It was a chilly Bavarian morning when we decided to embark on an adventure to Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak, with our little one in tow. Our day began at Munich Hauptbahnhof, where we caught an early regional train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The train ride was a joy in itself—rolling meadows, charming villages, and the towering Alps kept us mesmerized. Our child, ever curious, kept pointing at the cows grazing in the fields, squealing with excitement at every tunnel we passed through.
In just under an hour and a half, we arrived at Garmisch-Partenkirchen. From there, we boarded the Zugspitzbahn cogwheel train, an experience that felt almost magical.
“As the train climbed higher, the scenery became more dramatic, with pine forests giving way to rugged mountain slopes. Our little one was fascinated by the train’s slow and steady ascent, asking endless questions about how it worked.”
When we reached the Eibsee station, we decided to take a short detour to explore the lake before heading to the summit. Eibsee was absolutely stunning—a turquoise lake surrounded by thick forests and majestic peaks. We took a leisurely walk along the lakeside trail, letting our child splash around in the shallows and toss pebbles into the water. It was a peaceful moment, and we even managed to snap a few family pictures with the lake and mountains as our backdrop.
After our lakeside stop, we hopped on the Eibsee cable car for the final leg of the journey to Zugspitze’s summit. The ride up was exhilarating, and the views were nothing short of spectacular. As the cable car ascended, we could see Germany on one side and Austria on the other. Our child was glued to the window, marveling at how small the world looked from up there.
The summit itself was breathtaking. The viewing platform offered a panoramic view of endless snow-covered peaks, and we couldn’t resist the temptation to capture the moment with photos. We took a break at the cozy restaurant, indulging in warm Bavarian food while our little one enjoyed a small play area nearby. The highlight for our child, though, was stepping out onto the glacier—it was their first time touching snow! Watching them laugh and stomp around was pure joy.
By mid-afternoon, we began our descent, taking the cogwheel train back to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Before catching our train to Munich, we explored the town a bit. We treated ourselves to some delicious Bavarian pastries at a local bakery while our child played at the park in the center of town.
As the evening train carried us back to Munich, our little adventurer finally gave in to exhaustion, falling asleep in my lap. My partner and I exchanged smiles, reflecting on the day. It had been a perfect mix of adventure, nature, and family time—a day we would cherish forever.
There’s something magical about the mountains, and experiencing it through our child’s eyes made it even more special. Zugspitze had gifted us not just spectacular views but also unforgettable memories.