Do you want to experience the highest peak in Germany? Then, you must definitely plan your memorable trip to Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany. The Zugspitze is 2,962 meters high and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Bavarian Alps.
The weather was snowy and it was around -4 degrees in Munich. So we decided to take a trip to Zugspitze and were blown away by the beauty of the place. The temperate in the Zugspitze varies depending on the season. When we visited, it was around -11 degrees. Even in the summer, the weather is quite cold.
Let’s take you on the trip to Zugspitze in this blog!
How to reach Zugspitze, the highest peak in Germany:
Let's talk about how you can get to the highest peak in Germany, Zugspitze. You can take a scenic ride in your car or you can also reach there by Train. The train journey depends on where are you traveling from. Click below to find out the best deals to book your trip to Zugspitze.
The closest train station to Zugspitze is Garmisch Partenkirchen. You can take the ICE train to Munich and then take the Regional train as ICE doesn’t have a route to Garmisch Partenkirchen.
Do you also want to explore Garmisch Partenkirchen? Check out our blog and find out travel tips for Garmisch Partenkirchen here.
The most convenient and affordable way to reach Zugspitze from Munich or any Bavarian city is by using the Bayern day ticket. The Bayern Ticket is a regional day ticket for Bavaria that allows unlimited travel for a specific day on all regional trains and buses in Bavaria.
The cost of the Bayern ticket is 26 euros for a single person and an additional 8 euros for each additional passenger, up to a total of 5 people.
With the Bayern Ticket, you can travel to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the town at the base of Zugspitze, and then take the cogwheel train and cable car to the top of Zugspitze on the additional ticket.
Where to stay near the Zugspitze:
There are plenty of different options to stay near Zugspitze like in the town of Garmisch, Partenkirchen, or Grainau. There are many local hotels and guest houses and international chains like Mercure. You can get an average of 100 to 150 euros per night hotel.
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Our Experience at Zugspitze:
We bought the Bayern day ticket and took a Regional train from Munich Central station, and headed towards Garmisch Partenkirchen. The journey took us about 90 minutes to reach Garmisch Partenkirchen train station.
From the backside of the Garmisch Partenkirchen station, we bought a ticket to reach the top of Zugspitze. The ticket cost us 54 euros (3 euro discount due to the Bayern ticket) per person for the return journey to Zugspitze.
Read more about the Christmas Market at Garmisch Partenkirchen.
Check out our blog and find out travel tips for Garmisch Partenkirchen here.
We took the journey on 90 years old Cogwheel, which was a unique experience with stunning views along the way, making it worth every minute. The train slowly climbed up the mountain, passing through lush forests and rocky terrain, and we reached Zugspitzplatt, which is a plateau located on the top of Zupspitze.
The Zugspitzplatt is 2600 meters high and one of the most picturesque destinations for adventurous and nature lovers.
Activities to do at Zugspitzplatt on Zugspitze:
1. Skiing at Zugspitzplatt:
Zugspitzplatt is truly a winter wonderland and offers many opportunities for ski lovers. There are several ski lifts and over 20 KM of the run which makes it an ideal spot for winter sports. You can also get some skiing lessons if you are new to Skiing and snowboarding. You can also rent out the equipment.
2. Sledding:
Get your own sled or rent a sled and enjoy sleeping on Zugsptizplatt.
3. Hikking on Zugspitzplatt:
Hike around the Zugspitzplatt and enjoy the 5 interactive adventure stations and explore the natural beauty of Zugspitze. The hiking trails offer stunning views of the mountains and valleys.
4. Highest church in Germany:
Visit the highest church on the Zugspitzplatt “Maria Heimsuchung Chapel’’.
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5. Enjoy lunch at Restaurant Sonnalpin, Zugspitzplatt:
Take a little rest at Restaurant Sonnalpin and grab a bite to eat or warm up with a hot drink.
6. Toboggan:
Enjoy the Family fun by experiencing toboggan runs at Zugspitzplat around Restaurant Sonnalpin. There are three different toboggan runs that you can choose from depending on your expertise.
7. Igloo Village:
Visit Zugspitze Igloo Village and spend the night in a village made of ice and enjoy the fondue dinner and wellness experience.
Zugspitz Summit:
From the Zugspitzplatt Glacier, we took the cable car called Gleyscherbahn to the Zugspitze summit. The cable car ride was such a thrilling ride and, offered panoramic views of the Alps. Within a few minutes, we covered an altitude of 1000 meters and reached to Zugspitze summit.
360-degree panoramic view from the top of Germany:
As soon as we stepped out from the cable car, the panoramic viewing platform offered a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
There is beautiful and innovative glass architecture of the mountain station on the top, which offers a beautiful 360-degree panoramic. You can also explore the exhibition on the history of Cogwheel at the Zugspitze summit.
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On clear days, you can enjoy the breathtaking view of the 4 countries, including Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland.
On the summit of Zugspitze, there is a marked border between the German state of Bavaria and the Austrian state of Tyrol. You can even cross the border on foot and enter into Tyrol, Austria but don’t forget to bring your passport.
You can also enjoy the culinary experience at almost 3,000 meters above sea level at summit restaurant Panorama 2962.
Journey back to Garmisch Partenkirchen:
After spending some time at the summit, we took the Seilbahn cable car back down to Eibsee, a nearby lake that offers even more stunning views of the Alps. We took a stunning walk around the lake and enjoyed the beautiful view.
After spending some time, from there, we took a bus back to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and took a train back to Munich. It was a long day, but it was one of the most memorable trips we've taken in Germany.
Ending Note:
Overall, we highly recommend visiting Zugspitz whether you're into skiing or just want to take in the beauty of the Bavarian Alps. In order to avoid waiting time in the long queue, you can also book the ticket to Zugspitze Online here.
The best way to visit the Zugspitz is by Bayern Ticket. You can either plan a day trip or plan a long trip and explore the surrounding of Garmisch Partenkirchen.
Read more about Christmas Market at Garmisch Partenkirchen.