Germany’s biggest and best ski hill, it’s worth checking out Garmisch-Partenkirken for its unique German flavour and penchant for fun. Having hosted the Olympics in the 1930s and several world cup downhills since then, the mountain has a lot of history for hosting the world’s best and bravest skiers.
While most of the runs suit intermediate skiers best, a train ride to the top of the glacier opens up some enticing terrain for the more advanced. It is possible however to go all the way to the top, take in some views of Northern Italy and then make your way down even if you are new to the sport.
The area gets some mad winds and storms bring in the snow. We didn’t get to explore the whole mountain as some of the lifts were closed due to high winds but I hear that there are some sweet steep runs and you can really get motoring. Try your skills on the Kandahar downhill and reflect on how crazy downhill skiers really are.
Driving in from Innsbruck, in less than an hour, or Munich in a few hours, you will come upon the town while cruising through some beautiful country. At night, little lights accentuate the beauty of the towns and the hotels are welcoming and most often available last minute.
Most hotels offer two spectacular perks: beer vending machines and toboggans for rent. Not necessarily to be taken advantage of together. You can pick up a sled and head to one of the many trails around the city. A few kilometers of hiking up may feel like a work out, but low and behold, at the top of many a toboggan trail, a restaurant. Fill up on sausages, schnitzel and great German beer before making your way down a wild and windy track via sled. It’s well worth it to take a day or afternoon off from skiing to hit the tracks. Try not to let your guard down as you laugh so much you cry a little because the windy corners require stellar concentration or you’ll ride the rest of the way down on your head.
After skiing, the sizable towns of Garmisch and Partenkirken offer so many restaurants and bars that you’ll have a hard time choosing where to go. True to their reputation of loving a good song and dance fest, the bars bounce and the beer flows all night long. A trip to this German staple on the ski scene for some rodeln and schilaufen is eine sehr gute idea!
