7 Things to Do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Winter

Snow-covered Alps, twinkling Christmas lights, and easy access to the Zugspitze make Garmisch-Partenkirchen one of the best places in Germany for a winter getaway. There are plenty of fun things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in winter, even if skiing isn’t the main reason you’re visiting.

We’re not exactly skiers, but we chose Garmisch-Partenkirchen for our Christmas vacation because we wanted a trip that actually felt snowy and wintry. Being from the South, we made the most of it with ski lessons, ice skating, mountain views, and plenty of time exploring Bavaria.

If you’re planning a snowy getaway of your own, these are my favorite things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in winter, from skiing and skating to exploring the Bavarian Alps.

A serene mountain village scene of winter in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany with a narrow river flowing between quaint houses. Snow-capped peaks rise in the distance under a clear blue sky.

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Garmisch-Partenkirchen Winter Activities

1. Summit the Zugspitze

Snow-covered mountain peak of the Zugspitze summit in Germany under a gray, overcast sky. A lone gold cross stands atop.

Snowy mountain scene at the Zugspitze cable car landing in Germany with metal platforms and railings leading to a foggy landscape. Cable lines stretch overhead.

The Zugspitze is the highest mountain in Germany, rising 2,962 meters (9,718 feet) above sea level.

To get there, you’ll take the Zugspitzbahn cogwheel train from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Lake Eibsee, then switch to the Zugspitze cable car for the ride to the summit.

The Zugspitze cable car has the world’s longest unsupported cable car span with 3,213 meters between the support tower and the top station. It also has the world’s highest steel construction support tower and overcomes the world’s largest total elevation gain of 1,945 meters.

It’s a thrilling ride in winter, with frosty windows looking out over the valley and the cable car literally knocking ice off the cables.

As we passed the tree line and rode into the clouds, the world became covered in white. We knew we wouldn’t be getting the scenic views of the 400 surrounding mountain peaks that you can see in clearer weather.

Reaching the Summit

Paige in winter clothing stands on a snowy mountain at the Zugspitze summit in Germany, smiling and gesturing. Snowfall and mist shroud a rocky background.

Kevin in winter clothing joyfully throws snow in the air on a snowy, foggy mountaintop, standing beside a railing, at the Zugspitze summit in Germany.

The top station was covered in snow and ice. We found our way to the summit, where a 14-foot-tall gilded iron cross has stood since 1851. In other conditions, you can easily reach the summit from the viewing platform and make it all the way to the cross.

But of course winter at this elevation is practically a blizzard. Workers attempted to clear the viewing platform with snow blowers, only to have the path covered completely again in a matter of minutes. We had a great time playing in the snow anyway.

We quickly learned where the mountain peak got its name — “zug” can mean “strong gust of wind”, so the “Zugspitze” loosely translates to “wind point/peak”. It quite literally blew us away.

Somewhere up here, you’re able to cross over the border into Austria, but we weren’t able to find Austria for all the snow.

If you need to warm up, Panorama 2962 is a cafeteria-style restaurant at the top cable car station serving German, Italian, Austrian, and Swiss dishes. On a clear day, you can enjoy amazing mountain views through the restaurant’s picture windows. But we were just happy for a warm meal and a place to sit out of the wind.

2. Go Sledding at the Zugspitze Glacier

Paige in warm clothing and a knit hat, smiling while leaning on a woven sled in a snowy landscape with a foggy, serene background at Zugspitze Glacier in Germany.

Paige sledding down a snowy hill at Zugspitze Glacier in Germany, with her dad behind her giving the sled a push. Both are in dark winter clothes, with falling snowflakes.

The Zugspitze Glacier is one of the best places in the area for winter snow sports, including skiing and sledding.

To get here from the Zugspitze summit, you’ll take the Gletscherbahn (Glacier cable car) for a short ride down to the glacier station.

We decided to go sledding (sledging) here since that’s something we’re not likely to get the chance to do back home. You can rent sleds and toboggans from the Zugspitze ski hire shop near the glacier station.

While it wasn’t nearly as windy at this slightly lower and more protected elevation, we still had an adventure getting through the snow. We had a tough time making it past the Mariä Himmelfahrt Chapel, one of the highest churches in Germany.

But we managed to find a nice quiet spot for sledding and had a lot of fun, even though we have no idea how to operate a sled.

We had wanted to check out the Iglu-Dorf, a bar and restaurant inside an igloo, but unfortunately it was closed for Christmas.

Instead, we stopped in at the Gletscher 2600, a restaurant inside a circular glass pavilion, for some glühwein and hot chocolate to help us warm up.

3. Ski the Bavarian Alps at Garmisch-Classic

Snowy ski resort scene of Garmisch-Classic in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, with ski lifts ascending a mountain surrounded by dense pine trees. Buildings are scattered at the base, under a cloudy sky.

Garmisch-Classic is a great ski area for beginners and professionals alike. We headed to the Hausberg mountain because that’s where the Kinderland area for beginners is.

You can get to Hausberg by train or on foot from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. We actually ended up walking home so we didn’t have to wait for a train.

Since we’re a military family, we got our lift tickets and ski equipment rentals through Edelweiss Lodge and Resort at their Hausberg Sport Lodge. They were great at getting us get everything we needed as first time skiers.

The only problem was the long trek from the rental shop to the gondola that takes you up the mountain. Having never walked in ski boots before, we were all almost ready to quit before we even got started!

To reach the slopes, you’ll take the Hausbergbahn, an enclosed gondola cable car, up the mountain.

A Day on the Slopes

Paige in a green jacket and helmet poses with skis on a snowy slope at Garmisch-Classic in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. A ski lift and pine trees are in the background, with a cloudy sky above.

Kevin wearing a blue ski jacket and helmet smiles while skiing on a snowy slope at Garmisch-Classic in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. He has ski poles in hand, with a lodge and cloudy sky in the background.

At the top Hausbergbahn station, we headed off to the right to find Kinderland. If this is your first time skiing too, I’d recommend not putting on your skis just yet, since there’s some downhill between the station and the beginner area.

Turns out, ice skating translates pretty well to skiing, so I did just fine. Some others in our party almost didn’t make it to Kinderland (and I know they were frustrated, but it was kinda hilarious).

Everyone will tell you to “pizza” and “french fry” for stopping and going. I’m no ski instructor, but I do teach ice skating, and we stop the same way. Here’s my little tip: just making a pizza shape with your skis isn’t enough to stop. You actually have to press into the snow with the inside edges of your skis. You gotta press!

In Kinderland, you’ll ride a “Magic Carpet” moving sidewalk to the top of the slope. It can get pretty crowded, so be prepared to wait for people to move out of your way or learn how to stop very quickly.

When you’re ready to graduate from Kinderland, there are other beginner slopes with rope-tow lifts to help you move on to slightly more challenging runs. Kevin, my brother, and I gave this a try, and it felt like our first taste of actual skiing.

After a morning of skiing, we stopped for lunch at Drehmöser 9, a rustic mountain restaurant with a fire pit in the middle. We had to go with their homemade pizza, since we’d been “pizza”-ing all morning.

4. Go Ice Skating at an Olympic Ice Stadium

Paige stands smiling outside the Olympia Eissport Zentrum in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, with snowy mountains in the background, under a clear sky.

Paige joyfully ice skating at Olympia Eissport Zentrum in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Blue curtains, Olympic rings, and a large clock are in the background. A family in winter gear skates nearby.

The Olympia Eissport Zentrum Garmisch-Partenkirchen was the ice rink for the 1936 Winter Olympics.

Originally built as an outdoor stadium, the complex has since been expanded and now includes two indoor ice rinks and an outdoor rink.

As a figure skater, skating at an Olympic ice rink was a definite must for me!

The Olympic rink was much bigger than the standard rink I’m used to skating on. You don’t really realize just how much extra space there is until you’re trying to skate from one end to the other!

The rink has public skating sessions on many days, and rental skates are available, so you don’t have to be an experienced skater to get out on the ice.

Related Tour: Garmisch-Partenkirchen Walking Tour

5. Enjoy a Christmas Market

A festive Christmas Market in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany at night. A large Christmas tree adorned with lights stands in the center. Surrounding stalls are decorated with string lights and a few people walk around.

You can’t have an authentic German Christmas without an authentic German Christmas market!

Every year during the Christmas season, Garmisch-Partenkirchen has its own Christmas market with a decorated Christmas tree, booths selling handmade crafts and traditional treats, holiday music, and activities for kids.

We got some glühwein (hot mulled wine) to sip on as we walked around the Christmas market, which is the perfect way to stay warm while enjoying the festive atmosphere!

You’ll also find Christmas stalls around town where restaurants offer cozy spots to enjoy glühwein and holiday music. You may even find an outdoor ice rink! It’s one of my biggest regrets that I didn’t do the little outdoor rink while I had the chance.

If you’re visiting specifically for the Christmas markets, make sure to check the dates before your trip, since these aren’t open all winter.

6. Take a Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle

Majestic Neuschwanstein Castle in Hohenschwangau, Germany, perched on a lush green hill surrounded by dense forests under a vibrant blue sky. The landscape is serene and expansive.

Castle day trips are my favorite kinds of day trips, especially when they involve multiple castles! And Neuschwanstein Castle is my favorite castle!

This was my second visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, so trust me when I say it’s well worth the trip. This fairytale castle is one of the most famous castles in the world and even inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.

And when you visit, you can also explore the neighboring Hohenschwangau Castle!

You can take a guided day tour from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Neuschwanstein Castle. You can also rent a car to drive there yourself, which is what we did.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle was built for King Ludwig II beginning in 1869, but it was never completed. Ludwig spent only 11 nights there before his death in 1886.

The finished rooms are incredibly elaborate, with many inspired by the operas of Richard Wagner. Among the more unusual details are a man-made grotto off the king’s bedroom and an enormous chandelier shaped like a crown.

It’s an incredible castle to explore, especially if you’re a fan of fairytale architecture.

Learn more about visiting Neuschwanstein Castle here.

Hohenschwangau Castle

Nearby Hohenschwangau Castle was the childhood home of King Ludwig II and was rebuilt by his father, King Maximilian II, as a summer and hunting residence.

The rooms are no less extravagant than those at Neuschwanstein. They’re filled with elaborate murals, decorative furnishings, and fascinating architectural details.

One of my favorite details is the night-sky mural in the king’s bedroom, complete with stars illuminated by light from outside.

Learn more about visiting Hohenschwangau Castle here.

If you love castles as much as I do, it’s worth visiting both while you’re in the area.

7. Warm Up in a Sauna

Hallway leading to a steam room labeled "Dampfgrotte" and a sauna labeled "Sanarium," with glass doors and a serene spa-like ambiance at Hotel Zugspitze in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

A cozy spa room with a Finnish sauna featuring a glass door on the left, a small round turquoise plunge pool, and a vase with branches on the right, at Hotel Zugspitze in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Saunas are big in Germany. They’re a popular way to relax, warm up, and soothe sore muscles after a long day of winter activities.

A hot sauna is the perfect thing on a cold Bavarian winter day, and a lot of hotels in Bavaria have them. Our hotel had a sauna, and it was definitely an experience!

In Germany, sauna culture often involves nudity. Bathing suits typically aren’t worn in traditional German saunas, which can be a bit of a surprise if you’re not used to it.

We did see some naked men, but there weren’t any rules at our hotel requiring us to go without bathing suits, so we kept ours on.

The sauna at our hotel had showers, a Dampfsauna (a steam sauna), a Sanarium (a gentle dry sauna), a Finnische Sauna (hotter traditional Finnish sauna), and a cold plunge pool.

I’m no expert on German sauna culture, so we definitely didn’t do anything right, but Wandering Carol is and she has a great German sauna guide. It’s a fun experience to try if you want to relax after a day of exploring Garmisch-Partenkirchen in winter.

Related Tour: Naked in Bavaria – A Day at the Sauna

Where to Stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Winter

Hotel Zugspitze in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, an Alpine-style hotel with wooden balconies and festive lights, under a cloudy sky. A car is parked in front.

For our Christmas in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, we stayed at the Hotel Zugspitze. We loved this hotel’s cozy Alpine vibes, indoor pool and sauna, and close proximity to everything in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

The hotel also has an amazing Michelin-rated restaurant where we received a special 5-course Christmas dinner. They even left us some Christmas gifts in our room on Christmas Eve!

Read my review of the Hotel Zugspitze.

Book your winter stay at the Hotel Zugspitze here.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen Winter Map

Use the map below to check out all the fun winter activities, plus amazing places to stay in Garmisch in winter.

I hope you found this guide to winter in Garmisch-Partenkirchen helpful and that you have an amazing vacation!

Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Winter FAQ

Is Garmisch-Partenkirchen worth visiting in winter?

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is definitely worth visiting in winter! In fact, it’s an ultimate winter destination with skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snowy mountain tops, Christmas markets, and so much winter fun. Plus, Garmisch is a great base for visiting historic towns like Hohenschwangau and seeing Neuschwanstein Castle.

Is there snow in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in December?

There is a chance of snow in Garmisch in winter, though you’ll have a better chance of snow in the colder months of January and February. Still, there is snow on the mountains, and it’s plenty cold enough for the ski resorts to create faux snow for skiing and snowboarding all season long.

Can you go up the Zugspitze in winter?

You can absolutely go up the Zugspitze in winter, and it’s a whole different experience than visiting in the summer. In the winter, the Zugspitze is a winter wonderland of snow, perfect for skiing and sledding. Just don’t expect to get any mountain views — it’s pretty much a blizzard up there.

Top Garmisch-Partenkirchen Tours

With so much to see, Garmisch-Partenkirchen can be overwhelming for any first-time traveler. To take some of the stress out of planning your visit, opt for a guided tour! Check out this list of the top Garmisch-Partenkirchen tours to help you make the most of your time in this magical Bavarian town.

Where to Stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Find the perfect place to rest your head on your visit to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, from the top rated accommodations to unique stays you can’t get anywhere else.

Where We Stayed: Hotel Zugspitze
Great Value: Riessersee Hotel
Top Hotel: Das Graseck – Mountain Hideaway & Health Care
Unique Stay: Luxurious apartment with panoramic views

More Germany Itineraries

Ready to explore even more of Germany? Check out these top posts:

Ready to visit Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany? Plan your trip with these tips.

Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Garmisch-Partenkirchen using Booking.com.
Start Packing: Check out my packing list resources so you’re prepared for your trip.

Cheers!

Paige

7 Things to Do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Winter

Have you spent winter in Garmisch-Partenkirchen? Let me know in the comments!

7 Things to Do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Winter