Visit like a local – travel tips for Garmisch-Partenkirchen

About 1 hour south of Munich and 50 minutes north of Innsbruck lies a beautiful winter wonderland at the bottom of Germany’s highest mountain the Zugspitze (2.962m) – the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Surrounded by breathtaking mountains, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is without a doubt the Winter Sports City. With its almost cheesy landscape, it is a region where you can take a break and breath through.  Garmisch-Partenkirchen is probably most famous for it’s annual New Year Ski Jumping competition – the Four Hills Tournament – and the legendary Kandahar Downhill Race. But the double-barrelled resort also has its interesting history. In 1935 the towns Garmisch and Partenkirchen were merged to become the host for the 1936 Winter Olympics. And to this day, it’s still the host for many international winter sports events. 

Garmisch-Partenkirchen – which is also called GAP or GaPa by its locals – is the ideal mountain town for outdoorsy types and winter sports addicts and has a lot to offer!

Our big “visit like a local” guide sums up the most important facts to know about beautiful Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Where to ski in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

If you come to Garmisch-Partenkirchen you can choose between over a dozen of options where you can enjoy your skiing fun. The biggest resorts are the two ski areas: the Zugspitze and the Classic Resort.

Skiing at the “Top of Germany”

With 2.962m the Zugspitze is the highest mountain in Germany. The main ski area is situated between 2.000m and 2.720m altitude on the Schneeferner Glacier, Germany’s largest glacier. With the high elevation, you get some pretty good guarantees for consistent snow conditions for almost 7 months a year. To get up to Zugspitze, you can either choose the ancient cogwheel train which was built in 1928 or the brand new record-breaking cable car which opened in Winter 2017. As soon as you are up on “Top of Germany” there are over 20km of freshly groomed slopes waiting for you. And for anyone who lost their heart in the backcountry – don’t worry, there are also a few fun and gentle freeriding routes which are accessible from the ski lifts.

Stay classy at Garmisch-Partenkirchen’s Classic Ski Resort

Not far from the famous Zugspitze at lower altitude, you can find the Garmisch Classic resort. The resort links three mountains -Hausberg, Kreuzeck, and Alpspitze – to one big resort with over 20 ski runs and slopes.  Garmisch Classic Resort is said to be that the sunniest resort in Germany with an average of  42 bright and sunny days. Offering a total of 40 kilometers of fun slopes, as well as steep terrain, it’s a resort for every skiing level. An absolute highlight is the famous 7 kilometers long Kandahar downhill run, where the legendary Kandahar Race takes place every year. With segments like the “Free Fall”, there is not only a guarantee of an adrenaline rush for the skiers but also for the audience. 

K2 Ski Touring Night at Hausberg

Even at night, when the lifts shut down, you can enjoy the variety of this resort. From January on every Tuesday and Thursday, the K2 Ski Touring Night takes place at the Garmisch Classic. Starting at the Hausberg’s cable car you just follow the signs up to Drehmöser 9. Up at the Drehmöser 9, you will find a nice rustic cottage. But this one is different from the others, as it combines tradition with innovation and serves a young, modern kitchen with a regional touch. We can highly recommend stopping by at this cozy mountain hut!

Where to stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

The cozy and sleepy town Garmisch-Partenkirchen offers many different lodging options, but as always: it is truly a matter of budget and how low or high you want to go. Here is a small selection of our favorite places to stay:

The quartier – a clean style with traditional elements

The quartier is located in the historical center of Garmisch. The key elements of the aparthotel are natural materials. It consists of two buildings – an old traditional villa from 1900 which became the soul of this project and a new part with an asymmetrical shape, which evokes the associations with a mountain scenery. In the newer part, you can find 18 purist lodges which are a modern interpretation of the traditional mountain lodge but in an apartment style.

This unique concept brings natural materials, a healthy diet and an off-the-grid lifestyle together. The hotel’s restaurant “tagesbar” is a great place to start – but also to relax at the end of – an active day. The tagesbar has a regularly changing menu with organic products which are seasonal and regional.

Heimat 1883 – “Home, Away From Home”

The historic landmarked house offers five exclusive holiday apartments and is situated right in the middle of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The house has a long history from 1883 it was originally used as a poorhouse (almshouse) by the Garmisch local council, and thus a home (=Heimat) for elderly people who can no longer work to earn enough to pay rent. Today Heimat1883 shines bright with a new look inside and out and offers five beautiful furnished apartments decorated with lots of love and style. 

A night out in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is not only a nice mountain village to visit if you want to get your daily dose of outdoor sports but also if you like to enjoy great food and delicious drinks.

Garmisch’s restaurants are more diverse as they might look at first glance. Sure you have traditional restaurants – Wirtshäuser – where the older generation of locals come together at night to drink a few beers, play cards and exchange the latest gossip in town. In Garmisch-Partenkirchen, you can enjoy fresh, regional and local meals in a fine dining atmosphere. 

Alte Druckerei – Tapas & Vino in the city’s old printing house

Believe it or not, but even in the mountain village Garmisch-Partenkirchen the tapas revolution also took place a few years ago. A food perfectly designed for sharing small plates of hot, cold or marinated tapas with friends while unwinding after a hectic day. In 2016 the little restaurant Alte Druckerei opened its doors for all fans of the traditional Spanish delicacy. Since then, you can enjoy delicious & fancy finger food paired with selected wines or if you want to, with other high-quality spirits. 

Mukkefuck – a restaurant that you shouldn’t miss

The Mukkefuck ist a truly special restaurant located in the center of Garmisch. You cannot describe it as a typical Bavarian restaurant nor can you categorize it as one of the new hip ones that are popping up the village like little mushrooms at the moment. The Mukkefuck is unique and there is nothing that can come close to it. Its cuisine is your typical hearty granma’s food – warm and creamy soups, fresh sandwiches and pasta, delicious schnitzel and steaks and what they are most famous for are their gigantic salads with the probably best dressing in this world. And the interior? Probably the same as your grandma’s living room, full of tiny but important heirlooms and paintings in fancy frames. We recommend to stop by and dine in! 

Centro – the most unconventional coffee in town

The coffeehouse Centro is more than just a coffee house it is a piece of art, a piece of design. Located in an old historical building in the middle of Garmisch, the café shines like in the 50s and 60s. Vintage interior all over the place combined with homemade regional delights. When you are visiting the Centro it feels like you travel back into the past… sitting in a little Italien café, your Vespa right at the front door, a freshly brewed espresso in front of you and…. mmmmmmh… and just enjoying life! Definitely worth to stop by and grab an espresso after a day up on the mountain. Andiamo Ragazzi!

Where to stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?

Recently opened a new super fancy accommodation for outdoor enthusiasts called Moun10. The hostel is super central, directly next to the center and the railway station. The perfect place to stay for the next outdoor adventure.

Check out the Sport Conrad store in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

If you are in town you have to check out our store in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. We are always stoked to meet our customers personally. So come by, have a nice chat with our staff and you might even get some helpful local insider tips while traveling Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

The store is located in the heart of Garmisch next to the GEP Mall and offers anything you might need for your next outdoor adventure. We have a huge selection of touring skis, freeride skis, alpine skis, snowboards and splitboards, we also offer climbing equipment, hiking shoes, camping gear, bikes and outdoor clothing as well as leisure clothing. If you have any question, or if you are not sure if you got the right equipment for your needs, we are always happy to help you out.

Besides to our large variety of products, we also offer additional services which can be found on the Garmisch-Partenkirchen store website. 

Read other interesting blog posts:

→ Ammergau Alps Nature Park

→ Laber Ropeway Oberammergau

→ Hike with the Right: Essentials for your next Hike and Trekking Tour