January in Garmisch-Partenkirchen — the year's strongest window
Best window · 9.4/10January averages -2°C (28°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 70 mm of water-equivalent precipitation this is a snowy month at resort level — that is snowpack, not lost days — with about 10 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Garmisch-Partenkirchen at 9.4/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
February ranks 2nd of 12 for Garmisch-Partenkirchen — one of the best windows
Best window · 8.7/10February averages -1°C (30°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 65 mm of water-equivalent precipitation this is a snowy month at resort level — that is snowpack, not lost days — with about 11 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.2 hours of daylight.
A 8.7/10 puts this among the year's best months in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (2nd of 12); only January scores higher, at 9.4/10.
Figure on peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
March in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6/10At 3°C (37°F) this is proper winter weather in March: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
75 mm of water-equivalent precipitation makes this a snowy month at resort level; what falls stays as snow, with about 14 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12 hours of daylight.
That is 6/10 on the same scale — 5th of 12 months, versus 9.4/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Garmisch-Partenkirchen — 3.4 points higher on the same scale.
April in Garmisch-Partenkirchen — off-season conditions
Hardest · 1.7/10April averages 7°C (45°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 85 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 16 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.5 hours of daylight.
It scores 1.7/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.4/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination. That combination — decent conditions at the lowest rates of the year — is the best value window on this page.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
Flexible dates? January scores 7.7 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
May in Garmisch-Partenkirchen — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 1.7/10Temperatures hover around 12°C (54°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
120 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only about 18 days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.
That is 1.7/10 on the same scale — 7th of 12 months, versus 9.4/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Garmisch-Partenkirchen — 7.7 points higher on the same scale.
June in Garmisch-Partenkirchen — off-season conditions
Hardest · 1.7/10June averages 15°C (59°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
At 150 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 18 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 1.7/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 9.4/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? January scores 7.7 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
July in Garmisch-Partenkirchen — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 1.7/10July averages 17°C (63°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Monthly rainfall reaches 160 mm — wet for this destination — but about 20 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 1.7/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.4/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? January scores 7.7 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
August in Garmisch-Partenkirchen — off-season conditions
Hardest · 1.7/10Temperatures hover around 17°C (63°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
140 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 20 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 1.7/10 on the same scale — 10th of 12 months, versus 9.4/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Garmisch-Partenkirchen — 7.7 points higher on the same scale.
September in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: expect compromises
Hardest · 1.7/10Temperatures hover around 13°C (55°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
105 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only about 16 days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.
That is 1.7/10 on the same scale — 11th of 12 months, versus 9.4/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a waterproof shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Garmisch-Partenkirchen — 7.7 points higher on the same scale.
October in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: expect compromises
Hardest · 1.5/10October averages 8°C (46°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 80 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 13 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.8 hours of daylight.
It scores 1.5/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 9.4/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
Flexible dates? January scores 7.9 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
November in Garmisch-Partenkirchen — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.5/10November averages 2°C (36°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 75 mm of water-equivalent precipitation this is a snowy month at resort level — that is snowpack, not lost days — with about 9 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.2 hours of daylight.
It scores 6.5/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 9.4/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
Flexible dates? January scores 2.9 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
December in Garmisch-Partenkirchen — one of the year's strongest windows (3rd)
Best window · 8.6/10At -1°C (30°F) this is proper winter weather in December: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
75 mm of water-equivalent precipitation makes this a snowy month at resort level; what falls stays as snow, with about 9 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 8.5 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Garmisch-Partenkirchen at 8.6/10 (3rd of 12), just behind January at 9.4/10.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
