How to get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 2025 – your transport guide in Germany

Please note that some of the links on the website might be affiliate links, which means that at absolutely no extra cost for you our website will earn a small commission. Thank you for supporting this project! Our Disclaimer

Table of Contents:

When to travel to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

How to get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

How to get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen from Munich

Where to stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

What to see & do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

I have travelled around Southern Germany a lot and I was absolutely charmed with the natural and historical attractions here. The local towns such as Garmisch Partenkirchen kept their authenticity and can boast great natural landscapes. Being charmed with the towns of Southern Germany, I have decided to put together information I have previously discovered and create a series of guides on how to organize a holiday in Bavaria. Based on my research, I found out how to get to Garmisch, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to charming Garmisch Partenkirchen and its surroundings.

When to travel to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a small town in southern Germany, located in a valley and surrounded by the Bavarian Alps. Garmisch is well-known as a ski resort. The highest point of the Bavarian Alps – Zugspitze Mountain is situated at the nearest countryside of Garmisch. During the summer, the resort is also popular for hiking, rock climbing and outdoor activities. The town is featured with the medieval buildings in a Gothic style and idyllic natural landscapes around.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is an all-year-round resort. If you prefer skiing, come to Garmisch during the period from December until March. If you prefer hiking and sightseeing, then welcome to Garmisch from April to October. The winters at the resort are snowy and frosty. The other seasons of the year are characterized by the mild climate. The actual blossoming usually starts at the end of April. The summer time is usually quite warm, but not too hot and suits best for long distance hiking around. Autumn in Garmisch is colorful and still warm so don’t hesitate to visit the resort in autumn too.

How to get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

How to get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen from Munich

By train: There are direct regional trains from Munich to Garmisch with a travel time of just over an hour. Trains depart from Munich Main Station twice an hour throughout the day, starting at 05.30 am. You can check the current timetable at the Raileurope booking service. I love this service and use it pretty much often as it has a convenient search and a lot of settings to sort the result in the way I need. For instance, I can range the results by duration of a trip, price, departure and arrival time, type of a train, type of route, etc.

By bus: From 07.30 in the morning, direct buses also start running from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Travel time by bus is comparable to the time by train – about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Bus routes are direct, departing every 2 hours during the day. The carrier is Flixbus. I use Flixbus service pretty much often as it helps me find the best available bus option when I cannot find the train one. Plus, Flixbus is a pretty popular bus service in Europe and designed for cheaper trips with affordable prices, so why not try it?

By renting a car: You can also get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen by car. In this case, you can rent a car in Munich. The car rental offices operate either at the airport or at the city center. You need to have a passport (or ID card), an international driver’s license and a bank card to pay for services.

◊A useful tip: You can also book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. Compare a few booking services to choose the best price. Roads in Germany have excellent quality, so you can move along quickly and comfortably. The distance between Munich and Garmisch is almost 90 km, they are connected with highway No. A95 (see on the map).

Where to stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Staying in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is available in hotels or apartments. Both options offer a high level of comfort. Based on my research, I can say that most of the town hotels are designed for a small number of guests; these are the so-called family-run hotels. At the same time, many hotels offer their guests breakfasts and parking spaces included in the price as a bonus. Some hotels have seasonal outdoor pools (relevant for those travelers who come to Garmisch in summer). Apartments can be rented both in a detached house and in an apartment building.

Atlas Grand Hotel 4* – The hotel is located in the town center and has a swimming pool, a sauna, a terrace, a cafe and a bar in its area. The hotel also offers panoramic views of the Zugspitze Mountain. The guests enjoy free Wi-Fi. Parking places can be rented for a fee. The hotel offers rooms of various categories from standard and comfort ones to deluxe, junior suites and suites. Some rooms offer mountain views and a balcony as well. The rooms are equipped with everything you need, including TV, telephone, safe, hairdryer, mini-bar. Breakfasts are available at an additional cost. The hotel gets the best ratings for the work of the staff and the location. The hotel has an ATM, luggage storage, tour desk, currency exchange services. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 11.00.

H+ Hotel Alpina Garmisch-Partenkirchen 5* – The hotel is conveniently located near the railway station of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The hotel features a heated indoor pool and a spa area with a Finnish sauna. The hotel has its own restaurant. In summer, you can dine on the outdoor terrace. Wi-fi is provided free of charge. Private parking is available at an additional cost. The hotel has rooms of various categories. In the rooms you can find everything you need, including a balcony, TV, a telephone, a hairdryer, a mini-bar, a refrigerator, wireless internet etc. Breakfast buffet is included in the rate. A resort fee of EUR 2 per night is charged separately from the accommodation price. The hotel gets the best reviews for the location and the work of the staff. The front desk is open 24/7. Check-in is from 15.00. check-out – until 12.00.

Hotel Rheinischer Hof 4* – This hotel has a great location and views of the Alps. It offers a sauna, a solarium and massage services. The hotel has a swimming pool and a restaurant. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories and choose the type of food – breakfast or breakfast + dinner. The rooms are equipped with everything you need, including a mini-bar, a safe, a telephone, a hairdryer, a kettle etc. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge. Free private parking is possible on site. I discovered that ski storage is also provided which is a very useful option. Check-in is possible from 15.00, check-out – until 11.00.

Hotel Roter Hahn Garni 3* – The hotel is located next to the railway station. Here you can find a heated indoor pool, a sauna, a solarium, a garden and a gym. There are also special places to store ski equipment. The hotel provides free Wi-Fi and free parking. The hotel has various rooms equipped with a telephone, satellite TV, a safe, a hair dryer and wireless internet. The windows have mountain views. Breakfasts are included in the price. There is a separate resort fee of EUR 2 per person per night. I examined a great number of reviews and found out that the hotel gets the best reviews for its location and cleanliness of the rooms. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 11.00.

Exklusive Ferienwohnung Alpen Deluxe – The apartment complex is decorated in a traditional Alpine style. The nearest ski lift is about 300 meters away. Within the walking distance you can find the restaurants, shops and other public places. The complex has a place for ski storage. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi and a free parking area. The apartments have their own balcony or terrace. Rooms are equipped with TV, a docking station, a safe, an iron and a hair dryer. In the kitchen you can find a refrigerator, a microwave, a dishwasher, a kettle, a stove, a toaster and a coffee machine. The apartments get the best reviews for cleanliness and comfort, as well as for a good location. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 10.00.

What to see & do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a small cozy town with houses in a medieval style. It is pleasant to walk around the town, look into local Bavarian restaurants and enjoy the resort vibes. The main attractions of Garmisch are natural. For instance, you can safely go to the mountains, canyons, lakes, rivers and other places by cable car or on foot and everywhere you can find panoramic views and mesmerizing landscapes. Garmisch is also considered to be a climatic health resort.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is located in a valley, surrounded by beautiful mountains, called the Bavarian Alps. There are quite a few points and peaks in the area, but the Zugspitze Mountain is the most famous one. Its peak is neither more nor less than the highest point in all of Germany. From here you can clearly see not only Bavaria, but also neighboring Austria, which borders Garmisch. You can climb to the top on a comfortable close-type cable cabin. The travel time is about 15 minutes. Along the way, you can see the alpine lake of Eibsee and the Zugspitze glacier. The highest peak point of the mountain is 2962 meters.

In winter, the slopes of the Zugspitze are used as the ski slopes. The length of the trails here, in total, is about 120 km, while 20% are trails for beginners and 65% are trails of medium difficulty. The longest track stretches for 5 km. The resort serves about 45 ski lifts. I found out detailed information for visiting local ski slopes:

• There are 2 half pipes and 2 fan parks.
• Opportunities for cross-country skiing are also very extensive and count in total about 150 km.
• There are also prepared winter hiking trails.
• The cost of a day of skiing starts from 50 euros for adults, 40 euros for students and 26 euros for children.

Partnachklamm is also an interesting walking route. Based on my research, I discovered that here you can see a gorge up to 1 km long and 86 meters high. At the bottom of the gorge, you can see the fastest mountain river of Partnakh. The river is fed by the waters of the Zugspitze glacier. Partnachklamm is by far one of the most mesmerizing canyons in Europe, the sheer cliffs of which makes a great impression. A visit to the gorge is possible all year round.

Lovers of peaceful natural landscapes appreciate the views of Riesersee Lake, located in the countryside of Garmisch. This is a small mountain lake with breathtaking views of the Zugspitze. At one time, the lake gained popularity also due to the fact that hockey and speed skating competitions were held here at the 1936 Winter Olympics (the lake usually freezes in winter).

Another popular entertainment for vacationers in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the trips to the famous Bavarian castles. For instance, you can visit the castles of Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau and Linderhof. You can get to them both with sightseeing tours and on your own. The distance between Garmisch and Neuschwanstein/Hohenschwangau castles is 60 km. The distance between Garmisch and Linderhof castle is just 25 km. Learn the opening hours of the castles before you go, as they change quite often:

✓Neuschwanstein castle is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm during the summertime and from 10 am to 4 pm during the wintertime. Visiting is possible only with a guided tour;

✓Hohenschwangau castle is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm during the summertime and from 9 am to 3 pm during the wintertime. Visiting is possible only with a guided tour;

✓Linderhof castle is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm during the summertime and from 10 am to 4 pm during the wintertime. Visiting is possible only with a guided tour.

As you see Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a popular resort, offering skiing activities in winters and hiking activities in summers. You can choose the season for visiting depending on what you like to do the most. To my mind, natural landscapes are inspiring at any time of the year though. The crystal fresh air and the mild climate also attract travellers to Garmisch from all over the World.

Photo above the article: Pixelteufel