Tegelberg Mountain Day Trip

The first thing that struck us about Tegelbahn was that it was higher, whiter, and lovelier: a sort of winter wonderland. A blanket of snow greeted us the moment we left the Tegelbahn – Tegelberg Gondola Station and from there it only got whiter. However, it was old snow, slippery and hard, uncomfortable to walk on, and impossible to build a snowman with. Soon, we started missing the soft powdery snow of Breitenberg and ended up staying here for only a few hours.

View from the panorama restaurant at Tegelberg

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The white beauty of Tegelberg

The views from the Tegelberg were simply magnificent. It is believed to be King Ludwig II’s favourite mountain. The slopes of Tegelberg are challenging and it is no wonder that this mountain is very popular among winter sports lovers. A ski route leads from the mountain station all the way down to the valley and there is a special illuminated night trail that goes directly below the Neuschwanstein Castle. It is perfect for active cross-country skiers and Tegelberg is also famous for paragliding. For more sedentary lifestyle lovers like me, there is the pleasure of watching the beauty of the German Alps while feasting on Bavarian specialties at the large sun terrace of the panorama restaurant at Tegelberg. Incidentally, there is also a cozier and more rustic wooden cabin restaurant – Tegelberghaus, the former hunting lodge of King Ludwig II – near the panorama restaurant. It offers Bavarian specialties, fresh white sausages, pretzels, and beer. Food is served on old-fashioned ponderous wooden tables by bluff-mannered waiters. The weather being a bit unpredictable on the day of our visit, we simply relaxed at the sun terrace, took in the beautiful views, and enjoyed Bavarian specialties like Germknödel – a fluffy yeast dough dumpling, filled with spiced plum jam and served with melted butter and a mix of poppy seeds and sugar on top. Mine was served with vanilla cream sauce. Wasn’t that a delicious conclusion of a beautiful Alpine day?

Germknödel

Tegelberg Travel Tips

Tegelberg is a Bavarian mountain in Germany. It is a part of the Ammergau Alps. The nearest town is Füssen. The famous Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles are just 2 km away. It is very popular among skiers and paragliders. Tegelberg has been a hang gliding area since the 1970s and a paragliding area from the time this adventure sport became popular in Germany. The 1983 FAI Hanggliding World Championship was held there.

How to Reach

You can get to the cable car on Tegelberg (Tegelbergbahn) from the train station in Füssen (Füssen Bahnhof) and the Hohenschwangau castle by busses #73 and #78.
You can also walk from Neuschwanstein Castle. It is possible to walk from Schwangau to Tegelberg cable car station on foot. Just walk along Tegelbergerstraβe, cross the small bridge and the cable rail station will be visible.
The Tegelberg cable car is 2146 meters long and climbs up to 1720 meters above sea level.

Other Information

Corona Regulations – At the time of my visit in December 2021, 2G proof is required for all above the age of 14. FFP2 masks are compulsory in all indoor areas, queuing areas (outside and inside), as well as in gondola lifts, chair lifts, and drag lifts.
Altitude – Tegelberg summit is 892.5 meters. The views from both the cable car and the summit are spectacular. On clear days, one can see the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles along with some nearby lakes.
Timings – Tegelbergbahn or the Tegelberg cable car runs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Parking – Paid parking is available from 6 am to 10 pm. The fees are as follows: up to 2 hours € 2, and the day ticket costs € 5. For overnight guests in the hut, multi-day tickets are available at the ticket office.
Pet-Friendly – Dogs are allowed in Tegelberg. The fee is € 3 per day. The muzzle is advised for unsafe dogs.
Tobogganing – Due to the high alpine terrain, tobogganing is not allowed in Tegelberg. Therefore transportation of sleds is not allowed in the Tegelbahn. The small hills near the cable car valley station are suitable for tobogganing.
Where to Stay – It is possible to stay on the Tegelberg. The options are Tegelberghaus and Bleckenau.
Additional Resting Options – Rohrkopfhut and Drehuette offer hut evenings, breakfasts, and snacks.
Check out the official Tegelberg website for more information and updates.

Skiing on the Tegelberg

For the family – Tegelberg offers skiing facilities for the entire family. The little ones can practice in the children’s area with the Sunkid people mover, via the Gams and Falken lifts (Teller). The older ones can try their skills at the Adler and Reith lifts for the older ones. The Tegelberg ski area has excellent snow-making facility and the slopes are always snow sure. The Schwangau snow sports school introduces children of all ages to their first turns on skis.
Ski route Tegelberg for active skiers – The 4.2 km long ski route on the Tegelberg is a classic among connoisseurs. The ski route runs through alpine terrain and requires driving skills.
On clear days, you can see the Neuschwanstein castle from here.

Winter Hiking on the Tegelberg

There are two cleared winter hiking trails that guarantee stunning alpine views.

To the place of contemplation – The almost flat path is a relaxed hike for about 15 minutes. It is perfect for those looking to enjoy some time in nature.
To the Branderschrofenschulter – The steeper (80 meters in altitude) path to the Branderschrofenschulter takes half an hour. At the top, Once at the top, expect to see a 270-degree all-round view far across the lake district and the “Schlosspark”, the Tannheim mountains to the Zugspitze.

Our snow bunny

Views from the gondola lift to Tegelberg

Views from the gondola lift to Tegelberg

At the Tegelberg valley cable car station

A bit away from the Tegelberg mountain cable car station

P.S – This blog post is part of the series called the Cologne Diaries, which highlights a new theme, emotion, and beauty of an expat life in Cologne. For more exotic fun, check out my Cairo Chronicles in the Expat Life category.

Follow the rest of the Germany travel series