10 Best Ski Resorts in Bavaria

Garmisch and Partenkirchen combined in 1935 to form what’s now Germany’s premier ski resort. Its enduring popularity has a lot to do with its location. Ga-Pa, as it’s nicknamed, is situated a short ride by cogwheel train from the base of the Zugspitze, at 2,962 metres on the country’s highest mountain.

Spanning 3 ski areas – Hausberg, Kreuzeck, and Alpspitze – the number of runs is extensive by German standards. The most challenging is The Kandahar which includes a section known as the “Free Fall” which boasts a 92% gradient.

Bayrischzell nestles at the foot of Mount Wendelstein at an altitude of 800 metres above sea level. Try the Hotelhang, a short but thrilling black run. It’s also well situated to take advantage of the Sudelfeld ski area, linked to Bayrischzell by a free bus. Winter fun can be had in the adventure park at Tannerfeld where you can lark around on snow tubes.

In addition, there are myriad possibilities for cross-country skiers on Route 36. With almost 100 km of track to choose from, you can vary your route each day or set yourself a goal of covering the lot.

Arber is a ski area in the Arberland region of Bavaria. Take to the slopes beneath the 1456 metre high Große Arber, the highest peak in the Bavarian Forest. With 5 km of pistes, most with snow-making equipment, it’s an attractive proposition for downhill enthusiasts. You’ll also find cross-country trails, winter hiking possibilities, and a floodlit toboggan run.

There’s a sizeable area of easy to intermediate slopes which makes this a family favourite. Access is made easy thanks to several magic carpets, so even the smallest children can feel safe. If you’re hoping to stay nearby, look for accommodation in nearby places such as Bayerisch Eisenstein, Lohberg, or Bodenmais.

Oberstdorf is located in the heart of the Allgäu Alps. Downhill skiers and snowboarders board the recently upgraded gondola to ride to the top of Nebelhorn mountain. If it’s clear at the summit, 2,224 metres above sea level, the views are remarkable, with around 400 peaks visible.

Experienced skiers will be happy with the choice of black runs here. This is where you’ll find the longest run in Germany; usually the snow’s reliable but it has snow-making capabilities if not. Beginners should start on the Seealpe, which also happens to be linked to the base station by a toboggan run.

Reit im Winkl perches on the Austrian border. On the German side, the ski areas of Benzeck and Winklmoos-Alm have an abundance of easy blue slopes. Switch to the Steinplatte ski area over in Austria and there are plenty of red and black runs to get the adrenaline going.

Alternatively, get close to nature and don snowshoes to tackle forested trails that lead to scenic overlooks. During the season there are timetabled guided hikes, some more demanding than others. Winter running trails, snow tubing, and tobogganing are also available.

Ofterschwang is a medium-sized ski resort located about a 20-minute drive north of the larger town of Oberstdorf. Best suited overall to intermediate skiers, it has hosted the World Cup on occasion, most recently a slalom event in 2018.

But while the pros will be hurtling down at speed, amateur skiers can afford to stop and take in the view over the Iller Valley. It’s easy to bypass the steepest stretches of their course and take a more leisurely route to the bottom. There’s also a kilometre-long sled run and plenty of cross-country trails.

Hochschwarzeck is a winter sports resort close to Berchtesgaden, boasting around 4 km of well-groomed pistes. Most of them are categorised red. It’s not Bavaria’s highest ski area, situated between 1,020 and 1,390 metres, but a trio of lifts carries skiers up to the slopes.

The resort is also home to a 2.3 km-long toboggan run, open between the middle of December and the end of March. It’s a 20-minute drive from here to the Königssee luge, skeleton, and bobsleigh track at Schönau am Königssee.

Oberjoch is a resort serving one of Germany’s biggest ski areas. With 32 km of slopes and 6 km of downhill ski runs, plus 100 km of cross-country trails, this is one of the bigger German ski areas. On the Imberger Horn, you’ll find three toboggan runs.

Snow-making machines ensure you can ski throughout the season. A multi-million euro investment modernised the resort, adding luxuries such as modern chair lifts with heated seats. You can reach the main Iselerbahn chair lift on foot but some hotels provide a shuttle.

Mittenwald, together with Krün and Wallgau, forms part of the Alpenwelt Karwendel. Keen skiers head to the nearby Kranzberg ski area. Novices will get to know the Luttensee draglift as it’s the location for Mittenwald’s ski school and also the access point for short blue runs.

The Korbinian draglift and the Sonnenhang lift enable confident skiers to reach the more challenging slopes of the Wildensee ski area. Mittenwald is also known for the Dammkarwurm, an annual ski mountaineering race that’s been held since the 1930s.

Lenggries is a village in Upper Bavaria. It’s the main base for winter sports enthusiasts who wish to enjoy the Lenggries-Brauneck ski area. Lenggries sits beside the River Isar, which flows towards Munich. In fact, when you reach the top of the Brauneck gondola on a clear day, you can see across Lake Starnberg to Munich.

The appeal here is variety: there are runs that even a beginner can cope with, while the World Cup slope and moguls will offer something more thrilling for experienced skiers. Send your kids to the local ski schools and they’ll be proficient in no time.