What else to do around the Partnach Gorge
How many days to give Garmisch-Partenkirchen
One day is enough for the gorge and the town. Two lets you add the Zugspitze without spending the whole of either day travelling, and three suits anybody who wants to walk. The gorge fits inside any of those, because from the Olympic ski stadium car park it is 2.2 km in, 702 m through and 2.2 km back — the timings are on how long the walk takes.
The mountain the water comes from
The Partnach is fed from the Schneeferner glacier on the Zugspitze, so the mountain and the gorge are the same story at two scales. Most tours sold as “Partnach” trips are really Zugspitze trips with a stop here; I have untangled which is which on the Zugspitze page. The rest of the catalogue — the lake days, Mittenwald, the pretzel-making afternoon in town, tandem paragliding at Lenggries, Neuschwanstein — is listed on all tours.
The operator warns that “Kurzfristige Schließungen sind aus Sicherheitsgründen manchmal unumgänglich” — short-notice closures for safety are sometimes unavoidable. Rockfall and high water are the reasons a gorge shuts, and neither gives notice. Check partnachklamm.de the morning you travel, and have a second plan for the day.
Most reviewedFrom Munich: Zugspitze Mountain Van Tour with Garmisch Town
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Two hoursGarmisch-Partenkirchen: Pretzel Making Experience
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
One day covers the Partnach Gorge and the town, two adds the Zugspitze without a rush, and three suits anybody who wants to walk properly, since the gorge itself is half a day at most.
What is there to do near the Partnach Gorge?
The Zugspitze, Lake Eibsee below it, Mittenwald down the valley and the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen itself. The tour catalogue covering them is on all tours.
Can I do the Partnach Gorge and the Zugspitze on the same day?
Yes, and most day trips that come here are built that way. The gorge takes about two hours including the walk in and out — see the Zugspitze page.
Is the gorge enough for a full day out?
Not on its own. It is 702 m long and about ten euros at the gate, so plan something else around it — the Zugspitze, Lake Eibsee or the town will fill the rest of the day.