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Munich to Zugspitze via Garmisch-Parthenkirchen by train & Deutchland ticket ?

Posted by on

Husband and I will be in Munich for 5 days (Sat-Thursday) mid September next month. I thought we’d go to Zugspitze early Monday (museums closed) if weather permits. We hope to arrive at Zugspitze (Bayerische Zugspitzbahn Bergbahn AG) station well before the 9:05 cogwheel train.

  1. Has anyone any experience with doing this daytrip from Munich? Easily doable?

  2. Googlemap says there’s a direct train from Munich Hauptbahnhof at 6:30am and arrives at 8:01 am in Garmisch-P for 31Euro each one way and no need to buy ahead tickets, just right before trip. Would the Deutchland ticket for September cover this ?

  3. Speaking of Deutchland tickets, I understand it’s a subscription so I would have to cancel if before September 10th in order not to be charged for October . This means I’ll buy September pass now and cancel before September 10th, BEFORE I arrive to Munich,LOL. Do I understand this correctly?

  4. Could I use the September Deutchland ticket to go from Munich airport on the S1 or S8 to city center?

Sorry if these seem like simplistic questions. I don’t know why, but public transportation logistics baffle and scare me, but not as much as driving in Europe would, I have to admit.

Posted by
2715 posts

  1. I've done the Munich - GP train ride multiple times, last about 20 months ago with 4 virgin family members. It's very easy.

  2. Yes, the Deutschland ticket will cover that route.

  3. Yes, if you buy now and cancel prior to 10 September you can still travel until 30 September.

  4. Yes, it covers all U and S bahn, all regional trains, busses, and trams.

Posted by
10595 posts
  1. There are a few You Tube videos about doing this as a day trip. Very doable, do a quick search.
  2. D ticket will work for this regional train.
  3. Yes, after you purchase and have D ticket you can cancel for month and not have to wait.
  4. Yes, D ticket is good on local transport.

Where the D ticket will fall a bit short is the final stretch on the Zugspitze.

Posted by
7635 posts

I lived near GP for several years and am familiar with the trains. The trains are relatively frequent and direct. A day trip from Munich is possible, but likely a long day.

Don't go by Google Maps for exact train times and prices. Use the DB website : https://int.bahn.de/en On the website after selecting your start , destination and date/time , select "local transport only" under mode of transport. That will weed out the ICE, IC, and EC trains that aren't valid for travel with the D ticket. The trains are regional RB trains, so would be valid with the D ticket. No need to book ahead for any regional train, since you can't reserve seats on them. Think of them like a commuter train.

The D ticket is valid for any regional train in Germany, plus city buses and trams, Sbahns and Ubahns. Yes, the D ticket will get you to and from the airport via Sbahn.

Posted by
75 posts

Goodness, I love this forum. You all have eased my mind with your clear answers!
I will check on DB site for routes and time. Thank you all so much.🥰

Posted by
636 posts

Point 2: the price is VERY wrong. Did Google really say that or did you pick it up from somewhere else? The price is €31 for a one person day ticket that covers the Munich S-Bahn network, the railway via Garmisch to both Reutte and Mittenwald and some local buses in that area. It's called the Regio-Ticket Werdenfels. But that's only the first part of the deal. Like most german regional offers the ticket targets car users so the €31 is basically the driver - and up to 4 "passengers" can be added for only €10 each. The total price for the round trip and extras for two people is only €41 not the €124 you seem to be expecting. The ticket is available from DB ticket machines at stations - if it's not on the first screen go to Regional Offers. You buy one ticket for two people to get the second person discount, on the machine confirm the date of use, then alter the number of people. If you need the S-Bahn to reach Hauptbahnhof or Pasing (6 minutes after leaving Hauptbahnhof) stations buy it at the S-Bahn station.

Cogwheel/cable car tickets are extra , they do a circular trip ticket where you can go one way on the cablecar and the other by cogwheel train

Posted by
75 posts

Thank you, Me.Crew. It was from Google. It did lead me to DB site and option were 31Euro Single Trip which I thought was one way. I had no idea about the 10Eur additional person option ! Yay!

I’ll just buy that separately from airport to City tickets. We’re walkers ,and leaving Munich by train Thursday, so probably wouldn’t need transportation passes as everything we want to see is within walking distance of hotel.

Posted by
636 posts

the Regio-Ticket Werdenfels is promoted in the middle of this page https://www.discover-bavaria.com/tickets (you don't need the +Innsbruck option - unless it's suddenly given you an idea!). Sadly the info link from that is only in german - and they have managed to lose the map of the validity area! But I found it here https://bahnland-bayern.de/files/media/bahnland-bayern/tickets/regio-ticket-bayern/regio-ticket-werdenfels/2026/beg-gr-gueltigkeitsbereich-regio-ticket-werdenfels-2026-01-ew3.jpg the dotted line from Munich to Tutzing indicates whole S-Bahn area and any S or Regional train within it.

In fact it could be marginally cheaper, since the Munich Transport Authority MVV have recently taken over this whole area of Bavaria their passes are also valid, and an M-11 day ticket for 2-5 people is 90 cents cheaper than RTW for 2! That would work out massively cheaper if you found another couple to go with you. And MVV day tickets include the Munich trams and U-Bahn as well.

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