New Year's Ski Jumping (Four Hills Tournament)
On New Year's Day the Olympic ski stadium hosts the traditional New Year's ski jumping, the second leg of the world-famous Four Hills Tournament, drawing over 25,000 spectators.
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Garmisch-Partenkirchen
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ℹ️Practical info — Garmisch-Partenkirchen
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Buy a combo ticket if you plan to visit both the Zugspitze (Germany's highest peak) and the AlpspiX viewing platform to save money.
- The Partnach Gorge (Partnachklamm) is impressive but narrow and wet; wear waterproof shoes and a light rain jacket even in summer.
- Public transport is very reliable; use the local bus network with your guest card (Gästekarte) for free travel within the town.
- Garmisch and Partenkirchen were historically separate towns; stroll down historic Ludwigstraße in Partenkirchen to see beautiful traditional Bavarian frescoes (Lüftlmalerei).
- Many Alpine huts (Hütten) only accept cash for food and drinks, so always carry enough euros when hiking.
🍽 Food
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Kaiserschmarrn
A sweet, shredded pancake dusted with powdered sugar and served with applesauce or plum compote; enjoy it at a traditional mountain hut after a hike.
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Schweinshaxe
Roasted pork knuckle with crispy skin, usually served with potato dumplings; find it in traditional Bavarian taverns in the town center.
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Weißwurst breakfast
Traditional Bavarian white sausages served with sweet mustard and a pretzel; remember the local rule to eat it before noon at a local Wirtshaus.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
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Traditional Bavarian attire (Tracht)
Explore the specialized boutiques in the town center if you're looking for an authentic Dirndl or Lederhosen.
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Wood carvings
The nearby village of Oberammergau is famous for wood carving, but you can find beautifully crafted wooden figures and clocks in shops along the main streets of Garmisch.
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Riessersee
Take a leisurely walk around this calm alpine lake, which has remarkable reflections of the surrounding mountains and was a site for the 1936 Winter Olympics.
🧘
Michael-Ende-Kurpark
A beautifully maintained park in the center of Garmisch, great for a quiet afternoon with its barefoot path, lily pond, and reading spots.
Water temperature…
Highlights of 2026
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Sitting at the base of the 2,962-meter Zugspitze, Germanys highest peak, this premier winter sports destination perfectly merges steep alpine terrain with deep-rooted Bavarian culture. Originally two separate towns, they were merged in 1936 to host the Winter Olympics, creating the primary hub of the Werdenfelser Land region. The historic Ludwigstraße in the Partenkirchen district is visually striking due to its intricate Lüftlmalerei, colorful frescoes painted on the facades of traditional burgher houses that reflect the wealth of old trade routes to Italy. A defining raw natural experience is the Partnach Gorge, where glacial waters have carved an 80-meter-deep chasm, allowing visitors to walk through the roaring canyon on narrow paths carved into the rock face. Ski jumping fans know the town for the Große Olympiaschanze, the venue for the highly anticipated New Years jump of the Four Hills Tournament. During the warmer months, the valley becomes a massive hiking network, offering everything from flat trails around the crystal-clear Eibsee to demanding via ferrata routes in the Wetterstein mountains. Rustic alpine huts scattered across the slopes offer shelter and classic regional dishes like shredded Kaiserschmarrn pancakes and robust roast pork. The annual Richard Strauss Festival honors the renowned composer who made this alpine retreat his longtime home.
- Location: Bavaria, Germany
- Top sights: Partnach Gorge · Olympic Ski Jump · Ludwigstraße
- Nearby: Oberammergau (12 km)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jul–Sep.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -4 | -3 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 2 | -3 |
| Rain mm | 83 | 65 | 81 | 84 | 149 | 175 | 172 | 185 | 119 | 91 | 70 | 74 |
Live webcam – Garmisch-Partenkirchen
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Geography
Facts
- Zugspitze (2962m)
- Winter sports
- Loisach
- Partnach Gorge
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
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© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
A day in the city
Pick weather + travel mode, get a concrete day plan.
09:00→15:033.8 km walk5 places0/5
Day budget: ≈ 15–21 €Entries 18€ · Transport 0€
This walk connects the two historic centers. We start in picturesque Partenkirchen with its painted facades, visit the local museum, and then stroll over to Garmisch's Kurpark for a relaxed end to the day.
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📍
09:10 · 47'
Historic Ludwigstrasse
Look closely at the ornate Lüftlmalerei frescoes on the house facades.
🚶 6'0.16 km
🚶 11'0.4 km
📍
11:01 · 47'
Old Parish Church of St. Martin
Admire the Gothic frescoes dating back to the 14th century.
🚶 61'2.92 km
🚶 10'0.35 km
09:00→14:479.8 km ride5 places0/5
Day budget: ≈ 26–35 €Entries 18€ · Transport 12€
By bike, we easily reach the spectacular Partnach Gorge. After the hike through the gorge, we cycle back through the Olympic Stadium and explore the historic corners of both districts.
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📍
09:10 · 47'
Historic Ludwigstrasse
Walk your bike for a bit to see the details of the paintings.
🚲 12'1.42 km
🚲 11'1.33 km
🚲 28'4.14 km
🚲 21'2.92 km
09:00→13:5216.8 km drive4 places0/4
Day budget: ≈ 16–22 €Entries 16€ · Transport 3€
This tour takes us to the peaks. We start early at Zugspitze, enjoy the panorama at Eibsee, and visit the AlpspiX platform before ending the day comfortably on Ludwigstrasse.
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📍
09:10 · 47'
Zugspitze (Eibsee Cable Car)
Buy tickets online in advance to avoid waiting times.
🚗 4'0.31 km
🚗 26'7.02 km
📍
11:14 · 47'
AlpspiX Viewing Platform
Not for the faint-hearted, the floor is partially made of grating.
🚗 34'9.43 km
Sights in the town Garmisch-Partenkirchen (11)
Frequently asked questions
How do you get from Garmisch to the Zugspitze?
Either by cogwheel train directly from the station or by the Zugspitze cable car from Lake Eibsee.
When is the Partnach Gorge open?
The gorge is open year-round, usually from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with shorter hours in winter.
How much is a ticket for the Zugspitze?
A day ticket for adults costs about 72 Euros (as of 2024) and includes the ascent and descent.
Can you visit the Olympic Ski Stadium?
Yes, the stadium and the large ski jump are freely accessible, and guided tours are also offered.
Is a visit to the Partenkirchen district worth it?
Absolutely! Ludwigstraße impresses with its historic houses adorned with artistic Lüftlmalerei wall paintings.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen: where is it located?
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is located in Bavaria, Germany.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen: what is there to see?
Highlights include Partnach Gorge, Olympic Ski Jump, Ludwigstraße.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jul, Sep.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen: why is it worth visiting?
Sitting at the base of the 2,962-meter Zugspitze, Germanys highest peak, this premier winter sports destination perfectly merges steep alpine terrain with deep-rooted Bavarian culture.
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