{"id":7772,"date":"2021-03-01T14:11:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T14:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meininger-hotels.com\/blog\/?p=7772\/"},"modified":"2025-06-05T15:04:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T15:04:13","slug":"zuspitze-ski-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meininger-hotels.com\/blog\/en\/zuspitze-ski-region\/","title":{"rendered":"From Munich to Zugspitze with the train"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you want to escape the bustling city of Munich for a day and immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the German Alps? Then a day trip to Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany, is just what you need. Whether you\u2019re an avid hiker or simply looking for breathtaking views, a visit to Zugspitze will not disappoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Unforgettable Day Trip from Munich to Zugspitze – Explore the Highest Mountain in Germany!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Are you in Munich and interested in skiing? Do you fancy a trip to the mountains? Then get ready! Zugspitze, located in the Bavarian Alps, stands at an elevation of 2,962 meters (9,718 feet) and is the highest mountain peak in Germany. It’s a popular destination for both tourists and locals, offering a variety of activities and breathtaking views. From the summit, you can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, including a view of four different countries on a clear day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Get to Zugspitze<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are several options for getting from Munich to Zugspitze, including driving, taking a train, or booking a guided tour. The quickest and most convenient way to get there is by train, which takes about 2.5 hours. Trains depart from Munich’s main railway station and arrive at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, from where you can take a cogwheel railway to the summit of Zugspitze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snow crunches under my feet, the air is clear and the sun tickles the tip of my nose. A beautiful mountain panorama opens up before me and I put on my skis. I have arrived. I\u2019m back in the mountains! I can hardly wait to ride the first slopes of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Munich<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It takes just a little more than an hour to reach the mountains from Munich. So why limit yourself to a city break when it\u2019s so easy to combine it with a ski trip? And you don\u2019t even need a car! Just head to the main station, step onto the train and arrive in a relaxed way. No transfers, no stress. The best part? You can ski at Zugspitze from December to May (!!!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do I have to forgot my city trip? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yesterday I was drinking at the bar. I even danced a little. Electro was playing, people were dancing. The usual. And now I am standing at the top of the mountain. It is 10 a.m., the air is fresh, and my feet make their first tracks in the snow. I feel free as a bird. The slopes are completely empty (it is Friday) and perfectly groomed \u2013 this is the way to enjoy skiing! At the sight of the mountains, I completely forget that I was a little hung over. That is the best medicine for a hangover, if I may say so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you plan a trip to Munich, you won\u2019t miss out on the city if you go to the ski resort for a day. The best part: you don\u2019t have to concentrate on the traffic. You can sleep \ud83d\ude09 Or find the best party for that evening. The trip begins between 6:30 and 7:30. Then you head back to the city between 14:30 and 15:30, so that you are back at Meininger Hostel between five and six thirty. That gives you enough time to freshen up and head into the city for dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spending two or three days in Munich? You will enjoy them even more if you go skiing in the mountains for a day. No one will be able to take those memories from you! J<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take the train to the ski resort: Who or what is Zugspitze?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zugspitze is Germany\u2019s highest mountain. It is a straight shot with the train from Munich\u2019s main station. At 2,962 metres above sea level, not only can you enjoy a great view and wonderful Kaiserschmarrn (Bavarian funnel cake) or yeast dumplings, you can also enjoy great skiing and snowboarding. There is the Garmisch-Classic ski resort, with the popular, steep Kandahar ascent and the Zugspitze resort on the Zugspitz Plateau. It\u2019s the highest ski area in Germany, and it is open until May. You can reach both of them with a direct train from Munich central station. If you don\u2019t have skis, you can hire them in the valley or directly on the mountain. Alongside the slopes, there is even a sledging track. Hop on your sled and off you go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good to know: the town of Garmisch-Patenkirchen, at the foot of Zugspitze, was the location of the 1936 Winter Olympics. Since 1970, World Cup events have been held there annually, and the Alpine Ski World Championships were held here in 2011, along with the famous Kandahar Races \u2013 one of the most challenging racetracks in the Alpine Skiing World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best descent and the best ski lodge in the Zugspitze ski region<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can ascend with the 6-person chair lift \u2018Wetterwandeckbahn\u2019, from which we ski down the blue slope number 4. That is the perfect way to start the day, and the breath-taking mountain panorama is always in sight \u2013 that is my favourite part of skiing at Zugspitze! You can continue down the mountain via red slope number seven, where the cool kids set up a couple of table football sets next to the slope. Of course I give them a try! After a few wild descents and photos, it\u2019s time for lunch at the glacier restaurant Sonnalpin, where you can enjoy hearty soup and sweet Kaiserschmarrn. You can eat on the terrace, since the sun shines reliably up here. After all, I want to return to the city a little tanned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good to know: up here, at over 2,500 metres, the sun is stronger and the weather is usually better than in the valley! Grey fog in the valley? Up here you will find radiant sunshine!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Munich<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Take the train to the ski resort: How do I get there?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a direct train connection from Munich to the Garmisch-Classic ski resort with the Garmisch ski ticket. From the MEININGER Hotel M\u00fcnchen Zentrum<\/span><\/span>, you can take a 10-minute S-Bahn ride to the central station, where you can catch a train to Garmisch-Patenkirchen. Get off at the Hausberg stop and take the gondola directly to the Garmisch-Classic ski resort. If there is enough snow, you can even ski all the way back to the train station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love to go all the way to the top of Zugspitze, to the separate Zugspitze ski resort, to enjoy the gorgeous views, the wide ski slopes and the good weather. I get off the train at Garmisch-Patenkirchen and transfer to the rack railway, which goes straight to the \u2018glacier train station\u2019 Zugspitzplatt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take the train to the ski resort: Prices, tips and tricks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n