At the foot of the mighty Zugspitze, two countries, one ski pass and a delightful mountain holiday await
Straddling the high snowy slopes that frame the Austrian and German border, the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena is as scenic as it is welcoming. Breathtaking views emerge from all sides -- with seven ski resorts reached on one easy ski pass this is a family-friendly destination with a difference.
Mountain lovers have been flocking here since the first cableway was built in 1926. Today, from the very same viewing terrace, the vistas extend as far as Austria’s venerable Großglockner, Switzerland’s Piz Bernina and the Bavarian capital of Munich.
Seven ski resorts provide ample terrain and adventure -- 142km of pistes and 56 lifts (even more with the Top Snow Card -- more about that shortly) all easily linked by frequent bus services free of charge with a ski pass. All levels of skiers and boarders are well served, from the advanced and the cruisers to families with children. Snow is a certainty on the glittering Zugspitze Glacier, and the sun-kissed slopes of the Ehrwalder Alm and the Wetterstein area are favourites with families. The pistes on the Marienberg in Biberwier are ideal for practicing first turns. The Grubigstein in Lermoos offers a magnificent view of the Zugspitze and the interconnected area between Berwang and Bichlbach is another must. To cover even more terrain with one pass and two countries, The Top Snow Card accesses cross-border skiing and boarding across a total 214km of pistes and 87 lifts by including the German ski resorts of Mittenwald, Grainau and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in addition to the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena.
If that sounds busy, this enticing area isn’t only about sport and action. There’s plenty of typical Tyrolean tranquillity and relaxation at the foot of Zugspitz massif too. From the sporty villages of Ehrwald, Lermoos and Biberwier to the traditional hamlets of Berwang, Bichlbach and Heiterwang am See, snow-laden inns and candle-lit restaurants line quiet streets where warm hospitality and great cuisine is always on the menu. So too is the crisp apple strudel and fragrant glühwein.