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Zugspitze


With its 2962 meters, the Zugspitze is the highest mountain in Germany. Thanks to the modern Zugspitze cable car or the nostalgic rack railroad, visitors from all over the world and not only ambitious mountaineers can enjoy the unique 360° view of 400 peaks in Germany, Austria and Italy. On clear days, miles of distant views give you an incredible feeling of vastness and freedom.

In winter, a ski area with 20 km of different slopes awaits you. Tobogganing is possible up here all year round.

In summer, a variety of challenging hiking routes, such as a glacier hike or various via ferratas for the athletically ambitious are available.

Zugspitze Top, © Kupke /Tourist-Information Grainau
Zugspitze at sunrise, © Tourist Information Grainau –W.Ehn
Zugspitze at sunrise
Zugspitze panorama view in the evening
Zugspitze panorama view in the evening
Zugspitz, © Tourist Information Grainau –W.Ehn
Zugspitz
Zugspitze Top, © Kupke /Tourist-Information Grainau
Zugspitze at sunrise, © Tourist Information Grainau –W.Ehn
Zugspitze panorama view in the evening
Zugspitz, © Tourist Information Grainau –W.Ehn

Cable car & cogwheel train to Zugspitze


The Zugspitze is not just about sports activities. With the commissioning of the new cable car in December 2017, Germany's highest mountain has set three new records. In addition to the highest steel structural support (127 m), the cable car climbs 1,945 meters in altitude and the world's longest span with 3,213 meters.

If the cable car is not really nice, you can take the cogwheel train up to the plateau and then take the glacier to the summit. The cog railway goes from Garmisch-Partenkirchen via Grainau up to the glacier.

Arrival and Parking


by public transport

From Garmisch-Partenkirchen railway station continue with the cogwheel train of the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn (the separate station is only a few meters away from the Deutsche Bahn)

The exit point is: Eibsee

by car

From Munich you reach the valley station of the Zugspitz cable car on the A95 in about 1 1/2 hours. The cogwheel train stop is only a short distance away from the Zugspitz cable car. Coming from Reutte in about 45 minutes via B179, B187 and B23.

However, please note the heavy traffic, especially on weekends and holidays the parking lots are very congested. From the end of the motorway on, parking instructions for the mountain railways and the current parking situation can be found at the roadside! In order to avoid this stress, please think about our public transport system in good time.

The destination address is:

Zugspitzbahnhof Eibsee (cogwheel train)
Seefeldweg 1, 82491 Grainau

Seilbahn Zugspitze (cable car)
Am Eibsee 6, 82491 Grainau

 

 

Please pay attention to the display boards!

However, please be aware of the heavy traffic, especially at weekends and on public holidays the car parks are very congested. From the end of the motorway you will find parking signs for the cable cars and the current parking situation at the roadside! To avoid this stress, please remember to use public transport in good time.

Experience the highest summit of Germany in all its facets. Enjoy the remarkable 360°-Panorama to more of 400 peaks in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Hold on to your personal summit moment and take a picture at the PhotoStop.

Exploring the glacier

It is possible that you sense a shift in time when you take the glacier lifts up to the Zugspitze Glacier at 2,600 metres above sea level. Even in summer high season, you can feel the primeval power of the elements here and discover how wind, rock, snow, ice and sun have left their indelible mark on the mountains over the course of thousands of years. An interactive adventure trail, guided glacier tours, a spot of tobogganing, Germany’s highest chapel and a child-friendly AlpinPark all ensure that your adventurous day on the Zugspitze Glacier literally flies by!

Cogwheel train winter, © Touristinformation Grainau - Foto Bäck
Cogwheel train winter
Zugspitzbahn in summer, © Tourist Info
Zugspitzbahn in summer
Cogwheel train winter, © Touristinformation Grainau - Foto Bäck
Zugspitzbahn in summer, © Tourist Info

The cogwheel train of the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn AG is one of only a few cog railways operated in Germany. Enjoy the ride with this special vehicle, that takes you to the plateau of the Zugspitze at 2,600 m. Starting point is near the train station Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the Zugspitze station.

The railway was built in the years 1928 to 1930 in three sections to go on 8 July 1930 in the whole in operation.

The white-blue train starts its journey at the station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and stops at several stations on the valley route, such as Hausbergbahn, Alpspitz and Kreuzeckbahn, Hammersbach and Grainau. Here ends the adhesion route.

Then it goes on to the mountain route from Eibsee, to the request stop Riffelriss and finally up to Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze.

Two cable-mounted and brand new cabins in a chic, understated design are ready to carry 120 passengers each to Germany's highest peak. Along their journey, they will traverse the world’s highest steelwork pylon for aerial tramways at 127 metres, the worlds greatest overall height difference of 1,945 metres over one section, as well as the world’s longest unsupported cableway span of 3,213 metres.

For more information on the construction of the cable car or stories about the mountain, visit the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn website

 

Technical data

  • length total: 19,5 km
  • distance Garmisch - Grainau: 7,5 km
  • distance Grainau - Eibsee: 3,2 km
  • distance Eibsee - Riffelriss: 4,3 km
  • distance Riffelriss - Zugspitzplatt (=Zugspitz-Tunnel): 4,5 km
  • maximum speed: 70 km/h