Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Mountains, trails and culture

Garmisch-Partenkirchen offers several specific highlights to consider when planning your trip: nature experiences in the Partnach Gorge, mountain hikes on Mount Wank and Eckbauer, an extensive cycling network, and culture connected to Richard Strauss and the Werdenfels region. If you are looking for accommodation, it helps to first consider which of these interests will shape your stay. That way, you can base your choice on your planned daily activities.

Nature, mountain trails and cycling

In the Partnach Gorge, visitors walk between towering rock walls and experience the water rushing below them. The gorge was declared a natural monument in 1912 and opened to visitors. This makes it a clearly defined nature destination to include in your travel plans: the focus is on the narrow rocky landscape and the water directly beneath the path.

At 1,780 metres, Mount Wank is Partenkirchen’s local mountain and is suitable for leisurely hikes with far-reaching views. The Wank cable car takes you directly from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to the summit. Eckbauer is also a hiking destination: the 1,237-metre mountain can be hiked in both summer and winter and is considered a versatile hiking area. It is also accessible by cable car. If you plan to take a cable car, check the operating conditions in advance.

The Kramerplateau Trail at the foot of Mount Kramer offers a different kind of walk. Its well-maintained trails and gentle gradients set this panoramic route apart from the mountain hikes on Mount Wank. This lets you plan around the described trail characteristics rather than treating all hiking destinations as the same.

Cyclists also have a range of options: the well-signposted cycling network spans more than 453 kilometres and includes everything from leisurely rides to challenging mountain tours and downhill routes. The network’s total length may change as routes are added or adjusted. For planning your day, the range of tour types described is therefore especially useful.

Culture, townscape and history

The Richard Strauss Institute is housed in the historic Villa Christina in Partenkirchen’s spa gardens. It features a permanent exhibition about the composer’s life and work. The Richard Strauss Festival is held every June in Garmisch and includes performances of his works. The programme may change, so if you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for your stay.

As you stroll through Garmisch-Partenkirchen, you can discover Lüftlmalerei murals on house façades. A walking route through Partenkirchen starts at the Garmisch Tourist Information Centre and follows Ludwigstraße to the pilgrimage church of St. Anton. These offer two different ways to explore the townscape: looking at painted façades and following a specific route through Partenkirchen to a named destination.

The Werdenfels Museum in Garmisch-Partenkirchen was established in 1895 from a private collection and is now considered one of the most important museums of its kind in Bavaria. In the Zugspitze room, you can see the original summit cross from the Zugspitze; it weighs 150 kilograms. The museum’s origins and this individual exhibit offer different historical points of interest for visitors.

Associated with the 1936 Winter Olympics are the Olympia Ski Stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the ski jump on Gudiberg and the Olympia bobsleigh track near Lake Riessersee; they are considered sights. The Garden of the Senses at Michael Ende Spa Park offers a different experience, with a focus on smell, taste, touch, sight and hearing.

Choosing accommodation to suit your travel plans

Decide which destinations and activities matter to you, and factor these priorities into your plans. If you are staying in June, the annual Richard Strauss Festival may also be a consideration; check the current programme. This way, you can start choosing accommodation based on the specific experiences you want to include in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

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

Go to the overarching travel overview: Bavaria.