Once you reach Ohlstadt, the views become particularly spectacular. Your journey with the Werdenfelsbahn first takes you past the idyllic Lake Starnberg and through the splendid moorland landscape around Murnau. But after this it gets even more breathtaking. After the captivating Alpspitze and Zugspitze – Germany's highest peak – Garmisch-Partenkirchen emerges into view, spread out across the wide valley basin. From Garmisch station, travellers can go on tours up different mountains, such as the "Wank" (you can also take the cable car) and the "Kramer". If you want to go even higher, simply change over on to the Zugspitzbahn. After Garmisch the journey continues on past the ski jump all the way up the mountain toward Klais, which until 2007 was Germany's highest Intercity station (933 metres above sea level).
Next stop: Mittenwald. Germany's violin-making capital is situated at the foot of the impressive Karwendel mountains and its historic town centre is particularly quaint. Not far from the station, the Karwendelbahn cable car transports visitors to the upper station, which lies at an altitude of 2,244 metres. And make sure you take a coat, as even in the summer it can get quite chilly up at the top. You could also do a circular walk around the 1,391-metre-high Kranzberg – Mittenwald's local mountain – on the opposite side of the valley. Along the way, you'll be rewarded with sensational panoramic views in all directions – from the "Jochberg" mountain to the "Benediktenwand" mountain ridge, across the "Karwendel" western ridge and over the "Arnspitzen" peaks, across the "Dreitorspitzen" peaks and the mountains "Wank" and "Hohe Kisten", and back to the "Herzogstand" mountain next to the "Jochberg".
Your railway journey with the Werdenfelsbahn then continues on to Tyrol. The route reaches its zenith at the village of "Seefeld", at an altitude of 1,185 metres. At this point you'll begin the slow descent down towards the "Inntal" (Inn valley) – a part of the route which is particularly spectacular. The track is nestled up against the steep Karwendel slopes, and for the next 19 kilometres it winds its way down through countless tunnels until, at an altitude of just 580 metres, you reach the bottom of the valley. A short time later, you'll reach Innsbruck main station, which marks the end of this wonderful railway journey.
Directions: You can climb straight on board the Werdenfelsbahn at Munich main station or any other station along the route.
