Eibsee and Zugspitze #TravelMonday

Discovering Bavaria: Eibsee and Zugspitze

This guide explores the stunning natural beauty of the Eibsee lake and the Zugspitze mountain in Bavaria, Germany, offering a perfect getaway, even during travel restrictions.

Overview

• The municipality of Grainau
• Eibsee: A touch of the Caribbean
• Partnachklamm Gorge
• Zugspitze: Germany’s highest mountain
• Getting there

The Municipality of Grainau

The Eibsee and Zugspitze are located in the municipality of Grainau, near the Olympic town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Both attractions are easily accessible via public transport, hiking trails, or by bicycle from the town center. Driving is discouraged on busy days due to potential traffic congestion, and parking availability at Eibsee is currently limited.

Eibsee: A Touch of the Caribbean

Eibsee, with its crystal-clear, turquoise waters, offers a Bavarian experience reminiscent of the Caribbean. Visitors can enjoy swimming and water activities with breathtaking views of the Zugspitze. The approximately seven-kilometer circular hiking trail around the lake provides picturesque scenery, with much of it shaded.

Eibsee covers 1.77 square kilometers, offering ample space for various water activities such as swimming, paddle boating, and stand-up paddleboarding. The water temperature averages around 20 degrees Celsius, providing a refreshing dip on warm days.

Recommendations for visiting Eibsee:

• Start your visit early in the morning to avoid crowds.
• Sunscreen, water shoes, a picnic mat, plenty of water, and sturdy footwear are recommended.
• A small beach umbrella can provide extra sun protection.

Partnachklamm Gorge

Partnachklamm is a dramatic gorge accessible to visitors since 1912. This natural monument features roaring water and towering rock walls.

• Length: 699 meters
• Features: Tunnels with heights as low as 1.75 meters.
• Conditions: The path can be slippery; sturdy, waterproof, and warm clothing is advised.
• Depth: The Partnach river carves the gorge over 80 meters deep.

The gorge is accessible year-round. The easiest access point is near the Olympic Ski Stadium, a pleasant half-hour walk along a car-free road, or via a horse-drawn carriage.

• Time: Approximately 30 minutes to walk through the gorge, making the total easy 3-kilometer hike about an hour.
• Direction: Currently, the gorge is one-way only, so plan for a potential detour on the return.
• Extensions: Hiking routes continue towards Partnachtal, Reintal, or Vordergraseck.
• Culinary Option: The Kaiserschmarrn-Alm in Vordergraseck offers traditional Bavarian dishes.

Zugspitze: Germany’s Highest Mountain

No visit to the Eibsee area is complete without ascending the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak at 2,962 meters.

• Access: Options include the Zugspitze cable car, the cogwheel train (celebrating its 90th anniversary), or the Gletscherbahn cable car.
• Views: Enjoy a 360-degree panorama from the summit plate, with views extending to Munich, Switzerland, and Italy. Over 400 peaks are visible, and on clear days, the visibility can reach up to 250 kilometers.

Hiking to Zugspitze:

• Various hiking tours are available, some requiring climbing skills.
• The easiest route, though time-consuming, is via the Reintal valley.
• A challenging six-to-eight-hour hike via the Höllental valley, passing through the Höllentalklamm, is suitable for sure-footed hikers.

At the summit, visitors can enjoy refreshments at three restaurants and, during winter, ski or snowboard on over 20 kilometers of natural snow pistes.

Getting There

By Train:

• From major German cities (e.g., Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt), take the ICE to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, then connect to Grainau.
• Alternatively, travel by long-distance bus to Munich and then take the hourly regional train to the Bavarian Alps region.
• From Innsbruck, Austria, a long-distance bus to Munich is recommended.

By Car:

• From the North: Take the A95 to its end, then the B2 to Grainau.
• From the South/West: Take the A7 to its end, continue onto the Fernpassstraße B179, and exit at B187 towards Garmisch/Ehrwald/Lermoos.