You can’t get any higher in all Germany than the summit of the Zugspitze. Rising 2,962 m near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, it towers over all other German mountains. There’s a reason why the locals advertise their area with the slogan "Top of Germany".
n order to enjoy the view from the Zugspitze you can either scale the mountain on foot (only recommended for experienced mountaineers) or choose between two comfortable options: the popular cogwheel railway from Garmisch-Partenkirchen itself via Grainau and Lake Eibsee or the new Zugspitze cable car direct from Lake Eibsee both transport visitors to the summit with no need for any physical exertion.
The Zugspitze cable car that opened in 2017 carries passengers in comfort to Germany’s highest peak in two spacious, fully glazed cabins that hold up to 120 people. The route passes over the world’s highest steel ropeway towers, measuring 127 m, traversing the world’s largest total height difference of 1,945 m in one section and the world’s longest free span at 3,213 m. Three records, which passengers can experience as they savour a superb mountain railway experience, featuring panoramic views of the picturesque Lake Eibsee, Waxensteine and the Alpspitze.
Near the summit cross is the Münchner Haus (only open in summer) and the weather station of the German Meteorological Service. The large summit terrace affords impressive panoramic views over the mountains of the Alps. From 1 July 2018 the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn will also be opening its new peak restaurant on the Zugspitze. In a nod to the impressive view of four countries from the Zugspitze, the culinary motto of the new peak restaurant is simply “The best of 4 countries”. The menu of Panorama 2962 will contain specialities and products from Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, sampling the delicious variety of the Alpine region.
Culinary delights can also be enjoyed in the "Gletschergarten". The restaurant has a flexible roof that can be opened in fine weather. Just next door is the comfortable self-service restaurant Sonnalpin.
The spectacular cliff-side Schneefernerhaus, a former hotel, is now used, among other things, by the Technical University of Munich as a research station.
For seven months a year, Germany’s only glacier offers pure pleasure for skiers, snowboarders and tobogganers on 12 descents, 20 kilometres of piste and 4 toboggan runs. The Zugspitze also offers another winter highlight in the form of an Igloo Village. Here you can spend the night surrounded by snow and ice.
More information on the Zugspitze
More information on the Zugspitze
