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Zugspitze, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, Munich

2021-12-27 Travel Log Anish Mashankar

Preflight Checklist

  • Get vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 i.e. in the 2G segment at least. Some properties may enforce 2G+ that need you to be vaccinated/boosted in the last 6 months. Every public activity and tourist attractions in the state of Bayern need you to be 2G compliant as per law.
  • Cold weather clothes. It gets crazy cold in winter. Layered clothing all the way:
    • Thermal wear
    • Main T-shirt, Shirt, etc
    • Warm Outer wear; like a sweater or a woolen jacket
    • Wind and Water Resistent jacket - very important. It will get really windy on the peak of any of the mountains you visit as well as on the hikes
  • Download DB Navigator app [android | ios]. The most important app you will ever own when travelling in Germany by train. Preferrably sign up and keep an account ready.

Getting to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

The time and cost in below options listed include travel from Mannheim, Stuttgart or Frankfurt. I am not sure of how much it will cost or time it will take from other places. The following are two options among which you can choose depending on time you have and transfers you are willing to do.

  • ICE + RE
    • ICE to Munich
      • Cost: from 27.9 EUR/ticket, depending on time/availibility/demand the prices may increase upto 80 EUR
      • Time: 3hrs
      • Transfers: 0
      • I travelled with ICE. Departure time was 6.30am, reached Munich at 9.30am
    • RE/RB from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen
      • Cost: from 23 EUR/ticket
      • Alternative: Bayern Ticket (see Lander Tickets below on how they work): I did this, as I also had to visit Ingolstadt.
      • Time: 1hrs
  • Lander/Regional Tickets
    • A DB Lander Ticket covers all public transport in a particular state. You can use this ticket for Buses, Trams, S-Bahn, U-Bahn and RB, RE and IRE trains
    • Time: 5+ hours
    • Transfers: 3+ (4+ from Mannheim)
    • Number of tickets you purchase depends on the number of states you cross. For BW, its just two:
      • Baden-Wurttemberg Ticket 24 EUR for one person, +6 EUR for Second, etc.
      • Bayern Ticket 26 EUR for one person, +9 EUR for second, etc.
    • Use this to calculate your fare: https://www.bahn.com/en/offers/regional/regional-day-tickets

Stay

For the entire duration of trip I stayed in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and travelled to places around. However, you can also stay in Grainau, Mittenwald or Hausberg

I stayed at Gästehaus Arkadia. Features of my room included:

If this spot is not available, you can choose any of the following options

  1. Hotels at Booking.com, Agoda, etc
  2. More Ferienwohnungen can be found on this website
  3. The official Garmisch-Partenkirchen Accomdation Directory: https://www.gapa-tourismus.de/en/GaPa-on-site/Accommodation#/accommodations

Tip: When you book a property anywhere, make sure

  • It is close to railway station or any bus stops. Google Maps does not have information on timings of buses but they do run pretty regularly.

  • Provides you with a Gastecard. This card makes all your public transport upto Lake Eibsee free. Most acoomodation properties will offer you directly to get this card for a nominal fee of 3-4EUR/head or it can even be freely offered by the property. more info

Itenary

Day 1 (23rd December 2021)

  • Breakfast at Moun10 Bakers
    • Next to railway station, Super quick service, Friendly and Cheerful staff
    • Had a Brezel, Semmel and Macchiato
  • Arrive at Bayerische Zugspitze Bahn (BZB) station at Garmisch. At the cash counter, you can either choose to buy ticket to just Zugspitze or also include Garmisch-Classic. Pricing information
    • I took the Combi Ticket, costing 66 EUR that included roud trips in the Seilbahn to both Zugspitze and Garmisch Classic (Alpspitzebahn)
    • Trains start at 8.15am in Winter, I took the 9.15 one.
    • If you are travelling to Zugspitze, make sure you take the train to Zugspitze and not Kreuzeck-Alpspitzebahn. The latter is an intermediate station.
  • Getting to Zugspitze from BZB Station: (photos)
    • Two ways, you can mix and match them as you like.
      1. Take the cogwheel from BZB Garmnisch all the way to Zugspitze Glacier, and take the Seilbahn from there to Zugspitze peak.
      2. Take the coghwheel train to Eibsee and then hop on the Eibsee Seilbahn to Zugspitze peak.
    • I did the following
      1. Take the cogwheel train from BZB to Glacier
      2. Take Glacier Seilbahn to Zugspitze peak
      3. Descend from Zugspitze to Eibsee in Eibsee Seilbahn
  • At Zugspitze (photos)
    • You will not be on the peak of Zugspitze but it will be a stone’s throw away from the platform. To reach the peak, you will have to take the hike from below.
    • I also had my lunch in the restaurant located at peak: Kasesplatz with Herbs and Cherry Tomatoes and Apfelsaftschrole (Appy Fizz). They also have Pizzas, Pastas, assorted meat items which I have no idea about.
  • At Eibsee (photos)
    • Hike the Eibsee Rundweg: 7km, some elevation. Easy level.
    • The trail goes around Eibsee and you can see multiple lakes, waterfalls, and the breathtaking view of mountains all along the way.

Day 2 (24th December 2021)

  • Breakfast at Moun10 Bakers
    • Had a Pacakes with Chocolate syrup, Cappucino
  • At BZB again, take the Cogwheel Train to Kreuzeck-Alpspitzbahn
  • Make sure you go the Alpspitzbahn cable car station and not the Kreuzeckbahn, unless you want to ski at Kreuzeck peak. If you swipe your ticket at the wrong station, the ticket will not work at the right one.
  • At Alpspitze (photos)
    • Visit the Alpspix platform. Pretty thrilling and awesome experience as you walk on netted platform with a 0-degree clear view of 2000+ meters drop.
    • I did not try the restuarant there.
  • Took the bus from Kreuzeckbahn station to Olympia Skistadion, and then hiked to Partnachklamm (~2km). You can also take Cogwheel train back to BZB and take the bus from railway station to Olympia Skistadion.
  • At Partnachklamm (photos)
    • Beautiful gorge that runs along the river Patranach
    • 6 EUR entry fee
    • The photos I shared don’t do any justice to the place. Definitely include it in your list.
  • I then hiked along the Patranach River back to the Gastehaus. You can choose to explore the Garmisch/Partenkirchen Main Market areas, the historic Ludwigstrasse, or just the city in general.
  • It was a pretty busy evening at most dinner places so had to find one that had just opened for dinner. So, visited Celentano.

Day 3 (25th December 2021)

  • Caught bus from Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bahnof to Mittenwald. The ticket for this bus is included in the Zugspitz Arena Bayern-Tirol Card. The train to Mittenwald needs you to have a ticket from DB.
  • Hiked along the river in Mittenwald. A quaint town with beautiful scenery of the mountains. There are various sights from this places which are a few hours of hike away but I was not able to cover them in the time I had.
  • With a Bayern Ticket purchased on the same day, I travelled back to Garmisch-Partenkirchen
  • Had lunch at Shaka Burgerhouse: Megan’s Vegan Burger with a Virgin Mojito.
  • Using the Bayern Ticket purchased earlier caught the train at 16.05 to Munich.
  • Checked into Hilton Garden Hill to stay the night
  • Dinner at Shagun Restaurant in Munich: Paneer Tikka Vindalu, came with Rice and a Naan. Great Indian tadka taste.

Day 4 (26th December 2021)

  • Purchased the MVV Tageskarte in the M-Zone. Costs 8.2EUR and you can travel anywhere in the Munich city using any means of public transport: S-Bahn, U-Bahn, Tram, Bus.
  • Hotel breakfast buffet: good variety of vegetarian options: fruits, cheese, breads (semmel, toast, brezel), beans, yogurt, juices and for non-vegetarians, you also got bacon, wurst, eggs (scrambled/boiled)
  • Walk at Olympiapark, climb the small hill there to get a city view.
  • Everything at Munich was closed today due to it being the second day of Christmas.
  • Lunch at Soy Vegan restaurant: Kho Tom (Stuffed tofu stewed in a claypot with traditional spice blend and seitan. Served with steamed vegetables.) and Apfelsaftschrole. 10/10 on the taste and quantity, but a little pricey.
  • Some wandering in the city using different Public Transports as I had few hours to kill.
  • Munich Hauptbahnof. ICE back to Mannheim at 19.30
Germany Bavaria Bayern Winter
© 2021 by Anish Mashankar
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