Guides Zugspitze

How much does a Zugspitze hike cost? Railways, huts, parking (as of October 2026)

Updated 15 October 2026 · All facts with sources at the end of the article

You walk up, but you still pay: almost always for the ride down, often for a hut and usually for parking or the journey there. Below are the prices that the railways, local councils and DAV huts publish themselves. All prices are for adults, as of October 2026. Prices change every season, so check them on the pages listed under Sources before your trip.

Costs at a glance

Item Price (as of October 2026) Note
Bayerische Zugspitzbahn, single ride €46.00 includes one ride on the Gletscherbahn
Bayerische Zugspitzbahn, return €78.00 “Zugspitze Ticket”
Tiroler Zugspitzbahn, single ride €43.00 summit ticket “Zugspitze”
Tiroler Zugspitzbahn, return €66.00 summit ticket “Zugspitze”
“Gatterl” hiking ticket €61.00 valid for 4 days from purchase
Ehrwalder Almbahn, single ride €17.00 return €26.00
DAV hut, dormitory €18 (member) non-members €35 to €49
Parking in Ehrwald (Almbahn, Tiroler Zugspitzbahn) €5.00 per day
Parking Hammersbach (P2) €13.00 up to 12 hours

Important: the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn summer fares are only valid until 22 November 2026. Winter fares apply after that. The Gatterl ticket is only listed at its summer price until 8 November 2026.

The ride down: which railway, which ticket

Most people walk up and ride down. If you climb on foot, you only need a single ride.

On the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn a single ride costs €46.00. You can take either the cog railway or the Seilbahn Zugspitze cable car. One ride on the Gletscherbahn is already included. That helps if you arrive across the Zugspitzplatt and take the Gletscherbahn up to the summit. When you buy the ticket, check how far down the valley it takes you. That depends on where you left your car.

On the Austrian side a single ride on the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn costs €43.00. It takes you down to Ehrwald. Make sure you end up on the right side of the mountain. If you parked in Garmisch, you do not want to arrive in Ehrwald.

The Gatterl ticket

There is a dedicated hiking ticket for the Gatterl route. It costs €61.00 and is valid for 4 days from the date of purchase. According to the Ehrwalder Almbahn, it includes:

  • one ride up on the Ehrwalder Almbahn
  • one ride on the Gletscherbahn to the summit
  • one ride down on the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn
  • the bus back to the Almbahn valley station
  • entry to two museums at the summit and the valley station

The 4 days are handy if you stay overnight at the Knorrhütte.

Huts: member or not, and cash

Prices are per night for adults. Members pay the member rate from age 26; younger guests pay less. You have to show a valid membership card at check-in, otherwise you pay the non-member rate.

Hut Dormitory member / non-member Shared room member / non-member Payment
Reintalangerhütte €18 / €35 €30 / €49 cash only
Knorrhütte €18 / €35 €30 / €49 cash only
Münchner Haus €18 / €49 no rooms listed debit card (EC) accepted

What you need to know:

  • The Reintalangerhütte and the Knorrhütte do not take cards. Bring enough cash.
  • The Münchner Haus accepts EC debit cards, but still advises bringing some cash.
  • Beds at the Münchner Haus are reserved for people walking the Jubiläumsgrat ridge the next day. It is not an overnight option for an ordinary Zugspitze hike.
  • A hut sleeping bag liner is compulsory at all three huts.
  • Bookings are online only. Reservations for 2027 open in mid-December.

The 2026 hut season is over. The Knorrhütte has announced the end of its season, and the Reintalangerhütte is closed for winter until May 2027.

Parking at the usual starting points

Starting point Route Price (as of October 2026)
Olympia ski stadium, Garmisch-Partenkirchen Reintal paid, no price given on the Partnachklamm page
Hammersbach car park (P2), Grainau Höllental €13 up to 12 h, €19 up to 24 h, €25 up to 48 h
Zugspitzstraße car park (P1), Grainau Höllental €10 up to 12 h, €15 up to 24 h, €19 up to 48 h
Eibsee Seilbahn Zugspitze depends on how long you stay; at the Zugspitzbahn car park also on whether you buy a railway ticket
Ehrwalder Almbahn valley station Gatterl €5 per day, multi-storey car park €10 per day
Tiroler Zugspitzbahn valley station, Obermoos Stopselzieher €5 per day, paid via the Parkster app

In summer the car parks at the Eibsee often fill up quickly. The Zugspitzbahn advises arriving before 10am on sunny days. At the car parks in Ehrwald you are not allowed to sleep in your vehicle.

By train and bus

The Deutschland-Ticket costs €63 a month in 2026. It is valid on buses, underground, S-Bahn and regional trains across Germany, but not on IC, EC or ICE trains.

At the Zugspitze it only helps a little:

  • On the cog railway it is only valid on the valley section between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Grainau.
  • To the Eibsee and the Zugspitze you need a separate ticket.
  • It is not valid on the cable cars, and it gives no discount on the mountain railway ticket.

The cog railway station is about 200 metres from the DB station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Local buses 1 and 2 run to the ski stadium in about 10 minutes. In Ehrwald, a bus runs from the station to the Almbahn and the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn in the summer and winter seasons. Check the journey planner to see whether your ticket is valid on the Austrian side.

Ways to save

  • As a DAV member you pay €18 instead of €35 for a dormitory bed.
  • If you walk up, buy a single ride only.
  • If you take the Gatterl route, look at the Gatterl ticket. It bundles the ride up, the ride down and the bus.
  • If you arrive by train, you save the parking fee. You still pay for the mountain railways separately.

When the railways run and the huts are open is covered in the guide Best time for the Zugspitze. The Zugspitze preparation pack already sets out the journey, parking and railways for your route.

Sources

All pages accessed on 15 October 2026.

Read on