Eibsee & Zugspitze

Two of my favorite Bavarian highlights.

The Eib Lake or Eibsee and the Zugspitze mountain are located in beautiful Bavaria, Germany.

Within the state of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany, is a popular destination throughout the year, for its amazing views.

The Eibsee is at the feet of Zugspitze - on the German side - yes there is also the Austrian side - and it is breathtaking. Very clean, with gorgeous colors that go from blue to turquoise, crystal clear water, and the beautiful forest are an amazing combo for wanderers.

Thanks to the German husband and his yearly tradition of visiting Grainau, I have visited this area three times already, during the autumn and in the winter, and of course, I have to visit it in the summertime also since the colors of the landscape are so different in each season, yet so beautiful.

Quick facts

Closest major city: Munich Can be reached by car, bus (Flixbus), and train (Deutsche Bahn). Driving distance from Munich to Grainau: 1 hr 19 min approximately (95,6 km) via A95 highway.

The gorgeous colors of the Eibsee

Lake Eib from the Zugspite

Lake Eib in Autumn

Lake Eib in Autumn

We walked around the lake, which in winter took us over two hours and was completely worth it. Air so fresh I could swear my nose was never as clear and clean as that day, photo ops every few meters, the calm of the forest, lovely!

At the end of our walk, we stopped at the Eibsee Pavillion to have hot soup, drinks, and cake!

Zugspitze the top of Germany

Zusptize mountain from Eibsee

It is possible to go up the mountain by cogwheel train or cable car. To be honest it is pricey but it's worth it! I took some of my favorite pictures from the cable car.

On the very top of the mountain, you can find some restaurants, including the nice and very typical Bavarian-looking restaurant, the Sonnalpin, beer of course, a gift shop, and tables and sitting spaces in the open.

From up there you can see the amazing mountain landscape including peaks from Tirol, Italy, and Switzerland. For professional hikers, it is possible to also cross a quite dangerous and incredibly narrow snowy path to the peak crowned by a cross, which you can see on the images from the live camera here.

Grainau

The town of Grainau is picturesque and offers a good variety of Bavarian and Italian restaurants, but it is highly suggested to make a reservation before showing up, especially in busier times. The husband and I learned this the rough way, luckily there is a lovely pizza joint that already saved us twice from canceled reservations. When we visited in January we were able to find Glüwein stands during the day and at night.

Traditional German houses are found across the town, many of them with murals of Religious scenes.

Needless to say, skiing schools and rentals are found around town. Lodging options go from very cozy bed and breakfasts to large high-end hotels, such as the Eibsee-Hotel right in front of the lake.

The city center is quite nice to walk through and has several souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes, and luckily also public parking lots. The public buses cover pretty much all of the town so you can go from your hotel to the Eibsee with no problem. However, do take note of the last bus for the way back, since they then get quite crowded.

Still yet to be seen...

I have not had the opportunity to see the attractions/locations below, none the less I share them with you in case you would also find them interesting.

• Partnachklamm Gorge: This is the first on my "must do" list when it comes to Grainau, I would really like to take this excursion during Summer time, with the refreshing surroundings.

• Zugspitzbad: Aquatic center with outdoor and indoor pools, sauna, and spa... Oh la la! Just like the lake, this aquatic center seems like it is a good choice regardless of the season.

• The Höllental trail (also known as Höllentalklamm): Its English translation is "Hell Valley" or "Valley of Hell" , which makes me think it is quite a challenging trail. Located on the German side leading up to the Zugspitze on the German-Austrian border in the northern Alps. The gorge can be reached directly via the well-developed hiking trail along the Hammerbach, starting from the Obergrainau village square or from the Grainau district of Hammersbach. Or you can reach the upper entrance to the gorge via various more demanding tours, such as via the Stangensteig, from the Osterfelderkopf via the Hupfleitenjoch, or on your descent from the Zugspitze via the Höllentalferner.

• Werdenfels Castel Ruins: A bit further away from Grainau, the ruins of Werdenfels Castle are located about 80 meters above the Loisachtal valley between Garmisch-Parten Kirchen and Farchant. Suitable for families, this day trip sounds like a good combination of historical learning, hiking, and enjoying nature, plus there are some good eating options apparently.

Have you ever visited Grainau and the Eibsee area? What recommendations do you have?