Top things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany

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Mountains, mountains everywhere in this oh-so-pretty town with the most fun name. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the ultimate idyllic small Bavarian town. Quiet enough to enjoy, but busy enough that you won’t be bored. So what are the best things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen? And what’s with the super long name?

Keep reading to find out more, and why this enchanting town needs to be part of your Germany road trip adventure.

Where is Garmisch Partenkirchen?

Nestled in the mountains of southern Germany, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the Bavarian town just a stone’s throw away from the Austrian border. It’s so close that you can be there in half an hour of driving – or see it if you’re at the top of one of the many huge peaks around this beautiful town.

From Munich, the region’s largest city and main airport, you’re just over an hour away from Garmisch-Partenkirchen by road. And what a stunning drive it is. While there is a lot to do in the town, I urge you to also get out of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and explore the unbelievable countryside.

Incidentally this is a wonderful place to make as your base for visiting southern Bavaria. It’s one of the biggest towns, and a popular ski town, with good access to what will be you new favorite spots. The incredible Neuschwanstein Castle, for one, is less than 90-minutes away by car.

Why is it called Garmisch-Partenkirchen?

History lesson time. Garmisch and Partenkirchen were two separate small towns very close to each other. They joined forces in 1935 to become one super-town at the “recommendation” of Hitler. Why? Well, the region was to host the 1936 Winter Olympic Games and he wanted a large enough town to play the role.

Rather than renaming it, or coming up with some Brangelina-esque moniker like Garmkirchen or Partensch, they simply united both town names with a simple hyphen. One of the longest town names in Bavaria was born.

Although now one town, the two parts of the town are a little different. You’ll find Partenkirchen a bit more traditional, and a lot quieter. Garmisch is the main center with more of the modern buildings.

TOP TRAVEL TIP: As with any long name, people tend to shorten it. For most that means they call it “Garmisch” which, as you can imagine, the people who live in the Partenkirchen side don’t like too much. Therefore, I’d recommend using it’s full name where you can.

Where to stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

There’s enough things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen that I recommend spending a day or two at least. You’ll be spoiled for choice with hotels and mountain resort-style accommodations.

There are hotels and B&Bs in both parts of the town, as well as the middle area where they meet. Not that it takes too long to walk from one part to the other, you might have trouble deciding where to stay.

Looking for a quieter area where, other than a couple of restaurants, not much is happening in the evening? Partenkirchen is your place. More interested in a bustling town center? Head to the Garmisch side. Me, I chose to hover somewhere in between.

The main road connecting the two towns weaves past the Rathaus, or City Hall. Then it curves over a fast flowing river with mountain views in both directions. I chose Reindls Partenkirchner Hof which was a lovely place.

We got a room with a view, and wow! What a view it was. The hotel has a restaurant and bar, spa, and parking which was helpful given we were on a road trip. Plus the staff were really nice and friendly. The property was filled with antiques, and winding corridors and was very traditional looking, unlike more modern hotels we’d seen. A true ski resort style hotel.

How long do you need in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?

While you could probably see what you want to see in the town and immediate area in 2 or 3 days, I suggest a little longer. The reason is that it is a great place to explore further afield in Bavaria.

Between Mittenwald, Oberammergau and Bad Kohlgrub there are a number of small towns to see very close by. And with fairytale castles like Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau within driving distance, you can’t go wrong in spending a few days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

There are so many good things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen, and really great restaurants that you need a few days to get the most out of a visit. Three nights is the minimum I would recommend, longer if you can swing it.

Things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen

By the time you’ve driven from adorable small town to adorable small town, southern Bavarian charm oozing from their cobble-stone streets. The mountains lay ahead, and behind, and well, let’s face it, kind of everywhere.

You’ve taken up lodging in the most perfect little town, hopefully with a good view of the aforementioned mountains. But now what?

Other than stare out the window for hours (a very reasonable activity), there are lots of other things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen. You just need to know where to look.

ADMIRE THE MURALS

One of my favorite things about small Bavarian towns in general was also one of my favorite things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen. Simply wander the peacefully quaint streets admiring the colorful and creative murals painted on the sides of almost every other building.

Known in the region as Lüftlmalerei, these fresco-style paintings make even the most mundane street interesting to walk down. And there aren’t many mundane streets here.

From restaurants to houses to the Rathaus (town hall), the intricate works depict rural life, religious scenes or artistic hints as to what the building was or is used for. Butcher. Baker. Watch maker. Whatever it is, there are not many boring, unadorned buildings in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

VISIT THE CHURCHES

Small town often have small historic churches, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen is no different. Just look for the towering spires all around, because they often reach higher than the two or three story buildings that make up the rest of the town.

The most interesting churches and chapels I found were on the Partenkirchen side of town. The Church of the Assumption (Pfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt) dominates Ludwigstraße.

At either end of the same street are two smaller chapels. St. Sebastian is the oldest church in town, built in the 1600s. And Gsteig Chapel at the other end, originally built in the 1500s but renewed in the 1800s.

St. Sebastian is small, but is also very colorful, even depicting the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse on one of its frescos. Gsteig Chapel sits atop a hill offering views over the main street of Partenkirchen and beyond and is a very tiny traditional looking building.

ENJOY AN OUTDOOR PATIO

A nice day in the summer deserves a cold beer and a slice of heavenly decadent cake. On a patio, of course.

Once you leave the main street that joins Garmisch with Partenkirchen, the rest of the place is nice and quiet. That means you’ll find many little patios outside cafés, restaurants and bakeries.

Krönner coffee house is the biggest patio in town and will be teeming with people in the summer. So grab some refreshments, pull up a chair and alternate between ogling the views all around this scenic town, and people-watching on a lazy day.

VISIT THE PARK

Garmisch-Partenkirchen has one absolutely beautiful park, right in the heart of the Garmisch side of town. Michael Ende Park has lots of pretty flowers with well manicured pathways around them. There’s a café-restaurant and an amphitheater for live music in the summer and concerts.

Keep an eye out for local events held in Michael Ende Park, especially during the nicer weather. It’s a great place to sit and relax on a sunny day too, so grab a book and settle in.

The only thing that isn’t amazing is that this public park has set visiting hours and is locked up outside of them, unlike many city parks. Often it doesn’t open until 9am or 10am. I suppose that’s what keeps it in such pristine condition though.

SHOP FOR LOCAL CRAFTS

Who doesn’t love a bit of shopping? And local arts and crafts are even more fun to buy. One of the best things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen is peruse the little quaint shops for local wares. Handmade paintings, sculptures and trinkets can be found in a number of little stores.

I found some of the best items to be in Partenkirchen, as Garmisch is where you find a lot more of the touristy shops. However one thing to be aware of is that not all stores have scheduled opening times.

We found a number that only opened for a couple hours a day, on certain days of the week. Or you could contact the owner if you wanted to purchase anything. That made it a little difficult for impulse shopping.

STAND ON TOP OF THE ZUGSPITZE

You’ll see so many mountains around Garmisch-Partenkirchen, after all this is where you’ll find the German Alps. But none or taller than Germany’s highest mountain, Zugspitze.

Not into mountain climbing? Don’t worry, there’s a cable car to get you to the top. Take in the scenic views along the cable car ride, and get some oh-so-wonderful vistas from the peak. In fact, on a good day you can see Italy, Austria and Switzerland, as well as so much more of the German countryside.

Although there are train options to get to the cable car for the mountain, driving is perhaps a lot quicker and more convenient. Either way, you’ll need to plan a good portion of your day to experience the Zugspitze, but it is worth it.

ENJOY BAVARIAN MUSIC

It’s all lederhosen and accordions at some of Garmisch-Partenkirchen’s most traditional restaurants. But that’s half the fun.

Get your schnitzel, currywurst and beer with a side of Bavarian music. It might be a little kitschy but it’s a great way to add a little local culture into an otherwise mundane restaurant experience.

We had a great evening at Werdenfelser Hof, with some delicious food and traditional entertainment. I highly recommend it.

PLAY A ROUND OF MINI GOLF

One of the most fun things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen is to visit the local mini golf course for a round. On a nice day, you’ll always find people here. Many of the locals come to play, there was even a local team event when we were there.

Make your way through the crazy mini golf course, honing your putting skills and trying not to get distracted by the view. Not an easy feat.

It’s less than 5 Euro to play, and you can even grab some snacks (hot and cold) while you’re there. Drinks like wines and beer are also served.

MUSEUM WERDENFELS

This museum in the Partenkirchen side of town is worth a peek to experience some local culture and art. However it’s equally worth going to just to take a look inside one of the town’s oldest buildings.

Learn more about the world famous Zugspitze, or check out one of the ever-changing exhibits. The museum isn’t huge, but it’s less than €5 to get in so isn’t expensive.

TOP TRAVEL TIP: Download the Google Translate app in advance as the museum has limited translation. However, I like to use the Camera function and hover my phone over museum text for it to translate. It’s perfect for travelling.

VISIT PARTNACH GORGE

You can never have enough nature out in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and while you do have to leave the town for a visit to Partnachklamm (Partnach Gorge), you don’t have to go far.

Right on the edge of town, and only a few minutes drive, is a wonderful gorge where you can walk alongside a beautiful glacial stream. Hug the trails around the protruding rocks where water drips down around you in this ethereal wonder.

Tickets are under €10 for adults, and less than €5 for children. Don’t forget to leave plenty of time for exploring the many kilometers of trails whatever time of year you visit.

Best places to eat in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Maybe the last of the best things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen would be to eat all the delicious Bavarian food the town has to offer. And there’s a lot of it, so cast aside any static waistlines you planned on wearing.

Some of the towns and villages we visited were not as busy, so their accommodation and food options were lacking. Garmisch-Partenkirchen had enough that we were spoiled for choice on restaurants. I wanted to go to them all, but unfortunately didn’t have time.

Traditional taverns were some of my favorite places in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Their beer was excellent, the food exceptional and the décor truly amazing. I recommend you try MukkeFukk or Wolpertinger, both along the main road past the center of Garmisch. The Currywurst was really good at Wolpertinger and we even got a free sample of schnapps from the owner after dinner.

Take a break from sausages and potatoes and instead head over to Restaurant Pizzeria Renzo. This Italian restaurant is on the main street into Garmisch-Partenkirchen opposite the Rathaus and is incredible. We went during asparagus season and they had a phenomenal spargel menu.

Need a sweet treat to get you through? Karl Eichhorn Bakery is the place. A quick and easy lunch and truly delicious food. It’s also the best place in the town to get fresh pretzels in my opinion. For something a little fancier, try Krönner coffee house. Sit outside on a warm day on their huge patio and eat one of their decadent delicacies.

For some more traditional Bavarian food I urge you to try Hofbräustüberl Garmisch or my favorite, Werdenfelser Hof. We really enjoyed the live Bavarian music while dining at the latter. And their Käsespätzle was out of this world. The giant steins of beer helped too.

Is Garmisch-Partenkirchen worth visiting?

It might be a little further away from many other places you’re visiting in Germany, but in my opinion Garmisch-Partenkirchen is not to be missed. There aren’t as many things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen as in Munich or other big cities, but the scenery is gorgeous, the food good and the town is cute as a button.

For me it was a toss up whether we stayed here or in nearby Mittenwald. In the end, we felt that Garmisch-Partenkirchen was a bit more centrally located for some of the things we wanted to see, and a little bigger of a town. In reality they are very similar in size and both have lots of great restaurants and accommodation. But I’m happy with the choice we made.

Sure, there’s more to do in the bigger cities, but I’m glad we took a few days in one of the smaller places in Bavaria. Garmisch-Partenkirchen was a very relaxing stay, most things were walkable, and you can’t deny the town has charm.

Whether you choose to stay a night, a few days or longer, or even make it a day trip from somewhere else, I can’t recommend Garmisch-Partenkirchen enough.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you been to this adorable Bavarian town? What were some of your favorite things to do in Garmisch Partenkirchen