2 Best Sights in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, The Bavarian Alps

Soaring to 9,718 feet, this is Germany's highest mountain and the number-one attraction in the area. Hard to see from Garmisch-Partenkirchen—and often mistaken for the nearby Alpsspitze—it's worth going up to see the view, and the best way to do that is with a "Zugspitze Round Trip" ticket. From Garmisch you'll take the historic Bayerische Zugspitzbahn cog railway, which trundles all the way up to Zugspitzplatt, about 8,530 feet above sea level. From here, the Gletscherbahn cable car whisks you right to the summit. Once you've taken in the scenic views (on a clear day you can see four countries), you'll descend on the record-breaking Zugspitze cable car—dropping 2 km (1¼ miles) in just 10 minutes—to catch the cog railway back into town.

Perched on a hill overlooking Partenkirchen, this charming old pilgrimage church turned war memorial site is worth the walk (15 minutes up from Ludwigstrasse; 10 minutes back down) for its beautiful 18th-century frescoes by the renowned painter Johann Evangelist Holzer. The numerous memorial plaques combined with the peaceful mountainside location makes this a contemplative stop.