Ski vacations Germany

Germany is often underestimated as a winter sports destination. And yet the ski areas give a big variety. The Alpine region nestled in southern Germany of course offers a wide range of ski areas, much to the delight of winter sports fans everywhere. Familial, little ski areas can be found in the Harz, the Black Forest, the Thurungian Forest and even in the North Rhine-Westphalian Sauerland.

Where to go skiing in Germany?

If you ask winter sports fans where you could possibly go skiing in Germany, many will find one destination immediately coming to mind: Zugspitze. The highest mountain in Germany, with an altitude of 2,962 m, is located in southern Germany and makes up a part of the natural border to Austria. Being the highest ski area in Germany helps make it a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding in Germany. The altitude of the resort lies at 2,720 m and therefore, great snow can be found here up until May. Zugspitze is accessible from Grainau, Garmisch-Partenkrichen, a city that is not only a nice place for ski holidays but also has a great winter sports centre: the Four Hills Tournament of ski jumping as well as the the FIS Ski World Cups are held there annually along with many different winter sports events. That being said, the Zugspitze isn’t the only destination worth seeing in the Bavarian Alps. The Allgäu or Fellhorn-Kanzelwand-Grenzgebiet offers lovely ski areas as well. For example, Oberstdorf, located in the Allgäu, is world-famous for being the first stop of the annual Four Hills Tournament and is the second venue next to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany. Oberstdorf offers 128 km of piste, which reaches all the way to the Little Walser Valley in Austria. It is also one of the largest ski areas in Germany.

Another attractive region is Berchtesgadener Land, comprising of six lovely ski areas that lay in front of the majestic Watzmann Mountain. The Watzmann rises up to 2,713 m altitude and is the third-highest mountain in Germany – right after the Zugspitze and the Hochwanner. Far away from the Alps, a few more ski areas can be found as well. You won’t believe it at first, but there are 600 ski areas in total in Germany! However, some of them are quite small, with some having just one or two lifts and few slopes. On the other hand, there are also larger ski areas which offer diverse skiing and snowboarding pistes. The Bohemian Forest, for example, is not only the biggest forest in Germany and a very popular holiday destination, but it is also a spacious, low-lying mountain range and the home of a handful of lovely ski areas. The forest is a great region spend your ski holiday, especially for families.

A popular destination and the highest mountain in the Bohemian Forest is the Big Arber (1,456 m), where you can ski at least ten km of piste. Families with kids love the Arbär-Kinderland there, a special children’s area where little ones can test out their skills. The Bohemian Forest extends until Czech Republic, where it is called “Sumava,” and is a popular holiday destination. Another well-known holiday destination is the Black Forest. The ski areas here might not as popular as the forest they’re found in, but are still a great alternative to the German Alps. The Feldberg ski area also offers pleasant skiing and snowboarding with 63 km of piste and a large snow kite area on top of the mountain. It’s probably difficult to imagine that skiing is also possible in eastern Germany, in the Ore Mountains and in western Germany in the Sauerland. Winterberg, however, offers 27.5 km of piste and is a popular daytrip-destination for people living in western Germany who are simply too far away from the Alps.

Why book ski holidays in Germany?

What’s great about Germany’s winter sports region is its diversity. Where the altitude and surface area tend to make for smaller ski areas, the sports programme proves to be much larger. The terrain is in most places quite wide and fairly level, so that a few cross-country centres, for example, have been able to take root and provide an extensive cross-country network throughout the area. Nordic sports has developed into a booming trend like never before, especially in the states of Thüringen and Saxony. Along with it comes the unique culture and natural landscapes, of which makes Germany a truly interesting holiday destination for nature-lovers and those seeking a bit of rest and relaxation. Those who prefer a laid back holiday surrounded by a snowy winter wonderland with access to several non-ski related activities will feel right at home in the German Mittelgebirge (a low-lying mountain range).

What is so special about ski holidays in Germany?

A diverse leisure programme, smooth pistes, and manageable ski areas with blue pistes - German ski areas are the ideal winter sports destinations for families with small children. The little areas are quite navigable and offer excellent child care services. However, beginners and intermediates of all ages will also find German ski areas to be the perfect fit. The somewhat larger ski areas also provide some fun slopes, timed runs and sizeable snow parks, so the youth and adrenaline junkies will definitely get their money’s worth. In the Mittelgebirge, between 900 and 1,600 m, many of the pistes lie below the tree line, so that winter sports fans will find many romantic, wintry forests along the runs.

How long is it possible to ski in Germany?

Due to the low altitude in the Germany’s Mittelgebirge, there is enough snow to have the main season run from December to March. Areas that typically receive quite a bit of snow include the Ore Mountains and the Black Forest, as well as some parts of the Allgäu and areas along the edge of the Alps like Berchtesgadener Land and the Zugspitze region. The longest ski season in Germany can be found in the Zugspitze region thanks to its altitude ranging between 2,000 - 2,720 m. The ski area is normally open from December to the beginning of May. The sun tends to shine higher up, while the valley and the lower-lying ski areas disappear underneath the clouds.