Mittenwald is a town of about 8,000 people nestled an hour north of Munich in Upper Bavaria (Oberbayern), just a few kilometers from the Austrian border. The town is surrounded by mountains of stark beauty: treed and green until they turn into craggy, limestone rock faces rising into the sky. It is a great place to spend a few days, unwind, get sporty, relax and enjoy nature.

Painted houses:
The town of Mittenwald is well-known for the paintings that adorn the exteriors of many of its buildings. In fact, the fronts of some buildings are almost completely covered in paintings. The murals tell about the history and religion of the town. Keep your eyes open as you stroll through the streets. You will find these paintings not only in the pedestrian zone but also on some houses. The most significant building is the Catholic church of Saints Peter and Paul, which also has a painted exterior.

Accomodation:
There are many hotels to choose from, just search for “Mittenwald hotels” using any search engine. They all have a wonderfully typical Bavarian -Alps look about them: White exteriors with lots of wood, including the overhanging roofs, and balconies which are bursting with flowers in summer. I recommend choosing a hotel closer to the small town center for ease of window shopping and strolling through the quaint streets. Some hotels are higher up on the surrounding hillside and may not be suitable for all fitness levels.

Most hotels offer rates per person per room and include breakfast. You can also get a price that includes dinner, called half-pension (it includes both breakfast and dinner). Be aware that you will have to pay the half-pension price regardless of whether or not you actually eat dinner at the hotel, and that the dinner hour is often fixed, as smaller hotels are not staffed to serve dinner over a span of several hours.

Activities:
Skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and “winter walking” – right on your doorstep!
Hiking and wandering in summer – there are trails surrounding Mittenwald and throughout the entire region. Bring hiking boots, walking sticks, and weather gear just in case the weather turns. And don’t forget to drink lots of water. It is harder work than it might seem!

Sites and Attractions:
Violin museum (Geigenbaumuseum) – Mittenwald is home to a museum that celebrates violin making and its history in the town. The town is currently home to nine violin-making masters.

Leutasch Gorge (Leutascher Gleisterklamm) – Goblins are said to inhabit this deep gorge with 800 meters of man-made metal walkways suspended from the sides of the rock walls over the rushing water.

Karwendel cable car (Karwendelbahn) – This cable car takes you high up the mountain, to over 2200 meters. Enjoy the panoramic view, the restaurant, the terrace and hiking/wandering opportunities. It is pricey at 22 euros return, but your Mittenwald guest card will get you a slight discount. (Tip: Always bring your guest card with you for discounts at many of the attactions. The guest card is available from your hotel when you register, upon your arrival.)

Kranzberg chairlift (Kranzberg Sesselbahn) – This “chairlift for one” is less expensive than the cable car, at about 7 euros. Enjoy the trails, Alpine meadows and lakes from the 1200 meter drop-off point. Walk back down to Mittenwald via one of the marked trails.

Getting there:
The easiest way to get to Mittenwald by car is to drive towards Munich on the highway (autobahn): the A8 from the west, the A9 from the north, and the A92 if you are coming in from the east. Then take the A95 towards Garmish-Partenkirchen and follow the signs to Mittenwald (20 km).
Taking the train may be the most hassle-free way of getting to Mittenwald. Take a fast train (ICE or IC) to Munich and then a regional train (RB) to Mittenwald. The regional train takes about an hour. Alternatively, take a fast train to Garmish-Partenkirchen and a 20-minute regional train ride to Mittenwald.

Side trips:
Munich, one of Germany’s most popular tourist destinations, and home to Oktoberfest, is an hour back down the highway (about 100 km).
Garmish-Partenkirchen is about 20 minutes away and is a departure point for the cogwheel train to the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain.
Innsbruck, Austria, is a mere 36 km away by car or about an hour by train, at a cost of 15 euros return.