When to Go

This Alpine village has a great deal to offer the visitor during the winter, summer and swing seasons. In fact, there are reasons to visit Oberammergau throughout the year. High up in the Alps, filled with Bavarian charm and architecture, the village is nearly a picture perfect example of a mountainside retreat.

Winter

Oberammergau is a place to visit in the winter if you love winter sports. Cross-country trails cross the area around the village and there are 2 well-known ski centers nearby. Kolbe and Laber attract large numbers of skiers who have various levels of skiing ability. Kolbe is the easier ski challenge of the areas. There are small huts dotting the mountains where skiers can relax and enjoy refreshments on their trip downhill, adding to the festive atmosphere of the slopes. People who are not skiers can enjoy the winter in Oberammergau, as well. The views of the snowy Alps from atop the chairlift, the good Bavarian food and beer in the village and its welcoming residents are probably enough to make any visitor feel warm inside and out. Surprisingly, average temperatures are not as cold as most may imagine and lows stay in the 20’s in mid-winter.

Other Times of the Year

Oberammergau is a wonderful tourist destination even when there is no snow. Regardless of season, the views of the Alps are stunning with trees and flowers in bloom. Should a visitor want to attend the famous Passion Play that is performed every 10 years, a visit any time between May and October would allow for this, but visitors should realize that while the play is being performed there are crowds and higher prices for rooms and for food. The summer is an ideal time to visit because the weather stays refreshingly cool in the Alps and could be a relief from the heat of villages and cities that are not as elevated as Oberammergau is. 

The best travel bargains to Oberammergau are found in the spring or fall, which are considered the off-season. Room prices can vary enormously and so can air, train and bus travel during these times. During these months, as well as during the summer, visitors can take advantage of the nearby sights such as King Ludwig’s castle, Schloss Linderhof or Ettal, a baroque monastery a few miles south of the village.