Nebelhorn
At 2,224 metres, the Nebelhorn earns its name. Oberstdorf residents have been reading its fog-wrapped summit like a barometer since the 18th century — cloud on the horn meant weather was turning. These days the summit station, nicknamed 'Elphi' after Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie for its angular, glass-and-timber architecture, has replaced the fog-watching with a two-level restaurant and a 220-metre steel walkway that circles the top of the mountain, barrier-free, with views across some 400 peaks.
The Nebelhorn is a full day's worth of mountain, not a single viewpoint. You can ride the ten-seater gondola to the mid-station at Höfatsblick, detour to the Seealpsee lake, tackle the Hindelanger Klettersteig via ferrata, or simply sit at the glazed Gemsnest panoramic restaurant and let the Allgäu Alps arrange themselves in front of you.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to exit at Höfatsblick on the way down rather than riding straight to the valley — the Gemsnest catches afternoon light differently from the summit restaurant. The North Face Trail (Nordwandsteig) is worth the extra few minutes even if you're not a hiker; the drop it reveals is genuinely arresting.
The story behind Nebelhorn
The Nebelhornbahn opened on June 10, 1930, after two years of construction, and at inauguration it was the longest passenger cable car in the world. The mountain itself had already drawn early adventurers — photographer Fritz Heimhuber and Hofrat Max Madlener made the first recorded ski ascent in January 1901, and a summit cross was likely erected as early as 1890.
The cable car was rebuilt in sections: a new lower section opened in March 1977, the second section in May of that year, and the summit tramway completed with an official opening on December 19, 1991. The 2016 rebuild added the current summit station and the North Face Trail, while a full renovation beginning in 2020 delivered the bicable gondola system in May 2021.
Good to know
The cable car station is a ten-minute walk from Oberstdorf's train station, or take Walser Bus line 1. Gondolas run daily 08:30–16:20. Tickets for partial ascents cost less, and you can break the journey at intermediate stations. The Bergbahn Unlimited Ticket covers pedestrians but not sports equipment.
Skiing is typically possible into early May, with Germany's longest downhill run — 7.5 kilometres — open through winter and deep spring. Summer brings reliable cable car access and hiking, but the summit sits above 2,200 metres and can see snow and freeze-thaw conditions even in July; layers are not optional.
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What travellers say about Nebelhorn
Beautifull landscape! If you are a mountainin hiking friend, you should't miss this place. You can fibd good lokal food, deserts, drinks for big and small people😀. Please take into consideration that, the kitchen closes arround 15.00 and the last ride back to city is at 16:20.
Very beautiful views. Mountains all around, snowy peaks in the distance. Green valleys below. The cable car has two platforms where you can go out and walk. There is a small lake with clear blue water. Lots of restaurants. However, there are a lot of people on weekends, which creates some inconvenience. But at the top and on the middle platform there is a place for paragliders, you can enjoy the view of the start from the mountain. Very interesting. The price is 49 euros for the entire cable car. But you can buy a ticket to the second site. But I would advise buying for the entire cable car. Only from the very top you can see all the beauty.
Views are great! We were at the end of May and we got a thunderstorm, hail, short-term rain, sun, fog. It is better to arrive early so that you can wait out the weather changes in one of the cafes. Still there was a snow, so not all roads were achievable for hiking except the main on top.
I made this hike on 16.11.2024. It was very easy. No climbing at all. The whole route is made for cars and bikes. If you start from Orlen Arena Oberstdorf, then you pass many beautiful waterfalls. The initial 30 mins were most beautiful part of the route. Then you will continue nonstop with the road for cars. In total it took me 6 hrs back and forth. Only going down is a bit dangerous. The road is full of little stones and they fall down when u trying to make a step. I recommend this hike to everyone. No need to visit Breitachklamm if u can see beautiful waterfalls for free.
We bought Gondelbahn round rides to Gipfelstation. Up there we hiked up to Nebelhorn mountain peak and went down to lake ( which near to Gipfelstation). Very hot in summer but it’s worth. Nice panorama up there! With Family tickets is cheaper and parking lots costed around 4-5€
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