Garmisch & Zugspitze in 2-3 Days — Highest Peak + Partnach Gorge
Route length
2 days
Moving time
~17 h
Distance
22 km
Budget
€280–680/person
Transport
Walking
Best Season
Summer
Wanderpath gives you stops and context. Use Google Maps, Komoot or OsmAnd for turn-by-turn directions tailored to your vehicle.
Route Map
Route Waypoints
Arrive at Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bahnhof and walk the two town centres back-to-back. Garmisch side (west): Marienplatz pedestrian zone, more polished, better restaurants and hotels. Cross the Loisach river east into Partenkirchen: Frühlingstrasse and Ludwigstrasse are the best examples of lüftlmalerei — the Bavarian tradition of painting house facades with religious and narrative scenes. The 1936 Olympics forced these two village rivals into administrative union, and the hyphen in the name reflects the unresolved tension. Partenkirchen's Olympiastrasse passes the 1936 Olympic venues still in use today.
Practical Tips
Partenkirchen lüftlmalerei: the finest examples are on Frühlingstrasse and the corner of Ludwigstrasse — painted house facades with scenes from the life of St George, hunting scenes, and alpine landscapes. Some date from the 18th century.
Werdenfelser Museum (Ludwigstrasse 47, Garmisch): the regional museum of alpine Bavarian farming culture — hand-carved tools, traditional costumes, alpine dairy equipment. €4 entry (VERIFY), 45 minutes.
Walk the Philosophenweg (Philosopher's Path): the footpath along the Loisach river connecting Garmisch and Partenkirchen — the local evening walk, with Zugspitze framing the south end. 25 minutes, free.
Get the Gästekarte from your hotel on arrival — gives free bus travel on lines 1 and 2 throughout the stay.
Coordinates:[1] 47.49260, 11.09870 · [2] 47.49198, 11.10103 · [3] 47.49043, 11.10104
Where to stay
- Hotel Reindl's Partenkirchner HofHotel · €180–420 · 188 m
Traditional Bavarian grand hotel; indoor spa; 4min walk from Bahnhof; excellent breakfast buffet with Bavarian regional products
- Hostel 2962Hostel · €30–90 · 298 m
Modern hostel near the gorge entrance; sauna; named for the Zugspitze's altitude in metres; good common areas; private rooms available
This route in collections
Practical info
Lifetime access
Free preview: Stop 1 of 7 unlocked
What's included:
Lifetime access
Free preview: Stop 1 of 7 unlocked
What's included:
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