Mittenwald
Mittenwald is a market town in Upper Bavaria known for painted house fronts, violin making and hikes in the Karwendel mountains.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Mittenwald is a market town in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district of Upper Bavaria, about 80 km south of Munich and close to the Austrian border. It lies in the upper Isar valley at about 912 m, between the Karwendel and Wetterstein ranges, and calls itself Germany's highest-located health resort. Many houses carry Lüftlmalerei, painted façades, such as the Hornsteiner Haus and the Schlipferhaus.
Violin making is the other reason to visit. The Klotz family workshops started the local tradition, and Aegidius Klotz is believed to have made Mozart's personal violin. About 10 independent masters work in town today. The Geigenbaumuseum at Ballenhausgasse 3 explains how string and plucked instruments are made. Summer suits hiking in the Karwendel, including the Mittenwalder Höhenweg ridge route, and winter suits skiing at the Hoher Kranzberg. Hourly regional trains run to Munich via Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Mittenwald in five
- Walk the Obermarkt for the painted facadesThe village's painted houses show scenes in the Lüftlmalerei style. A short walk covers them; go in the evening light for the best colors.
- Visit the violin-making museumMittenwald has made violins since the 1600s. The museum shows the craft; check opening hours and ticket rules, which vary by season.
- Ride the Karwendelbahn on a clear dayThe cable car rises to a summit station near 2,244 m with big views. Check the live webcam and wind before you pay.
- Take the train from Munich or GarmischRegional trains from Munich reach Mittenwald in about 1.5 to 2 hours, often with a change at Garmisch. Garmisch is about 20 minutes away.Garmisch-Partenkirchen travel guide
- Walk to a lake in the eveningLautersee and Ferchensee are within a few hours' walk or a short drive. Pack a warm layer even in summer, as the water is cold.
Things to do in Mittenwald
See all attractions in Mittenwald
Need to know
- Airport
- Munich (MUC), about 2 to 2.5 hours by train
- Getting there
- Regional train from Munich, about 1.5 to 2 hours; Garmisch about 20 min
- Getting around
- Walkable village; buses to the trailheads
- Best base
- Near the Obermarkt or the station
- Time needed
- A half-day stop; 1 to 2 nights for hiking
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow15 rainy days9 snowy daysHigh0°Low-9°Snow, skiJanuarySnow
Poor
- High
- 0°
- Low
- -9°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 9
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, ski
- FebruarySnow12 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh3°Low-6°Cold, skiFebruarySnow
Mixed
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 7
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, ski
- MarchRain15 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh6°Low-4°Late snowMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 6°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 6
- Days with storms
- 0
Late snow
- AprilRain15 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh10°Low-1°Cool, thawAprilRain
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, thaw
- MayRain21 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh13°Low3°Green, quietMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 189 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, quiet
- JuneRain20 rainy daysHigh20°Low8°Warm, hikingJuneRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 190 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, hiking
- JulyRain22 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh20°Low10°Warm, thunderJulyRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 201 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, thunder
- AugustRain19 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh21°Low10°Warm, hikingAugustRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 195 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, hiking
- SeptemberRain16 rainy daysHigh17°Low6°Autumn colorSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 146 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- OctoberRain13 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh12°Low2°Cool, quietOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- NovemberRain12 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh6°Low-3°Dark, quietNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 6°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 97 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 6
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, quiet
- DecemberSnow14 rainy days9 snowy daysHigh2°Low-6°Christmas marketDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 97 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 9
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas market
Average daily high and low in Mittenwald, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Mittenwald
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
0
- Feels like
- -3°
- Humidity
- 87%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 25%
Mittenwald
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today3°-4°25%Monday: Drizzle. High 3°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Tue3°-1°8%Tuesday: Fog. High 3°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed8°-1°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 8°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu10°0°0%Thursday: Clear. High 10°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri10°1°0%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 10°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat8°0°10%Saturday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun6°1°18%Sunday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 18%.
Updated 06:47 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jul–AugBayreuth FestivalBavaria, a day trip
Day trips by train
Before you go to Mittenwald
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Mittenwald, checked
- Germany is in the Schengen area, where many non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Check entry rules on the Federal Foreign Office site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Germany.
- Mittenwald is the last German station before the Austrian border; the next station south is Scharnitz in Austria.
- Trains from Mittenwald to Munich accept MVV tickets from 1 January 2026. Check which zones or strips you need on the MVV website before you buy.Source
Plan around Mittenwald
Cities, castles and the Alps
Read the guideGarmisch-PartenkirchenZugspitze and gorges, 20 minutes away
Read the guideBavarian AlpsLinking Alpine towns by rail
Read the guideMunichBeer halls, museums and Marienplatz
Read the guideFüssenNeuschwanstein, a bus and train away
Read the guideIs a Eurail pass worth it?Regional tickets or a pass
Read the guideMittenwald FAQ
Is Mittenwald worth visiting?
Yes, as a half-day stop or one night in the Alps. The painted houses, the museum and the cable car make a good day. It is smaller and calmer than Garmisch.
How do you get from Munich to Mittenwald?
Take a regional train; the ride takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, usually with a change at Garmisch-Partenkirchen. A Bavaria day ticket is usually the cheapest option.
Is Mittenwald or Garmisch better?
Garmisch for the Zugspitze and more services; Mittenwald for a quiet village and the Karwendel. Many travelers do both in one day.
What is Mittenwald known for?
Painted facades, violin making since the 1600s, and the Karwendel mountains right behind the village.
When is the best time to visit Mittenwald?
June to September for hiking and lifts, and December to March for skiing. Spring and late autumn are quieter, but some lifts close for maintenance.