Schloss Elmau is the Bavarian Alps honeymoon for couples who want a resort that is a world of its own. It stands alone in a high valley near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, at about 1,000 meters, with meadows and forest all around and the Wetterstein peaks above. There are two hotels on the estate, six spas, nine pools, a two-Michelin-star restaurant, a famous bookstore and a 300-seat concert hall that hosts well over a hundred concerts a year.
It is a big, busy place rather than a small retreat and it welcomes families. What makes it work for couples is that several spaces are reserved for guests 16 and older, including the Badehaus spa with its outdoor pools, a large oriental hammam and the Shantigiri spa at the Retreat. You can spend the morning hiking from the door, the afternoon in a hot outdoor pool looking at the mountains and the evening at a chamber music concert.
It suits culture lovers, spa lovers and hikers. Choose a smaller chalet hotel if you want quiet without the scale.
Highlights at a glance
- Secluded valley setting at about 1,000 meters
- Six spas and nine pools, three spas kid-free
- Two-Michelin-star Ikigai restaurant
- About 140 to 160 concerts a year in a 300-seat hall
- Hiking and cross-country skiing from the door
Why Couples Love Schloss Elmau
The setting first. Elmau sits at the end of a private road in a valley with no other buildings in sight and the walk from the lobby to a mountain meadow takes about a minute. In summer the meadows bloom and the paths lead to lakes and huts. In winter the valley fills with snow and cross-country trails start at the hotel.
The second draw is the culture program. Schloss Elmau hosts about 140 to 160 concerts each year, plus readings and debates, with festivals for chamber music, jazz and literature. Admission to cultural events is included in package rates. The bookstore, curated by the same family of booksellers for generations, is a joy for readers. The resort's history adds weight: the castle dates from the early 20th century and the estate hosted the G7 summits of 2015 and 2022.
Rooms and Suites to Book
There are two hotels and guests of either can use the whole estate.
- The Luxury Hideaway is the original castle, with 100 rooms and suites ranging from about 25 to more than 110 m². It holds the concert hall, bookstore, kids club and the Badehaus spa. It is the livelier of the two.
- The Ultra Luxury Retreat opened in 2015 on a hilltop about 150 meters away, with 47 suites and rooms. Double Rooms are about 55 to 60 m², Junior Suites 60 to 80 m², Valley Suites 80 m² and Summit Suites 120 m².
For a honeymoon, the Retreat is the better choice if the budget allows. It is calmer, the rooms are larger and the kid-free Shantigiri spa and Summit restaurant are on your doorstep. Ask for a valley-facing room in either hotel, since the mountain views are the point.
Spas, Food and Drink
Six spas and nine pools mean you will never queue for a lounger. The kid-free ones are the Badehaus at the Hideaway, with four outdoor pools, the 500 m² Oriental Hamam and the Shantigiri spa at the Retreat, with two pools. Family spas and a seasonal Nature Spa with a lap pool and a creek sauna are separate. The Retreat also offers daily yoga, Pilates and Asian movement classes.
Ikigai by Chris Rainer is the gastronomic restaurant, with two Michelin stars and just 28 seats, serving French-Japanese tasting menus. Summit, at the Retreat, serves Mediterranean food and is kid-free. Other options include Fidelio for Thai, Kaminstube for fondue, a sushi pavilion and a mountain restaurant, the Elmauer Alm. Package rates include breakfast; a half-board dinner credit is available as an add-on.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Hiking starts at the door. Easy paths lead to the small Ferchensee and Lautersee lakes and longer trails climb toward the Wetterstein range and mountain huts. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, about 20 minutes away, has the cogwheel train and cable car up the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain and the dramatic Partnach Gorge.
In winter there is cross-country skiing from the hotel, plus downhill skiing in Garmisch. Day trips reach Neuschwanstein and Linderhof castles, the painted houses of Oberammergau and the Baroque Wieskirche. Back at the estate, the hotel runs sports and fitness programs and package rates include the cultural program. If one of you wants a long hike and the other a spa day, Elmau makes splitting up for a few hours easy. Mountain weather changes quickly, so carry layers and check forecasts before high routes.
Getting There
Munich Airport (MUC) is about 1.5 hours by car via Garmisch-Partenkirchen, depending on traffic. Innsbruck Airport (INN), across the border in Austria, is about 45 minutes away and has some connections from European hubs. Many US travelers fly into Munich and take the train toward Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The nearest station is Klais and the hotel's shuttle to Klais is included in package rates.
A rental car is useful if you plan day trips to the castles or Austria, though not essential for a stay focused on the estate. The final stretch is a private toll road into the valley and the hotel will explain access when you book. Combine Elmau with a few nights in Munich, Salzburg or Innsbruck for a longer Alpine honeymoon.
Is It Worth It?
Schloss Elmau's package rates start at about €620 a night for two in a Hideaway double and about €970 at the Retreat in low season, with a three-night minimum and they rise in peak periods. That includes breakfast, use of the spas, the sports program and cultural events, which makes the value better than the headline number suggests. Treat these figures as approximate.
It is worth it for couples who will use the spas, attend concerts and hike. The scale means there is always something to do and somewhere quiet to escape to. Pick elsewhere if you want an intimate chalet with a dozen rooms, or a place with no children at all, since Elmau has strong family programs. Couples who want lakes and an easy train back to Munich may prefer a spa hotel on Tegernsee.
Insider tips
- Book the Retreat for more space and the kid-free Shantigiri spa next door.
- Check the concert calendar before choosing dates; festivals fill the hotel early.
- Reserve Ikigai well ahead, since it has only 28 seats.
- Walk to the Ferchensee for lunch at a lakeside inn on your first day.
