Garmisch-Partenkirchen lies just over an hour south of Munich and has all of the Bavarian charm you could ever imagine. Mountains, cobblestone streets, crystal-clear rivers, extensive trails and hearty Bavarian meals to top it off. The locals often refer to it as the gateway to the Alps, and it’s definitely worth a visit in its own right. You will start in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on our guided Munich to Venice tour.

Zugspitze – Germany’s highest peak

Originally two towns, Garmisch is often considered the more modern town, while Partenkirchen has retained a more traditional feel with its cobblestone streets and painted facades. By no choice of their own, the two towns were united for the 1939 Olympics and have remained attached since then. There are still relics of the Olympics to be found around town. Perhaps the best known is the Olympic Ski Stadium, home to the 149-meter-high ski jump where Eddie the Eagle, the movie was filmed.

GaPa, as it’s often called by locals, is home to the Wetterstein mountains. These limestone mountains were created when the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided, creating Germany’s highest peak, the Zuspitze at 2962 meters, 9718 feet, towering over 7000 ft above town. It is also home to two of the last four glaciers in Germany, the Northern Schneeferner and the Höllentalferner. It’s rugged and gorgeous.

Thanks to its popularity, there are many ways to reach the summit of Zugspitze. The most relaxing way is the Bavarian Zugspitzbahn. Start by taking a cogwheel train along the valley floor until the Eibsee, where the train takes a vertical tilt to ascend through the mountain. Finally, you’ll hop onto the Gletscherbahn cable car for the final ascent to the summit. In a rush to the top? Take the Seilbahn Zugspitze (gondola) from Eibsee, and you’ll be at the top in around 10 minutes. Looking to put a little more effort into your ascent? There is a trail that leads right from town, via the Partnach gorge and up the Rein Valley to the top of the Zugspitze. This takes around 8 – 10 hours and is often done over two days with a night at the Reintalanger hut.

Gorges galore

Thanks to the porosity of the limestone, this region is home to some fantastic gorges. The easiest to access is the Partnach gorge, not far from the Olympic Stadium. This 702-meter-long gorge is the easiest to access and stunning as well. Like any gorge, bring a rain jacket even on sunny days. The mists from the rivers can get mighty cold. Next up, and even wetter, is the Höllental Gorge. This is an even more dramatic gorge with a fantastic hut not far from its end, but the hike is definitely harder.

Bavarian comforts

After all the adventuring, you are bound to be hungry, but don’t race to eating just yet. German sports scientists recommend having a Weissbier (wheat beer) after sports. It’s naturally isotonic and contains vitamins like B12, potassium, magnesium, and polyphenols, which have anti-inflammatory properties. Our favorite in GaPa is from the Brauhaus Garmisch.

Now that’s covered, it’s time to indulge in some Bavarian specialties. An underrated classic is Obatzda, often called German Beer Cheese. It’s typically a mix of a soft cheese like Camembert or Brie with butter, cream cheese, paprika, salt, and a splash of beer. It’s a perfect companion for the best Brezn (pretzels) in the world!

After a full day of on trail, we like to relax in comfort, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen has some wonderful hotels.  Our home here is the charming 4-star Staudacherhof, with great meals, friendly hosts, a convenient central location and a wonderfully relaxing spa.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the first stop on our Munich to Venice tour. Whether it is your gateway to larger Alps tour, or your destination for a relaxing longer stay, Garmisch-Partenkirchen will always be a memorable stay.