Welcome to Garmisch – A Paradise for Outdoor Activities in Bavaria!

Located just 270 km from Stuttgart, in the Bavarian region bordering Austria, lies a place where you can enjoy all these activities depending on the season: Hiking, Mountaineering, Cycling, Mountain Biking, Golfing, Swimming, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paragliding, Skiing, and Snowboarding… OMG!

This place is Zugspitzland!

I’d like to introduce you to a magical location in Bavaria, often referred to as the "Caribbean of Bavaria" – Garmisch-Partenkirchen!

A picturesque city surrounded by mountains, Garmisch is home to delicious restaurants, exclusive shops, hotels with thermal pools, and amazing views. It’s a charming city where you can enjoy lovely walks and feel the fresh mountain air. The best part? You can reach Eibsee, a stunning lake included in the area, just 10 km from the town center (either by train or car).

Due to our limited time, we had to make a short itinerary, but if you plan to hike up Alpspitze, you’ll need at least 3 full days to do it justice (without counting sports activities).

Eibsee, located at the foot of Zugspitze, the highest peak in Germany, is a small yet captivating lake with an 8 km shoreline. Here, you can enjoy a variety of activities, including hiking, biking, duck feeding, picnicking, swimming, and even stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). And don’t forget to catch the stunning sunset while you’re at it!

PS: I absolutely love Germany’s relationship with water. They don’t just admire it from a distance – they embrace it, engaging in every possible activity, even in the smallest puddles!

As for Eibsee, its tropical vibe is perhaps best experienced from above. The aerial view truly enhances the sense of paradise this lake offers.

On the side of the lake facing the mountains, there’s a small pond. With towering snowy peaks behind you, surrounded by dense forests, you’re immersed in a breathtaking view. You know when you visit a place and think, "Wow, the forest is so beautiful," or "This lake is stunning," or "The majesty of the mountains brings me peace"? Well, here, you get all of that at once.

When you reach Eibsee, you’re automatically at the base of the cable car that takes you to the top of Zugspitze (2960 m). After a delightful day by the lake, a bit of exploration, and a lovely hike, if you’d like to take the cable car up, the last ride is at 4:15 pm. Therefore, it’s a great idea to leave the summit for the next day. I highly recommend heading to Garmisch, enjoying a nice dinner, and then letting the oxygen boost from the mountains put you to sleep in a hotel with a stunning mountain view. It’ll feel like you’ve pressed the F5 key on your keyboard, refreshing you completely.

The next day, at 8:30 am, you can be ready and waiting at the station to catch the cable car up to the top.

When you finally reach the summit, seeing the lake, the mountains, and the snow from up high is a completely different kind of desire. Once you’ve reached the top in the large cable car with a capacity of 50 people, you can head to the upper deck and fully enjoy the breathtaking view. At this station, you’ll find a restaurant, a café, a souvenir shop, and a cable car transfer station that takes you to the ski slopes.

After a quick coffee break here, you can turn 180 degrees and take the cable car to the area with the ski slopes. This area offers slopes for skiing, tobogganing, and snowboarding. The scenery and nature are truly magnificent. A little further on, you can visit the ice hotel, enjoy a coffee at the restaurant, or even stay overnight if you wish. The ice hotel is beautiful, but I think staying there might be quite challenging due to its strong odor. You can explore the rooms in detail in the gallery.

After reaching the summit by cable car, you can take the train back either to Eibsee or the town center. If you choose the train, the journey to Eibsee takes 25 minutes through tunnels and 20 minutes in the open air. You can also bring your ski gear or snowboard with you on the train. Public transportation is very convenient and easy to use. If you’re coming not just for sightseeing but also for skiing, you can purchase a 1, 2, or 3-day pass.