Ski by day and sip cocktails by night. Sounds good doesn’t it? The city of Munich’s close proximity to dozens of excellent grade ski resorts means that you can do just that. Run down the hills to your heart’s content all day long and then drive into the city of Munich to enjoy all the trendy nightlife that this cosmopolitan city has to offer. For its ability to blend the best of the country with the city, Munich enjoys popularity as the gateway to much of Germany’s top ski resorts. Hire a luxury BMW SUV on your arrival into the city of Munich, such as the X5 M or the X6 to get onboard for a sensational ski holiday.
Germany’s Alpine Ski resorts have a different feel compared to those in France and Switzerland. While they may not be as luxurious and elaborate, they are on the other hand, far more gemütlich or cosy whilst also being a lot less crowded. With any luck you may get that feeling of having the entire mountain all to yourself. Yet, for the more popular slopes, here is a list of our favourite ski resorts that are located in just a hop, jump and a ski from Munich.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Surrounded by forest and astoundingly beautiful Garmisch-Partenkirchen was the selected location of the 1936 Winter Olympics, host to the 2011 World Ski Championships and considered by many to be Germany’s top winter sports destination. From the resort, skiers have access to the Zugspitze, a glacier mountain that reaches 2,962 metres above sea level. While the location makes a fascinating destination to explore, from early autumn to late spring it is hard to resist the ski slopes and the famous Kandahar downhill run.
Berchtesgaden
Someone appears to making a concerted effort to keep Berchtesgaden under wraps, because despite over 50 km of ski pistes, a wide choice of slopes, good ski schools and some wonderfully luxurious venues, this place is not as well known as you would expect. For the finest luxury ambience that the mountain top has to offer, make a booking at the five star InterContinental Berchtesgaden Resort. Enjoy a glass of champagne as you look out at the sprawling mountain views from the all-round, floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Because of the varying ski slopes Berchtesgaden is an ideal location for family holidays, as everyone can take a spin down the slope that suits them best.
Oberstdorf and Oberstaufen
Both located in the Allgäu region in south-west Bavaria, Oberstdorf and Oberstaufen ski resorts offer a great winter escape. Both mountains offer kilometers and kilometers of ski pistes that are suitable all at varying levels of skill. Both resorts offer a great variety of snow sports; from cross country skiing that trails for over 75 kilometers and is quite literally crossing the country, to snowboarding, sliding on snow bikes and other organised fun activities in the snow such as building igloos. What’s more, the towns themselves are adorable, overflowing with an old world charm that is very endearing. We strongly recommend taking an afternoon break from the slopes with a hot mug in your hands at one of the town’s cosy cafes.
But whilst the ski resorts can be entirely captivating with all they have to offer, make sure to leave time to enjoy the city of Munich too. On you arrival back into town, transition from snow to water as you let those worn out limbs rejuvenate at a visit to one of Munich’s legendary public bath houses. Müller'sches Volksbad, for example is quite possibly the city’s most beautiful, housed in a building with a stunning art-nouveau interior. Then finish off the evening at anyone of Munich’s trendy and chic gastronomic restaurants. Munich is a city that thrives on its many cultural offerings, and really, the least you could do is to try your best to enjoy them…
