The Garmisch side of Garmisch-Partenkirchen stretches from the railway station through to the American military installations at the edge of the main town area.
The Garmisch area is thus the closest to the main ski areas of the Hausberg, Kreuzeck and Alpspitz.
The Partenkirchen side of Garmisch-Partenkirchen stretches from the railway station through to the Wank mountain and the hospital on the road to Mittenwald.
Despite the closer proximity of Garmisch to the ski area, Partenkirchen boasts some of Garmisch-Partenkirchen's finest hotels and a more traditional and quieter centre.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a popular winter resort, helped by good connections, a chic atmosphere and wide range of accommodation, and an international reputation helped by the connections to North America and the World Cup ski circuit. Prior booking is advisable, especially in peak season.
The individual listings below are four-star hotels which have achieved the rating of "superb" or "exceptional" (9+ out of 10) from our travel fulfilment partner Booking.com. You can check availability at those particular hotels by clicking on the button under the hotel.
If you know when you are planning to go but haven't decided where to stay, then the search link below will also include some top-rated guesthouses, pensions and self-catering apartments for those who are interested in that form of accommodation.
Distance to Munich Airport: 102km
Distance to Innsbruck Airport: 50km
Distance to Salzburg Airport: 217km
Garmisch is closer to Innsbruck Airport in neighbouring Austria but many visitors prefer Munich Airport for the ease of motorway access.
Innsbruck Airport is the closest to Garmisch. Innsbruck has long been known as a popular destination for ski charter flights - especially from the northern European countries - but now the introduction of lower-fare scheduled flights from major destinations like London has made it into a real option for those flying from further afield.
The principal route climbs the Zirlerberg to the resort of Seefeld and then cuts through Scharnitz and Mittenwald at the German border. The car journey would normally take around one hour from Innsbruck Airport to Garmisch.
Most visitors who are using scheduled flights will still probably arrive at Munich Airport, as it is the major international gateway for this part of Europe.
The expanding airport is located a good 30 minutes to the north-east of the city and drivers should stay on the motorway until signs are reached for Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Motorists should ignore the confusing signs for Innsbruck which direct traffic via Kufstein. The journey should take around one-and-a-half to two hours but the motorway can be very busy on a peak season Saturday.
Salzburg Airport, with a mix of ski charters and cheap scheduled flights, is a possible option for visitors to Garmisch. The resort can be reached by taking the motorway in the direction of Munich and then heading cross-country in the direction of Bad Tölz. Those who would rather take the motorway can head for Munich and then around the city ring road on the south to the motorway in the direction of Garmisch. The drive would normally take around two hours.
Garmisch railway station is located in the centre of the town on the border between Garmisch and Partenkirchen and is served by rail from the main railway stations in Munich and in Innsbruck.
Trains run from Munich Airport and the journey takes approximately two to two-and-a-half hours. Take the S-Bahn from the airport to Munich Pasing and then change onto a regional or Inter-City service.
Services from the main Innsbruck railway station run on the same line from the opposite direction and take approximately one-and-a-half hours.