Frescoed gables, the Zugspitze rising to 2,830 m above town, and the Kandahar piste cutting a World Cup line through the Garmisch-Classic forest. Germany's flagship ski town wears its pre-war sophistication lightly, with glacier turns above and Gemütlichkeit at the foot of the mountain.
Run counts and piste kilometres are indicative. Green runs only exist in France, Spain, Andorra and Germany; Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Germany start at blue. Indicative average snow depth near the top of the resort, in cm.
A handful of well-rated hotels in and around the resort. Pick one, then compare live prices across Booking, Expedia and Hotels.com.
Excellent · 2.9k reviews
Strong value for Garmisch-Partenkirchen, with a high guest rating that punches above its nightly price.
Guests rate this hotel as excellent (4.6/5 from 2,867 reviews). It sits about 2.5 km from the slopes. A mid-range option for Garmisch-Partenkirchen, with live nightly rates shown for your exact dates so you always see the best price.
Very good · 2.1k reviews
A long-standing favourite in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, trusted by thousands of guests before you.
Excellent · 1.0k reviews
One of the highest-rated places to stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, with guests singling out the service and comfort.
Excellent · 791 reviews
Moments from the lifts in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, so you can ski back to the door and skip the morning queues.
Great · 2.2k reviews
A long-standing favourite in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, trusted by thousands of guests before you.
Very good · 1.1k reviews
Strong value for Garmisch-Partenkirchen, with a high guest rating that punches above its nightly price.
Ratings from Google, prices indicative per night. Live availability and rates via our booking partners.
True ski-in/ski-out hotels are limited in town. Aim for properties at the foot of the Hausbergbahn or the Kreuzeckbahn for the shortest morning walk to the Garmisch-Classic gondolas, or use the free ski bus that links the village to both base stations and the Eibsee cable car for the Zugspitze.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen sits at 720 m beneath the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, and combines two distinct ski areas on a single pass. Garmisch-Classic delivers the legendary Kandahar piste, a fixture on the men's World Cup downhill circuit, plus 60 km of pisted terrain across blue, red and black runs served by 18 lifts. Up top, the Zugspitzplatt glacier opens in late November and holds snow into spring, giving the resort a snow-sure edge that few Bavarian neighbours can match. The town itself is two villages stitched together for the 1936 Winter Olympics, with frescoed gables, the painted houses of Frühlingstraße, and a depth of mountain culture that runs from the Olympic ski stadium to the brass bands in the Gasthof on a Friday night. Booking, Expedia and Hotels.com list traditional hotels along the Ludwigstraße and modern stays near the Hausbergbahn, with the season running 23 November to 21 April.
Hotels and apartments around the lifts. Compare prices on Booking, Expedia and Hotels.com.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen offers 60 km of pistes across 18 lifts, from 720 m to 2,830 m. Whether it suits beginners depends on the dedicated learner zones at the base of the slopes, so check the local ski-school options for green and blue run access.
The season runs from Nov 23 to Apr 21, with a snow score of 80/100. The best conditions are usually from late January through February, while spring skiing in March and April brings longer days and softer afternoons.
True ski-in/ski-out hotels are limited in town. Aim for properties at the foot of the Hausbergbahn or the Kreuzeckbahn for the shortest morning walk to the Garmisch-Classic gondolas, or use the free ski bus that links the village to both base stations and the Eibsee cable car for the Zugspitze.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen has 60 km of marked pistes served by 18 lifts, between 720 m and 2,830 m of altitude.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen counts about 50 marked runs in total. The colour breakdown above shows how they split by difficulty, a good guide to whether the resort fits your level.
Similar style, different mountain.
Bavarian Alps
Bavarian Alps
Bavarian Alps
Bavarian Alps