Alpine Winter Road Trip & Map: Austria, Germany & Switzerland in One Loop 🚗

Kick things off in Munich. It is an easy fly in, fly out city with big car hire depots and plenty of places to pick up last minute winter bits. Use your time here to adjust, test drive your hire car and stock up on snacks before the mountains start hogging your camera roll.

📍 Things to do in Munich

• Wander around Marienplatz and the old town, then drift into nearby streets for Christmas lights if you are here in late November or December

• Explore the English Garden in its winter coat and watch locals still out running like it is not freezing

• Visit one of the big museums or galleries if the weather is grim

• Spend an evening in a traditional beer hall with schnitzel, pretzels and a cheeky stein

🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Pick up a local SIM or an eSIM with a good data bundle before you leave Munich. Offline maps are great, but live traffic and weather updates are worth their weight in strudel on a winter road trip.

Stop 2: Garmisch-Partenkirchen & Zugspitze Region, Germany (1–2 nights) 🏔️

From Munich, drive south to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The mountains suddenly feel close, snow piles up on roofs, and you are firmly in Alpine territory. This is a brilliant first stop if you want a mix of beginner friendly skiing, winter walks and that classic painted-house Bavarian look.

📍 Things to do in Garmisch

• Take the cable car up to Zugspitze on a clear day for huge views across the Alps

• Walk the Partnach Gorge in winter to see frozen waterfalls and icy rock walls

• Stroll around old Partenkirchen with its painted facades and cosy cafés

• Detour to Eibsee, a ridiculously photogenic lake that looks amazing in winter light

👉 Good to know: Car parks for the big cable cars and popular gorges fill quickly on weekends and holidays. Aim for early morning or rock up later in the afternoon for sunset and fewer crowds.

Stop 3: Innsbruck, Austria – City Meets Ski Resort (1–2 nights) 🎿

Carry on over the border into Austria and you hit Innsbruck, a compact city sandwiched between snowy peaks. One minute you are wandering pastel townhouses by the river, the next you are in a cable car heading straight for the clouds.

📍 Things to do in Innsbruck

• Explore the medieval lanes around the Golden Roof and the colourful houses along the Inn River

• Ride the funicular and cable car up the Nordkette for big views and winter hiking trails

• Visit the Bergisel ski jump for city panoramas and a little Olympic history

• Warm up with coffee and kaiserschmarrn (fluffy shredded pancake) in a traditional café

🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Innsbruck can feel properly Arctic once the sun drops, especially in December and January. Take proper thermals, not just one “kind of warm” jumper you secretly hate.

Stop 4: Salzburg & Berchtesgaden Corner, Austria / Germany (1–2 nights) 🎻

From Innsbruck, turn east for Salzburg. Mozart, Baroque churches, a fortress on the hill and a river running through the middle: it ticks all the postcard boxes, with the Alps sitting smugly in the background. It is compact enough that you can do a lot on foot, which is handy when the daylight taps out early.

📍 Things to do in Salzburg

• Ride the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress for snowy rooftop views

• Wander Mirabell Gardens and cross the river into the old town for narrow lanes and bakeries

• Sample the local Christmas markets if your timing lines up

• Day trip to Berchtesgaden and Lake Königssee for steep cliffs, a tiny lakeside chapel and dramatic winter scenery

💡 Fact: Salzburg’s festive markets are some of the oldest in Europe, and the whole city goes big on fairy lights and mulled wine. Plan at least one slow, market-hopping evening.