Garmisch Partenkirchen
Experience Olympic heritage skiing beneath Germany's highest peak. Discover diverse terrain from gentle slopes to glacier skiing, traditional Bavarian charm, and access to Zugspitze.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
13 Dec 2025
Closes
30 Mar 2026
Days open
107
Annual snow
5m
The Overview
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a world-class winter sports destination located in the heart of the Bavarian Alps in southern Germany. This picturesque resort is known for its stunning mountain scenery, diverse ski terrain, and charming Bavarian village atmosphere. With nearly 90 kilometers of well-groomed slopes and 40 modern lifts, Garmisch-Partenkirchen offers a fantastic skiing and snowboarding experience for all skill levels. The resort's three main ski areas - Classic, Zugspitze, and Alpspitze - provide a wide variety of runs, from gentle beginner slopes to challenging expert terrain, including the famous Kandahar downhill course, which hosts the annual World Cup alpine skiing races. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a first-time skier, Garmisch-Partenkirchen Ski Resort promises an unforgettable winter adventure in the heart of the Bavarian Alps.
1310m
Vertical
30
Runs
40 km
Piste
5m
Annual snow
Garmisch Classic
Pass
The Terrain
30 runs across 40 km of piste
Garmisch Partenkirchen spreads 30 runs across 40 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 45%, with 9 beginner runs to find your feet and 8 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
30
runs
30 runs across 4 grades
Beginner9 runs · 30%
Intermediate14 runs · 45%
Advanced6 runs · 20%
Expert2 runs · 5%
Time it right
When to visit Garmisch Partenkirchen
The ski season at Garmisch-Partenkirchen ski resort typically runs from late November to early May, offering a long and varied winter sports experience. Thanks to its high elevation and extensive snowmaking capabilities, the resort ensures reliable snow conditions throughout the season. The Zugspitze glacier, in particular, offers skiing and snowboarding opportunities well into the spring months. Garmisch-Partenkirchen receives an average annual snowfall of around 4 meters, providing excellent conditions for both groomed runs and off-piste adventures. The resort's diverse terrain caters to all skill levels, from wide, gentle slopes for beginners to steep, challenging runs for experts. Whether you visit during the peak winter months or the early and late seasons, Garmisch-Partenkirchen Ski Resort guarantees a memorable and enjoyable snow experience in a stunning Alpine setting.
Season 2025 - 2026
13 Dec 2025
Opens
30 Mar 2026
Closes
107
Days open
5 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Garmisch Partenkirchen, and where to stay
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is located in the heart of the Bavarian Alps, approximately 90 kilometers southwest of Munich, Germany. The resort is easily accessible by both car and public transportation, making it a popular destination for both local and international visitors. If you're driving, the resort is just a 1-hour drive from Munich via the A95 motorway. For those traveling by train, the Garmisch-Partenkirchen railway station is conveniently located in the center of town, with regular connections to Munich and other major cities in Germany. The resort's prime location in the picturesque Bavarian Alps offers not only world-class skiing and snowboarding but also a wide range of other winter activities, such as cross-country skiing, winter hiking, and ice skating. With its stunning natural beauty, charming Bavarian architecture, and easy accessibility, Garmisch-Partenkirchen Ski Resort is an ideal destination for an unforgettable winter holiday in Germany.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Garmisch Partenkirchen, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Garmisch Partenkirchen Lift System
Garmisch-Partenkirchen boasts a modern and efficient lift system that connects the resort's three main ski areas - Classic, Zugspitze, and Alpspitze. The resort operates a total of 40 lifts, including state-of-the-art cable cars, gondolas, and chairlifts, which provide quick and comfortable access to the slopes. The Zugspitze cable car, in particular, is a highlight of the resort, taking skiers and snowboarders to the highest peak in Germany at 2,962 meters above sea level. The lift system is designed to minimize waiting times and ensure a smooth flow of skiers throughout the resort, allowing you to maximize your time on the slopes. With its well-maintained lifts and stunning panoramic views of the Bavarian Alps, Garmisch-Partenkirchen's lift system offers a truly memorable and enjoyable experience for all visitors.
16lifts across 7 types
2
Aerial Trams
2
Gondolas
1
6-Person Chair
1
Quad Chair
2
Double Chairs
7
T-Bars
1
Surface Lift
Garmisch Partenkirchen lift system
Garmisch Partenkirchen is served by 16 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More Garmisch Partenkirchen intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.