Alpspitze — Local services in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

We wanted to do the Zugspitze loop while in the area, but the weather was very overcast. LOOK AT THE LIVE CAMS ON THE WEBSITE TO CHECK THE VIEWS BEFORE GOING. It's pricey for adults, but 18 and under were free. Worth the money for the Alpspitze loop for sure.

Alpspitze is just over 2,600 meters (though the viewing platforms are at about 2,000 meters). This means that on cloudy days, when Zugspitze is completely covered in clouds, you can still go up Alsptize for a view and a hike. There are tons of trails of varying length and difficulty, and plenty of signs (with English) so you can choose the best for you.

I would suggest taking the Alspitzebahn (cable car) up to the viewing platforms which juts out over the edge of the mountain. Views are great and you are basically floating hundreds of meters in the air. After that, if you're in it for the climb, go ahead and summit. If you've got kids or just want a more casual hike, walk down the path. Don't take the cable car to the next stop because you will miss a folk tale which is explained in various panels and small interactive displays for kids. The hike takes about 30 minutes, and while kind of steep, it is well maintained and we saw families and even a mountain biker navigate it just fine. If you have mobility issues, take the cable car, sorry. The restaurant at the second stop was boarded up, so USE THE BATHROOMS AT THE TOP BEFORE HIKING DOWN.

The hike to the cable car down is another 20 minutes or so, and there is a restaurant there as well. Standard prices, but some good options, and of course folks speak English. Believe they stop serving hot food at 1500, so a morning hike and a stop for...

The Alpspitze via Ferrata during the winter

The Alpspitze via Ferrata during the winter is an excellent experience for well-trained and well-equipped climbers. The view of the neighboring mountains can be gorgeous. On a clear day, you can see up to 250 kilometers and overlook large parts of the Alps.

The climbing itself is a via ferrata, which shows the difficulty of A/B during the summer. However, the difficulty in winter depends on the weather conditions and whether the via ferrata wire robes are accessible or buried in snow and ice. The terrain offers everything via ferrata climbers love: many ladders, gutters, grades, and open fields.

Let me stress that this climbing in these conditions is only for experienced climbers. If you are not experienced in climbing these conditions, hiring a guide for the tour is highly recommended.

I recommend starting from the Osterfeldkopf, as climbing to the top still takes about 4 hours, and descending takes 2 hours. From the Osterfeldkopf, it is a 30-minute hike to the entrance to the...

What a fantastic place to visit - a very short trip from the town of Garmisch to get to the gondola, a short comfortable and picturesque ride to the top (but rather expensive). When you get to the top, the views are amazing, it can be cold and windy but there are restaurants and a shop or two, with lots of space to walk around and get some awesome photographs. You can take the gondola down to the ski area, and then take the cog train back down the mountain all with the same gondola ticket. The ski area has a place to hire sleds with a bespoke sledding run, places to grab a drink etc. the whole thing is a great day out with plenty to do and...