Brauneck is Munich's local mountain, and a long-standing favourite with Bavarian skiers. The base village, Lenggries, sits in a wide valley with forested peaks rising on either side and is just an hour from Munich by car or direct train. It's a small, traditional alpine village in Germany with painted timber houses, old-fashioned inns serving traditional food, and a Saturday market that's been running for centuries. There's a real sense of settling into a properly local Bavarian lifestyle while you're here, and visitors love Brauneck for its unhurried pace and warm welcome,

Brauneck's ski area covers around 31km of pistes across 20 runs, climbing from the valley at 716m to 1,712m at the summit, with a vertical drop of almost a kilometre. Most of the terrain is graded red or black, with long, sweeping descents through alpine forest, and beginners have their own space on gentler slopes at the base and mid-station. Those who want a proper challenge have the legendary Weltcupabfahrt (World Cup run), while off-piste lines and open powder fields between marked runs draw freeriders when conditions are good. Brauneck's season runs from mid-December through to late March with snowmaking covering the key sections.

Off the slopes, there's plenty to fill a holiday. Munich is close enough for a day out, with beer halls, museums, and one of Europe's great Christmas markets in December. Closer to home, you can toboggan down Brauneck after dark, take a horse-drawn sleigh through snowy meadows, or head into the spa town of Bad Tölz for thermal baths and Bavarian cafés. The food is properly comforting too: think Käsespätzle (cheesy egg noodles with crispy onions), fresh pretzels with obatzda (a creamy cheese spread), and Apfelstrudel still warm from the oven.

Check out Brauneck ski deals to start planning your trip.