Zugspitze - The Top of The German Alps
The Zugspitze Is A “Must Do” On Your Trip To Upper Bavaria And The German Alps
The Zugspitze, at almost 10,000 feet or 3,000 meters, is the highest peak of the Bavarian Alps.
On a clear day, from the summit you can see in to four countries - Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy!
When you visit, you will have an experience to remember. Whether you are a hiker, skier, mountaineer or nature lover, there is something here for everybody.
Our last trip to the Bavarian Alps in early October included a day trip to the Zugspitze. I always keep a travel journal so I can write impressions of my trip as they happen.
This is what I wrote about our Zugspitze trip:
From our hotel, we went to the Garmisch Partenkirchen train station (bahnhof) purchased our tickets and boarded the train to the Zugspitze.
As we made our way up the mountain, we saw more beautiful scenery of forests and valleys and the view of Eibsee, the clear mountain lake, below. The last part of the cog train trip was through a long tunnel in the middle of the mountain.
While in the tunnel, our conversation centered on how the rail system was built, how the cog train works and all the engineering and labor that it must have taken to blast through all that rock. Quite an amazing feat!
The train trip was slow, bumpy and noisy, but that added to the charm and adventure of our trip. As we climbed higher and higher, our ears would pop as a reminder of the change in altitude.
After an hour long train trip, we made it to the Zugspitze!
The Zugspitzplatt has a restaurant, shops, a deck and great views.
Seeing the snow, I really wanted to strap on some skis and make a few runs, but unfortunately, the lifts were not yet open for the season.
Up the hill is Germany’s highest (altitude) church. We walked up to look at the chapel and got a good panoramic view.
We then took the Gletscherbahn (cable car) ride up to observation deck at the summit. The views from the observation deck were breathtaking.
We were so high up, at 2,964 meters that we could see for miles. The wind was noticeably colder and the air was so thin, we had to pace ourselves while walking up the stairs.
The cold, fresh air felt so good and invigorating. I haven’t breathed in such fresh mountain air in years.
I was having too much fun to care about the cold, but the others were getting quite chilled so we decided to get something to eat and drink.
We went to the Munchner Haus at the observation deck. I wasn’t very hungry, so I just had a pretzel and gluwein. The gluwein was so delicious and warm. It is the perfect drink for cold, snowy days.
We all rested and warmed back up in the cozy gaststube at the summit.
After we finished, we walked around some more - getting a few more photos and feeding the birds the rest of our pretzels.
We then took the cable car ride down to the Eibsee.
The views were spectacular and the ride down was much quicker than the ride up. The descent took us by surprise. I forgot from my last visit, how quickly it moves down the side of the mountain while suspended by a cable hundreds of feet in the air!
From the station, we walked to the lake we saw from so high up on the mountain. We spent some time on the shore of the Eibsee, watching the ducks and skipping stones on the water.
it was getting late, so we caught the train back to Garmish- Partenkirschen. The train was held up for a few minutes by some cows taking their time crossing the track.That's okay. We were in no hurry. It felt good to sit down and relax for a while.
We wandered back to our hotel, exhausted and ready for a nap before heading out for dinner.
Zugspitze Map
Here is a map of the cog wheel train and the cable cars to the Zugspitze
If you are claustrophobic, the cable car may be a better option, since the cog wheel train trip includes a long ride through a tunnel.
But, if you are afraid of heights, you might want to think twice about the cable car option. It is quite an exciting ride!
Also, for the really adventurous and fit people, you can hike to the glacier on marked paths. However, plan on 8 hours or more to reach the top. Hiking down, of course, is quicker.
For interactive maps of the Zugspitze and cool web cams, click here!
Ticket Prices and Times
The round trip from Garmisch Partenkirchen to the Zugspitze is not cheap, so be prepared. But, it is a great experience and in my opinion, is worth the price.
When you buy the round trip ticket to the Zugspitze, you can choose how you want to travel up and down the mountain - by cog train or cable car.
Round trip Price from Garmisch Partenkirchen: (subject to change)
- Adult: € 47.00 in summer; € 37.50 in winter*
- Child: € 27.50 in summer; € 22.50 in winter*
*Winter rates include a day ski pass.
Family discounts are available. It's best to buy Combo Tickets to the summit for the cogwheel train and cable car. If you drive to Eibsee, you can park for free at the cable car station.
The cogwheel train to the Zugspitze starts from Garmisch at 8:15 a m, from Grainau at 8.30 am and from Eibsee at 8:45 am and runs every hour. The Eibsee cable car operates from 8:00 a m.
The last cable car down is at 4:30 pm. If bad weather hits in the late afternoon, cable cars can be delayed causing you to miss your train from Eibsee back to Garmisch.
Tips and Advice
Plan the day of your trip to the Zugspitze carefully. You want to get your money's worth, so ask the locals what they know about good days to go. Check the weather and pick a day that is reported to be clear. There is not much to see when everything is covered in heavy clouds.
Also, the Zugspitze is a glacier. It is pretty much covered in snow and ice year round. Dress in layers, and bring gloves and a hat in case there is a cold wind at the top. And don’t forget sunscreen!
