Ehrwalder Alm with Kids: Our Favorite Ski Area Near Munich

Fellow parents, we get asked this all the time: “Where do you actually ski with your own kids?” The answer is always the same: the Ehrwalder Alm. It's been our favorite ski area for years. Not because it's the biggest or most spectacular resort in the Alps, but because it gets almost everything right that matters to families with little ones. In this article, we'll explain why, show you how to plan your ski day there, and share the tricks that save money, time and sanity.

Why is the Ehrwalder Alm so good for families with kids?

You can't judge a family ski area by its trail count. What matters is whether the day works for everyone: the toddler on skis for the very first time, the grade-schooler who's already faster than Mom, and the parents who'd like to get a few runs in themselves. At the Ehrwalder Alm, it all comes together. These six things make the difference:

Ehrwalder Alm ski area: all the facts at a glance

As of November 5, 2026. Prices and dates can change, so check them before you go on the Ehrwalder Almbahn website.

The base camp principle: why the mid-mountain station changes everything

For us, this is the biggest reason of all, and it's the heart of this article. At many ski areas, the kids' zone is down in the valley. That sounds convenient, but it has two catches: In mild winters the valley often has no snow, and parents never get away from the bunny hill. The Ehrwalder Alm flips that around. The gondola takes the whole family to base camp at 1,500 meters, and everything you need for a ski day with kids is right there.

Here's what's waiting for you up top:

• Learning area: magic carpets, a mini lift and flat, wide blue runs. The littlest skiers can make their first turns here without fast skiers flying past.
• Ski schools: Two ski schools (Skischule Total and Tiroler Skischule) have their own magic carpets and lifts for little kids.
• Ski kindergarten: open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• DIDI's Snow Playground and the wooden PistenBully: for climbing, sliding and snowball fights when the skis need a break.
• The Tirolerhaus: right at the top of the gondola, with a kids' menu, a child-friendly restroom, coloring supplies, a microwave for baby food and a kids' playroom downstairs (daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

Why this makes such a difference: You have a set meeting point. One parent stays with the toddler on the learning slope, the other takes two or three laps up top and is back in ten minutes. At lunchtime, everyone meets up at the Tirolerhaus. Nobody has to go down to the valley, nobody waits around for long, and when your toddler runs out of steam, there's the playroom instead of a meltdown on the lift. Non-skiing grandparents can simply ride the gondola up and soak up the sun on the Alm.

And the best part: When conditions are good, you can finish the day by skiing the valley run all the way down to Ehrwald. In recent winters we've almost always been able to, and it's a real highlight for kids who've just conquered “the whole mountain” for the first time.

Lunch at the Tirolerhaus

A ski day with kids stands or falls with lunch. At the Tirolerhaus, you sit on the sun terrace looking out at the Zugspitze, with Tyrolean food, a kids' menu and, of course, Kaiserschmarrn, those fluffy shredded Austrian pancakes. A few steps away, the Hütte Ehrwalder Alm serves homemade dumplings, cakes and apple strudel. Our tip: Eat early, around 11:30. The sunny seats are still open and the kids aren't too hungry yet.

For bigger kids and parents: the upper mountain

Once the little ones are taken care of, or if your kids are already confident skiers, the chairlifts take you higher. Issentalkopfbahn, Gaistal and Ganghofer Blitz are modern 6-person chairlifts with bubble covers and heated seats. That's worth its weight in gold with kids: The bubble blocks the wind, and cold fingers warm back up on the ride.

Up top, a whole different ski area opens up, reaching 1,923 meters. This is where you'll find the red and black runs and wide slopes with views of the Zugspitze and the Mieming Range with the Sonnenspitze. For parents who love to ski, this is the part of the day you look forward to.

Fun slope, Familypark and snow park

For kids who already ski with confidence, the Ehrwalder Alm is one big playground:

• Fun slope: about 650 meters of waves, banked turns and a spiral, with DIDI the jackdaw waiting at the end. Great for kids around 5 and up who like a little speed.
• Familypark: three small kickers for beginners and three boxes. Kids and parents can try their first jumps together here.
• Snowpark Ehrwalder Alm: right at the Klämmli T-bar, about 420 meters long, with three big kickers and a medium line through the trees. It's the hangout for teens and anyone who already knows what a “straight air” is.

Kids 5 and under ski free: what a ski day costs

In the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, kids 5 and under ski free, no matter which lift ticket they need. Just pick up the free pass for your little one at the ticket window, and bring an ID or child passport. Without official ID, there's no discount. From age 6, kids pay the child rate, which is about half the adult price. The family pass is even cheaper: Up to two adults pay less together with their own children, and every child through age 18 counts. You'll need proof at the ticket window that you're a family, such as your IDs and the kids' passports.

How to save even more:

• Family pass instead of individual tickets: You save €17.50 a day. Each additional child costs €32.00 on the family pass, including teens through age 18.
• Both parents don't need a full lift ticket every day. If you're spending the morning with your toddler on the learning slope, a ticket from noon (€56.50) or a round-trip gondola ticket (€26) is often all you need.
• Multi-day passes pay off: Six days cost €189 for kids, or just over €31 a day. Every lift ticket of 2 days or more is automatically a Top Snow Card.
• Top Snow Card from 2 days: It's valid on 86 lifts and 211 km of slopes: in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena including the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn and the Zugspitzplatt, plus Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald and Berwang. Perfect if you're staying a week and want some variety.
• Bring your guest card: During Super Ski Weeks (season opening to December 18, 2026, January 9 to 29, 2027 and March 6 to 19, 2027), the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena guest card gets you about 10% off lift tickets of 4 days or more.

Looking for more ski areas where kids ski free? We've compiled them in our list Where Kids Ski Free, with 111 verified free lift tickets in 10 countries.

Plan B for fog or thin snow: the Zugspitze

This is the wild card almost no other family ski area can play. The valley station of the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn is also in Ehrwald, just minutes from the Almbahn. In about ten minutes, you'll float up 1,725 vertical meters to the top station at 2,950 meters, right below the summit of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain at 2,962 meters.

When gray fog hangs in the valley, the sun is often shining above a sea of clouds up top. And when the valley is short on snow, the Zugspitzplatt is Germany's highest ski area. You can get there from the summit on the glacier cable car. For kids, just riding in the big cabin and looking out over hundreds of peaks is something they'll be talking about for a long time.

Good to know: With a lift ticket of 2 days or more, the Zugspitze is already included: Every multi-day pass is a Top Snow Card and also covers the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn and the Zugspitzplatt. The day pass, on the other hand, is only valid in Ehrwald, Lermoos and Biberwier, not on the Zugspitzbahn. If you're only there for one day, check prices, family rates and the weather on the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn website first. It's often much colder and windier at the top than on the Alm, so pack an extra layer for the kids.

Our perfect ski day on the Ehrwalder Alm with kids

Here's how a day goes for us when everything clicks. Use it as a template and adapt it to your kids.

1. 8:30 a.m.: Arrive. Getting there early means a short walk from the parking lot, no line at the ticket window and kids who still have plenty of energy. It's best to put ski boots on at the valley station.
2. 9:00 a.m.: Ride the gondola to base camp. The littlest ones head to ski kindergarten or a lesson, and everyone else warms up on the blue runs.
3. 10:00 a.m.: The big kids head up. One parent takes the older kids to the chairlifts, fun slope or park. The other stays with the toddler at the magic carpet. Switch after an hour.
4. 11:30 a.m.: Lunch at the Tirolerhaus. Eat early, grab a sunny spot, order Kaiserschmarrn.
5. 12:30 p.m.: Break time for the little ones. Playroom, snow playground or wooden PistenBully. Toddlers are often done after lunch, and that's totally fine.
6. 1:30 p.m.: Family run. Everyone together on a wide blue run. This is the moment all that practice was for.
7. 3:00 p.m.: Valley run or gondola. When conditions are good, anyone who's up for it skis all the way down to Ehrwald. The little ones ride the gondola with a parent. There's hot chocolate waiting at the bottom.

Our packing list for the Ehrwalder Alm

• Sunscreen and sunglasses: The Alm is sunny and snow reflects a lot of light. Go with SPF 50 for kids' skin.
• ID for every child: for the free lift ticket for kids 5 and under.
• Spare gloves: Mittens are soaked after the first snowball fight.
• A small snack in a jacket pocket: A granola bar has saved many a lift ride.
• An extra layer: for the trip up the Zugspitze or windy chairlifts.

Still need gear? You'll find our recommendations in our guide The Best Kids' Skis and Ski Boots for Ages 2 and Up.

Frequently asked questions about the Ehrwalder Alm with kids

Is the Ehrwalder Alm good for families with small children?

Yes. The gondola takes you up to about 1,500 meters, where magic carpets, a mini lift, ski kindergarten, ski schools and the Tirolerhaus with its kids' playroom are all close together. Two-thirds of the 27.5 km of slopes are easy, and kids 5 and under ski free.

How high is the Ehrwalder Alm ski area?

The ski area runs from 1,112 to 1,923 meters. The top of the Ehrwalder Almbahn gondola, with the Tirolerhaus and the kids' area, is at about 1,500 meters. Snowmaking covers 95% of the slopes.

At what age do kids have to pay at the Ehrwalder Alm?

Kids 5 and under ski free in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena. Ages 6 to 15 pay the child rate, which is €35.50 for one day in high season 2026/27. Youth ages 16 to 18 pay €56.50 and adults pay €70.50. On the family pass, two adults and one child pay €159.00 together.

Is the Ehrwalder Alm in Bavaria?

No, Ehrwald is in Tyrol, Austria, but it's right on the Bavarian border near Garmisch-Partenkirchen. From Munich, it's usually about an hour and a half. That's why so many Bavarian families treat the Ehrwalder Alm as their home mountain.

Is there a snow park at the Ehrwalder Alm?

Yes. Snowpark Ehrwalder Alm is at the Klämmli T-bar and has three big kickers and a medium line. Beginners can try the Familypark with three small kickers and three boxes, plus a 650-meter fun slope.

What can we do if there's no snow in the valley or it's foggy?

Ride the gondola up anyway, because there's usually snow at 1,500 meters. Or take the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn in Ehrwald to nearly 3,000 meters. It's often sunny above the fog up there, and the Zugspitzplatt is Germany's highest ski area.

How do I get my child ready for their first ski day?

Start at home. With drySki, kids ages 2 and up playfully take their first steps on skis and get perfectly prepared for their start on the snow. By their first day on snow, the feeling is already familiar and they'll step onto the magic carpet far more relaxed.

The bottom line: the Ehrwalder Alm is a family ski area that works for everyone

Reliable snow at altitude, a base camp with everything kids need, a second ski area for the big kids, sunshine, Kaiserschmarrn and the Zugspitze as Plan B. On top of that, the littlest skiers ride free through age 5. That's why the Ehrwalder Alm has been our favorite ski area for years, and we're confident it can become yours too.

See you on the Alm! Maybe even at the magic carpet.

Best, Manu

For more planning tips, from family ski areas to packing lists, check out our guide Skiing with Kids.