Garmisch-Partenkirchen at a glance
- Ideal for
- Natural snow up to 2,720 m, from late November to May
- Good skiers: the Kandahar, 10 km of black runs
- Car-free: train from Munich, rack railway
- Less suitable if
- Want a big ski area? 60 km in two separate sites
- Fine-weather weekends: queues and quotas
Weather, snow and webcams in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
MET Norway forecast, updated daily at 1 am and 9 am.
Snow report · Avalanche bulletin
Where to stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Recommended hotels for your budget
Comfort
What to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen besides skiing
Garmisch-Partenkirchen piste map and ski area
Beginners: the Ixis Kinderland at the Hausberg (magic carpet, 3 drag lifts, dedicated €43 lift pass)
OpenSkiMap data · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), unofficial.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen lift pass prices
| Lift pass | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Garmisch-Classic · 1 day | €72 | €36 |
| Zugspitze · 1 day | €78 | €39 |
| Twin-Ticket · 2 days | €136.50 | €68.50 |
| Top Snow Card · 6 days | €378 | €189 |
2026-2027 prices · Ticket-office prices, cheaper online until the day before · free under 6 · child aged 6 to 15 · official ticket office
Ski rental and lessons in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Book your skis before you go
- 1 Skiset shop in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, near the lifts
- Equipment, shop and dates chosen online, in a few minutes
Skiverleih Garmisch (Zugspitzstraße), on Skiset and Snowrental · the schools also rent out equipment
Ski lessons and schools
| Lessons (2026-2027 season) | Price |
|---|---|
| Group lesson, 6 mornings of 3 h | €289 |
| Group lesson, 1 morning of 3 h | €71 |
| Private lesson 2 h in the morning | €179 |
Groups from age 4 (Skischule GAP); Ixis Kinderland at the Hausberg, magic carpet and 3 drag lifts. · Lift pass not included in the lesson: the Skischule GAP advises buying it the day before.
When to ski in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Best time: January to March
Getting to Garmisch-Partenkirchen
On site
Richard-Strauss-Platz 2, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Where to eat and unwind in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Skibar Kandahar 2 at the foot of the Kreuzeckbahn, then the restaurants of Garmisch and Partenkirchen
Restaurants in the resort
Classic cuisine, listed in the Michelin Guide
📍 Garmisch, FürstenstraßeStube of the Hotel Zugspitze, listed in the Michelin Guide
📍 Hotel Zugspitze, GarmischMountain restaurants
Spa and relaxation
By reservation, 12pm to 8pm, ages 16 and over
Entry from €78Hotel at 900 m, reached by gondola; pools and saunas
Entry from €69Similar resorts
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Frequently asked questions
When does the ski season start in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
The Zugspitze opens on 27 November 2026 (planned date) and closes on 2 May 2027. Garmisch-Classic opens around mid-December and closes on 29 March 2027, depending on snow conditions.
Are Garmisch-Classic and the Zugspitze linked?
No. They are two separate ski areas, both served by the rack railway (Zahnradbahn) from Garmisch-Partenkirchen station. The Twin-Ticket (2 days) gives you one day in each area.
How much does a lift pass cost in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
A day costs €72 at Garmisch-Classic and €78 on the Zugspitze at the ticket office, a little less online until the day before. The 6-day Top Snow Card, valid over 210 km around the Zugspitze, costs €378. Free under 6.
Is Garmisch-Partenkirchen suitable for beginners?
Yes: the Ixis Kinderland at the Hausberg has a magic carpet and three beginner drag lifts, with a dedicated lift pass. The Zugspitze glacier has only blue and red runs.
Can you get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen without a car?
Yes. The regional train runs from Munich in about 1h20, every hour. The rack railway leaves from the station for the slopes; local buses are free with the guest card.
Can you ski the Kandahar?
Yes, it is black run no. 5 at Garmisch-Classic, with the “freier Fall” (free fall), a 92% slope. The operator describes it as suitable for good skiers; you can get off the Kandahar-Express at the mid-station to avoid the difficult sections.
Sources and method
Resort profile: gapa-tourismus.de, zugspitze.de, winter.intermaps.com, wikidata.org
Opening dates: zugspitze.de
Lift passes: zugspitze.de
Ski area: zugspitze.de
Equipment rental: skiset.com, snowrental.com, gapa-tourismus.de
Getting there: gapa-tourismus.de, alpenverein-muenchen-oberland.de, zugspitze.de
Restaurants and activities: zugspitze.de, partnachklamm.de, gapa-tourismus.de
Webcams and reports: zugspitze.de, lawinenwarndienst.bayern.de
Ski holidays: snowtrex.fr, travelski.com
Runs and lifts: OpenSkiMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles (AWS Open Data). Forecasts: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Snow on the ground: Deutscher Wetterdienst (CC BY 4.0). Schools, restaurants, spas and practical information: venue websites and tourist office.
Photos: Denise Hastert, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons · Bernd Brägelmann from Cologne, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons · Wikitarisch, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons · H.Helmlechner, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons · B.Zsolt, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · GFreihalter, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
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