Forecast today: Rain
The tough, wooded slopes of Garmisch Classic and the high, gentle glacier slopes of the Zugspitze. Each can be covered in a day, making this an ideal weekend destination, especially as it is so easy to get here from Munich and there is an abundance of accommodation to choose from.
This does mean that you may want to tie in other resorts if you’re coming for a full week, but with the likes of Ehrwald, Lermoos and Seefeld over the Austrian border, this is an easy proposition.
Garmisch Classic is located on north-facing slopes on the southern edge of the city, a short drive or train ride from the centre. The northerly aspect and improved snowmaking helps maintain the snow conditions, but in lean years the lowest runs can really suffer
In good conditions however, this is a great ski area with 40km of pistes, including the Olympic Downhill run, which drops over 1000 vertical metres – this really is a tough challenge. There is also a good beginner zone on the Hausberg (you will have to download however) and some nice cruisey terrain above Kreuzeck.
The other area, located high on the Zugspitze Mountain sits on a glacier and is thus extremely snowsure. The views are spectacular, but the terrain is fairly limited and the 20km of pistes are entirely made up of short blues and reds. That being said, it is well worth visiting and the cable car to the top is an incredible feat of engineering.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a city rather a ski resort, with a population of around 27,000 people. This does mean that weekend crowds descend on the slopes, but the payoff is that you get a vast range of accommodation, bars and restaurants to choose from. As this is not a ski resort town in the traditional sense, prices are much lower than average – making this a great value destination for a weekend ski trip.
Try and base yourself as near to the central station as possible. Not only is this the liveliest part of town, but the walk to Hausberg is quick and access to the Zugspitze is simple. Away from the slopes there is a lot to do, including Mount Wank, an entire mountain dedicated to winter walking, snowshoeing and tobogganing, located just to the east of the city.
Sun 22 Dec | Mon 23 Dec | Tue 24 Dec | Wed 25 Dec | Thu 26 Dec | Fri 27 Dec | Sat 28 Dec | Sun 29 Dec | Mon 30 Dec | Tue 31 Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||
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AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Snow shower |
Snow shower |
Occasional snow | Occasional snow |
Snow |
Light snow | Light snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Mainly fair | Occasional snow |
Occasional snow |
Occasional snow | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Generally clear |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Generally clear |
Partly cloudy |
Wind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow expected | 8.5 cm | 8.1 cm | 2.5 cm | 1.4 cm | 11.3 cm | 7.4 cm | 4.7 cm | 1.7 cm | 0.4 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 1.9 cm | 2.2 cm | 3.2 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | -3.1°c | -4.9°c | -5.4°c | -9.1°c | -6.7°c | -6.6°c | -7.2°c | -8.5°c | -9.2°c | -7.9°c | -7.6°c | -9.9°c | -5.1°c | -4.8°c | -6.4°c | -3.4°c | -3.4°c | -7.2°c | -3.4°c | -3.4°c | -6.8°c | -3.8°c | -3.8°c | -7.4°c | -4.4°c | -4.4°c | -7.8°c | -4.6°c | -4.6°c | -7.4°c |
Min temp | -5.8°c | -5.8°c | -8.2°c | -9.9°c | -9.2°c | -7.1°c | -9.1°c | -9.4°c | -9.7°c | -11.4°c | -10.8°c | -10.9°c | -8.8°c | -6.4°c | -7.8°c | -8.3°c | -7.2°c | -8.1°c | -8.3°c | -6.8°c | -7.7°c | -8.2°c | -7.4°c | -8.1°c | -8.9°c | -7.8°c | -9°c | -9.8°c | -7.4°c | -8°c |
Feels like temp | -4.5°c | -5.8°c | -8.9°c | -9.1°c | -9.2°c | -10.7°c | -11°c | -13.6°c | -9.2°c | -11°c | -7.9°c | -10.8°c | -8.8°c | -5.1°c | -6.4°c | -8.3°c | -3.4°c | -7.2°c | -8.3°c | -3.4°c | -6.8°c | -8.2°c | -3.8°c | -7.4°c | -8.9°c | -4.4°c | -7.8°c | -9.8°c | -4.6°c | -12.4°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Snow shower |
Snow shower |
Occasional snow |
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 8.5 cm | 8.1 cm | 2.5 cm |
Max temp | -3.1°c | -4.9°c | -5.4°c |
Min temp | -5.8°c | -5.8°c | -8.2°c |
Feels like temp | -4.5°c | -5.8°c | -8.9°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Occasional snow |
Snow |
Light snow |
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 1.4 cm | 11.3 cm | 7.4 cm |
Max temp | -9.1°c | -6.7°c | -6.6°c |
Min temp | -9.9°c | -9.2°c | -7.1°c |
Feels like temp | -9.1°c | -9.2°c | -10.7°c |
Sun 22 Dec | Mon 23 Dec | Tue 24 Dec | Wed 25 Dec | Thu 26 Dec | Fri 27 Dec | Sat 28 Dec | Sun 29 Dec | Mon 30 Dec | Tue 31 Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||
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AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Rain |
Rain and snow |
Light snow | Light snow |
Snow |
Snow | Light snow |
Light snow |
Light snow | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Light snow |
Light snow |
Light snow shwr | Generally clear |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Clear skies |
Partly cloudy |
Rather cloudy |
Wind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0.7 cm | 2.1 cm | 2 cm | 7.9 cm | 6.3 cm | 5.1 cm | 2.2 cm | 0.6 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.6 cm | 1.1 cm | 2.8 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 3.8°c | 5°c | -0.2°c | -0.2°c | 0.8°c | -0.6°c | -0.4°c | 0°c | -2.8°c | 1°c | 1.2°c | -4.4°c | 3.4°c | 3.4°c | -2°c | 4.6°c | 4.6°c | -1.8°c | 5.4°c | 5.4°c | -1.6°c | 5.4°c | 5.4°c | -1.8°c | 4.8°c | 4.8°c | -2.2°c | 4°c | 4°c | -1.2°c |
Min temp | 2.2°c | -0.2°c | -2.8°c | -4.2°c | -0.6°c | -1.2°c | -2.6°c | -2.8°c | -5.6°c | -8.2°c | -4.4°c | -5.6°c | -4.6°c | -2°c | -3.8°c | -5°c | -1.8°c | -4°c | -4.8°c | -1.6°c | -3.8°c | -5°c | -1.8°c | -4.2°c | -5.2°c | -2.2°c | -4.2°c | -5.4°c | -1.2°c | -2.4°c |
Feels like temp | 0.1°c | 1.4°c | -0.2°c | -3.6°c | -3.4°c | -3.5°c | -2°c | -3.3°c | -2.8°c | -8.2°c | 0.9°c | -4.4°c | -4.6°c | 3.1°c | -2°c | -5°c | 4.2°c | -1.8°c | -4.8°c | 4.9°c | -1.6°c | -5°c | 4.9°c | -1.8°c | -8.6°c | 4.3°c | -2.2°c | -9.4°c | 3.6°c | -4.1°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | |||
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0.7 cm | 2.1 cm |
Max temp | 3.8°c | 5°c | -0.2°c |
Min temp | 2.2°c | -0.2°c | -2.8°c |
Feels like temp | 0.1°c | 1.4°c | -0.2°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | |||
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 2 cm | 7.9 cm | 6.3 cm |
Max temp | -0.2°c | 0.8°c | -0.6°c |
Min temp | -4.2°c | -0.6°c | -1.2°c |
Feels like temp | -3.6°c | -3.4°c | -3.5°c |
Snowfall | Last Snowfall | 20/12/2024 |
---|---|---|
Next 3 days | 45 cm | |
Depths | Upper piste depth | 70 cm |
Lower piste depth | 15 cm | |
Snow conditions | Snow quality | New snow |
Lifts | Lifts open | 13 out of 18 |
Resort opening date | Fri 13 Dec 2024 | |
Resort closing date | Sun 30 Mar 2025 |
Updated 20/12
After a settled start to the weekend, Germany will join the rest of the Alps in the festival of snow that is spreading to most corners of the continent on Sunday and into the Christmas week.
The freezing line will plummet on Sunday, with daytime highs of -5°C expected at 1,000m, as a large, dense area of low pressure moves in and camps out over central and northern Europe. This will bring plenty of snowfall which, thanks to these cold temperatures, will fall against most elevations.
Snow will start on Sunday, with 15cm expected down across the German Alps, before continuing on through Monday, Tuesday and into Christmas Day itself; a further 50cm will fall steadily over this period, providing a real boost to Alpine conditions ahead of Christmas skiing.
Expect the avalanche forecast to tick up as the week continues, with new snow fall on persistent weak layers and being wind driven, too. Check your local avalanche forecast carefully, and plan any backcountry and off piste travel carefully.
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