss-Platz 1A, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen
5 The King’s House Hike
A three-hour walk from Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the royal house in Schachen, the beautiful hunting lodge of King Ludwig II. Built between 1869 and 1872 on the Schachenalp, this relatively small wooden palace was built to resemble a Swiss chalet and was a popular retreat. Highlights include the five lower level living rooms with their beautiful wood panelling, while upstairs the main focus is the fabulous Turkish Hall with its stained glass windows, rich embroidery and beautiful candelabra. Fun tours make it well worth the long walk.
Address: Ludwigstrasse 47, D-82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Official site: www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/objects/schachen.htm
6 Historic Partenkirchen
Partenkirchen, the eastern part of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, is located between the Partnach River and the Wankbergen and is also fun to explore. Highlights include the beautiful Town Hall (Rathaus) built in 1935 and just a 15-minute walk above the city, St. Anton Gardens and the pilgrimage church of St. Anton, dating from 1704, with beautiful ceiling paintings. It also offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountain area, as well as Florianplatz with its panorama of the Zugspitze massif to the south.
Address: Ludwigstraße 47, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen
7 Head for the Hills: Summit Gondolas
An excellent way to make the most of your sightseeing and hiking high above Garmisch-Partenkirchen is to take advantage of the city’s fantastic network of top lifts and gondolas. In Garmisch, the Hausbergbahn Gondola travels 1,338 meters up the Hausberghöhe, from where the Kreuzwanklbahn goes to the Kreuzwankln at 1,550 metres. Another popular route is via the Kreuzeckbahn, which rises from Garmisch de Kreuzeck at 1,650 meters and has a beautiful view, especially of the nearby Alpspitze. From Partenkirchen, visitors are also well served by an excellent network of ski lifts to the surrounding mountains. The Wankbahn cable car runs from Partenkirchen about 3,000 meters to an upper station on the Wank at 1,755 meters. From the summit at 1,780 meters there is a beautiful view of the Garmisch basin. The Eckbauerbahn departs from the Olympic Ski Stadium on the Eckbauerhöhe at 1,236 meters and also has a beautiful panoramic view, while Graseckbahn travels from the entrance to the Partnachklamm with its beautiful gorges and wild rivers, southeast of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, to the Alpenhotel Forsthaus Graseck at 903 meters.
8 Richard Strauss Villa and Festival
Another famous resident, Richard Strauss, spent 40 years of his life in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Today, his beautiful 1908 Art Nouveau villa in Garmisch is a museum and memorial dedicated to the great conductor and composer who lived and died here. The pleasant two-story structure is itself quite interesting, especially because of the picturesque tower in the sky and the pleasant facade of stone and plaster. Locals also named the city’s public square in Strauss’ honor. If possible, try to coincide your visit with the annual one Richard Strauss Festival held in early June. Events during this five-day extravaganza include orchestral and chamber concerts, vocal and piano recitals, as well as lectures related to the city’s most famous resident.
Address: Zöppritzstrasse 42, D-82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen
9 The village of Grainau
Southwest of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the village of Grainau lies in a rolling park-like landscape at the foot of the Waxenstein. Higher up is the Eibsee, from which there is a good view of the Waxenstein and the Riffelwand on the Zugspitze, as well as a gondola all the way to the top of the Zugspitze, the highest peak in the area. It’s a picture-perfect slice of Bavaria, a scene made all the more perfect by its quaint alpine houses and beautiful old church.
10 Regional Museum Werdenfels
This fascinating little museum on Ludwigstrasse opened in 1895 and is housed in a 17th-century former merchant’s house. The collection includes numerous local archaeological finds and objects, religious objects, carnival masks and folk art, as well as antique furniture. The focus is particularly on objects and exhibitions relating to the region’s history, including a fascinating look at its 700-year stint as an independent state until 1802.
Address: Ludwigstrasse 47, D-82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Where to Stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen for Sightseeing
You’ll find plenty of hotel choices in all price ranges in the compact city center, where the train station (bahnhof) is located. A good local bus system connects to the base station for the train to Zugspitze and to other tourist attractions such as Partnach Gorge and the base of several mountain trams. Here are a few highly rated hotels in Garmisch-Partenkirchen:
- Luxury hotels: Next to the river and within walking distance of the center and the hiking trails in the valley, the Bavarian-style Hotel Edelweiss has a swimming pool, balconies with views of the Alps and a free breakfast with made-to-order dishes. Staudacherhof Hotel offers an outdoor pool and a spa area with a sauna, in a quiet area a few minutes’ walk from Garmisch’s old town and the foot of the Zugspitze. Hotel Zugspitze is located in a beautiful Bavarian-style building in the city center, with flowered balconies. It has a pool, sauna, spa, free breakfast and rooms with freshly ground coffee in the room.
- Mid-range hotels: BEST WESTERN Hotel Obermuehle has a wellness center and a swimming pool; free breakfast; free battery-powered eBikes; and a free shuttle service to and from the bus station, ski lifts and local attractions. Featuring Alpine views from its balconies, Hotel Rheinischer Hof offers guests a free bus pass and is within walking distance of the city centre. Reindl’s Partenkirchner Hof is a family-run hotel located near the train station and rich in old-world charm. It has a swimming pool, sauna, free breakfast and large rooms with a view.
- Budget Hotels: The chalet-style Hotel Almenrausch und Edelweiss is located near restaurants and shops in the center of Garmisch. It has nicely decorated rooms with a balcony and view, plus free breakfast. Atlas Posthotel is located in the car-free center and offers rooms in the main building and apartments in an annex. Mercure Hotel Garmisch-Partenkirchen offers beautiful views of the Zugspitze and other mountains and is a five-minute walk from the village center.
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