Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Bayerische Zugspitzbahn Bergbahn AG (BZB) starts this year's winter season on Friday, November 28, 2025, with a newly renovated summit cross on the Zugspitze.

Summit cross shines in new gold

The summit cross returns to its place at the start of the winter season, and the Zugspitze is once again complete. “We would like to avoid the sad sight of an abandoned summit without its world-famous landmark in the future,” says Sales and Marketing Manager Klaus Schanda. “As the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn, we see it as our duty to protect the summit cross and keep it as free of stickers as possible in the future.” During the renovation, the stickers were completely removed from the cross and it was then re-gilded.

To prevent stickers from being attached in the future, the summit cross was covered with a protective film during the renovation. “Many people are not aware that attaching stickers constitutes damage to property or a misdemeanor. We will point this out even more clearly in the future. We appeal to visitors' common sense to treat the summit cross with respect,” says the Head of Sales and Marketing.

The second summit cross as a place for stickers

Nevertheless, it will still be possible to document your visit to Germany's highest peak. For this purpose, there is a second summit cross in the summit station exhibition, which has been in place since July. It is accessible at any time, regardless of the weather, and stickers may still be placed on it. With these measures, the BZB hopes that the summit cross will be able to celebrate its 175th birthday next August without stickers.

Ski resort opens with the first slopes

The natural snow ski resort on Germany's highest mountain is opening the Sonnenkar chairlift and the Wetterwandeck chairlift at the start of the season. Three adjacent runs (slopes 3, 7, 8) will be open for winter sports enthusiasts. Around 60 cm of natural snow cover awaits here.

Pedestrians and winter day-trippers can explore the chapel around the Sonnalpin restaurant and, from December 27, the igloo village. The family and glacier toboggan runs are already open.

The Zugspitze day ticket (pedestrians and skiers) costs € 69.00 for adults. As part of the family discount, one adult and two children up to and including the age of 18 pay € 120 for a day of skiing together. The TwinTicket (2 days within one season, Garmisch-Classic or Zugspitze freely selectable) is a discounted offer for skiers: online, the TwinTicket costs € 122, or € 61 per day of skiing.

The Garmisch-Classic ski area is expected to open for the season on Saturday, December 13.