Germany's highest mountain
The best Zugspitze cable car tours
A coach day with the cable car and cog railway included, a small-group van trip with hotel pickup, a beginner hike, an Eibsee e-bike ride and a Partnach Gorge day. Here is what each includes, with honest advice on whether the ticket is worth the price, the crowds at the top, and days when weather or maintenance close the mountain.
See our 5 picks
The Zugspitze cable car from Eibsee takes about 10 minutes to the top. From Munich, the easiest way is a guided day trip with the cable car and cog railway, from €145.
On your own, the round-trip Zugspitze ticket is €78 for adults in summer, and €70.50 online from 27 November. The mountain is fully closed on 9–13, 16–20 and 23–26 November 2026.
Our 5 picks for Zugspitze tours
Rated tours first, then two new tours with no reviews yet. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 28 October 2026.
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from €145 per person Our top pick 8 hours 4.7 (286) reviews on GetYourGuide
Zugspitze day with the cable car and cog railway
An 8-hour coach day from Munich with a live guide. The cable car and the cog railway are included, plus bobsledding or a walk on the glacier. Bring a jacket: it gets cold at the top.
Best for First-timers who want it all arranged
Check availability: Zugspitze day with the cable car and cog railway on GetYourGuide -
from €125 per person 9 hours 4.7 (812) reviews on GetYourGuide
Zugspitze van tour with Garmisch town
A 9-hour small-group van trip with hotel pickup in Munich and time in Garmisch. The cable car ticket is extra: the listing says €72 per person.
Best for Small groups who want hotel pickup
Check availability: Zugspitze van tour with Garmisch town on GetYourGuide -
from €355 per person 9 hours 5.0 (1) reviews on GetYourGuide
Beginner hike in the Alps at Garmisch
A private 9-hour day with a ride from Munich in a Tesla Model Y. You hike an easy trail up Wank Mountain near Garmisch, with poles, a rain jacket and snacks included. In bad weather it switches to a car tour.
Best for Easy walkers
Check availability: Beginner hike in the Alps at Garmisch on GetYourGuide -
from €185 per person 5 hours New, no reviews yet
Private e‑bike tour to Lake Eibsee
A private 5-hour ride from Garmisch to Lake Eibsee at the foot of the Zugspitze. The e-bike comes only with the "Tour + e-bike rental" option.
Best for Riders who want the lake, not the summit
Check availability: Private e-bike tour to Lake Eibsee on GetYourGuide -
from €235 per person 8 hours New, no reviews yet
Eibsee, Partnach Gorge and Garmisch day
An 8-hour small-group day with hotel pickup to Lake Eibsee, the Partnach Gorge and Garmisch. The Zugspitze ticket and the gorge entry (€10) are extra.
Best for Lakes and a gorge in one day
Check availability: Eibsee, Partnach Gorge and Garmisch day on GetYourGuide
Zugspitze tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Pickup | Mountain ticket | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zugspitze day with the cable car and cog railway | €145 per person | 8 hours | Meeting point | Included | First-timers who want it all arranged | The only pick with the mountain ticket included. Rated 4.7 from 286 reviews. |
| Zugspitze van tour with Garmisch town | €125 per person | 9 hours | Pickup included | Extra (listing: €72) | Small groups who want hotel pickup | Hotel pickup and the most reviews: 4.7 from 812. |
| Beginner hike in the Alps at Garmisch | €355 per person | 9 hours | Pickup included | Cable car down optional | Easy walkers | Rated 5.0, but from only 1 review so far. |
| Private e-bike tour to Lake Eibsee | €185 per person | 5 hours | Meeting point | Cable car not included | Riders who want the lake, not the summit | The only bike tour here. New on GetYourGuide, no reviews yet. |
| Eibsee, Partnach Gorge and Garmisch day | €235 per person | 8 hours | Pickup included | Zugspitze ticket, gorge €10 | Lakes and a gorge in one day | Adds the Partnach Gorge. New on GetYourGuide, no reviews yet. |
Zugspitze day with the cable car and cog railway
€145 per person8 hours 4.7 (286)
Details
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Mountain ticket
- Included
- Who it suits
- First-timers who want it all arranged
- Why we picked it
- The only pick with the mountain ticket included. Rated 4.7 from 286 reviews.
Zugspitze van tour with Garmisch town
€125 per person9 hours 4.7 (812)
Details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Mountain ticket
- Extra (listing: €72)
- Who it suits
- Small groups who want hotel pickup
- Why we picked it
- Hotel pickup and the most reviews: 4.7 from 812.
Beginner hike in the Alps at Garmisch
€355 per person9 hours 5.0 (1)
Details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Mountain ticket
- Cable car down optional
- Who it suits
- Easy walkers
- Why we picked it
- Rated 5.0, but from only 1 review so far.
Private e-bike tour to Lake Eibsee
€185 per person5 hoursNew, no reviews yet
Details
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Mountain ticket
- Cable car not included
- Who it suits
- Riders who want the lake, not the summit
- Why we picked it
- The only bike tour here. New on GetYourGuide, no reviews yet.
Eibsee, Partnach Gorge and Garmisch day
€235 per person8 hoursNew, no reviews yet
Details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Mountain ticket
- Zugspitze ticket, gorge €10
- Who it suits
- Lakes and a gorge in one day
- Why we picked it
- Adds the Partnach Gorge. New on GetYourGuide, no reviews yet.
- Small group: Zugspitze van tour with Garmisch town takes up to 8 people.
- All 5 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 28 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Mt. Zugspitze by cable car and cog railway
- 10 min
- Eibsee cable car
- 4 min
- glacier cable car
You go up by the Eibsee cable car in about 10 minutes, or by cog railway from Garmisch. The railway's timetable gives about 75 minutes for the ride.
The cog railway starts at the Zugspitzbahnhof in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The cable car runs at least every half hour.
At the top, the glacier cable car takes about 4 minutes.
How to get to the Zugspitze from Munich
Take a tour, or a regional train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Trains run every hour on the Werdenfels line.
A combination ticket covers the return train from Munich and one Zugspitze ticket: €94.50 for adults, valid until 8 November 2026.
The Deutschland-Ticket covers the cog railway only as far as Grainau. Past that, you need a mountain ticket.
Our Zugspitze guide covers the train and cable car on your own. For tickets in the city, see our guide to Munich public transport.
For more ideas, see our day trips from Munich.
Driving to Garmisch is a real alternative, but the Zugspitze's own site warns that the Eibsee car parks fill early on fair days.
The Zugspitze ticket: prices and what it covers
The round-trip Zugspitze ticket costs €78 for adults in summer, through 22 November 2026. It covers the cog railway, the glacier cable car and the Eibsee cable car.
From 27 November, the adult round trip costs €70.50 online or €78 at the ticket office. Children under 6 ride free with a parent.
One tour includes the ticket. On the van tour, the listing says the cable car costs €72; the Zugspitze's own summer price is €78.
- Adult, summer
- €78
- Youth 16–18
- €62.50
- Child 6–15
- €39
- Adult, online from 27 Nov
- €70.50
What to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Ride up the Zugspitze, walk a trail, bike to Lake Eibsee or see the Partnach Gorge. Our picks cover all four.
Where is Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany?
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is in the Bavarian Alps, on the Werdenfels train line from Munich. The Zugspitze cog railway starts there.
Hiking near the Zugspitze: a Garmisch-Partenkirchen hike for beginners
The private beginner hike climbs Wank Mountain near Garmisch on an easy trail. You can walk down or take the cable car.
Lake Eibsee by e-bike and the Partnach Gorge
The e-bike tour rides from Garmisch to Lake Eibsee. The Partnach Gorge day adds the gorge, where entry costs €10.
Seasons and closures
The mountain is fully closed on 9–13, 16–20 and 23–26 November 2026 for maintenance. Summer prices run through 22 November.
Zugspitze closed for maintenance: 9–13, 16–20 and 23–26 November 2026.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen skiing on the Zugspitze
The ski season on the Zugspitze is expected to run from 27 November 2026 to 2 May 2027.
Tips for a Zugspitze trip
Arrive early if you drive
The Zugspitze's own site advises arriving before 10 a.m. on fair days, when the car parks fill.
Bring a jacket
It gets cold at the top, even in summer.
Check the closure dates
The mountain is closed on set days in November 2026. Pick a tour date outside them.
If your plans change
All five picks show free cancellation on GetYourGuide. The hike switches to a car tour in bad weather.
Zugspitze tours: questions and answers
How do I get to the Zugspitze from Munich?
How long does the Zugspitze cable car take?
What is there to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
Where is Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
More Zugspitze tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
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Sources (7), facts checked on 28 October 2026
Written by the Best Travel Destinations editorial team.