Zugspitze, the Top of Germany

At 2,962 metres, the Zugspitze is the highest mountain in Germany, and the round trip from Garmisch-Partenkirchen is one of the great Alpine excursions, easy to do as a day trip from Munich. The summit sits right on the border with Austria, and on a clear day the panorama takes in hundreds of peaks across Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. There are two ways up from the Bavarian side, and the classic plan is to use both. The Bavarian Zugspitze Railway, a cogwheel train, climbs from Garmisch-Partenkirchen through Grainau and the Eibsee and then into a long tunnel inside the mountain to the Zugspitzplatt, the high glacier plateau, a journey of around seventy-five minutes. From there the short Gletscherbahn cable car lifts you to the summit. The other route is the Seilbahn Zugspitze, the cable car from the Eibsee, which opened in 2017 and set world records for its steel support tower and the height it climbs in a single section; the ride takes about ten minutes and is spectacular in itself. Going up one way and down the other makes a loop. At the top there is a large terrace, restaurants, a small exhibition and the gilded summit cross, reached by a short scramble that requires a head for heights and, outside summer, proper equipment. On the plateau below, the Zugspitze ski area is Germany's highest, with the season usually starting in late autumn. The mountain is a serious high-altitude environment: temperatures are well below those in Munich, the weather changes quickly, and cloud can hide the view entirely, so check the summit webcams before you go. In autumn and spring the lifts close for scheduled maintenance, and in November 2026 the cable car and Gletscherbahn are closed on 9 to 13, 16 to 20 and 23 to 26 November, with the ski season expected to start on 27 November.

How to plan your visit: trains from Munich main station reach Garmisch-Partenkirchen in about an hour and a half. The cogwheel station is next to the main station there. Buy a round-trip ticket covering the cogwheel train, the Gletscherbahn and the cable car, and do the loop: up by train for the scenery and the tunnel, down by cable car for the drama, or the other way round if the weather is changing and you want the fastest route to the top. If you are driving, there is a large car park at the Eibsee, and the lake itself, with its clear green water and a walking path around the shore, is worth an extra hour. Organised coach tours from Munich are also offered at various times of year and remove the logistics, but check what is included and whether they are running on your date.

When to go: clear, settled days in late spring, summer and early autumn give the best views, and mornings are usually clearest. The cable car runs from 8.30am to 4.45pm from September to June, with longer summer hours, and the last ascent is half an hour before the end of service. The cogwheel train runs hourly, and the last ascent from Garmisch-Partenkirchen is in the early afternoon, so start early. In November 2026 the summit lifts close for maintenance on 9 to 13, 16 to 20 and 23 to 26 November, and parts of the cogwheel railway are closed or replaced by buses, so check the operator's live information before travelling.

Things to know: take warm layers, a hat and sunglasses even in summer, as it can be close to freezing on top and the glare from snow is intense. The altitude can cause headaches or breathlessness, so move slowly and drink water. Prices are high, as they are on most major Alpine summits, and restaurants on top are busy at lunchtime. If the summit is in cloud, consider the Garmisch-Classic area or a walk through the Partnach Gorge instead, though these have their own seasonal closures. For a first trip to the Alps from Munich, the Zugspitze is the most straightforward big mountain experience there is.