ik 3 : Top 5 Ski Resorts in Germany

         Today we will talk about Top 5 Ski Resorts in Germany.

What comes to mind when you think of Germany? Classical music, Albert Einstein, and fairytale castles? What about Oktoberfest and the Black Forest? There’s no question that Germany is home to some incredible things. But you might have never associated it with epic ski resorts.  

Head south in Germany, and you’ll find the Alps’ most northern slopes, home to Germany’s highest peak and some insane ski resorts – nearly 700 of them, to be exact. 

If you would like to put on your skis and race down a slope in Germany: let's do it! There are plenty of ski resorts in Hesse, Saxony, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and especially in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

1: Saxony

The federal state of Saxony is known for its many castles and palaces, its enchanting countryside and, of course, its state capital Dresden. But in Saxony you can also enjoy excellent skiing: Between Dresden and Nuremberg lie the Ore Mountains with Saxony's highest mountain, the Fichtelberg. The Ore Mountains are also great for hiking, but in winter the reliably snow-covered northern slopes are occupied by skiers. The slopes all around this 1,215-metre-high mountain are among the best in Saxony. Incidentally, this is also the location of Germany's highest town, the health resort Oberwiesenthal and the number one winter sports area in Saxony. In total, however, skiers have around 70 kilometres of pistes at their disposal. Winter sports destinations in the Ore Mountains also include Lößnitz, Oberlausitz and Schöneck.

2: Lower Saxony

The pretty university town of Göttingen is as much a part of Lower Saxony as Wilhelmshafen on the North Sea and the low mountain range, the Harz. It is northern Germany's biggest winter sports destination. And even if the ski slopes in the northern low mountain range are not as long and steep as the Alps, even advanced skiers will find a number of challenging slopes here.

For the 1936 Winter Olympics, the two German ski resorts Garmisch and Partenkirchen joined forces and became the most famous ski resort in the country. You can fly into Munich or Innsbruck, Austria, both of which are an hour's drive away from the resort.

In the foothills of the German Alps, skiers can enjoy 47 miles of downhill runs and 7 miles of cross-country skiing. This includes the famous Kandahar and Olympic slopes, which are frequently used in competition. The Olympiaschanze, or Olympic ski jumping hill, is well worth seeing. This local landmark was built in 1923 and is still in operation for a New Year's Ski Jumping every year. A total of 13 alpine ski areas with 53 slopes, 39 toboggan runs and 500 kilometres of cross-country ski trails promise plenty of fun. The downhill run for example is particularly long at four kilometres on the Wurmberg, and a cable car leads to the ski centre near Braunlage. You will also find good conditions for skiing or snowboarding in the Upper Harz. Another cable car goes up the Bocksberg near Hahnenklee. There are also several ski lifts on the Sonnenberg near St. Andreasberg. The area around the Snow Dome in Bispingen is also popular. For those who prefer a leisurely ski trek, the snow-covered forests in the Harz Mountains are also ideal.

3: Bavaria

Zugspitze, Hochwanner, Watzmann: Germany's highest mountains are located in the federal state of Bavaria, most notably the 2962-metre-high Zugspitze. No wonder, then, that Bavaria is one of the most important winter sports regions of all. You can look forward to a good 843 kilometres of pistes and around 600 ski lifts. In Germany's highest skiing area around the Zugspitze in the Eastern Alps, 20 kilometres of pistes with guaranteed snow await you. By the way, you can travel up to the ski area by means of an 80-year-old cogwheel railway. Well-known ski areas include the Steinplatte/Winkelmoosalm ski area, Waidring/Reit im Winkel and the Arber ski areas.

From the Alps to the Black Forest, Germany offers some of the best ski resorts and winter sports opportunities in all of Europe. The country features miles of slopes on mountains reaching heights of 1,600 feet. From lightning-fast downhill runs to leisurely cross-country skiing in a stunning snow-covered landscape, German ski resorts are the ideal winter destination and can be quite affordable too.

You can explore world-famous Germany's ski resorts at Garmisch-Partenkirchen and its epic Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany, or skim over the snow-topped ridges of the Black Forest. The German ski season can start as early as October and last all the way until April. If you're traveling during the summertime, many of these ski resorts are also great locations to go hiking and climbing. The Allgäuis also a great place for skiers.

4: Baden-Württemberg

The Black Forest is located in the south of Germany on the border with France. Known for its picturesque villages and beautiful scenery, it provides the perfect backdrop for holidays in both summer and winter. Skiers are also in the right place here, as the Feldberg in the Black Forest is the highest mountain in Baden-Württemberg at just under 1500 metres, followed by the Herzogenhorn at around 1400 metres. Therefore, it is no wonder that the Feldberg is also one of the best ski destinations in the state. 

When you think of Hessen, you might only think of the attractive financial metropolis of Frankfurt am Main. However, the Hessian landscape is also characterised by several mountain ranges and these mountains offer good winter sports opportunities. Whether cross-country skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing or classic skiing, in total, winter sports enthusiasts have around 60 kilometres of pistes at their disposal. The best-known winter sports areas include the Vogelsberg, the Odenwald, the Upland, the Rhön and the Taunus. The longest downhill slopes can be found on the 880-metre-high Grosser Feldberg, the highest summit in the Taunus region. 

5: North Rhine-Westphalia

Particularly attractive for visitors is the Wintersports-Arena in the Sauerland, which stretches from the Sauerland to the Siegerland-Wittgenstein region. With over 120 slopes for skiing, snowboarding and sledges, the region offers the greatest snow fun north of the Alps. In most years, winter sports are possible from December to March on the slopes, most of which can be covered with artificial snow. However, skiing here is not only fun during the day. On 60 floodlit ski pistes there is still a lot of activity until late in the evening, prolonging the skiing fun. Even tobogganing enthusiasts can let off steam here on two of their own floodlit slopes. The cross-country skiing network of over 400 kilometres also offers an incentive. The trails are groomed for classic and free technique. In addition to the winter sports arena, the Eifel and the Bergisches Land are particularly suitable for the whole family with their smaller ski areas and reasonable prices.

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