Snow-sure ski resorts in Germany

Of 45 ski resorts in Germany, 5 had enough natural snow at mid-mountain in at least 25 of 30 Christmases (1984/85–2013/14), meaning 30 cm or more on at least 10 of the 14 holiday days; the median resort had 17 of 30. Most snow-sure: Gletscher-Skigebiet Zugspitze (30 of 30). Source: Copernicus C3S.

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Data: C3S UERRA reanalysis, winters 1984/85–2013/14; EURO-CORDEX scenarios to 2060 · calculated 3 November 2026 · Methodology and sources

Resorts by Christmases with enough natural snow (of 30); highlighted: ≥ 25

For a snowy Christmas, flying from Britain to Germany only makes sense for the Bavarian Alps, and even then just 5 of 45 resorts. Only Zugspitze is flawless: at mid-mountain, 1,800 m, natural snow lay over the holidays in all 30 winters 1984/85–2013/14, and no other resort in the country has that record. Behind it come Grasgehren and Garmisch-Classic on 27 of 30 each, Oberstdorf with Nebelhorn on 25 of 30. Half of German resorts manage 17 holidays out of 30 or fewer.

Mid-altitude mountains don't work without snow cannons

Even in the Alps, Sudelfeld at 1,200 m manages just 18 snowy Christmases out of 30. In the Black Forest, Feldberg gets 2, in the Sauerland Winterberg gets 5: there the holidays depend on snowmaking, and with it 32 of 45 resorts clear the threshold of 25 out of 30. For comparison, Austria has 62 of 134 resorts that are snow-sure, Switzerland 63 of 95. The numbers describe climate, not a forecast (methodology). The conclusion: at Christmas from Britain you're better off in Austria or Switzerland; Germany is fine for a short trip and for Zugspitze.

All 45 resorts

Resort	Mid (m)	Christmas, natural snow	with snowmaking	Season (days ≥ 30 cm)
Gletscher-Skigebiet Zugspitze	1,800	30/30	30/30	169
Grasgehren	1,600	27/30	30/30	150
Skigebiet Garmisch-Classic	1,400	27/30	29/30	139
Kleinwalsertal-Oberstdorf	1,500	25/30	30/30	138
Skigebiet Nebelhorn	1,500	25/30	30/30	138
Tegelbergbahn	1,300	23/30	30/30	129
Rossfeld	1,100	23/30	29/30	122
Skigebiet Fellhorn/Kanzelwand	1,400	21/30	30/30	136
Skigebiet Spitzingsee - Tegernsee	1,300	21/30	29/30	130
Wendelstein	1,300	21/30	29/30	130
Balderschwang – Hochschelpen/Riedberger Horn	1,200	21/30	30/30	119
Buron	1,200	21/30	30/30	119
Skigebiet Söllereck	1,200	21/30	30/30	119
Hindelang Oberjoch	1,300	21/30	30/30	115
Hörnerbahn Bolsterlang	1,300	21/30	30/30	115
Nesselwang - Alpspitzbahnen	1,200	21/30	30/30	106
Adelharz- und Breitensteinlifte (Kranzegg am Grünten)	1,100	20/30	30/30	107
Ofterschwang/Gunzesried	1,100	20/30	30/30	107
Skiarena Steibis	1,100	20/30	30/30	107
Kampenwand	1,100	19/30	26/30	112
Sudelfeld - Bayrischzell	1,200	18/30	30/30	115
Großer Arber, Velký Javor	1,200	18/30	29/30	98
Hörnle (Bad Kohlgrub)	1,200	17/30	30/30	104
Mittenwald - Kranzberg	1,200	17/30	30/30	104
Mitterdorf	1,000	15/30	29/30	85
Götschenkopf	1,000	15/30	28/30	83
Hinterstaufen	1,000	15/30	30/30	83
Brauneck	1,200	14/30	29/30	98
Skigebiet Oberwiesenthal	1,000	11/30	28/30	72
Buchenberg	1,000	11/30	27/30	71
Geißkopf	1,000	8/30	29/30	59
Hohenbogen	900	8/30	27/30	54
Wintersportgebiet Wurmberg	800	8/30	20/30	54
Skiliftkarussell Altastenberg	700	5/30	13/30	21
Skiliftkarussell Postwiese	700	5/30	13/30	21
Skiliftkarussell Winterberg	700	5/30	13/30	21
Münstertal-Wieden	1,000	3/30	23/30	37
Belchen	1,100	2/30	23/30	25
Muggenbrunn	1,100	2/30	23/30	25
Todtnauberg	1,100	2/30	23/30	25
Feldberg	1,100	2/30	23/30	25
Haldenköpfle	1,100	2/30	23/30	25
Wildewiese	600	2/30	13/30	12
Willingen	600	2/30	13/30	12
Wintersport Arena Holzelfingen	800	1/30	18/30	16

Christmas, natural snow: Each box is one Christmas holiday (22 December to 4 January): the darker, the more days with at least 30 cm of natural snow. Outlined: at least 10 of the 14 days.

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