Garmisch and Partenkirchen are twin villages that pack a lot of fun for families of all sizes and age ranges. Although in the winter, they represent one of the most popular alpine ski resorts in Germany, in the summer a family can find plenty of activities to keep them busy and having fun.

In the winter, ski slopes are busy and crowded with visitors and residents alike.  You can buy a ski pass from the resort and enjoy all the Alps have to offer for days.  If you have younger children that cannot ski, there are many sites around the villages that are interesting and fun to visit.  The towns still exude all the Bavarian charm that they were founded on, including some original structures.  There are pedestrian-only streets that take you up toward St. Martin, an 18th-century parish church.  Here you will find many intriguing artifacts from the 18th-century, such as stuccowork done by Schmutzer, Schmidt, and Bader, all of whom were Wessobrunn artists.

The Werdenfelser Museum is located inside a building that dates back to around 1200. There you will find evidence of the region’s history, some of which dates back over 700 years. After exploring the history of the area in the Werdenfelser Museum, you can hike to the Zugspitze Mountain which is the highest mountain in Germany, reaching 9,731 feet at its peak.  There are 2 ways up: you can drive a scenic, 75-minute route up the mountain, taking in the views and winding roads, or you can hop on a cable car that will pull your family up the slope steadily in 10 minutes where you can catch the cable car at Eibsee, a lake at the base of the mountain.  Eibsee is located about 10 km (6 miles) outside of the town toward Austria. The price for the cable car ride is less in the winter and includes the price of ski lift tickets, if you want.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is as beautiful in summer as it is in winter. Your family has many options when it comes to summer fun in Bavaria. With the mountains so close, you can hike up and take in the expansive views along the way. If your vacations tend to include more athletic activities, you can rent mountain bikes and peddle up and down the sloping hills. Miniature golf courses and summer festivities are great for a younger crowd and are located all around the villages.

You can horse-back ride around the countryside or take a toboggan ride, depending upon the season. Even small children love the horse-drawn carriage rides offered in the area.