Your Guide to 10 Things to Do in Mittenwald, Bavarian Alps
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Sitting at the foot of the Karwendel Mountain range, Mittenwald is a stunning alpine village you won’t want to miss.
Its streets are adorned with Lüftlmalerei, and the surrounding alpine scenery is absolutely breathtaking. The village offers plenty of outdoor activities, along with a rich heritage and cultural events that make it even more special. Plus, the natural attractions nearby—like Hummock Meadows, Ski Route Dammkar, and Leutasch Gorge—take the Mittenwald experience to a whole new level.
Let me take you through all the must-see attractions and experiences I think are worth checking out if you visit Mittenwald.
Mittenwald is known not just for its Lüftlmalerei and beautiful scenery but also for its violins.
For over 300 years, it’s been a leading center of violin-making in Germany. The Klotz family, famous for their exceptional skill, started this tradition. Today, Mittenwald violins are admired worldwide for their outstanding quality and rich sound. It’s even nicknamed the “Village of a Thousand Violins!”
If you’re interested in the history of violin-making, you should check out the Violin Making Museum in Mittenwald. Housed in one of the village’s oldest and most charming buildings, the museum has been around since 1930.
The museum gives you a closer look at the craft of violin-making and how it has changed over time. You’ll see an impressive collection of instruments, especially Mittenwald violins from the Baroque era, and even get to watch a violin maker in action. The museum also includes historical films and audio samples for an immersive experience.
The Violin Making Museum is tucked away in Mittenwald’s picturesque medieval center, right on Ballenhausgasse, the same street as the Church of Saint Peter and Paul. To learn more, you can check out the museum’s official website, where you’ll find all the details you need, including visiting hours and a virtual tour.
Every time I see Altstadt Mittenwald, it takes me straight back to my childhood.
It reminds me of a storybook I used to love about King Midas and his Golden Touch. The illustrations looked just like Mittenwald’s Lüftlmalerei, with their hand-painted charm. I’d show you the book, but I gave it to another kid about 20 years ago. Thinking about it now makes me feel kind of old!
Yes, when you’re in Mittenwald’s old town, you’ll walk down streets lined with beautiful murals. While you’re exploring, there are three spots you definitely shouldn’t miss if you want to see the best murals: Ballenhausgasse, Obermarkt, and Prof.-Schreyögg-Platz, which is near the Geigenstatue.
If you’re walking from the train station toward the center of the village on Bahnhofstrasse, you’ll probably first reach Hochstrasse, another vibrant street in Mittenwald. Then, you’ll come to the town’s main square, where the 14th-century church is located. From there, you can visit the three spots I mentioned:
- Ballenhausgasse is the street to the north of the church
- Obermarkt is the village’s main street located south of the church
- Prof.-Schreyögg-Platz is the square west of the church.
On Obermarkt, the main street of Mittenwald Old Town, you’ll find most of the Lüftlmalerei, with some murals dating back 250 years. These murals usually show the favorite saints of the house owners, their professions, and scenes from daily life in Mittenwald.
Before you explore the streets, take a moment to admire the murals at the Church of Saint Peter and Paul – I love their illusionist style! Inside, you’ll find a stunning Baroque interior, with the beautiful dome painting as the standout feature.
Visiting Mittenwald gives you the chance to go from the village straight to the mountains. You can easily do this using the Karwendelbahn cable car, which is the second highest in Germany. The cable car station is located just east of the village, and if you’re arriving by train, it’s only a 15-minute walk from the station.
Once you reach the station, you can hop on a cable car for an unforgettable ride up to the Karwendel mountain range. In just a few minutes, you’ll go from the valley to 2,000 meters, where you’ll get some of the best views in Mittenwald.
At the top, there’s a mountain restaurant and an info center where you can grab a bite and learn more about the area. The restaurant serves local dishes, and I recommend trying the wheat beer or Kaiserschmarrn, a thick, chopped pancake. For an even better experience, enjoy your meal on the restaurant’s sun terrace while soaking in the amazing mountain views.
Are you afraid of heights but don’t want to miss the incredible views of the Karwendels? No problem! The Karwendelbahn Information Center has got you covered.
The “Bergwelt Karwendel” is a unique building shaped like a giant telescope, letting you enjoy stunning views of the Isar Valley from 1,300 meters above. Its huge glass window gives you a clear, safe view of the entire valley, so you don’t have to worry about heights.
Also, did you know that the Karwendelbahn is the largest nature reserve in the Eastern Alps? The Karwendelbahn Information Center is the perfect place to learn more about this huge nature park. You can explore interesting facts about the local plants and animals. The Information Center is open during the Karwendel cable car’s operating hours, and the best part is, admission is free!
For more info about the Karwendelbahn, check out its official website. You’ll find updates on the cable car’s status, a live view from the top station, details on hiking trails, and everything else you need to plan your visit to Karwendel.
The upper station of the Karwendel cable car is the starting point for several hiking trails in Mittenwald-Karwendel. These trails are suitable for all skill levels, so whether you’re a beginner or an experienced adventurer, you’ll find a hike that suits you.
Before heading to the top, make sure to grab a map and route details from the Karwendel ticket office in the valley. If you’d like a guide, you can book a tour through the Alpenwelt-Karwendel website.
If you’ve never hiked or climbed a mountain before, now’s the perfect time to try! It might feel tough and tiring at first, but the rewards make it totally worth it. In my opinion, there’s no better feeling in travel than reaching the top of a mountain. The sense of achievement and the stunning views are something you’ll want to experience over and over. It’s truly life-changing.
There are several hiking trails in Karwendel that start at the top station of the Karwendelbahn cable car:
| Trail | Duration (hours) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Passamani Panoramaweg | 1 | Easy |
| Dammkarsteig to the valley | 4-5 | Moderately easy |
| Karwendelsteig | 3-4 | Moderately difficult |
| Heinrich-Noe-Steig | 5-7 | Difficult |
| Mittenwalder Klettersteig | 7-9 | Difficult |
If you’re planning a day trip, check out the Passamani Panoramaweg. As the name suggests, this scenic trail starts right above the upper station and loops around the Karwendel basin, offering even more amazing views.
Every Tuesday, there’s a free guided tour of the Passamani Panoramaweg. The tour lasts about an hour and starts at 10:45 a.m. (or 11:45 a.m. in winter) on the sun terrace next to the restaurant at the upper station.
From the top station of the Karwendelbahn, you can enter a 400-meter pedestrian tunnel that takes you to one of Mittenwald’s top attractions: the Dammkar Ski Route.
This route is a dream come true for winter sports lovers. As Germany’s longest ski run, it attracts experienced skiers and freeriders with its wide, steep slopes covered in deep snow. However, it’s not for beginners. You’ll need strong skiing skills, good fitness, and the ability to handle unpredictable snow conditions.
It’s hard to believe, but the Dammkar Ski Route stretches for 7 kilometers and drops 1,300 meters in elevation, all the way down to Mittenwald. Many skiers even consider it one of the top five most impressive slopes in the Alps!
When summer comes, the area becomes a hiker’s paradise. You can take in the amazing alpine views on foot, try rock climbing, or challenge yourself on a via ferrata. For safety tips, rules, and more details, check out the guidelines on the official Karwendelbahn website.
What I love most about visiting the mountains is the peace and calm they bring. The mountains have a special way of clearing your mind and making you forget about your worries. But in Mittenwald, the mountains offer even more! Here, you get a perfect mix of peaceful surroundings, amazing food, and cozy places to stay. It’s the kind of getaway many of us dream of, right?
So, where can you experience this? In Mittenwald’s mountain huts. If you take the Karwendelbahn cable car to the top, there are three huts within an hour’s hike that you can check out: Mittenwalder Hütte, Dammkarhütte (via Dammkar), and Brunnsteinhütte (via Heinrich-Noe-Steig).
Each of these huts is accessible via different hiking trails. For example, you can reach Mittenwalder Hütte by taking a trail that starts at the Karwendel cable car base station.
The Mittenwalder Hütte, sitting high on the cliffs of the Karwendel massif, offers amazing views of the Alpenwelt Karwendel region. At 1,500 meters above sea level, it’s the perfect place to look down on Mittenwald, which is just below the hut.
Facing west, it’s also a great spot for watching sunsets. As the sky fades from red to dark, the town below lights up, making it a perfect way to end the day. The hut serves homemade cakes and tasty meals, giving you the energy you need for the next hike. You can enjoy your food on the large sun terrace while soaking in the breathtaking scenery.
The hut is open daily, but the best time to visit is from May to mid-October. If you plan to stay or visit the Mittenwalder Hütte, it’s a good idea to check ahead. You can find contact details on their official website. For those interested in a mountain tour to the hut, more info is available on the Alpenwelt-Karwendel website.
As the name suggests, Dammkarhütte is a mountain hut in Dammkar, sitting at 1,667 meters. Even though it’s surrounded by a huge rock wall, you can still enjoy views of the valley below.
What makes Dammkarhütte special compared to other huts in Mittenwald is its deep connection to alpinism. It was originally built to shelter the first alpinists in the Karwendel mountains. The hut serves tasty Bavarian dishes and refreshing drinks. Like the Mittenwalder Hütte, you can enjoy your meal on the sunny terrace with a great view. It also offers a beautiful spot to watch the sunset.
For more information about Dammkarhutte, you can visit its official website. Mountain tours can be arranged through the alpenwelt-karwendel.de website.
Another mountain hut you can reach from the Karwendelbahn top station is Brunnsteinhütte. It’s a popular spot for families with kids, thanks to its playground filled with alpine animal figures that children will love.
You can learn more about Brunnsteinhutte and read announcements from its official website. Here is the link to the Alpenwelt-Karwendel website to book a tour to visit this cozy mountain hut.
In my opinion, a trip to Mittenwald isn’t complete without visiting the amazing Leutasch Gorge, the longest accessible gorge in the Eastern Limestone Alps. You can easily reach it on foot from Mittenwald, with a walk that takes about 15 to 30 minutes.
Here are four great reasons to visit Leutasch Gorge:
- It’s a natural wonder millions of years in the making. As you hike through rock walls over 70 meters high, you’ll get a true sense of the power and beauty of nature.
- The gorge features 970 meters of safe, meshed steel walkways. Along the way, you’ll find informative panels about the gorge’s ecology, as well as myths and games for kids.
- The walkways are more than 20 meters above the gorge floor. Looking down at the ground and the river below is an exciting experience! If you’re afraid of heights, this could be a great chance to face that fear.
- You can explore parts of the gorge for free! However, there’s a small fee to access the path that leads to a stunning 23-meter waterfall.
Leutaschklamm Gorge is divided into three sections. The following table provides a summary of what you can expect when visiting the gorge:
| Part | Highlights | Length (meters) | Duration (minutes) |
| Klammgeistweg | The most spectacular part. The gorge’s myths, geology, and ecology are learned from panel boards. | 3000 | 90 |
| Koboldpfad | Higher and more thrilling paths. Learn about myths of the ‘Kobolden‘ (Kobolds) | 1900 | 60 |
| Wasserfallsteig | 23-meter high waterfall | 400 | 20 |
A highlight of the Leutaschklamm Gorge is its panoramic bridge. From this vantage point, you can clearly see how the gorge meanders, carving its way through the landscape. The view also includes the stunning backdrop of ice-capped mountains.
You can find the latest visiting information to Leutasch Gorge from their official website.
Mittenwald is a place with breathtaking views everywhere you look. From the steep ravines to the towering mountains, there’s always something stunning to capture. One spot you shouldn’t miss is the Buckelwiesen Alpine Meadow.
What makes it stand out? Unlike most meadows in the Alps, this one has a unique, bumpy landscape with lots of lumps scattered around. These odd bumps give the area a strange, almost magical feel, making it an interesting place to explore.
While beautiful meadows are common in the Alps, the Buckelwiesen Alpine Meadows in Mittenwald are truly special.
They’ve won several awards, including a conservation diploma from the European Heritage Europa Nostra Awards. This recognition highlights the hard work of local farmers who have carefully maintained and preserved this unique landscape.
Hummock Meadows can be found all over Mittenwald. You might come across one along the Isar River or near the Leutasch Gorge, but one of the best examples is near Kapelle Maria Konigin, just north of Lake Lauter (Lautersee). The meadows here perfectly match the chapel and the mountains in the background, creating a picture-perfect scene, especially on clear, sunny days.
The experience gets even better when you see a goatherder leading hundreds of goats into the meadows. The sound of their bells jingling adds a peaceful, countryside vibe to the area.
You can drive to visit the hummock meadows in Mittenwald, but I’d recommend hiking or renting a bike instead. This way, you can really enjoy the nature around you and feel its refreshing energy while exploring the meadows.
The best time to visit is in the spring when the fields are covered in colorful flowers like crocus, birds-eye primrose, gentian, and other alpine plants. It’s a beautiful sight — you’ll definitely want to snap some photos!
After exploring the mountains and gorges, and taking walks through the town and meadows, you might want to relax by the lakes. Mittenwald has eight lakes, all marked on the map. From west to east, these are the lakes: Ferchensee, Lautersee, Wildensee, Luttensee, Schmalsee, and the Soiernseen, a group of three lakes in the Karwendel Mountains near Mittenwald.
Lautersee, in particular, is a great place to relax and have fun. You can spend a laid-back afternoon enjoying beers and sausages at the beer garden right by the lakeshore. If you’re up for some adventure, you can rent a kayak and paddle across the sparkling, crystal-clear water.
You can also choose to stay by the lake, where you can enjoy peaceful views of the water with the stunning mountains in the background. For more details and bookings, check out the Hotel Lautersee website. Lautersee is just a 10-minute drive from Mittenwald, or you can take a 40-minute hike from town to get there.
One thing I’ve really learned from my travels is that local events and festivals are always fun, or at least interesting, to check out. You can find event schedules for Mittenwald on the Alpenwelt-Karwendel website.
But there are two events you definitely shouldn’t miss, especially if you’re there during the right time. The first is the Mittenwalder Musiksommer, and the second is the Bringing in of the Sheep, Goats, and Cattle.
Planning a trip to Mittenwald? Check out my practical tips to make the most of your visit. You’ll find info on how to get there, how long to stay, and even a quick comparison with Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a town just 20 minutes away.
Mittenwald is one of WanderInEurope’s top 10 bucket list destinations in Southern Germany, along with Lichtenstein Castle, Bamberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Würzburg, Neuschwanstein Castle, Berchtesgaden, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the Black Forest, and Oberammergau. Be sure to check them all out!
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