Winter camping at the Zugspitze

Winter camping - a dream weekend at the Zugspitze 

Camping in winter? Is that even possible, and is it really fun?

We, four female founders, tested it out and spent a weekend together in a campervan at the Zugspitze. We wanted to try winter camping, get to know each other better, and spend a whole weekend exchanging ideas about our businesses. 

The Zugspitze is a beautiful place – both in summer and winter. This popular holiday region lies on the border with Austria; Germany's highest mountain can be visited from both the German and Austrian sides.

In Germany, a good starting point is Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which is about three hours from Stuttgart and one hour from Munich. That's exactly where we met up with a campervan and spent a wonderful winter weekend.

When we arrived on Friday, there was still a spot available at the campsite and we were amazed at how full the campsite was even in winter, without any holidays or public holidays.

Tip 1 - Reserve your campsite even in winter.

It is worthwhile to reserve your chosen campsite in advance, even in winter, or at least to call ahead and inquire about availability, as winter camping seems to be very popular. 

If a campsite is full, there is a motorhome park in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. This park is more like a parking lot and, while cheaper, offers significantly fewer amenities, such as a beautiful view of the Zugspitze or luxurious sanitary facilities. 

The campsite we chose is so beautifully situated that we could see the mountains directly across the snow-covered fields. It's superbly equipped with a sauna and underfloor heating in the new and very clean sanitary facilities. There's also a bread delivery service, so nothing stands in the way of our comfort. The pitches are spacious. With a 7.5m motorhome, there's plenty of room for a roomy awning, or a small car can park next to it. This was particularly important for us, as we traveled with both a motorhome and a car, arriving from completely different directions. 

Garmisch-Partenkirchen itself has a very good infrastructure with connections to the German railway, many restaurants, a beautiful little town center for strolling and several lift stations that are easily accessible by public bus. 

After our arrival on Friday afternoon, a visit to the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany, was on our agenda for Saturday morning. 

Tip 2 - Visit the “Top of Germany” 

We quickly realized that it's best to either leave early (around 8 a.m.) on weekends to secure a parking spot at Lake Eibsee or to take the public bus. This is free with the visitor's card and runs approximately every 30 minutes to take visitors directly to the valley station at the foot of the Zugspitze. 

To ascend the famous mountain, you can take either a glacier cable car or the cogwheel train to reach the summit. We tried both, and each journey has its own unique charm. The glacier cable car takes you almost vertically, offering breathtaking views over Lake Eibsee and the snow-covered Alps. Those who are afraid of heights can opt for the nostalgic cogwheel train, which winds its way slowly through tunnels in the mountains, past snow-laden fir trees in a winter wonderland. It's especially wonderful to experience both, as they are quite different. 

Upon arriving at the mountain station, you're greeted by a breathtaking view of the Alpine peaks in Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. We lucked out with a beautiful, clear day with a blue sky and could see up to 200 km into the distance. The modern mountain station is the perfect place to enjoy the view, especially on a sunny day. And of course, there are several mountain huts where you can stop for refreshments. 

Even for non-skiers, exploring the mountains at 2,962 meters is a truly special experience. For those arriving spontaneously on foot, there's a ski and toboggan rental shop at the station, as the highest ski area offers 20 kilometers of slopes and several toboggan runs. We took advantage of the sunny day to visit Germany's highest chapel and the unique igloo village, and to enjoy the breathtaking view from a deck chair with a warm drink. 

When the sun disappears behind the mountains, it gets very cold very quickly at these altitudes, and the lifts and cable cars down to the valley quickly fill up with skiers and snowboarders. It's worth waiting for the last lift as a pedestrian to soak up the beautiful sunlight before heading back down. We took advantage of the sunset to take some more beautiful photos before, completely frozen, we took the cogwheel train down to the valley. 

Tip 3 - Cooking and eating out 

Back in the pre-heated camper, our stomachs were rumbling, especially after an eventful day like this. Because the pitches have electricity hookups and the campsites can supply their visitors with gas cylinders even in winter, it's possible to keep the camper at a comfortable temperature even in freezing temperatures. This prevents it from cooling down completely while we spent the day on the mountain. So it's good to know that a hot shower and a pre-heated camper await us when we return. 

One evening, we decided to cook in the camper – classic pasta and wine to fully embrace the camping experience. We snuggled into our blankets and made ourselves comfortable. Two of us four founders had never spent the night in a camper before and wanted to experience camper life for ourselves. 

One evening, we wanted to try the local specialties and visited the restaurant attached to the campsite. Besides typical Bavarian dishes, they also offer dishes from neighboring countries, such as Kaiserschmarrn (shredded pancake). The restaurant has excellent cuisine and great value for money. We fueled up perfectly for another action-packed day in the snow. 

Tip 4 - Ski trip 

For anyone who can ski and feels physically up to it, it's worth hitting the slopes, even if just for half a day. Around the Zugspitze region, there are countless opportunities to rent skis or snowboards, often even spontaneously and directly at the lift. The ski areas are largely interconnected and offer beautiful runs against the stunning backdrop of the Zugspitze. We took the plunge and spontaneously went to the lift, got ourselves equipped with skis, boots, poles, and helmets within 20 minutes, and set off with a half-day pass. An unforgettable experience that we will remember for a long time. 

After the eventful day, we spent a cozy evening snuggled up in the camper and set off on our return journey the next morning. 

Our conclusion

We can absolutely recommend camping in winter! 

Winter camping is something truly special, and the region around the Zugspitze is definitely worth a visit. Regions with ski areas are particularly well-prepared for winter camping enthusiasts, and a winter trip in the snow is a truly unique experience. Even our two travel companions, who had never spent a night in a campervan before, were absolutely thrilled with camping in the snow. We were all surprised by how cozy and warm winter camping can be and had a wonderful experience with inspiring conversations. We'll be back!

If you also want to travel by campervan, you can find our packing list for your next (camping) holiday here.