This post is written by Sharada Chandrasekar, she is an engineer and works with an IT company in Bangalore. She travels much on business and recently had the opportunity to visit Germany and few other places in Europe.
Travel and photography are her interests and she loves exploring new places. During her recent trip in June 2017, she visited Zugspitze and here is some interesting inforamtion on the place. It’s a must visit place if you go to Germany, says Sharadha!
Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak (2962 meters), is located in southern Germany on its border with Austria. Visiting Zugspitze is a fantastic half day excursion which can easily be done from both Austria and Germany. To get to the peak of Zugspitze, there are cable cars and five hiking paths to the top.
Zahnradbahn: From the train station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, you can board the train for a journey through Grainau and Eibsee, then ascend Zugspitze by cogwheel power. This route takes you through a tunnel and then on to the Zugspitze Glacier Plateau, also called Zugspitzplatt.
From here, board the Glacier Cable Car to the peak. Travel time is one hour from Garmisch and 35 minutes from Eibsee. You need to buy a ticket at the station for 52 Euros. Bayerische Zugspitzbahn trains operate between the Eibsee train station and the Zugspitzplatt station at half hour intervals.
Eibsee Station
Cable car
An alternative way to make the trip from Garmisch-Partenkirchen is to take the cogwheel train to Eibsee and then ascend to the top of Zugspitze by cable car in 10 minutes. However, the cogwheel train was under maintenance until December and we had to take the train.
At The Top
Once on top of Zugspitze, you are straddling the border between Austria and Germany. When you are on top you can easily access all areas of the summit. There are restaurants, shops, and telescopes at the summit. The views are breathtaking on either side of the border. On the German side, the Zugspitzplatt Glacier stretches before you. Eibsee lake lies at the base of the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain. There’s a souvenir store to buy gifts as well.
Eibsee Lake
In the wintertime, sking is a popular activity here.
What To Bring:
Even mid-summer, temperatures at Zugspitze can be very chilly, make sure you bring a jacket. Of course, don’t forget your camera!
When To Go:
Make sure you go on a clear day. With rain and clouds you will miss those views of the Alps. During the summer months the temperatures are comfortable and the climb to the peak is an option. During the wintertime, the Alps will be blanketed with snow, an awesome sight indeed.
