Zugspitze

The Zugspitze, at 2,962 metres, is the highest mountain in Germany, in the Wetterstein range on the border between Bavaria and Tyrol. The German-Austrian border runs over the west summit; the east summit with the summit cross lies entirely in Germany. Garmisch-Partenkirchen lies north of the peak. According to Lonely Planet, the view from the top takes in the main Tyrolean ranges and the Bavarian Alps as far as Mt Säntis in Switzerland.

You can ride up by the rack railway, the Eibsee cable car and, from Austria, the Tyrolean Zugspitze cable car (since 1926). The rack railway and the Eibsee cable car together carry about 500,000 people a year. In winter, nine lifts serve the ski area on the Zugspitzplatt. On foot, three routes lead to the summit: through the Reintal (the easiest, about 8 to 10 hours from Garmisch-Partenkirchen), through the Höllental (more popular but harder, about 7 to 8 hours from Hammersbach) and via the Austrian Cirque (Österreichisches Schneekar).

Please check timetables and operating status of the lifts beforehand. The summit routes are alpine, so go only with suitable equipment.