Ski resorts in Germany are often overshadowed by the big four: France, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. Far too many UK skiers are unaware that Germany offers some of the most accessible, attractive, and best value-for-money skiing in Europe.
Ski resorts in Germany combine large resorts like Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen with numerous smaller ski villages dotted across the country. The majority of ski resorts in Germany are within 1.5 hours of major international airports such as Munich, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Basel, and Zurich. Not only does this mean less travelling, and more time on the slopes, but visitors can also combine skiing with city breaks.
Ski resorts in Germany
How’s this for a surprising statistic: There are nearly 700 ski resorts in Germany, with terrain served by 1,384 lifts at last count. There’s a good reason: there are more skiers in Germany than in any other European country, with some 14.6 million enjoying our sport.
Short distance from UK
For UK skiers driving to the Alps, ski resorts in Germany are some of the closest! Feldberg – Germany’s oldest ski club dating back to 1891 – in the Black Forest is 746 kilometres from Calais (7hrs). This is approximately 2.5 hours’ closer than the French resorts of Tignes, Les Arcs, Val d’Isere, and Val Thorens And is approximately 3.5 hours’ closer than Austrian resorts of Mayrhofen and Obergurgl. If driving to Germany, you can avoid the hefty French tolls and there’s also no tax disc (vignette) to purchase, unlike in Austria or Switzerland.
Skiing in Germany also offers some of the best value-for-money resorts in the Alps. The larger resorts of Obersdorf and Garmisch offers ski pass prices similar to that of Austria and France. But choose a smaller resort like Mittenwald and pay almost half.
Pretty, traditional resorts
One of the most noticeable things about Germany is the pretty, traditional resorts. Even the largest, most popular ski resorts, such as Oberstdorf in the Allgäu region, have not suffered from over-development.
Simone Zehnpfennig, press officer at Allgäu Tourism says, “The region still has its rural charm – old farmhouses, chimneys, and typical brown cows. We don’t have these cold concrete ski resort cities like in the French Alps. Instead we still have our farmers and their traditions in our ski villages.”
World-cup ski resorts
Oberstdorf (820-2,220m) has 45 kilometres of slopes accessed via 25 modern lifts, including two gondolas. The resort has made a name for itself with cross-country skiers for its 100 kilometres of trails. The local Mount Nebelhorn ski area boasts one of the steepest runs and biggest jumps in the whole country with a maximum vertical of 1,400 metres and a skiable height of 2,220 metres. Oberstdorf is perhaps best known as the venue for the Four Hills Ski Jumping World Cup and the Nebelhorn Classics freeride event.
Heading west from Oberstdorf, there are a number of small ski areas and villages. For example, Pfronten has 22 kilometres of slopes, 13 gondolas and lifts, deep powder runs, and fun park for snowboarders.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen (700-2,830m), 1.5 hour’s drive from Munich, is the most popular and biggest resort in Germany. Three mountains are well connected offering 62 kilometres of pistes (42 slopes) for all levels. The main ski area is set on the Hausberg, Kreuzeck, and Osterfelder runs. The nearby ski area of Zugspitze has Germany’s highest mountain (2,962 m). The town of Garmisch is lined with 100 restaurants, 30 bars, and five discos. There are also plenty of shops to browse and even a casino.
The resorts of Garmisch and Partenkirchen combined and became famous when hosting the Winter Olympics in 1936. It hosted hundreds of American GIs learning to ski and bringing those skills home to grow the sport in the USA.
City-ski breaks
The ski-areas of Oberammergau, Lenggries, and Spitzingsee (near Tegernsee) are just one hour’s drive south of Munich.
The pretty village of Oberammergau (900-1280m) offers nine slopes for all levels. Families bring the kids to the special children’s ski areas while freeride fans flock to sample some of the deepest powder in Germany.
Lenggries (700-1700) has access to 34 kilometres of downhill skiing, well suited to intermediates and experts. It is particularly popular for its challenging World Cup downhill ‘Garland’ slope.
Spitzingsee/Sudelfeld (480-1850m) has 49 pistes and is a favourite with Munich residents. It is also a popular destination for tourists combining city and ski holidays. If possible avoid this resort at the weekends as it tends to get overcrowded.
An hour’s drive from Basel is the popular Black Forest ski resort of Feldberg (950-1450m). Its 22 slopes are accessed by 26 lifts, but snow cover can be variable due to the resort’s relatively low altitude.
Nestled on the Austrian border is the small market town of Mittenwald (945-2250m). Set one hour’s drive from Innsbruck, Mittenwald’s 22 kilometres of pistes are also just 15 minutes from Seefeld, Austria. Mittenwald can get crowded at busy holiday periods.
Just 20 kilometres from Salzburg, the attractive ski area of Berchtesgaden (600-1800m) offers 50 kilometres of slopes and 38 lifts. It is made up of six ski centres and boasts pretty tree-lined slopes and modern cable car facilities. Jenner is the best known and largest of the small areas in the vicinity of Berchtesgaden and is easily reached by car or ski bus.
Cross-country ski trails
Towards the centre of Germany is the region of Harz (600-1500m). The mountains aren’t particularly high, but the gentle slopes and 27 lifts are suitable for beginners and families. It is made up of the villages of Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Osterode-Lerbach, Altenau, and Braunlage. Downhill skiing isn’t the only attraction here; many tourists come to stretch their legs on the 500 kilometres of well prepared cross country trails.
Glacier ski resorts in Germany
Another big bonus when it comes to skiing in German is enjoying the Zugspitze, the country’s highest peak at 2962m. It sits on the border of Germany and Austria and has 13 miles of downhill runs, a snowboard park and, of course, awesome views. You can generally ski it from November to May.
For more information on ski resorts in Germany, visit the German Tourist Board.
November 10, 2024
