Garmisch-Partenkirchen | Zugspitze

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Opening

The mountain's visiting hours refer to the operating schedules of the uphill transportation systems, which are:

- Zahnradbahn: The cogwheel train takes you from Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Eibsee to the Zugspitzplatt station (where the glacier is located). The first train departs from Garmisch at 8:15 AM, running hourly until 6:15 PM (however, the last train traveling all the way up to Zugspitzplatt departs at 2:15 PM; subsequent trains only go as far as Grainau); the total journey takes 1 hour and 15 minutes. For the return trip, the first train leaves Zugspitzplatt at 9:30 AM, and the last one departs at 4:30 PM.

You can also catch this train at Lake Eibsee by driving there. A large parking lot is available on-site.

- Eibsee-Seilbahn: The cable car connecting Eibsee to the Zugspitzgipfel (the mountain summit) operates from 8:00 AM to 5:45 PM in July and August, and from 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM during the rest of the year, running at least every 30 minutes. The journey takes 10 minutes.

- Gletscherbahn: The cable car connecting Zugspitzplatt and the Zugspitzgipfel operates from 8:15 AM to 5:25 PM in July and August, and from 8:45 AM to 4:25 PM during the rest of the year, running every 10 minutes. The journey takes 4 minutes.

IMPORTANT: Please check the website for dates when the transportation systems are closed for maintenance! They typically close for a few days between April and May, following the ski season.

Transport Suggestion

To reach the Zugspitze, take the Zahnradbahn (cogwheel train), which departs from the Zugspitzbahnhof station itself in Garmisch, passes through Grainau and Eibsee, and arrives at the Zugspitzplatt at an altitude of 2,600 meters. From there, take the Gletscherbahn cable car up to the very summit of the Zugspitze (Zugspitzgipfel).

For the descent back to the base of the mountain, you can simply retrace your steps; however, another excellent option is to take the Eibsee-Seilbahn cable car directly down to Eibsee, located at an altitude of 980 meters. The descent is magnificent, offering incredible views of Lake Eibsee. Afterward, you can catch the cogwheel train once again to travel from Eibsee back to the Garmisch-Partenkirchen station.

Tickets

A one-day ticket (called "Zugspitze"), including round-trip transportation from the station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, costs €69.00 for adults; for teenagers aged 16 to 18, it costs €55.00; and for children aged 6 to 15, it costs €34.50. For families, prices drop to €61.00 per adult and €29.50 for children aged 6 to 18.

Other ticket options are also available—such as one-way (or return-only) tickets, or combined two-day tickets for other peaks in the region.

All tickets can be purchased on this website.

Address

For those arriving by car, the most suitable parking lot is Parkplatz Eibsee (address: Am Eibsee).