The best ski resorts in Germany

From the Alps to the Black Forest, Germany offers some of the best ski resorts and winter sports opportunities in all of Europe. The country has miles of slopes that reach heights of 1,600 miles. From quick lightning bolts and downhills to cross-country skiing in stunning snowy landscapes, German ski resorts are the ideal winter destination. And all of this comes at a fairly affordable price with ski passes ranging from just € 3 to € 49.

Explore Germany’s world-famous ski resorts at Garmisch-Partenkirchen and its epic Zugpspitze (Germany’s highest mountain) or ride the snowy ridges of the Black Forest. Already in October, possibly until April, it is snow time (check the snow forecast here). Here is the guide to the best ski resorts in Germany.

(NOTE: In summer, many of these German winter sports transform into equally impressive places for hiking and climbing.)

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Garmisch-Partenkirchen

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For the 1936 Winter Olympics, the two German ski resorts Garmisch and Partenkirchen joined forces and became the most famous ski resort in the country. Nestled in the foothills of the German Alps, skiers can enjoy 47 miles of downhill runs and 7 miles of cross-country skiing up to 7,000 feet. This includes the famous Kandahara and Olympic slopes, which are used for the annual World Cup ski competitions.

Also be sure to visit Olympiaschanze , or the Olympic Ski Jumping Hill. This local landmark was built in 1923 and is still in operation for a New Years ski jump each year.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is one hour south of Munich and one hour from Innsbruck International Airport.

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Zugspitze

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South of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, you’ll find the Zugspitze, the highest peak in Germany. The nearly 10,000-foot-tall mountain, which borders Germany and Austria, offers fantastic glacier skiing with 13 miles of downhill runs and a fun snowboarder park, all with spectacular panoramic views.

Near the summit, there is a restaurant, a terrace for sunbathing, ski slopes for all grades and half a pipe for snowboarders. Thanks to its high elevation, you can generally ski on the Zugspitze from November to May.

The Zugpsitze is about 1 hour and 15 minutes south of Munich.

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Oberammergau

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+49 8822 93093

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Known for its tradition of wood carving and the Oberammergau Passion Play, this small town in the German Alps becomes a winter cross-country skier’s paradise. More than 60 miles of trails across the country take you past impressive monasteries, castles, and churches through the Bavarian landscape.

Oberammergau is about an hour southeast of Munich.

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Black forest

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The many resorts located in the Black Forest of Germany constitute the largest ski resort outside the Alps. This is home to the oldest ski club in Germany, dating back to 1895, and the first ski trailer ever built.

The vast expanse of hills, valleys and forests of the Black Forest is centered in Freiburg and stretches from the elegant seaside resort of Baden Baden to the French and Swiss border, covering an area of 4,600 square miles. Beginners can start at Vogelskopf and work their way up to its highest peak on Feldberg Mountain, which reaches majestic 5,000 feet with a scenic cable car.

Choose from more than 170 ski lifts, 155 miles of downhill runs, and 22 ski jumps, while cross-country skiers can slide down more than 1,000 miles of trails to explore the Black Forest.

The Black Forest is about 2 hours south of Frankfurt.

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Nebelhorn

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Nebelhorn in the Allgäu region has 7.5 miles of snow trails and six ski lifts with elevations of up to 2,224 meters. The complex is divided into three sections. These trails are topped with a panoramic view of 400 surrounding mountain peaks and have been called the ‘tribune of the Alps’. It is generally open from December to the first weekend in May.

Nebelhorn is located 2.5 hours northeast of Munich and about an hour east of Augsburg.

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Arber

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The ultra-modern Arber ski resort in Arberland is located within the Bayerische Wald (Bavarian Forest). Family friendly, it has over 6 miles of downhill skiing with 8 individual runs and 6 lifts, plus a 6 person gondola. The altitude is quite low, so it has a short season, but it is still the highest mountain in the area and is called the «King of the Bavarian Forest».

It is two hours northeast of Munich and about 1.5 hours east of Regensburg.

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Fichtelberg

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The Ore Mountains (or Erzgebirge in German) in Saxony and Thuringia are a lovely place to ski at discounted prices. Oberwiesenthal is the highest town in the area with the Fichtelberg complex offering 10 miles of slopes and terrain. It is also highly rated and great for families with its Fichtelchens Winterland, which has a ski carousel, six magic mats, and a terrain park with easy obstacles.

Fichtelberg is about 1.45 southwest of Dresden.