A Holiday in the Bavarian Alps - Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Surroundings

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a well-known holiday destination thanks to its natural surroundings, historical character and sports opportunities. It lies at the foot of the Alps, in southern Germany. The area gained fame as the host of the 1936 Winter Olympics. Set below Mount Zugspitze, it draws visitors all year round. It’s a great place for both nature lovers and those looking for outdoor activities.

We chose this place for our holiday and started the day by checking into our hotel in Garmisch. I stayed there with my friends. They came with their baby and had a separate room, while we stayed in a different apartment. Our apartment had a small kitchen, though it lacked a stove. Luckily, there were utensils, plates and a fridge ready for us. There was even a dishwasher. We had brought our electric grill with us, just in case.

Our bathroom was spacious and the bedroom was comfortable. There was a sofa in the living room where someone could sleep if needed. We also had a fairly large balcony. We paid around 520 euros in total for a three-night stay. The name of our hotel was Partnach Lodge and the stream running just below was the Partnach. There was a café right next to it.

While our friends were busy with the baby, I took a short walk. For breakfast, we prepared buckwheat and sausages. The area had ski jumping ramps, pretty houses and great views. Our hotel was quite close to the Partnachklamm Gorge, so we planned to visit it.

We took a short hike, had some snacks and rested a bit. The landscape was impressive. The Alpspitze peak could be seen in the distance and after a while, Zugspitze appeared as well. The walls of old houses were decorated with paintings and everything around was calm and quiet. The Olympic Stadium we saw the day before had hosted the 1936 Winter Olympics.

The next day, we decided to visit the lake. We planned to see it in the morning and then go shopping. Since it was the holiday season, it was crowded, but we didn’t mind. I had finished my tasks beforehand, so I felt relaxed.

The previous day, I had done a short hike up the mountain. The slopes were steep, but the view was worth it.

We went to Lake Eibsee. The parking fee was 19 euros for four hours, which felt a bit much. We walked along the lake and enjoyed the surroundings. The water was clear, though the crowd was slightly annoying. Our walk around the lake took about two hours. We reached a small waterfall where we rested for a while before moving on.

In the afternoon, I did some climbing and reached an altitude of 986 meters. The slopes were steep, but the view from up there was really nice.

One morning, we went to Partnachklamm early to avoid the crowds. The entrance fee was 10 euros, but we paid 9 euros with a QR code we got from the hotel. The gorge looked beautiful in the morning light.

After leaving the gorge, we explored the town and took a short break. Later we hiked up to a viewpoint over the town. We sat in a beer garden there and took in the view.

It was a hot day, but the hike was nice. Garmisch is a lively tourist town, yet still charming.

On the last day, we packed up and spent some time on the sun loungers in the hotel garden before heading home. We also found out there was a barbecue area, though you needed permission to use it.

With its scenery and relaxed atmosphere, Garmisch-Partenkirchen turned out to be a place I’ll remember for a long time.