Fellow travelers,
RS doesn't mention Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Germany/Austria Travel Guide. Has anyone spent time in these cities as a home base for travel to Nauchwanstein Castle, Oberamargau and other sites in that area? It looks like a beautiful spot and not too far from the sites.
Thanks for any help.
Yes, it's my choice for an Alpine base of operations, particularly the older Partenkirchen section of the town. I like it because, as you mentioned, it sits convenient to Schwangau, Linderhof, Oberammergau, Mittenwald, Innsbruck and the Zugspitze, and because it gives you easy access to an incredible selection of outdoor activities. One of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen is the reflection of rising sun off of the snow-capped peak of the Zugspitze (PM me and I'll tell you where you can get a room with this view). And the place is absolutely incredible in the winter.
I'm not sure why Rick ignores GaP in his book, but it might be because his guides are more sight-seeing based than for outdoor activities, which is one of GaP's chief draws, especially among Germans.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is nice, but a little too big and touristy for my tastes; I think that means that Rick should mention it :). Oberammergau is a little less touristy (IMO) and better situated for trips to Hohenschwangau (Neuschwanstein), Linderhof, Garmisch-P, and Mittenwald. Last year I stayed in a nice, local Pension in Oberammergau for €25 per night, single. It was very intimate and near the train station, but everything about Oberammergau might change next year with the Passion Play.
Hi Dave,
Our favorite spot in the area is Mittenwald. In my opinion it is the "quintessential" Bavarian village with a beautiful pedestrian zone surrounded by mountains. It's located about 20 minutes from Garmisch. I agree with Lee on this... Garmisch is too big a city for our tastes also.
We can recommend staying at the Pension Schwalbennestl in Mittenwald. We stayed here twice in the last few years.
The website is only in German, but you can correspond in English.
Hope this helps.
Paul
Love Garmisch! It is a great home base. Great cozy little town. We've stayed there 3 or 4 times. Its not a quaint small town, but more of a just the right size town. Big enough to do some good window shopping, but small enough to be able to find parking.
Hi, Dave. I was just in Bavaria three months ago and took Paul's advice and stayed in Mittenwald. I loved it! It's very pretty, scenic and interesting and just the right size for me -- nice for strolling, lots of shops and restaurants, not too crowded. GaP was nice, but I thought it was too big and spread out. It's all a matter of personal taste.
We went to the Zugspitze and to the Ludwig castles and also to Hall in Austria. They were all pretty easy drives. It's about an hour and a half to Neuschwanstein, but the countryside is very pretty so it's a pleasant drive. We went one way on the way - passed by Oberamergau, but did not stop -- and came back through Austria.
We were going to stay in a B&B recommended by Paul that sounded great, but I happened across another place that had a lot more space for a little more money -- Gastehaus Edlhuber. We loved it! We had an apartment with large LR/DR, large bedroom, small kitchen, small balcony with view of Alps and new bathroom. The breakfast was excellent, and the owner was very friendly and helpful (knew enough English to communicate). I highly recommend it.
Thank you everyone. It sounds like there are nothing but great locations at which to stay in and around the castles. We are busily planning and hoping the dollar will strengthen before our trip.
Thanks again.
Dave
Hi Dave. I would not want to travel in busses from Garmisch - Partenkirchen to the ticket office for Neuschwanstein. In the book "Rick Steves' GERMANY & AUSTRIA" Garmisch is mentioned, as a place to go to, for going to the Zugspitze mountain peak. And, in that book, in the chapter on Bavaria and Tirol, on a map is the words "GARMISCH - PARTENKIRCHEN, printed in big letters near a big black dot on the railroad and automobiles road. That indicates that Rick Steves acknowledged the fact that some travellers in southern Germany like to go to Garmisch - Partenkirchen.
