Zugspitze

Hello, On Wednedsay, August 26 we will be driving from Munich to Schwangau. We want to spend the day taking the cable car to the top of Zugspitze and get to Schwangau before dark. This is our first trip to Germany and I will be thankful for your help. Here are a few questions I have.

1. Is this possible if we leave Munich about 9 AM?

2. Considering time should I drive just to Garmish (then take the train/cable car from there) or drive further to Grainau or Eibsee?

3. How long does the Zugspitze round-trip take? If we lunch at the summit, can we still get to Schwangau before dark?

4. How frequently do the trains/cable cars run?

5. Do we purchase tickets in advance or on arrival?

Thank you.

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1. Yes.

2. Eibsee

www.zugspitze.de/zugspitze/rundreise_en.php

3./4.

cogwheel train Eibsee - Zugspitzplatt 43 min

www.zugspitze.de/zugspitze/fahrplan_en.php

cable car Gletscherbahn 4 min

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cable car Eibsee 10 min (runs half hourly)

5. on arrival

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%26gt; can we still get to Schwangau before dark?

Last option down from the Zugspitze is at 16:30/16:45.

Travel time to Schwangau ~ 1 hour.

Civil twilight ends around 20:30.

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Thank you Abalada, we are looking forward to a great trip and your advice will help.

Cap%26#39;n C

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I%26#39;m sure you really want to do this. But it won%26#39;t be a great move if the weather is bad. Do factor in the cost. If you are in the cloud or rain, you might want to think again.

And it does rain!

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Bad weather alternatives:

Oberammergau

Mittenwald

Ettal Abbey

Linderhof Castle

All only a minor detour from the original route.

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Well noted, thanks again.

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HI,

Just an optional %26quot;back up%26quot; plan:

If you have bad weather on your planned %26quot;Zugpitze%26quot; day, the Zugspitze can also be done from the Austrian side in Ehrwald, Austria. This is not far from Schwangau. It%26#39;s a quick cable car ride to the top of the Zugspitze (same as from Garmisch). We did this trip and it%26#39;s not only quicker to get to the top, it%26#39;s a bit cheaper than from Garmisch.

www.zugspitze.at

If all else fails, the Tegelberg cable car ride is about a mile from Neuschwanstein. A bargain compared to the Zugspitze.

www.tegelbergbahn.de/227.0.html

Paul

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%26gt; If you have bad weather on your planned %26quot;Zugpitze%26quot; day, the Zugspitze can also be done from the Austrian side in Ehrwald, Austria.

But will this change the weather? While you can go up to the Zugspitze from the German and from the Austrian side, the weather on the peak (shared by Germany and Austria) will be the same. And at nearly 3000 meters this can be pretty ugly with bad weather (e.g. snow storms even in summer).

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But will this change the weather?

Of course not. Please, give me more credit than that. I meant if he doesn%26#39;t do the trip on his travel day from Munich to Schwangau, he could do it the next day. I just gave another option as how to get to the top.

Paul

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Thank you both for the good advice. By the way after considering your thoughts I have another question.

If we make the stop as planned, after Zugspitze, would you backtrack the way to Schwangau...or would you continue into Austria and then north to Schwangau?

The map shows the route a little shorter through Austria but I am aware how roads can be in the mountains... shorter might be longer in time and more difficult.