Garmisch-Partenkirchen
An Alpine town in Bavaria where you can ride to Germany's highest peak, walk through a narrow gorge and hike the valleys below the Wetterstein range.
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Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a resort town in Upper Bavaria, in southern Germany, close to the Austrian border. The separate villages of Garmisch and Partenkirchen were merged into one municipality in 1935, and the town hosted the Winter Olympics in 1936. Its main draw is the Zugspitze, at about 2,962 meters the highest mountain in Germany, reached by cable car from the town. The Partnach Gorge, near Partenkirchen, has a path along its rock walls above a fast stream.
The town suits hikers, skiers, families and couples on a short trip who want big mountain scenery with easy access. Summer suits hiking and views from the summit, and winter suits skiing. Spring and autumn are quieter. A day trip from Munich can cover the Zugspitze alone.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen in five
- Go up the Zugspitze on a clear morningGermany's highest summit, near 2,960 m, is reached by rack railway and cable car. Check the live webcam before you buy: cloud and wind make the summit a cold waste of time.
- Walk the Partnach GorgeThe gorge path starts near the Olympic ski stadium and takes about an hour round trip. Wear shoes with grip and a jacket, as spray soaks the path.
- Use the regional train, not a carMunich to Garmisch is a direct regional train of roughly 1.5 hours. A Bavaria day ticket covers several travelers and many local buses in the Werdenfelser Land.Getting around Germany
- Pair it with Mittenwald and FüssenMittenwald is a short train ride on, with painted houses and violin makers. Füssen and Neuschwanstein are a half-day away by bus and train.Mittenwald
- Pack for sudden weatherAfternoon thunderstorms are common in summer and snow can fall at the summit in any month. Carry a rain layer, a warm hat and water on every mountain day.
Need to know
- Airport
- Munich (MUC), about 2 hours by S-Bahn and regional train
- Getting there
- Regional train from Munich, about 1.5 hours
- Getting around
- Walkable center; buses and rack railway to the trailheads
- Best base
- Garmisch or Partenkirchen near the station
- Time needed
- 1 day trip works; 2 nights add the mountain days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow15 rainy days8 snowy daysHigh3°Low-6°Snow, ski seasonJanuarySnow
Poor
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 8
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, ski season
- FebruaryRain13 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh5°Low-4°Cold, skiFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, ski
- MarchRain14 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh8°Low-2°Late snowMarchRain
Good
- High
- 8°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Late snow
- AprilRain16 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh12°Low1°Cool, thawAprilRain
Best
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, thaw
- MayRain22 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh16°Low5°Green, quietMayRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 217 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, quiet
- JuneRain19 rainy daysHigh21°Low10°Warm, hikingJuneRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 203 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, hiking
- JulyRain21 rainy daysHigh22°Low11°Warm, thunderJulyRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 222 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, thunder
- AugustRain19 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh22°Low11°Warm, hikingAugustRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 224 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, hiking
- SeptemberRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Autumn colorSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 164 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low4°Cool, quietOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- NovemberRain12 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh8°Low-1°Dark, quietNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, quiet
- DecemberSnow14 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh4°Low-4°Christmas marketDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 6
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas market
Average daily high and low in Garmisch, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
4
- Feels like
- 1°
- Humidity
- 89%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 3%
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
09:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today5°0°3%Monday: Rain. High 5°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Tue5°2°10%Tuesday: Fog. High 5°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Wed9°2°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu14°4°0%Thursday: Clear. High 14°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri13°2°1%Friday: Clear. High 13°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Sat8°2°9%Saturday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sun10°2°23%Sunday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 23%.
Updated 06:56 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
What's on in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarEvery year
- Jul–AugBayreuth FestivalBavaria, a day trip
Before you go to Garmisch-Partenkirchen
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Rules for Garmisch-Partenkirchen, checked
- Schengen 90/180-day rule: non-EU visitors may stay 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area, including Germany.Source
- EU Entry/Exit System: non-EU visitors have passport details and fingerprints recorded at the German border. Check the status on the official EU travel site.Source
- Dial 112 for police, ambulance or fire in Germany, including on mountain trails. It is the same number across the EU, so save it before you hike.
- Most shops in Germany close on Sundays, so buy food and hiking supplies before then.
Plan around Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Cities, castles and the Alps
Read the guideBavarian AlpsLinking Alpine towns by rail and bus
Read the guideMittenwaldPainted houses under the Karwendel
Read the guideFüssenNeuschwanstein and the Allgäu
Read the guideBerchtesgadenKönigssee and the east Bavarian Alps
Read the guideIs a Eurail pass worth it?Regional day tickets against a pass
Read the guideGarmisch-Partenkirchen FAQ
Is Garmisch-Partenkirchen worth visiting?
Yes, if you want Alpine scenery without leaving Bavaria. The Zugspitze, the Partnach Gorge and the lakes nearby are easy by train and bus. It is busy in summer and ski season.
Can you visit Garmisch from Munich as a day trip?
Yes. A direct regional train takes about 1.5 hours. A day gives you the gorge or a lift ride, but little time for the summit and a lake. Stay a night if the forecast is mixed.
When is the best time to go up the Zugspitze?
A clear morning in summer, or on a sunny winter day. Check the live webcam and the lift operator's site before you buy. Cloud, strong wind or storms can close the lifts.
Do you need a car in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
No. The center, the gorge and the lifts are reachable by foot, bus and rack railway. A car helps only for remote lakes and valleys outside the town.
Is Garmisch or Füssen better for a Bavarian Alps trip?
Garmisch for hiking, the Zugspitze and winter sports. Füssen for Neuschwanstein and an old town. If you have three days, do both.