My husband and I have a day in Munich before the rest of our group arrives. We're doing all the usual activities (castles, Dachau) with them but we'd like to see the higher Alps. Is it worth it, easy to get to Zugspitze? Can anyone tell me exactly what we need to do? Thanks for your help!
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
In 1988, I was staying in Munich and went to Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the day and went up the Zugspitze. It's very doable in a day, but it would be a good idea to start early. The trip to Garmisch by direct train takes about 1½ hr from the Munich Hbf. If you use a Bayern-Ticket (€29 for both of you at an automat) it will cover regional trains for the entire day (after 9 AM workdays); with the Bayern-Ticket you can also get a discount on the Zugspitzebahn (10%, I think) A regional train leaves at 9:32 from the north side of the Munich Hbf (Starnberger Flügelbahnhof) track 32 and gets to GaP at 10:58. If you want to leave earlier on a weekend day, its covered by the Bayern-Ticket; to leave earlier during the week, you can pay full fare to GaP or, if you leave on the 8:32 train, use a local ticket to Tutzing. The Zugspitze Bahnhof is right next to the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bahnhof (to the left looking at the tracks from the station building). From the Zugspitze Bahnhof, a train will take you to Grainau, where you will change to a cograil (Zahnradbahn) train that takes you most of the way to the top. A little ways farther, at Eibsee, you can get off and take a cable car to the top (faster than the cog train). When I went, I only spent a couple of hour on top of the Zugspitze (that's all it takes) so I had plenty of time left to explore the town when I came down. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, IMO, is too big and not that interesting. If you are using the Bayern-Ticket, it cost nothing more to take the train to Mittenwald, which I think is more interesting.
Posted by
El Paso
17 posts
The Zugspitze is indeed breathtaking if the weather cooperates. Regardless, the town(s) of Garmisch-Partenkirchen is definitely worth the trip. Each side of the Partnach have their own identity, the old Partenkirchen with roots as far back as the Romans and the "newer" Garmisch, only 800 years old. Speaking of the Partnach, the Partnachklamm is a white water paradise, where you can witness the gorge still being created by the rushing torrents.
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
To make your trip worthwhile only go up Mt. Zugspitze if you can see the summit from Lake Eibsee. Only then you'll be able to enjoy a great view of many other great peaks and valleys. As Lee described take the train from Munich to Garmisch-Patenkirchen and then the cogwheeltrain to Eibsee. If you continue on the cogwheeltrain it'll take you about an hour to get up. If you change for the cable car you'll be on the very top in 10 minutes. You can mix and match as you like. Personally I find the train ride to be one long and boring underground ride. But if you're afraid of hight please take the train. The cable car has more than one mile of absolutely nothing underneath its thin metal floor...
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
"Personally I find the train ride to be one long and boring underground ride." I concur, but ironically, the on-board narration announces "We are now entering the most exciting section of the Zugspitzbahn...". It's about as interesting as riding the subway.