Garmisch-Partenkirchen · One-day itinerary

A day in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen sits at the foot of the Zugspitze (Germany's highest peak). Hiking in summer, skiing in winter, painted alpine houses year-round. An easy 90 minutes by train from Munich.

Time
Full day
Distance
4-8 km
Food stops
2
Sites
4
The walking route

Hour by hour.

A suggested order, feel free to swap, skip, or take it in reverse.

1

09:30 · Start at Zugspitze (highest peak)

Begin your day at Zugspitze (highest peak). Arrive early to avoid crowds and see it in the morning light.

2

11:00 · Partnachklamm Gorge

Walk to Partnachklamm Gorge, one of the city's defining landmarks. Take your time, this is the kind of place you can't rush.

3

13:00 · Lunch at Zum Wildschütz

Long lunch at Zum Wildschütz. Locals eat late, by 1:30pm you'll be at the heart of the lunch service.

4

15:00 · Olympic Ski Stadium

Walk off lunch with a visit to Olympic Ski Stadium. Allow at least an hour.

5

16:30 · Eibsee (lake)

Continue to Eibsee (lake). By now the harsh midday sun has softened, best time for photos.

6

18:30 · Drinks at Gasthaus zur Schranne

Aperitivo or evening drink at Gasthaus zur Schranne. Soak in the local rhythm.

7

20:30 · Dinner

Pick a restaurant from the food list below, the city's best are within a 15-minute walk from where you're staying. Book ahead during peak season.

Where to eat

Picks for the day.

The food stops on the route, plus a couple of alternatives if your timing doesn't match.

Zum Wildschütz

Address: Bankgasse 9

Gasthaus zur Schranne

Address: Griesstraße 4

Sites & sights

What to see along the way.

Zugspitze (highest peak)

Address: Zugspitzplatt

Partnachklamm Gorge

Address: Wildenauer Straße

Olympic Ski Stadium

Address: Karl-und-Martin-Neuner-Pl. 1

Eibsee (lake)

Address: Eibsee

Practical notes

Tips before you go.

  • Most restaurants close between lunch (around 3pm) and dinner (around 7:30pm). Plan around it.
  • Cash is still useful in smaller places, though cards are increasingly accepted everywhere.
  • Walk where you can, the best parts of any old European city aren't accessible by car.
  • Museums sell timed-entry tickets online and they save real time, especially in peak season.
  • Locals eat dinner late by American or British standards. Don't show up at 6:30pm expecting service.
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