Austria, Switzerland, France… Everyone knows these countries by the number of ski resorts in Europe. But did you know that Germany has more than 500 ski resorts scattered throughout the country, which in terms of level are not inferior to their famous neighbors?! In the country, there are many absolutely small centers of winter sports and ski resorts of international importance.
Germany is a great place to spend your winter vacation. Many interesting ski and snowboard trails will conquer your heart forever. And in the evening, the best clubs and restaurants with live music await you. Alpine skiing Germany is good not only for those who ski well, but also for beginners. A trip to Germany is the best choice for a family holiday
Germany is a country with a beautiful climate. In the summer it is quite warm, but in the winter it is not so cold and there is a lot of precipitation. Anyone who prefers active recreation dreams of skiing in the Alps.
Ski resorts in Germany have many slopes and modern technological equipment. Some resorts even offer their guests to go skiing at night, as all the tracks are illuminated at night. German resorts allow everyone to find something for themselves, because there are many tracks for both beginners and true masters of skiing.
The service of German resorts is one of the best in the world. Comfortable conditions of rest against the background of magical mountain landscapes will not leave anyone indifferent. And you will want to return to the German Alps again and again.
Features of resorts in Germany
Every person knows very well that Germany is famous for its architectural monuments: ancient castles, beautiful palaces, picturesque medieval cities. However, not everyone knows that, no less than this, Germany is famous for its amazing ski resorts, which will be appreciated not only by vulnerable ski beginners, but also by experienced ski tourists.
The tourist infrastructure is represented by restaurants, cafes, bowling alleys, ice palaces, and water complexes. Many buildings are well-preserved examples of Baroque architecture.
Holidays at ski resorts in Germany include not only the usual skiing, but also hiking with paved routes and various entertainment activities, both right at the resort and outside of it. Those who know how to make high-class vacations affordable also go to Germany. Now it’s simple: rent apartments or chalets, and you will receive excellent service and also save on hotel and maintenance. The German Alps have long been famous for their beauty and attracted many travelers who came to admire the local scenery.
Now they also come here to have a great time, recharge their batteries, and try their hand at higher-level tracks.
Alpine skiing Germany
Advantages of German winter resorts
German ski resorts are arranged not quite the same as in neighboring Alpine countries. Lifts (mostly rope and chair lifts) are located at some distance from each other and do not form a single network. Most often, the descents are not difficult, and the skiing areas are small. It is simply a paradise for those who come here with the whole family to ski and sit in cozy huts, combine skiing vacations with sightseeing trips and recreation in the water complex.
For lovers of walking, there is a huge number of cleared paths that pass through the mountains, picturesque forest and field landscapes. A large number of multi-kilometer routes for cross-country skiing have also been laid.
In winter, tourists from all over the world come here. One of the main advantages of German ski resorts is affordable prices. Rental, accommodation, sky-pass, cafes, restaurants, shops – all prices here are an order of magnitude cheaper than in more prestigious Austrian, French or Swiss resorts. Despite the large flow of tourists, you can always book accommodation here for the required number of days.
The most famous ski resorts in Germany
When thinking about a holiday in Germany, travelers most likely imagine medieval castles, Frau in national dresses serving meat and cabbage dishes as an appetizer to a fine beer. Hardly anyone would think about active recreation, especially mountain skiing. This is a fairly common stereotype. Germans, with all their pedantry and seriousness, treat sports, including skiing. Their ski resorts fully reflect this.
The chain of ski resorts itself has hundreds of names. The most popular among them are Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bertechsgaden, Obersdorf, Reit im Winkle, Oberhof, Brauneck, Mittenwald, Oberammergau, Feldberg.
Features of popular resorts, taking into account the complexity of the routes:
Berchtesgaden . Descents of various levels of difficulty are provided, prepared areas for beginners. The highest point is at the level of 1170 m.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen . It is characterized by a large number of interesting and difficult red and blue zone routes. Experienced riders will also be interested in zones of expert level of difficulty. The maximum height is 2 km.
Oberammergau . Leisure activities for vacationers of any age are well thought out here, trails of all levels are laid out. The total length of the tracks is about 14 km. They are more suitable for calm riding – extremes will be bored here.
Oberstdorf . It is difficult for newcomers to this resort to find an easy route. There are red and blue zones, equipped with slopes of intermediate and expert level. The maximum point is 1117 m.
Feldberg (Black Forest). Bases are intended for recreation by the whole family and for riders of any level of training. The maximum height is about 1.5 km.
Wright-Im-Winkle . There is 1 zone of expert level, the rest are red and blue. The level of the maximum point is 1110 m.
The price of a season ticket per person per day ranges from 30 to 50 euros. The cost of hotels varies depending on the star rating. Ski resorts differ in the range of services and entertainment offered.
Garmisch-Pertenkirchen
Garmisch-Patterkirchen is a classic ski resort and, moreover, the capital of the 1936 Olympic Games. This small town in the Bavarian Alps, located between Munich and Innsbruck, stands at the foot of the highest point in Germany – Mount Zugspitze (height 2964m). This is the visiting card of the country, its main center of alpine skiing. Even in snowless winters, the great height of the mountain guarantees the presence of snow, and the well-kept tracks are excellent opportunities for active recreation. The multi-functional ice center will gladly welcome fans of curling, snowboarding and skating. Excellent conditions are created here for skiers of any level: from beginners to athletes. On the territory of the resort there are about 50 ski tracks of varying degrees of difficulty with a total length of more than 120 km. The resort itself is located at an altitude of 1336 m.
It is divided into 2 skiing areas – Harmisch Classic and Glacial Zugspitze. The latter has steep “black” tracks only for professionals and excellent slopes for snowboarding. Harmish Classic also has challenging tracks for experienced skiers. The “red” tracks of both zones have an interesting terrain. Professional skiers usually go to Kandahar, where there is a drop of 940 meters. But both beginners and children have a place to ride. They can visit the areas of Eckbauer and Vank, where there are ski schools. Fans of cross-country skiing and sledding are equipped with special tracks, and there are also areas for snow rafting.
Skiing is represented by 4 altitude levels, starting from cross-country skiing at the bottom, and ending with the only Zugspitze glacier in Germany, the season on which lasts from mid-November to mid-May. The higher, the more difficult the track. There are specially equipped tracks and fan parks for snowboarders. For lovers of freeride, safe rough slopes are marked. And visiting local attractions (a well-preserved knight’s castle and a 14th-century cathedral) will only add to the admiration of this ski resort and its charming surroundings.
Tourists who come to Garmisch pay a resort fee of 2 euros per day. Do not worry, for this you will receive free travel on city buses, free entrance to the swimming pool, to concerts and exhibitions, discounts on cinemas and sports competitions. And by purchasing a “happy ski pass”, you can go for a ride in the Tyrolean region of Austria, since the journey will not take more than an hour. Read more
Garmisch-Pertenkirchen resort
Berchtesgaden
This resort is practically not inferior to Garmisch-Pertenkirchen in terms of the quality of the tracks and the availability of attractions. The resort consists of several towns: Marktschellenberg, Berchtesgaden, Bischofswiesen, Ramsau, Schönau an der Königsee. Here, tourists can visit a healing salt tunnel, walk through a unique national park with a beautiful landscape, visit the Watzmann thermal complex.
This resort is also located on the border with Austria, just 30 km from Salzburg. Therefore, it is best to get here from this city. The classic resort of Berchtesgaden has many opportunities for winter sports. It will be good for cross-country skiers, mountain skiers, and snowboarders. The resort is located near the town of the same name. Skibas are usually delivered to the lifts. The skiing area is represented by four small resorts – Yenner, Obersalzberg, Hochschwartzek, Rosfeld.
Beginners and children can go to areas such as Obersalzberg and Hochschwarzeck, where there are mostly easy descents and gentle, wide tracks. If you are a more experienced skier and want to ski from the longest track, we advise you to visit Yenner. But snowboarders will be delighted with the Rosfeld skiing area, where many jumps have been created. Over 61 km of tracks are equipped for cross-country skiers. The world’s first bobsleigh track with artificial ice was built right here. World and European championships are held there every year. On certain days, everyone can be admitted to these competitions.
Berchtesgaden is more likely to be a family resort, it has all the conditions for recreation with children. Half of the tracks are for an intermediate level, half are easy. The longest of them has a length of four kilometers. There are 21 rope lifts, 2 carabiner lifts, and 6 chairlifts leading to the tracks. The height difference is 600-1274m. The resort season lasts from December to April.
The ski tracks have a length of about 50 km. There are 6 skiing regions around the old cozy town. The most interesting of them in terms of “rolling” is Yenner. There are ski kindergartens. The resort is unique in that, in addition to actual mountain skiing, interesting winter entertainment will be presented to your attention: trekking in the mountains on snowshoes, ice skating under the open sky on a frozen lake, curling and even bobsledding! Acquaintance with the local nature – waterfalls, rocky mountains, royal lake – creates a feeling of complete harmony and endless pacification. After a day of skiing, you can relax in the newly opened water park, which also has all the conditions for children. Read more
Berchtesgaden resort
Oberstdorf
For many years, the ski resort of Obersdorf has been competing with Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the right to be called the best in the country. Just like its rival, Obersdorf has beautiful ski jumps, and international competitions are also held here. The resort consists of three skiing areas: Nebelhorn, Fellhorn and Zöllerek, on which tracks and descents of different difficulty levels are built. The resort has an excellent snow cover, which is achieved both naturally and artificially (thanks to a modern snowmaking system).
A special track has been laid for cross-country skiers. A figure skating center with three indoor rinks was built near the resort – a training base for German figure skaters. Two of these rinks are available for public skating.
This resort is located on the border with Austria, and is interesting for skiers of different levels: they are waiting for excellent trails for beginners and sports trails. The height difference is from 815 to 2224 meters.
Oberstdorf is also home to a carving center and snowboard park, one of the best in the Alps.
This resort is the leader in the number of international championships held on the territory of Germany, however, not in alpine skiing. The stage of the Tour of Four Jumps, the stages of the Biathlon World Cup and ski races are held here. Despite this, Oberstdorf is also interesting for skiers. There are 44 ski slopes, 4 cable cars and 24 lifts of new types within its boundaries. There is also the longest ski track in Germany with a length of 7.5 kilometers. In terms of difficulty, the resort is more for experienced skaters than for beginners. In addition to skiing, various types of entertainment will be provided at your service: ice skating, playing the German version of curling “Eisstokshissen”, horse riding, dog sledding and much more. Those who are fond of sledding or snow biking can rent equipment at the rental offices. Those who wish can also engage in snow rafting on special tracks. The resort has built good hotels with spa centers and fitness rooms. There is a climbing wall and a paragliding center.
If, during your stay, competitions of various levels will be held here, you will be able not only to become a spectator, but also to support your favorite athlete from the bottom of your heart. Here, too, the tracks are divided into skiing zones according to the degree of difficulty.
If you get tired of seeing the same thing every day, you can easily order an excursion to the nearest cities with a tour of their sights.
The resort is ideally suited for recreation: in addition to active recreation, you can visit thermal pools, movie theaters, and take walks in a large, beautiful park. Restaurants, cafes, pizzerias and pastry shops are available. The main contingent of vacationers is Germans. Read more
Oberstdorf resort
Wright-im-Winkle
Local residents of the resort town lovingly call Wright-im-Winkle a “snow magnet”. Either because of the large amount of snow on the mountain tops, or because of the large number of winter recreation enthusiasts who come here. The small resort of Reit im Winkle has gained fame as a center of tourism.
In the winter season at the resort, you can go skiing or snowboarding, as well as go for a walk in the mountains on snowshoes or go sledding. A ski pass purchased at the Reit im Winkle resort allows skiers to ski at the nearby Tyrolean ski resort of Kitzbühel. In the German resort, the total length of the tracks reaches 50 km, there are 17 lifts, and there is a ski school for beginners. In your free time from skiing, you can visit the pool, spa centers of health complexes, fly on a parachute or go to the climbing wall. And in the evening it is good to relax in a pub with a mug of good German beer.
Wright im Winkle is a great place for the whole family to relax. There is only one difficult track here, so skiing professionals rarely go here. Rait-im-Winkle, from a small village of 2,000 people, grows to incredible proportions during the holiday season. But no one will feel cramped here.
Spacious slopes, modern lifts and friendly locals will provide you with a comfortable and unforgettable vacation. Your whole family will be satisfied with such a vacation.
The Reit im Winkle resort is located at the junction of the regions of Salzburg, Tyrol and Bavaria. This place has been declared a vehicle-free zone. Cars remain in special parking lots and vacationers who are transported to the site by special transport can breathe perfectly clean air.
This is a great place to teach a child to ski – one of the best children’s ski schools in the world works here. Instructors also work with adults.
Half of the tracks are for intermediate skiers, 40% for beginners and 10% for difficult tracks. 17 high-speed chairlifts are equipped.
There is a special park for snowboarding. There are also cross-country tracks for skiers with a length of 90 km. You can also go ice skating, play tennis on the indoor court or swim in the indoor pool. Additional entertainment includes sleigh riding. Read more
Wright-im-Winkle resort
Feldberg (Black Forest)
The largest ski area in the German Midlands was formed around the Todtnauberg and Feldberg mountains in the Black Forest. 50 kilometers of ski tracks and 28 ski lifts are at the disposal of winter vacationers. A mountain lift road is also equipped. In addition, on the territory of this resort there are long routes for fans of ski trips, as well as paths for hiking.
The region is notable for its beautiful forests and lakes. The cuisine of local restaurants is considered one of the best. Feldberg is the most popular resort in the Black Forest. You can get here by plane and train. It is possible to get there by car. On the southern slope there are descents with a height difference of 400 m. In the other part, there is a children’s area with lifts.
Snowboarders have the opportunity to freeride in deep snow. For tourists with children, the water park “Badeparadise Schwarzwald” will be interesting. A local attraction is the Black Forest Castle, exciting excursions are offered.
This is one of the favorite places of rest for Germans and tourists. The mountains, covered with age-old pine forests, are suitable for active types of recreation, for which there is everything here: ski tracks, a snowboarding area, cross-country ski trails.
The highest peak of the Black Forest is Feldberg (1493m). On the slopes of this mountain, there are 4 areas for skiing with tracks of different difficulty. There are also ski jumps and slalom competitions are held periodically.
The resort is positioned as a place for active family recreation. Read more
Resort Feldberg
Braunek
The Braunek ski region in Langgris is famous for its various pistes and cozy mountain lodges. It was here that the sports careers of many German skiing stars began. And regardless of whether you prefer the “horse” or the classic style of skiing in the idyllic Jachenau, decide to enjoy real virgin skiing on the top of the Herzogstand or admire the winter sunset from the Blomberg mountain or from the snow-covered hills of the Alpine foothills – Tölzer Land has something for every activity to your heart’s content!
Langgris-Braunek will meet all expectations: carving, classic or snowboard. And at the end of a day full of snow impressions – cozy gatherings in the warmth of a mountain restaurant. Cross-country skiing while admiring the picturesque surroundings on more than 100 kilometers of ski runs. In addition: winter hiking routes, toboggan runs and curling grounds, horse-drawn sleigh rides or ski tours… Read more
Braunek resort
Mittenwald
Guests come to Mittenwald not only to get to know the city, but also to go hiking and skiing.
Karvandel is one of the most popular mountains among tourists. You can climb to its top, to a height of more than 2200 m, by cable car. There is also an unusual structure that resembles a giant spyglass. If you go inside, you can admire the valley below and the Mittenwald spread out in it in any weather.
In the summer, you can take walks in the mountains – there are specially designed routes, some of which even children can master.
Well, winter is a paradise for skiers. There are about 30 km of tracks of different difficulty categories. One of the tracks is one of the longest in Germany. Moreover, you can ride the local slopes even at night with electric lighting. Read more
Mittenwald resort
Oberyokh
Oberjoch is a great place to relax both with family and in the company of friends. This is one of the few places in Germany where you really get the feeling of being in harmony with nature while skiing. The developed infrastructure and the variety of ski tracks allow you to spend the winter holidays excitingly and at the same time with benefit, to get healthy and get a charge of good mood for the whole next year.
The season here lasts from the end of November to the middle of April, that is, until the last snow.
The total length of the tracks is 35 km, of which: 45% are blue, 45% are red, and 10% are black.
The place is more suitable for family skiing than for freeriders and other adrenaline seekers. The mileage of the running tracks is 45 km, and more than 20 km of routes are reserved for hikers, most of which pass through a snow-covered forest of fabulous beauty.
Beginners can use the services of ski schools, which will cost 85 euros for 5 days. If tourists do not have their own ski equipment, then the rental will cost 70 euros for a period of 6 days. Naturally, the slope has night lighting and modern artificial snow systems.
Thanks to the ramifications of the tracks, vacationers enjoy the process of skiing more and freely make descents, instead of slowly descending in fear of running into one of the countless other skiers or snowboarders. Also, Oberjoch is the highest mountain resort in Germany, it is located at an altitude of 1200 m above sea level. Read more
Oberyokh resort
Germany is good because no matter which ski resort you go to, you will have a full-fledged vacation everywhere. After all, this is a country known for its pedantry and order. And here everything is really in order.
You can be sure that the tracks of any resort will be perfectly prepared, and the work of the lifts is adjusted to automaticity.
In addition, at most resorts, everything is done so that tourists spend very little time on the way to the slopes. At the same time, in the resort area, in addition to hotels, there are also equipment rental points, and in some places even tourist offices.
If a tourist wants to go on an excursion, he will go there. Not to mention the numerous restaurants and cafes with both local and international cuisines. They are everywhere in Germany. So you definitely won’t go wrong if you choose ski resorts in Germany for your vacation.
“The Fifth Season”
In Germany, the “Fifth Season” comes with the arrival of cold weather. This is the name of the season of traditional winter carnivals in this country. This tradition began many centuries ago. The carnival starts simultaneously in the cities located on the banks of the Rhine. These are Cologne, Bonn, Dusseldorf, Mainz, and Berlin has recently joined this list.
This time of year is special for Germans. Suddenly they forget about their manners and importance. They don’t even count money (oh wonder!), Spending their savings in numerous pubs and restaurants. Beer is flowing like a river! Everyone forgot about work, about career, about discipline, and even … about the rules of decent behavior.
Carnival mischief begins at exactly 11:11 on November 11 (in the eleventh month). A carnival devil appears in the city and from that moment on, meetings are held all over Cologne. Hundreds of people in fancy dress gather at long tables in concert halls. All of them are honorary members of carnival societies. At the meetings, parodic speeches are played, in which political and social events are acted out, cabbage rolls and theatrical performances are arranged. These “Ladies’ Meetings”, “Men’s Meetings”, “Costume Balls”, “Dancing Balls” gather from 500 to 5 thousand people.
