Zugspitze Day Tour from Munich: Germany's Highest Peak

Ten minutes by cable car to views over 400 Alpine peaks.

This day tour from Munich takes you by coach through Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Zugspitze, where a cable car lifts you 3,000 meters in ten minutes. After an hour at the viewing platform, you walk to the golden summit cross, then descend to the glacier plateau for lunch or a free toboggan run before riding the historic cogwheel train back down. The guide speaks English or German throughout the eight-hour outing, and the cable car and train rides are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Lake Eibsee
2. Zugspitze4h 15m · entry included

Zugspitze mountain day trip

• Drive 2 hours from Munich to Eibsee
• Take cable car up Zugspitze
• Stay 1 hour at viewing platform
• Walk to golden summit cross
• Take cable car to Zugspitzplatt glacier
• Lunch or bob slide on glacier
• Descend with cogwheel train
• Bus drive back to Munich

The experience

You leave Munich in an air-conditioned coach for a two-hour drive to Lake Eibsee, where your guide provides live commentary on the route. The cable car from there takes you straight up to the summit in ten minutes: no hiking required to reach the top. Once at the viewing platform, you have an hour to take in the panorama of more than 400 peaks stretching across the Alps.

From there, a walking path leads to the golden summit cross, a 45- to 60-minute round trip on foot. By around 2pm you descend by cable car to the Zugspitzplatt, the glacier plateau, where the day opens up. You can sit down to lunch at one of the mountain restaurants, which serve vegetarian and halal options alongside standard fare, or head straight to the toboggan run if the summer season is underway: toboggans are free to borrow. The pace here is entirely yours. There's no set itinerary for this stretch.

At 4pm you gather at the station to board the cogwheel train for the descent, a historic ride that takes a different route down the mountain than the cable car took up. The bus departs for Munich at 4:45pm, arriving back around 6:45pm. The cable car tickets, cogwheel train ride and guide are all included. Food, drinks and toboggan time are on your own.

What’s included

• Round-trip coach transport from Munich with live commentary.
• cable car ticket to the summit.
• one hour at the viewing platform.
• cogwheel train descent.
• English or German-speaking guide throughout.
• air-conditioned vehicle.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 2 May 2027

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (27 and older) · Youth (15 to 26 years) · Child (under 15)

GroupUp to 78 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gray Line Münchener Stadtrundfahrten

Is this one for you?The walk to the summit cross is optional but takes 45 to 60 minutes on a mountain path, so this tour suits anyone comfortable with a moderate uphill hike at altitude. The cable car and viewing platform alone take no walking at all.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (15 to 26 years); Child (under 15).

How long is the walk to the summit cross at the top?

The walk to the golden summit cross takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes round trip from the viewing platform.

What's included in this tour from Munich?

The tour includes round-trip coach transport from Munich, the cable car up to the summit, an hour at the viewing platform, the cogwheel train descent, and a live guide in English or German. Food and drinks are separate.

Can I toboggan on the glacier if I visit in summer?

Yes, a toboggan run operates on the eternal ice during summer months, and toboggans are available to borrow free of charge.

What time does the tour leave Munich and when do we return?

The tour departs Munich in the morning for a two-hour drive to Eibsee. The bus leaves the mountain at 4:45pm and returns to Munich around 6:45pm, making this an eight-hour outing.

Are there restaurants at the top of Zugspitze?

Yes, several restaurants operate at the Zugspitzplatt glacier plateau, offering vegetarian and halal menus alongside standard options.