Holiday in Zugspitze
Area in Germany — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇩🇪
Country
Germany
Type
Area
Best time to travel
May to October (hiking, Eibsee). December to April (skiing on the Zugspitzplatt). Summit accessible year-round by cable car.
Budget/day
90-200 €
Getting there from Germany
By train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (1.5 h from Munich), then Zugspitzbahn to the summit. By car via A95 Munich-Garmisch.
Deals for Zugspitze:
What makes Zugspitze special as a destination?
The Zugspitze, at 2,962 meters, is the highest mountain in Germany and stands on the border between Bavaria and Tyrol. On clear days, the summit offers a panorama that includes over 400 peaks in four countries — from the Dolomites to the Großglockner and the Säntis in Switzerland. No other point in Germany is so close to the sky. Three cable cars lead to the summit: The Bavarian Zugspitze Railway (cogwheel train from Garmisch, 75 minutes), the Eibsee Cable Car (newest cable car, opened in 2017, 10 minutes, with a height of 127 m, the highest support in the world), and the Tyrolean Zugspitze Railway from the Austrian side. The Eibsee Cable Car holds three world records: the largest elevation difference (1,945 m), the longest free span (3,213 m), and the highest steel support. The Eibsee at the foot of the Zugspitze is considered one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Germany: crystal clear, turquoise water surrounded by dense forest and the imposing Zugspitze massif. A 7 km long circular hike leads around the lake, and in summer, small bays invite swimming. The Schneefernhaus at 2,650 m, once the highest hotel in Germany, now serves as a research station. The Schneeferner, one of the last glaciers in Germany, is a visible sign of climate change — it is expected to completely disappear in the coming years. At the summit platform, a golden summit cross marks the highest point in the country.
What are the top highlights in Zugspitze?
The top highlights in Zugspitze include Summit Cross (2,962 m), Eibsee Cable Car, Eibsee, Bavarian Zugspitze Railway, Schneeferner Glacier.
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Summit Cross (2,962 m)
Highest point in Germany with a 400-peak panorama: golden summit cross, border between Bavaria and Tyrol.
Eibsee Cable Car
Record cable car opened in 2017: 1,945 m elevation difference and 3,213 m free span — to the summit in just 10 minutes.
Eibsee
Crystal clear mountain lake at the foot of the Zugspitze: turquoise water, 7 km circular path, and swimming bays in summer.
Bavarian Zugspitze Railway
Historic cogwheel train from Garmisch to the summit: 75 minutes through tunnels and over viaducts, in operation since 1930.
Schneeferner Glacier
One of the last glaciers in Germany: a visible sign of climate change, research station at 2,650 m.
Hotels in Zugspitze
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Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
When is the best time to visit Zugspitze?
The best time to visit Zugspitze is May to October (hiking, Eibsee). December to April (skiing on the Zugspitzplatt). Summit accessible year-round by cable car.. Summit: 0-10 °C, valley: 15-28 °C, rapid weather changes possible In winter: Summit: -15 to -5 °C, valley: -5 to 5 °C, snow guarantee on the Zugspitzplatt
Recommended travel time
May to October (hiking, Eibsee). December to April (skiing on the Zugspitzplatt). Summit accessible year-round by cable car.
Summer
Summit: 0-10 °C, valley: 15-28 °C, rapid weather changes possible
Winter
Summit: -15 to -5 °C, valley: -5 to 5 °C, snow guarantee on the Zugspitzplatt
How much does a holiday in Zugspitze cost?
Budget travellers: 40-80 €/day, mid-range: 90-200 €/day, luxury: 220-500 €/day.
Average costs per person per day
Budget
40-80 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
90-200 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
220-500 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
How do I get from Germany to Zugspitze?
By train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (1.5 h from Munich), then Zugspitzbahn to the summit. By car via A95 Munich-Garmisch.
Book a package holiday to Zugspitze
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Compare package holidays nowWhat travel tips are there for Zugspitze?
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Start early — the cable cars are particularly busy on weekends and holidays. Use the first ride for shorter wait times.
Check the weather — it can snow and storm even in summer at 2,962 m. Check mountain weather apps and webcams beforehand.
Buy a combination ticket — cogwheel train up, cable car down (or vice versa) provides the best experience of both systems.
Don't miss Eibsee — the lake at the foot of the Zugspitze is considered more beautiful by many than the summit itself. Plan a circular hike.
Sun protection at altitude — UV radiation at almost 3,000 m is extremely strong. High-factor sunscreen and sunglasses are a must.
What should you eat in Zugspitze?
Typical specialities in Zugspitze: Werdenfelser Bierfleisch — beef braised in beer with bread dumplings: a traditional dish from the Werdenfelser Land around Garmisch., Kaspress-Knödel — flattened dumplings with mountain cheese and herbs, fried in butter: a hut classic in the alpine pastures around the Zugspitze., Germknödel — steaming yeast dumpling filled with Powidl (plum jam), vanilla sauce, and poppy seeds: a sweet reward after the mountain hike., Obatzder — spicy cheese spread for beer: a Bavarian must on the summit terrace or in the hut., Brotzeit auf der Alm — bacon, mountain cheese, radishes, butter, and fresh bread: the authentic mountain meal in one of the alpine huts..
These specialties you must try!
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