Thrusting above the city skyline, the snow-capped Bavarian Alps are easily reachable from Munich, making this an incomparable base for an active winter escape. Guests at The Charles Hotel can begin the day with breakfast in bed, enjoy a scenic transfer to snow-swept peaks for a day of alpine adventures, and be back in time for après-ski cocktails at Sophia’s. Here’s a selection of our favourite snowsporting destinations within easy reach of the city.
Hiking
For a family-friendly trek, discover the dramatic Partnachklamm in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The only gorge that’s open year-round, visiting in winter is an opportunity to marvel at frozen waterfalls, frosted trees and enchanting bridges dripping with icicles along this easy 800-metre route.
For adults seeking a longer climb that’s nonetheless accomplishable in under a day, pull on some sturdy boots to ascend Hirschburg. Crunch through fresh powder snow, greeting local hikers along the way, and savour expansive views over the lake from the peak—a just reward for traversing 1,668 metres.
Expert hikers are spoiled for choice in the German Alps but for a real challenge, we recommend the Rumer Spitze. Towering over Innsbruck on the Austrian-German border, this behemoth rises to 2,445 metres at the summit and offers a two-day adventure for even the most experienced.
Sledding
There are several gentle inclines in and around Munich. Ideal for smaller sledders and novices, the Englischer Garten’s popular mini slope is just 15 meters high and prettily crowned by the Monopteros. Alternatively, Olympiaberg, Munich’s highest urban slope at 50 metres, offers a thrill for both adults and children with snow-tubing alongside its more sedate activities.
Make a day trip of your sledding adventure at Spitzingsee, an hour from the city by train or exclusive transfer, which our Concierge is happy to arrange. Rent a sled at the hut, which also serves delicious weisswurst, and speed down this exhilarating, snow-covered track alongside gleeful, adrenaline-loving locals.
Skiing and snowboarding
There are quite literally hundreds of ski and snow resorts in Bavaria. Highlights within 90 minutes include the popular Alpsee-Grünten, offering 20 kilometres of pistes; Oberjoch, almost always blanketed in natural snow, with descents beginning at over 1,200 metres; and Dammkar, Germany’s longest ski route at seven kilometres.
The inimitable must-ski is the mighty Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain at 3,000 metres. Its two ski areas, the World Cup downhill run and cross-country network, are reachable by a charming, vintage cogwheel railway offering breath-taking views during the ascent. There’s no feeling quite like standing on the pinnacle looking out over 400 mountain peaks in four countries with blue skies above you and sparkling snow as far as the eye can see.
Book our Zugspitze ski stay at The Charles Hotel this winter and experience not only the exhilaration of a visit to the peak, but the sparkling beauty of our Baccarat Christmas tree decorations. Email reservations.thecharles@roccofortehotels.com or call +49 89 544 555 1430.
Paris is always a good idea. Except, perhaps, when it’s hosting the Olympic Summer Games, and the usual tourist throng looks set to multiply almost prohibitively. Of course, the Games are exciting, but if wading through crowds feels like a marathon effort, try a cultural relay around one of these stunning European cities instead.
Yet, just a short journey from the city’s cobblestone lanes, Edinburgh’s sandy shores offer a serene, and salty, escape. Within just an hour’s drive from The Balmoral, discover our selection of Edinburgh’s finest beaches, and whittle away those languid summer days with cool dips, fish and chips, and stirring sea views.
After two decades of success with his innovative take on Japanese cuisine, international restaurateur Rainer Becker is bringing Zuma to Germany for the first time with a hotly anticipated summer pop-up at The Charles Hotel. Becker, who honed his skills at Michelin-starred restaurants in Germany before falling in love with Japanese food in Tokyo, returns to his native country 22 years after launching the first Zuma in London.
