5 Amazing Day Trips from Garmisch-Partenkirchen | Bavaria, Germany

Garmisch-Partenkirchen completely exceeded my expectations and changed my mind about touristy Alpine destinations. As someone who's spent years exploring Bavaria's hidden corners, I wasn't easily impressed, but this mountain town's combination of record-breaking cable cars, crystal-clear alpine lakes, and forgotten medieval ruins won me over completely. The world's longest unsupported cable car whisking you to Germany's highest peak and the otherworldly ice palace bar hidden inside an unassuming snow pile create an incredibly diverse experience, while Werdenfels Castle slowly being reclaimed by forest makes it absolutely unique - definitely worth the journey from Munich or anywhere else in Bavaria. I've personally tested each of these adventures multiple times, taking countless friends and family on these very trips, and watching first-time visitors stop in pure wonder at the quiet meadow walks and vertigo-inducing lake reflections. From beginners conquering their first alpine summit with flexible cable car backup to seasoned adventurers discovering that hidden igloo hotel that no one talks about, there's something here that will surprise even the most well-traveled visitors.