Garmisch-Partenkirchen Between Mountains and Culture

Garmisch-Partenkirchen offers a range of options to consider when planning your trip: trails through the mountains, a gorge, cycling routes and cultural attractions. If you are looking for a hotel, you can start by considering whether you would like to focus your stay mainly on outdoor activities, local history or a combination of both. The destinations below show how varied the possible focuses are.

Mountain Trails, Gorge and Cable Cars

At the Partnach Gorge, visitors walk between massive rock faces, with the water rushing below. The gorge was declared a natural monument and opened to visitors in 1912. Here, an immediate experience of nature meets a distinctive part of the area’s history.

At 1,780 metres, Wank is Partenkirchen’s local mountain and is ideal for leisurely mountain hikes with far-reaching views. The Wank cable car takes you directly from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to the summit. Eckbauer offers another hiking option: it can be explored on foot in both summer and winter and is considered a versatile hiking area. It is also accessible by cable car at an altitude of 1,237 metres. Check the current operating conditions for both cable cars before your visit.

At the foot of Kramer, you’ll find a different kind of trail: the Kramer Plateau Trail is a panoramic route with well-maintained paths and gentle climbs. Wank, Eckbauer and the Kramer Plateau Trail can therefore be distinguished by their described features: far-reaching views from the local mountain, an area that can be explored on foot all year round, or a panoramic trail with gentle climbs.

The walk begins at the Garmisch Tourist Information Centre; in Partenkirchen, it continues along Ludwigstraße to the pilgrimage church of St. Anton. The sequence of starting point, street and destination gives the walk a clear route without requiring a specific walking time.

Cycling is another option. The well-signposted cycling network covers more than 453 kilometres. It includes relaxed rides, challenging mountain tours and downhill trails. This figure may change as routes are added or adjusted. When planning, it is therefore important to consider which type of route—and which of these cycling options—interests you.

Culture, Townscape and History

The Richard Strauss Institute is housed in the historic Villa Christina in Partenkirchen’s Kurpark. It features a permanent exhibition on the life and work of Richard Strauss. The Werdenfels Museum was established in 1895 from a private collection and is now one of the most significant museums of its kind in Bavaria. In the Zugspitze Room, you can see the original summit cross from the Zugspitze. It weighs 150 kilograms.

On walks through Garmisch-Partenkirchen, you can discover Lüftlmalerei murals on house facades. They are among the sights you may come across in the townscape. The herb garden of the senses in Michael Ende Kurpark offers experiences for smell, taste, touch, sight and hearing. So, alongside exhibitions and architectural history, townscapes and sensory experiences are also cultural themes to explore.

The Richard Strauss Festival takes place every year in June in Garmisch and features performances of his works. As the annual programme may change, it’s a good idea to check the dates for your travel period. You can also include sites associated with the 1936 Winter Olympics in your plans: these include the Olympic Ski Stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the ski jump on Gudiberg and the Olympic bobsleigh run near Lake Riessersee. The ski jump and bobsleigh run are listed as attractions.

If you are travelling in June, also check the current festival programme; for cable car destinations, the operating conditions for your travel dates are relevant.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bad Kohlgrub, Ettal, Farchant, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Grainau, Krün, Mittenwald, Murnau Am Staffelsee, Oberammergau, Oberau, Wallgau, Seehausen Am Staffelsee, Saulgrub, Ohlstadt, Unterammergau, Uffing Am Staffelsee, Riegsee.

Go to the main travel overview: Bavaria.