green and brown mountains under white clouds and blue sky during daytime

Bavarian Alps

The Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak, rises in the Bavarian Alps beside glacier-carved lakes and valleys.

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The Bavarian Alps are a group of mountain ranges in the Northern Limestone Alps, in the German state of Bavaria. Bavaria is the only German state that reaches into the Alps. In the usual narrow sense, the region covers the ranges between the Lech and Saalach rivers, and it is not the same as the Bavarian Prealps, which lie between the Loisach and the Inn. The Zugspitze, at 2,962 m, is the highest peak in the Bavarian Alps and in Germany. It has two small glaciers and stands in the western part of the Wetterstein range.

Ice-age glaciers carved the cirques, lakes and U-shaped valleys you see today. Mountain pastures have been in use since the Iron Age, around 750 BC. Wildlife is part of the visit: the capercaillie nearly vanished in the 20th century and has recovered with path rules and sanctuaries, and the lynx returned after a 1980s release project with Czech partners helped its population grow again. Stay on marked paths in protected areas, where wildlife needs quiet ground.

Bavarian Alps in five

Pick one base and use regional trainsGarmisch, Füssen and Berchtesgaden are far apart, and each is about 1.5 to 3 hours from Munich. Choose the base that matches your main sight and avoid moving hotels on a short trip.Where to stay in Germany
Reserve Neuschwanstein before you leave MunichCastle entry is by timed ticket, and summer slots go first. Check the official castle ticket page for current rules before you plan a day around it; the bus up from Hohenschwangau is part of the visit.
Go up the Zugspitze on a clear morningCable cars reach Germany's highest peak, at about 2,962 meters, from the Garmisch side and the Austrian side. Check the webcam first, since cloud can leave you with nothing but fog.
Ask for a guest card at check-inAlpine resorts add a visitor tax to the room rate, and many give a guest card in return that covers local buses. Ask whether your host issues one before you buy day tickets.Tourist taxes in Europe
Check lift maintenance in spring and late autumnMany cable cars close for maintenance between seasons, usually in April to May and again in November. Look at the lift operator's calendar before you build a trip in those weeks.

Things to do in Bavarian Alps

See all attractions in Bavarian Alps

Traditional farmhouse with green grass and forested mountains

Sight · Bavarian AlpsOberammergau Museum

Mountain landscape with a building and pine trees

Sight · Bavarian AlpsPilatushaus

a scenic view of a mountain range with a lake in the foreground

Sight · Bavarian AlpsStadtmuseum

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Bavarian AlpsPut the places you like in Bavarian Alps on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Munich (MUC), then rail or bus into the Alps
Getting there: From Munich: Garmisch 1–1.5 hours, Füssen about 2, Berchtesgaden 2.5–3
Getting around: Regional trains, valley buses and cable cars; a car helps for Linderhof
Best base: Garmisch for hikes, Füssen for castles, Berchtesgaden for lakes
Time needed: 3–4 days on one base; 5–7 for two

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuarySnow15 rainy days8 snowy daysHigh3°Low-6°Ski season
FebruaryRain13 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh5°Low-4°Ski, snow
MarchRain14 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh8°Low-2°Late snow, mud
AprilRain16 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh12°Low1°Spring, lifts close
MayRain22 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh16°Low5°Wildflowers
JuneRain19 rainy daysHigh21°Low10°Hiking season
JulyRain21 rainy daysHigh22°Low11°Warm, busy
AugustRain19 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh22°Low11°Warm, busy
SeptemberRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Clear, golden
OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low4°Autumn color
NovemberRain12 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh8°Low-1°Lifts close
DecemberSnow14 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh4°Low-4°Christmas markets

Average daily high and low in Garmisch, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Bavarian Alps

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

-1

Feels like: -4°
Humidity: 97%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Bavarian Alps

09:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today0°-4°0%Monday: Fog. High 0°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue0°-3°0%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 0°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed4°-2°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 4°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu9°0°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri9°1°3%Friday: Clear. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 3%.
Sat5°-1°31%Saturday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 31%.
Sun6°-2°33%Sunday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 33%.

Updated 05:27 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Bavarian Alps

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Munich, GermanyOktoberfestSep 18 – Oct 3, 2027 · Read the event guide

Every year

Jul–AugBayreuth FestivalBavaria, a day trip

Day trips by train

Before you go to Bavarian Alps

Regional trains to the AlpsMunich to Garmisch, Füssen and beyondRead the guide

Alpine basesGuesthouses, hotels and mountain innsCheck availability

eSIM for the mountainsWeather checks and cable car ticketsRead the guide

Cover for hiking and skiingRescue, medical and trip cancellationRead the guide

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Rules for Bavarian Alps, checked

Non-EU visitors from many countries can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Federal Foreign Office site before you book.Source
In an emergency anywhere in Germany, call 112 for police, fire, an ambulance or mountain rescue.
Stay on marked paths in protected areas. Capercaillie and other wildlife need quiet, undisturbed habitat.

Plan around Bavarian Alps

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Zugspitze, Partnach Gorge and a ski-town base

Read the guide Füssen travel guide

Neuschwanstein and the Allgäu lakes

Read the guide Berchtesgaden travel guide

Königssee and a national park near Salzburg

Read the guide Mittenwald travel guide

A painted-house village on the Austrian border

Read the guide Tourist taxes in Europe

How the guest tax and guest card work

Read the guide All of Germany

Regions, trains and entry rules for a Germany trip

Read the guide

Bavarian Alps FAQ

Where should you stay in the Bavarian Alps?

Garmisch-Partenkirchen for hiking and the Zugspitze, Füssen for Neuschwanstein and the lakes, Berchtesgaden for Königssee and the national park. Pick one; they are too far apart to combine on a short trip.

Can you visit the Bavarian Alps without a car?

Yes. Regional trains reach Garmisch, Füssen and Berchtesgaden, and local buses reach the main valleys and cable cars. A car helps for Linderhof and the Alpine Road, but it is not essential.

Is Neuschwanstein a day trip from Munich?

Yes, with an early train to Füssen in about 2 hours and a timed castle ticket. It makes a long day, so staying a night in Füssen gives you a quieter morning and less rushing for the last train.

When is the best time to hike in the Bavarian Alps?

July to September for open high trails, and June for wildflowers at lower altitude. Snow can linger above 2,000 meters into June, and lifts close for maintenance in spring and late autumn.

Is the Zugspitze worth the cable car?

On a clear day, yes. The summit gives a wide view into four countries. In cloud it is not worth the ticket, so check the webcam on the morning you go and keep a flexible day.