
During my trip to Germany, we spent the first few days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen where my friend is living and nearby attractions in this part of the country. I’m not sure I could pick a favorite – the mix of breathtaking nature and extravagant palaces makes it too difficult! We also ate a lot of really great food, I don’t think there was a single meal I didn’t enjoy.
Zugspitze
Zugspitze was the first item on our agenda! We were up early and took the short train ride to Zugspitze on my first morning there. Zugspitze is the highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains and the highest mountain in all of Germany. I somehow managed to be in Germany while it was still very cold, so we bundled up in our parkas (and as many layers as we could fit underneath) and went all the way to the top of the mountain. It was -20 degrees (Fahrenheit) at the very top and it was the coldest I have ever been in my life! I had on more than ten articles of clothing…and was still cold. But the view from the top was worth it.


There’s a little restaurant at the top too so we would dart outside for ten minutes and then retreat back inside for a cup of hot chocolate. If you ever get a chance to visit Zugspitze, you have to get the hot chocolate from this restaurant – it was the best hot chocolate of my life. The trickiest part was just managing to take off our outer layers while we were inside and putting them back on to go back out into the cold (but worth it for the view and hot chocolate).
There’s also a ski area a bit down the mountain and an igloo village. We both agreed that if we’d known about it ahead of time we would have had to have spent a night in the igloo village so if you get the chance, you’ve got to do it! It doesn’t look like much from the outside but when you go inside (even if you aren’t staying there) you can walk through and see all the magnificent rooms. It. Was. So. Cool.
Each room had different “wall decoration” (i.e. snow sculptures as part of the wall) and plush looking blankets/animal skins. I’m curious about how comfy those snow beds would be…if you’ve spent a night in a lux igloo please enlighten me! Also take me with you the next time you go.
Partnach Gorge
We also made a trip to Partnach Gorge, an insanely beautiful gorge in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The gorge was declared a natural monument in 1912 and it’s truly a mesmerizing place to visit. It is a bit of a hike so comfy shoes area must and we were very happy to still have on all of our layers from our trip to Zugspitze earlier that day.
It’s only 5 euros for entry and 100% worth it. My photos don’t even do it justice, it was possibly the most beautiful hike I’ve been on. All the icicles make it look like something out of a fairytale and I’ve heard it’s just as gorgeous in warmer weather.
Olympic Ski Stadium
One of the most popular sights in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the Olymic Ski Stadium from the 1936 Olympics. It’s right by Partnach Gorge (in fact I’m pretty sure parking for the gorge is actually at the stadium) so it would be easy to do both in one afternoon.
Castles of King Ludwig II
While I was visiting we only had time to visit one of King Ludwig II’s castles in the area so we obviously went with the one that inspired Sleeping Beauty’s castle, Neuschwanstein. It was only a few hours by bus from Garmisch-Partenkirchen and when we finally got to Schwangau (where the castle is) we had a tricky time finding where we were actually supposed to go to get to the castle. No one told us ahead of time that it’s a bit of an uphill walk, but we finally got there and were blown away by the castle tour.
The castle itself was never actually finished so a portion of the castle remains unbuilt but that doesn’t mean that the rooms that were completed (and that we got to see on the tour) weren’t magnificent.
When you think of throne rooms, royal apartments, and palace life, Neuschwanstein is it – Disney didn’t choose this castle for no reason! Other than ogling the opulence of the rooms we got to see I loved learning about the history of the castle and King Ludwig himself – the tour guide did a really great job. Unfortunately, the front of the castle was undergoing construction while we were there, but we were not deterred from taking a million photos anyways.

Ludwig II’s other two castles are Linderhof Palace and Herrenchiemsee Palace. If you have more time than we did and are into palaces like we are, I would definitely recommend seeing both. And if you’ve been to either one, let me know what your favorite parts were so I know for my next trip!
Food in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Reservations are a must at a lot of restaurants so keep that in mind when planning out your days! We had some really amazing food in Garmisch, I don’t think I ate anything I didn’tlike so you really can’t go wrong. These are a few restaurants that we ate at and ones that are on our list for next time.
Alte Druckerei
We ate here on my first night in Garmisch and had the best tapas and wine. The atmosphere in the restaurant was so nice and cozy, it was the perfect place to sit down for a while and catch up.
Zum Wild Schutz
This is a really popular restaurant (reservations definitely necessary). They have classic Bavarian food and it’s definitely not just a tourist spot, we saw lots of locals in there too. I was feeling adventurous and I’m pretty sure my meal included deer meat but whatever it was, it was delicious!.
Pane Vino
I know you don’t go to Germany for the Italian food but wow this place was good. It’s a small restaurant with a fantastic wine menu and just incredible Italian food. It was the perfect place after a long day of exploring to sit down for a nice, quiet meal. Important note: They only accept cash so be prepared for that.
Mukkefuck
A small, local café with a mic of classic Bavarian and American food. Great food and really moderately priced.
Il Colosseo
Again, I know you don’t travel to Germany for Italian, but this is another great Italian place, possibly the best Italian food in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Fun atmosphere, nicely priced.
Waffelhaus
All kind of breakfasts, “savory” and “sweet” stacks, anything from the American plate with bacon, eggs and waffles, to avocado toast and breakfasts with their own German twist on it.
Zerbel’s
Very cool atmosphere with a nice dive bar feel – nice table-cloths and candlelight but still has that bar feel. Great food but also very American.
I didn’t really know what to expect from Garmisch-Partenkirchen before I left, but I couldn’t have had a better trip (or a better tour guide!). You can find my highlights from the full trip here or read about my time in Munich and Salzburg. All quick but fantastic adventures during this six day trip!

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