The town is served by an Autobahn (highway), and has railway connections to Munich, Innsbruck, Reutte and to the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany, which is nearby.

In 1936 it was the site of the Winter Olympic Games. Traditionally, a ski jumping contest is held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on New Year's Day, as a part of the Four Hills Tournament (Vierschanzen-Tournee).