Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria

It’ll be no surprise that Garmisch-Partenkirchen, home of Germany’s highest mountain, Zugspitze, and host of the 1936 Winter Olympics offers world-class ski runs, as well as the opportunity for a range of other winter sports such as tobogganing. The Hexenkessel snow park features jibs, jumps, boxes and rails to give freestyle snowboarders and skiers a space to play and work on tricks.

The Bavarian Alps’ rugged mountainous terrain means it boasts a mix of challenging slopes, serene, snow-covered valleys and breathtaking panoramic views. There are numerous annual World Cup skiing competitions held on Garmisch’s slopes. Winter sports aficionados shouldn’t pass up the chance to watch the world’s best, or even try out the Kandahar downhill run themselves, which is the official FIS race course.

Oberstdorf, Bavaria

A little further west in the Allgäu, still neighbouring the Austrian border, is the region of Oberstdorf, an area known for its traditional Alpine villages and vast snowfields. The Nebelhorn, an impressive peak and prominent skiing destination, is far less busy than Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and as a result, offers a sense of calm tranquillity along its pristine slopes surrounded by fairy-tale perfect landscapes.

There are over 130km of slopes for skiing and snowboarding, over 70km for cross-country skiing, and more than 140km of winter hiking and snowshoe trails in the region. The ski jumping world cup is held in the region, too, and through the rest of the season, you can watch training sessions at the Orlen Arena.

There’s a calm vibe here (no all-night aprés ski parties), instead, there are numerous wooden-mountain-huts serving up wholesome Bavarian cuisine (think Weisswurst, Knödel and Kaiserschmarrn)...

Feldberg, Baden-Wütteberg

This is where Germany’s first ski club was founded, back in 1892, so it’s not surprising that there are extensive slopes here (27 different ski areas to be exact). Feldberg is tucked within the enchanting Black Forest, meaning trails weave through dense, snow-laden pine forests.

The energy here is very family-friendly thanks to the region’s wide slopes, allowing long turns, and the numerous ski schools; though there are also lively apres-ski opportunities, too. But the area is probably best for beginner and intermediate skiers, as there are limited slopes for those seeking a greater challenge and thrill.

Winterberg, North-Rhein-Westphalia

Situated amid the Rothaargebirge hills in Sauerland, Winterberg offers a well-rounded winter sports experience on a small scale at affordable prices. With just 23km of slopes, this is more of an area for beginners or lower intermediates - or those looking for a quick downhill hit, whether on skis or a snowboard.

In addition, it features a ski jump, a bobsled track and cross-country ski routes, as well as the West German Winter Sports Museum, should you wish to extend your knowledge of the sport (or hide from any sudden snow downfalls)! While it’s landscape isn’t as impressive as other German mountain ranges, the slopes are kept to a high standard and a day or two here is definitely worth it (take our Founder Emily's word for it, it was her first German ski slope experience!).

Willingen, Hessen

Hessen’s best-known winter sports areas include the Vogelsberg, the Odenwald, the Upland, the Rhön and the Taunus. But the low mountain range of Willingen, in the heart of the Sauerland region, is both quieter and larger (quieter except perhaps when the FIS Ski Jump World Cup takes place).

Throughout the season, there’s a lively atmosphere across the area thanks to the good infrastructure for skiers and snowboarders, as well as tobogganers, bi-athletes cross-country skiers, winter hikers and ice skaters, and even those looking for winter horse rides. In short, the diversity of winter sports on offer makes Willingen a great choice for those travelling with kids or those travelling in groups.

Braunlage-Wurmberg, Lower Saxony

Nestled in the Harz Mountains, just 3.5 hours from Berlin and 2 hours from Leipzig, Braunlage-Wurmberg is northern Germany’s go-to ski area for a short but sweet weekend of snow sports.

Thanks to its snow-covered trails that wind through tranquil forests, cross-country skiing and winter hiking are a must. Along some paths, you can take in Brocken’s peak.

While the number of trails for skiers and snowboarders is a little limited and better suited to beginners and intermediates, numerous restaurants are scattered through the area, perfect for a lazy Sunday ski with lots of stops for hot chocolate and warming bites, plus some offer views of the toboggan run and ski jump area.

Spitzingsee-Tegernsee, Bavaria

Spitzingsee-Tegernsee has a spectacular winter landscape thanks to its two namesakes. The Spitzingsee lake often freezes over in the winter, too. Another perk to the area is that on Thursdays and Fridays, the slopes are lit by floodlights, allowing skiers and snowboarders to hit the slopes until late in the evening.

Sudelfeld, Bavaria

Spanning from Bayrischzell to Oberaudorf, Sudelfeld stands out as one of the largest continuous ski areas in Germany. Skiers and snowboarders of all levels can traverse expansive slopes while overlooking the Bavarian Alps’s peaks.