Zugspitze is set to open on 27 November 2026, according to the operator. The area closes for maintenance from 9 to 26 November. Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal opens by sector: Fellhorn-Kanzelwand on 4 December, Heuberg-Ifen on 11 December and Nebelhorn on 12 December, according to OK Bergbahnen. A Zugspitze day pass costs €70.50 online and €78 at the ticket office.
Checked on against the official sources cited (zugspitze.de, ok-bergbahnen.com) and one trade press source named in the text.
The first Bavarian lifts are due to open in late November and in December, but not everywhere at the same time. Between the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest ski area, Garmisch-Classic, its forested neighbour, and Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal, a cross-border area in the Allgäu, the gaps in dates, prices and access are wider than they look. We go with the dates and prices published by the operators. When a date only comes from an aggregator or a press article, we write « announced, not confirmed », or we leave it out; the few press figures we keep are flagged as such. For neighbouring Switzerland, our guide Swiss ski opening dates 2026-2027 covers the Swiss side.
1. Zugspitze: Germany’s highest ski area
The Zugspitze summit rises to 2,962 m. The ski area spreads across the Zugspitzplatt, between roughly 2,000 and 2,720 m, and part of the snow stays naturally on the glacier. The official site talks about around 20 km of pistes; that is the figure we use, with its source. A third-party guide gives other numbers, 13 and nine lifts, probably because it counts differently. That doesn’t change the character of the area.
For 2026-2027, zugspitze.de announces an expected opening on 27 November 2026 and an expected closing on 2 May 2027. These dates are provisional. Before opening, the area is closed for maintenance from 9 to 26 November, a point most aggregators leave out: they announce a late-November start with no mention of works. The side lifts follow a different timetable. The Wankbahn is under maintenance until 24 December 2026, and the Kreuzeckbahn until the start of the season, according to the operating hours page on the same site.
An adult day pass costs €70.50 online and €78 at the ticket office. The price is debated. A March 2026 thread on r/germany judges the ticket poor value during maintenance work, while acknowledging the views. Skier reviews on Snow-forecast average around 3.8 to 3.9 out of 5 and rank the area among the most expensive in Germany. These reviews don’t measure the season, but they show what visitors take away: a very strong setting and a ticket that weighs on the budget.
Don’t confuse the German Zugspitze, run from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, with the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn on the Austrian side, at Ehrwald. The two areas have their own prices, their own dates and their own end of season.
Zugspitze, the glacier ski area
The operator describes it as Germany’s highest ski area, with a plateau that holds natural snow. To get there, take the cable car or the rack railway from Garmisch-Partenkirchen or from the starting point you choose, according to the official Zugspitze ski area page.
Highlights
- Germany’s highest ski area, with the summit at 2,962 m.
- Natural snow that can last up to seven months at this altitude, according to a tourism page from February 2026.
- Mostly blue and red runs on the plateau, with no real expert terrain according to a third-party guide.
2. Garmisch-Classic: forest, families and the Kandahar
Garmisch-Classic is the neighbouring area, and the easiest to reach without a car. It covers three mountains: the Hausberg (1,310 m), the Kreuzeck (1,651 m) and the Alpspitze, whose summit reaches 2,628 m although the lifts don’t go that high. The area is forested, so it is more sheltered than the Zugspitze glacier. A figure of around 40 km comes up often. We couldn’t find it on an operator page, so we don’t use it.
The area suits families and beginners. The Ixis Kinderland zone sits near the upper station of the Hausbergbahn, and the Hausberg runs are mostly blue. A third-party guide finds the area limited in number of runs, but with an exceptional setting. A Snow-forecast user reckons one weekend is enough to cover it: that is a visitor’s estimate, and it should be read as one.
The area also has the Kandahar, black run no. 5, where World Cup races are held. Zugspitze.de declares it open to experienced skiers outside race days. You can start from the Kandahar-Express mid-station, which lets you avoid the steepest sections. The run closes during training and competitions, so check the piste page on the day. The 2027 races are planned for 20 and 21 February for the men and 27 and 28 February for the women, according to the official race website, skiweltcup-garmisch.com. These dates still need confirming.
On opening, zugspitze.de gives no firm date for Garmisch-Classic on the pages we read. One aggregator gives 11 December 2026 to 29 March 2027: announced, not confirmed.
Garmisch-Classic, the forest ski area
A full-day pass costs €69 online and €72 at the ticket office, according to the zugspitze.de price page. We didn’t find a combined season pass for Garmisch-Classic and the Zugspitze for 2026-2027 on the rates page, so we give no price. For a car-free trip from Munich, this is the most direct area: the train goes to the Hausberg halt, at the foot of the lifts.
Highlights
- Mostly blue runs on the Hausberg, for a confident start.
- The Kandahar run, open to experienced skiers outside competitions.
- A combined pass with the Zugspitze, useful if you want both areas.
3. Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal: a cross-border area with sectors
Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal is the second hub, and the largest. It is a cross-border area: the ski link to Austria runs via Fellhorn-Kanzelwand, and the Kleinwalsertal, on the Austrian side, can be reached from the German area. Totals vary by source. A figure of around 130 km circulates in tourism presentations: we quote it as an order of magnitude, not as an official total. For the neighbouring Austrian season, our Austria ski opening guide covers the resorts, though its dates are not cross-checked against the ones below.
The planned openings, according to OK Bergbahnen’s winter status checked on 10 November 2026, are as follows: Fellhorn and Kanzelwand on 4 December, Heuberg and Ifen on 11 December, Nebelhorn on 12 December. That status doesn’t list the Walmendingerhorn. According to schneehoehen.de, it reopens later, on 24 December 2026, with a new cable car at Mittelberg. The old lift ran until 15 March 2026, and its demolition started the next day. The investment is around €26 million according to schneehoehen.de, which cites the operator’s press release. Anyone counting on that sector will have to wait until the end of the year.
For families and beginners, the Heuberg and Ifen runs are described as wide and gentle, and the Walmendingerhorn has blue runs for children. Fellhorn-Kanzelwand is described as very well prepared and wide. The Nebelhorn is aimed more at confident skiers, according to the sector’s presentations. The Söllereck, often recommended for families, doesn’t appear in the 2026-2027 openings we found: check before you plan it.
We found no 2026-2027 price for the Oberstdorf lifts on the operators’ pages. The Nebelhorn price page we read is dated January 2026 and only lists summer rates, so we don’t quote any winter price for this sector.
On site, guests with the Allgäu-Walser Pass, the Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal citizen card or the mobility card can ride the local buses to the areas for free, according to the OK Bergbahnen shuttle page. The pass is valid up to the Walserschanz border.
Oberstdorf also hosts a stage of the 2027 Tour de Ski, planned for 5 and 6 January 2027. These dates come from a draft FIS calendar still awaiting approval. Our Tour de Ski 2027 article covers the programme; we don’t repeat the dates here.
Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal, three sectors to know
Fellhorn and Kanzelwand form the cross-border link. Heuberg and Ifen cover the wide, gentle runs. The Nebelhorn adds options for confident skiers. The dates come from the operator’s winter status, checked on the OK Bergbahnen website.
Highlights
- Fellhorn and Kanzelwand: planned opening on 4 December 2026, runs described as very well prepared.
- Heuberg and Ifen: planned opening on 11 December 2026, wide and gentle runs.
- Nebelhorn: planned opening on 12 December 2026, mainly for confident skiers.
4. Sudelfeld, Brauneck, Spitzingsee: the mid-altitude areas
Three areas in Upper Bavaria and one in the Allgäu are often compared with the big hubs. Their dates are less reliable, so we only keep what the operator publishes and flag the rest.
Sudelfeld, at Bayrischzell. The area’s season announcement, dated 26 November 2025, gives an opening on 13 December: announced, not confirmed for 2026-2027. One aggregator gives 28 November, a date we don’t use. No 2026-2027 day pass published by the operator has been found. Get there by regional train RB 55 to Bayrischzell, then take a ski bus.
Brauneck, at Lenggries. The area’s website gives a season start of « ab dem 05.12. » (from 5 December), with no year on the page. Aggregators write 12 December 2026: we only keep 5 December, announced, year not stated. Last season’s prices don’t carry over, and no 2026-2027 price has been found. Get there by RB 56 to Lenggries, then take the shuttle.
Spitzingsee-Tegernsee. Opening dates differ: 28 November 2026 according to some aggregators, 5 December according to Bergfex. No operator site could be checked to settle it. So we don’t give a firm date, only an unconfirmed announcement, and no 2026-2027 price has been found. The Rotwand isn’t part of this area.
Balderschwang, in the Allgäu. One aggregator estimates opening on 19 December 2026: announced, not confirmed. The Ski Total pass, shared by Balderschwang and the Riedbergerhorn, has no 2026-2027 price on an operator source.
Pfronten isn’t included in this article: no reliable 2026-2027 data was found. For the total in Bavaria, bayern.de lists 265 ski areas and the ADAC counts about 260. The number depends on what you call a ski area, which is why we don’t use it.
5. Dates and prices: the reference tables
The two tables below repeat the data published by the operators, checked on 10 November 2026. Rows that don’t come from an operator are flagged in the « Status » column. Dates are provisional and prices can change during the season, so check them again before you go.
| Area | Planned opening | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Zugspitze (Garmisch-Partenkirchen) | 27 November 2026, after maintenance from 9 to 26 November | Official, provisional |
| Fellhorn / Kanzelwand (Oberstdorf) | 4 December 2026 | Official, provisional |
| Heuberg / Ifen (Kleinwalsertal) | 11 December 2026 | Official, provisional |
| Nebelhorn (Oberstdorf) | 12 December 2026 | Official, provisional |
| Walmendingerhorn (Oberstdorf) | 24 December 2026, after rebuilding | Trade press (schneehoehen.de), works in progress |
| Sudelfeld (Bayrischzell) | 13 December (announced, not confirmed for 2026-2027) | Announcement dated 26 November 2025 |
| Brauneck (Lenggries) | 5 December (year not stated on the page) | Announced on the site, year to be confirmed |
Source: zugspitze.de, opening hours, OK Bergbahnen, winter status, schneehoehen.de (Walmendingerhorn), Sudelfeld, season announcement (26 November 2025) and Brauneck-Bergbahn, checked 10 November 2026.
| Product | Adult price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Zugspitze, day pass, online | €70.50 | Valid from 27 November 2026 |
| Zugspitze, day pass, ticket office | €78 | Valid from 27 November 2026 |
| Garmisch-Classic, day pass, online | €69 | Full day |
| Garmisch-Classic, day pass, ticket office | €72 | Full day |
| Garmisch-Classic, morning | €55.50 (extract) | Until 1 pm, half day |
| Parking in Garmisch | €6 per day | Station and cable car car parks, from 26 November 2026 |
Source: zugspitze.de, winter rates 2026-2027 and zugspitze.de, parking, checked 10 November 2026. The Garmisch-Classic morning rate comes from a search result extract, to be checked on the rates page.
We didn’t find the Winterpass Garmisch-Classic and Zugspitze combined pass on the rates page, so we give no price. For a short stay, the day pass is more sensible. We didn’t find a Garmisch-Classic-only season pass for 2026-2027. A Snowstash article from November 2025 rates the combined ticket as very good for discovering both areas. For a Munich resident with an MVV subscription, the MVV-Skipass has covered Garmisch-Classic and Garmisch-Zugspitze since January 2026, according to an MVV press release. We didn’t check its price.
To choose by your profile:
- First time, with beginner children: Garmisch-Classic, with its Kinderland zone and blue runs on the Hausberg.
- Skiers after altitude and the glacier: the Zugspitze, if you accept a pricier ticket and a November closure for maintenance.
- Car-free visitors from Munich: Garmisch-Classic, with the Hausberg halt at the foot of the area.
- Skiers who want to switch sectors over a week: Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal, from 4 December with Fellhorn-Kanzelwand, then Heuberg-Ifen from 11 December.
- Tight budget: the Garmisch-Classic half day at €55.50 (price page extract), if you only ski in the morning, until 1 pm.
6. Getting there without a car, and on the spot
Garmisch-Partenkirchen. From Munich, the regional train runs directly to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. For Garmisch-Classic, the DB Hausberg halt is at the foot of the area. The journey time from Munich Hauptbahnhof is to be checked on bahn.de. For the Zugspitze, you then take the bus, the cable car or the rack railway, depending on your starting point.
Parking. In Garmisch, parking at the station and at the cable car car parks costs €6 a day, from 26 November 2026, according to zugspitze.de.
Oberstdorf. Oberstdorf is further away, and we didn’t check the journey time from Munich: check it on bahn.de. The station has a new signal box, in service since 14 July 2026 and controlled from Immenstadt, according to DB InfraGO. After disruption on long-distance routes, the situation for winter 2026-2027 is not confirmed: check on bahn.de before you book. The ski shuttle and the bus are the usual options on site.
By car. The Kleinwalsertal is in Austria. If you drive, check the vignette and toll rules before you leave. We haven’t confirmed them for this route, so we don’t detail them here.
Other areas. To Bayrischzell (Sudelfeld), take the RB 55 then the ski bus. To Lenggries (Brauneck), take the RB 56 then the shuttle.
A first car-free day. Take the train from Munich to the Hausberg halt, buy the day pass online before you leave, and start on the blue runs of the Hausberg to get your bearings. Save the afternoon for the Kandahar if your level allows, starting from the mid-station, then head back to the station when the lifts close.
7. What other guides don’t tell you
The points below are missing from the guides and aggregators we read, or they appear there with a wrong date or price.
- The Zugspitze opens on 27 November 2026, after maintenance from 9 to 26 November. Aggregators announce a late-November start with no mention of works. zugspitze.de, opening hours (checked 10 November 2026).
- Garmisch-Classic costs €69 online and €72 at the ticket office for the full day. Some aggregators show €46 or €48, others €55.50, which is the morning rate only. zugspitze.de, rates (checked 10 November 2026).
- The Walmendingerhorn is closed until 24 December 2026. The old lift’s last operating day was 15 March 2026, and demolition started the next day. The operator’s winter status doesn’t list it. schneehoehen.de, Walmendingerhornbahn rebuild (checked 10 November 2026).
- Sudelfeld has no confirmed 2026-2027 opening date. One aggregator gives 28 November, a date that appears in no announcement we read. The season announcement dated 26 November 2025 gives 13 December: announced, not confirmed. Sudelfeld, season announcement (checked 10 November 2026).
- Brauneck opens « ab dem 05.12. » with no year given. Aggregators write 12 December 2026. The official page only gives the day and month. Brauneck-Bergbahn (checked 10 November 2026).
- On the Kandahar, the mid-station lets you avoid the steepest sections. The operator presents it as an option for skiers who don’t want to tackle the whole slope. zugspitze.de, Kandahar page (checked 10 November 2026).
Practical info before you go
The Lawinenwarndienst Bayern publishes a bulletin every day in season, at 5 pm according to its official page (another text gives 6 pm). The first 2025-2026 edition is dated 25 November 2025, so the start date depends on the snow, not on a calendar. For ski touring on the pistes, the Deutscher Alpenverein advises waiting until preparation is finished and staying at the edge of the piste. We found no sourced legal rule on off-piste skiing.
If you arrive by train, parking doesn’t concern you: the Hausberg halt drops you at the foot of Garmisch-Classic. For station and Zugspitze car park rates, see section 6.
Frequently asked questions
When does skiing open at the Zugspitze in 2026-2027?
The opening is planned for 27 November 2026 and the closing for 2 May 2027, according to zugspitze.de. These dates are provisional. The area is closed for maintenance from 9 to 26 November, so don’t expect to ski before the 27th. For exact dates, check the operating hours page on the site before you go.
How much is a day pass at the Zugspitze?
For 2026-2027, a Zugspitze day pass for an adult costs €70.50 online and €78 at the ticket office, according to the zugspitze.de rates page checked on 10 November 2026. These prices apply from 27 November 2026. On that page we found neither a combined season pass for Garmisch-Classic and the Zugspitze nor the Top Snow Card for 2026-2027, so we give no price for them.
When does skiing open in Oberstdorf?
The planned openings are 4 December 2026 for Fellhorn-Kanzelwand, 11 December for Heuberg and Ifen, and 12 December for the Nebelhorn, according to OK Bergbahnen’s winter status checked on 10 November 2026. The Walmendingerhorn reopens on 24 December 2026 after its rebuild, according to schneehoehen.de. We found no 2026-2027 price for this area.
Garmisch-Classic or Zugspitze: which one for a first trip?
Garmisch-Classic is a forest, family-friendly area, reachable by direct train from Munich, with mostly blue runs on the Hausberg. The Zugspitze is a glacier area, higher and in principle more snowy, but more expensive and reached by cable car or rack railway. For a first time, start with Classic, then add the Zugspitze if you want both.
Can you get to Garmisch-Classic without a car?
Yes. The DB Hausberg halt sits at the foot of the area, and the journey time from Munich Hauptbahnhof is to be checked on bahn.de. For a Munich resident with an MVV subscription, the MVV-Skipass has also covered Garmisch-Classic since January 2026.
Is the Kandahar open to ordinary skiers?
Not without experience. The run is open to experienced, confident skiers, outside training and competition days. Zugspitze.de presents it as black run number 5. You can start from the Kandahar-Express mid-station to avoid the steepest sections. The 2027 races are planned for 20 and 21 February for the men, and 27 and 28 February for the women, according to the official race website, skiweltcup-garmisch.com: to be confirmed.
What rules apply to off-piste skiing in Bavaria?
We found no sourced legal rule on off-piste skiing in Bavaria. In season, the Lawinenwarndienst Bayern publishes a daily bulletin, at 5 pm according to its official page. For ski touring on the pistes, the Deutscher Alpenverein advises waiting until preparation is finished and staying at the edge of the piste. Before leaving the piste, ask the operator and check the day’s bulletin.
Does Oberstdorf really host the 2027 Tour de Ski?
The programme includes a stage in Oberstdorf on 5 and 6 January 2027. The calendar is provisional: it is awaiting approval from the FIS Council, and no final official page had been found on the date we checked. Our Tour de Ski 2027 article covers the programme and tickets, without treating the dates here as final.
Sources
- zugspitze.de, winter rates 2026-2027: day passes, checked 10 November 2026
- zugspitze.de, opening hours: planned opening and closing, November maintenance
- zugspitze.de, Zugspitze ski area: altitudes and extent of the pistes
- zugspitze.de, Kandahar page: black run no. 5 and mid-station start
- zugspitze.de, parking: €6 a day from 26 November 2026
- OK Bergbahnen, ski area: sectors and altitudes of Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal
- OK Bergbahnen, winter status: planned openings of Fellhorn-Kanzelwand, Heuberg-Ifen and Nebelhorn, checked 10 November 2026
- OK Bergbahnen, ski shuttle: free transport for guests with a card
- schneehoehen.de, Walmendingerhornbahn rebuild: works, last operating day and planned reopening on 24 December 2026 (trade press)
- Sudelfeld, season announcement of 26 November 2025: opening announced for 13 December, not confirmed for 2026-2027
- Brauneck-Bergbahn: season start « ab dem 05.12. », year not stated
- Lawinenwarndienst Bayern: avalanche bulletins in season
- MVV, press release on the MVV-Skipass: coverage of Garmisch-Classic and Garmisch-Zugspitze for Munich subscribers since January 2026
- skiweltcup-garmisch.com, men’s races 2027 : 20 and 21 February 2027 (official race website)
- skiweltcup-garmisch.com, women’s races 2027 : 27 and 28 February 2027 (official race website)
- Deutscher Alpenverein, rules for ski touring on pistes: behaviour recommendations on the pistes
Data checked 10 November 2026. Season dates are provisional and may change depending on snow and works.
Plan your trip with Pixidia
Pixidia learns how you travel and helps you build a trip that truly fits you and everyone coming along.
Open the planner