How Many Days Should I Spend in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?

Garmisch-Partenkirchen Has Something for Any Length of Trip

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a cultural hub for those looking to experience Bavarian life, scenery, and the great mountainous outdoors. But while there are seemingly endless things to do in Garmisch, unfortunately there is not endless time—and many tourists find it difficult to decide how many days they’ll need in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

At All Things Garmisch, this unique city is our home, and we wouldn’t trade it for anything else. If you’re looking for a more temporary stay, however, here are our recommendations for how to spend a few days, a week, or even longer in this incredible alpine city.

How to Spend… 1 Day in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Truth be told, a day is simply not enough to fully experience Garmisch. That said, you can still make the most of even a short time in the city by splitting your time between mountain views and historical immersion.

To spend a day in Garmisch, we recommend booking a tour to the Zugspitze in the morning and strolling through Garmisch afterward. Booking a tour will simply make things more efficient—and grant you more insider knowledge about the area.

If you’d prefer to organize the day yourself, here’s how. First, check the weather and, based on that, decide if you wish to go to the Zugspitze mountain in the morning. Rain will make for an unpleasant experience, and you can use live webcams for a preview of the visibility. 

If you’re visiting the mountain, always go early! Be on the first cable car at 8:30 a.m. to beat the Munich traffic. Spend the morning wandering around, throwing snowballs, and checking out the view. Walk over to Austria—yes, really!—then come back down for lunch in Garmisch. 

We recommend the Mukkefuck Bistro—the food is as tasty as the name is interesting—but don’t be in a hurry, as the service staff is overworked and they tend to be a bit slow. An alternative is Zum Wildschütz for wild game and Bavarian fare, or even Gasthaus zur Schranne for history, great beer, and really good food. 

In the afternoon, spend your time wandering Garmisch, strolling down Ludwigstraße, shopping, and taking in the city. Stop at Chocolaterie Amelie for some of the best chocolate you’ll ever taste and wander the Kurpark to learn a bit about Michael Ende and see our Richard Strauss fountain.

…a Weekend in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

While still brief, a weekend will give you much more of an opportunity to experience not just Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but some of the surrounding Bavarian attractions as well. Here’s how we’d organize a weekend itinerary:

Day One: Start with an orientation to the city! Book a walking tour of Garmisch for some background, history, and an introduction to key spots around the city. Then enjoy some free time to check out the shops and more.

Day Two: Take a day tour to Neuschwanstein or Innsbruck, as both are close and amazing. These are probably the highest-priority day trips for any newcomer to Bavaria. 

If you’d prefer to stay nearby, visit one of the local mountain peaks, weather permitting. If you like to hike, take the Alpspitze cable car up, enjoy the view, and then walk down to the Kreuzeck mountain, stopping at one of the mountain huts for lunch before using their cable car to ride down. Otherwise, take the cable car up to the Eckbauer mountain and enjoy the beautiful hike to Wamberg village, where you can have lunch and soak in some of the local culture. 

Day Three: Pack and then head into Partenkirchen for a morning stroll down Ludwigstrasse with a stop at Chocolaterie Amelie for delicious souvenirs to take home. 

…a Week in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

A week is the perfect amount of time to both enjoy the sights of Garmisch and the many Bavarian attractions right within your reach. With a longer timeline, you’ll be able to take a more relaxed approach while still filling each day with excitement, history, and culture. Here’s how we’d recommend spending a week in Garmisch-Partenkirchen:

1. Start with a Tour – Just like with the weekend itinerary, we recommend first getting oriented with the city you’ll be staying in. Let your first full day be an introduction to the city and give yourself plenty of time to get acclimated.
2. Visit the Zugspitze – Make visiting the Zugspitze a priority. Because it depends so much on having good weather, plan your trip around this excursion, and don’t be afraid to pivot if things are looking gloomy.
3. Hike to the Werdenfelser Castle Ruins – The Burgruine Werdenfels are a bit of a hidden gem and make the perfect excursion for hiking enthusiasts visiting Garmisch. Visit for some lovely views and learn about the witch trials of the 1500s/1600s.
4. Day Trip to Murnau – Murnau (or Murnau am Staffelsee) is a short train ride from Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the perfect day trip for any art enthusiast. Learn about German Expressionism and key figures like Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, and Gabriele Münter. With a rental car you can make a detour to the Freilichtmuseum Glentleiten in Grossweil to learn about the architecture of this region.
5. Day Trip to Innsbruck – The “Jewel of the Alps,” Innsbruck is readily accessible by train and worth a day trip. Book our tour or use public transportation to go to Ambras Calace and see the world’s largest collection of Baroque suits of armor, ‘indulgences’ sold to the Habsburgs, and Ferdinand II’s strange and eclectic collection in the Hall of Antiquities.
6. Bavarian Castle Day – Make an excursion to Neuschwanstein and then visit either Linderhof Palace or Hohenschwangau based on the time of the year—Linderhof in summer or Hohenschwangau in winter.
7. Höllentalklamm – For those more serious about hiking, the trek to Höllentalklamm (a beautiful gorge) via the Höllental Loop Trail is not to be missed. While this rates as a longer and more challenging hike, the end is truly rewarding and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to rest as well as a restaurant to stop at for lunch.

…Two Weeks in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

If you can’t get enough of Garmisch, there’s more than enough to keep you busy for multiple weeks. In addition to our itinerary above, we’d recommend all of the following:

1. Leutasch Day Trip – Just across the border and into Austria lies Leutasch, an idyllic alpine town. There you’ll find another incredible gorge—Geisterklamm—and a relaxing sauna, ErlebnisWelt Alpenbad Leutasch. While you’re in the area, check out the old castle ruins from the Thirty Years’ War.
2. Add Another Castle Day – Bavaria is full of breathtaking castles, palaces, and ruins, and you can easily fill multiple days with these incredible historic sites. Split the castle day into two, leaving one for Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau, and Alpsee and reserving the other for Oberammergau, Linderhof Palace, and Ettal Monastery.
3. Day Trip to Munich – While Munich is also a city deserving of a multi-day stay, it makes for a reasonable day trip from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Hire a guide for a half-day walking tour of downtown to visit many of the key sites around this bustling city.
4. Andechs Monastery – Andechs Monastery is a great spot for lunch and sightseeing. Take a train or bus to get there and enjoy the tasty brews. Be careful though—the beer is amazing but super strong!
5. Evening at Kristall Therme – Bavarian spa culture is like no other. Treat yourself by visiting the therme in Kochel am See for a unique and deeply Bavarian experience.
6. Walchensee and Kochelsee – Bavaria has no shortage of pure, gorgeous, deep blue alpine lakes. Walchensee and Kochelsee are two gems of the region and well worth a visit. Walchensee is where the U.S. military accepted the surrender of Werner von Braun, and also where the Germans tested the first U-Boat designs. After visiting, drive down the Kesselberg pass, home to the first-ever mountain car/motorcycle races—then to Kochelsee to enjoy the sights or even a cool swim.
7. Schloss Elmau – Schloss Elmau is a luxury hotel built in the style of a castle and the frequent site of the G7 Summit. Visit to take in the architecture, see the Roman road, then hike up to the King’s House on Schachen—Ludwig II’s hunting lodge. 

So, How Many Days Should You Spend in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?

Slow travel has taken hold for many visitors to Europe, and there really is no better place to spend weeks, a month, or more than Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

There’s plenty more besides all the incredible activities we’ve listed above. You could take a couple of days to drive to Bolzano, Italy, just three hours away, or you could stay right here in Garmisch and enjoy our numerous beer gardens. You could experience day-to-day life in Garmisch and get to know locals and their stories, or use Garmisch-Partenkirchen as your base for traveling throughout Bavaria. It really is a wonderful city to drop anchor, no matter what your travel goals are.

Whether you’re staying for a day, a week, or renting a Ferienwohnung (holiday apartment) for a full month, you’ll have plenty to keep you entertained no matter how long you stay. We should know—ATG founder Jake Doherty has been here for more than 20 years!

If you’re interested in local insights and in-depth experiences taking you through the best attractions Garmisch-Partenkirchen has to offer, book a tour or several with All Things Garmisch—or reach out to plan a lengthier trip with our expert guidance.