Ski enthusiasts, take note! Just about an hour’s drive from Munich, the start of this year’s ski season is just around the corner. At the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain at 2,962 meters, preparations for winter are already in full swing. The history of the mountain railway goes back a long way. As early as July 8, 1930, the Bavarian Zugspitz Railway line from Eibsee to the Schneefernerhaus on the Zugspitzplatt was officially opened. On November 27, 2026, operations are set to begin here on the glacier, making it Bavaria’s first ski resort to open for the season. The resort has traditionally relied 100 percent on natural snow. At the end of the season, snowcats consolidate snow deposits in shaded hollows for this purpose. After the hot summer, however, less than half of the reserves remain this year. Nevertheless, the Bavarian Zugspitz Railway intends to provide you with the usual wide range of slopes until the Christmas break. The season on the Zugspitze and on the Nebelhorn near Oberstdorf is scheduled to run until May 2.
Ticket Prices and Guest Limits: Why You Should Book Your Ski Pass in Advance
Anyone planning to take their first turn on the Zugspitzplatt will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets for ski passes this year. The Zugspitzbahn cites rising energy and personnel costs as the main factors driving up prices. At the ticket window, a day pass for the Zugspitzplatt costs 78 euros. Last year, however, it was 69 euros. However, if you book your ticket online the day before, you’ll save quite a bit and pay 70.50 euros. Buying in advance is also crucial for another reason: the Zugspitze has a strict daily limit of around 4,500 guests. Once this quota is reached, the on-site ticket office remains closed. You can find more information about tickets here.
When will the other Bavarian ski resorts follow suit?
Following the kickoff at the Zugspitze, other winter sports regions will follow in December. In the neighboring Garmisch-Classic area, operations are set to begin in December. Here, a day pass costs 72 euros at the ticket office and 69 euros online. In the Allgäu, OK Bergbahnen plans to start early in the Oberstdorf and Kleinwalsertal area with the Söllereckbahn, followed by the Fellhorn and the Kanzelwand on December 4, and the Nebelhorn on December 12. A day pass for the OK Bergbahnen in the Allgäu ski region costs 72.90 euros. The Alpenbahnen Spitzingsee and the Brauneck-Bergbahn, part of the Alpen Plus network, are aiming for December 5, with day passes ranging from 53 to 55 euros. In contrast, there is disappointing news from lower elevations. At the Kolben in Oberammergau, ski and sledding operations—including artificial snowmaking—are being permanently discontinued after 15 years. Rising temperatures and rain made operations unprofitable.
