As the cold season approaches, the Munich area is slowly transforming into a winter paradise. With so many excursion possibilities it's easy to lose track. From snowshoe hikes to conference hotels in the ski area – here’s a selection of some magical destinations in southern Bavaria for your company outing.
The ultimate MICE location
Far away from the hustle and bustle of the big city there’s a special get-away. Situated close to the Tyrolean border, Elmau Castle was built in 1916 with the aim of creating a "free space for personal and communal living”. If you want to dine and spend the night with colleagues and employees where Barack Obama once dined with Angela Merkel, this is the place for you. Elmau Castle, which has already hosted two G7 summits, offers 19 different event rooms. Splendid halls and light-flooded pavilions are just as much a part of the Castle as are the rooms for the frequently held chamber concerts. Especially in winter, the snow-covered surroundings can turn the location into an enchanting dream castle. Besides, the hotel also offers guided hikes and alpine animal observations, to mention just two options. The dreamlike spa landscape offers the best possible conditions for first-class relaxation, especially when it’s cold.
Schloss Elmau
In Elmau 2
82493 Elmau
Tel: +49 8823 18-0
www.schloss-elmau.de
Up together
If you want to present you and your team with a bit of a sporting challenge in winter, why not go on a snowshoe hike to the Laubenstein? The starting point in Frasdorf is only an hour’s drive by car or chartered coach from Munich. Once there, you can start the climb to the summit cross with its great views of Lake Chiemsee. To make the experience even less complicated, simply book a guide online. All the equipment you need can be easily hired and just the refreshments you’ll need are available at the summit where the Frasdorfer Hütte Stubn is the ideal place to stop off. It can also be reserved for corporate events.
STUBN in der Frasdorfer Hütte
Am Zellboden
83112 Frasdorf
E-Mail: info@stubn.co
www.stubn.co
Right on the water
Just 74 steps away from Lake Tegernsee, Seehotel Überfahrt offers five-star events with great views of the wintry lake. You can first plan a meeting in one of the seven event rooms and then relax in the more than 3,000 m2 4 Elements Spa. Or visit the picturesque Christmas markets at Lake Tegernsee in the weeks running up to Christmas. You can also discover the new restaurant concept of The Duc Ngo, a top Berlin restaurateur. His Asian cross-over cuisine and fresh sashimi in six or eight courses will tempt seafood enthusiasts. Four other restaurants welcome guests who prefer Italian or Bavarian cuisine. Thanks to it comprehensive and exquisite offering, the Seehotel won first prize in the Connoisseur Circle's "Gourmet Hotels 2021" category.
Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt
Überfahrtstraße 10
83700 Rottach-Egern
Tel: +49 8022 6690
www.althoffcollection.com
Out into the snow
In Traunstein rural district it never gets monotonous in the winter months because it’s a real winter sports paradise. So why not take off your leather shoes and put on your ski boots! There are plenty of ski slopes, toboggan runs and hiking trails here. Winter sports can also be combined with conferences and meetings at Gut Steinbach Hotel. The resort is not only located in idyllic surroundings but has also won many awards. Among other things, its chef Achim Hack received the 2023 Green Star of the Guide Michelin and the hotel won the Great Guide’s 2022 Sustainability Award.
Gut Steinbach
Steinbachweg 10
83242 Reit im Winkl
Tel: +49 8640 8070
www.gutsteinbach.de
MICE on ice
At weekends, the Spitzingsee region is a winter playground for Munich locals. That’s hardly surprising as the lake and ski resort above it are only a good hour's drive from Munich. The lake’s shallow depth of only 16 meters means it regularly freezes over in winter and offers the perfect ambience for a winter walk. You can walk around the lake in about an hour and after that, you’ll still have enough time to stop off at the nearby Spitzing Alm, which belongs to the Arabella Alpenhotel at Spitzingsee and can also be booked for company parties. The Alm and the hotel offer traditional Bavarian cuisine ¬– in a cozy atmosphere right next to the lake.
Arabella Alpenhotel am Spitzingsee
Seeweg 7
83727 Spitzingsee
Tel: +49 8026 798-0
www.arabella-alpenhotel.com
Ice sculptures carved by colleagues
The Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten on Lake Starnberg offers countless incentives in a rather special location. Besides winter walks on picturesque Lake Starnberg, activities such as carving figures out of ice, sports car rides and night-time archery provide a nice balance to everyday business life. And the business side -– and everything that’s necessary for it ¬– doesn’t come off badly either since five meeting rooms are available. What’s special about The Vier Jahreszeiten Starnberg is the great importance the hotel attaches to sustainability ¬as a Certified Green Hotel. MICE events can book a Green Upgrade here and thus support sustainable projects.
Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Starnberg
Münchner Straße 17
82319 Starnberg
Tel: +49 8151 4470-0
www.vier-jahreszeiten-starnberg.de
Upper Bavarian nature pure
One of Germany’s best conference hotels is located in Oberaudorf, Upper Bavaria. Surrounded by mountains, waterfalls and forests, the Hotel Feuriger Tatzlwurm always leaves a magical impression. With three ski resorts nearby, the hotel is also the ideal place to stay for winter sports enthusiasts. 700 m2 of space equipped with state-of-the-art technology are available for corporate events. And after the meetings, participants can enjoy a more relaxed program with this 4-star hotel offering a torchlight walk in the snow or snow tubing, to name just two highlights.
Alpengasthof & Hotel Feuriger Tatzlwurm
Tatzlwurm 1
83080 Oberaudorf
Tel: +49 8034 30080
www.tatzlwurm.de
