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Table of Contents:
How to get to Fussen from Munich
How to get to Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau castles from Fussen
How to get to Linderhof palace from Fussen
I have travelled around Southern Germany a lot and I was absolutely charmed with its natural and historical attractions. The local towns such as Fussen keep their authenticity and offer to extend the trip to the famous Bavarian Castles located nearby. Being charmed with towns of Southern Germany, I have decided to put together information I have previously discovered and create a series of guides on how to organize a holiday in Bavaria. Based on my research, I found out how to get to Fussen, where to stay & what to see in the town and around. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Fussen and the Bavarian Castles.
When to travel to Fussen
Fussen is often associated as a convenient starting point for trips to the famous Bavarian castles. In the surroundings of Fussen you can find the magnificent romantic castles of Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau and Linderhof. However, the town also has a wonderful traditional architecture be it colored houses, narrow cobbled streets or medieval monuments. You also can enjoy the amazing mountain river of Lech, which is crystal, fresh and has an emerald-blue color. The town is definitely worth staying here for at least a few days and experiencing the traditional Bavarian vibes.
You can visit Fussen any season of the year. In winters it can be quite cold and snowy, but the charm of the Christmas markets, festive illumination and traditional mulled wine will cheer you up. Please, be attentive, the opening hours of the castles are shorter in winter. The springs, summers and autumns are colorful, warm and suits best for long distance strolling around. The local climate is rather mild here so you can enjoy sightseeing anyway.
How to get to Fussen
Where do you fly into to get to Fussen? Most often, tourists get to Fussen from Munich, which has an international airport. Check the current flight timetable from your city at Aviasales booking service. Fussen is located 120 km from Munich; you can get from one city to another by public transport or by car.
How to get to Fussen from Munich
By train: If you plan to travel from Munich to Fussen by public transport, the most convenient and fastest way to do this is to use a train. Travel time is approximately 2 hours. Trains depart from Munich Main Station up to 8 times a day. A one-way ticket costs about 20 euros. You can check the train schedule at the Raileurope booking service. Trains has a direct route; no changes are required.
By renting a car: If you choose to travel by car, then the fastest way to get to Fussen is to use the #A95 highway. In this case; the travel time is about 1 hour 40 minutes; the distance is about 120 km (see on the map). It is not difficult to rent a car in Munich. There are car rental offices both in the city and at the airport. You also can book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. and compare a few of them to choose the best price. I often use both services and I can totally recommend them.
How to get to Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau castles from Fussen
Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles are located 4 km from Fussen. You can get to them by car along the Parkstrasse street. The car can be left at the parking lot which is located in the Hohenschwangau village and then go on foot (see on the map). Also, regular buses run here throughout the day, which bring you directly to the entrance to the park area in front of the castles.
How to get to Linderhof palace from Fussen
Linderhof Palace is located at the village of Oberammergau, 50 km from Fussen. If you travel by car, then the fastest option to get there is to use the route No. B17/B23 (see on the map). The castle has a parking lot for 550 cars. If you are going to get to Linderhof by public transport, then first you need to take the train to Oberammergau, and then in the village, transfer to the local bus # 9622, which takes you directly to the castle. As I found out tourists can check the current timetable online.
Where to stay in Fussen
Fussen is quite a popular tourist destination. In this regard, there are quite a few places of accommodation be it hotels, apartments, guest houses, hostels, vacation homes or B&B`s. The pricing policy of local hotels is highly dependent on the season. For example, in the summer and during the winter holidays, housing prices rise by 20-30. During this period, Fussen and the surrounding area are extremely popular with tourists. Some hotels in Fussen offer breakfast included in the rate, but you should not expect this from all hotels, because conditions can vary greatly from hotel to hotel.
If you plan to explore the historical sights of the town, as well as travel by public transport to the castles, then it makes sense to choose the accommodation located in the central part of Fussen. If you travel by car, then I would recommend paying attention to the availability of parking at the hotel, since town streets are very narrow and there are few parking areas.
Hotel Sonne 4* – the hotel is great for exploring the local attractions and trips to the castles. The hotel has a restaurant, a gym and a spa area with a sauna and massages. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Depending on the type of room, breakfast may be included or paid separately. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel and is free of charge. Private parking is possible on site at an additional cost. The front desk provides luggage storage services;
Hotel Hirsch 4* – the hotel is located in the town center and within the walking distance from the railway station. The hotel offers a restaurant and a bar. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfast can be ordered upon request. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge. Free private parking is possible on site. The front desk has luggage storage and an ATM;
Altstadt Hotel Zum Hechten 3* – this hotel is located in the historic center of Fussen. The hotel has a restaurant and a terrace for relaxing. Guests can stay in standard and superior rooms. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel and is free of charge. Private parking is available on site upon reservation and at an additional cost. The front desk provides luggage storage services;
Hotel Filser 3* – the hotel is located in a picturesque place overlooking the mountains. The hotel has a sun terrace. There is also a traditional and infrared sauna and a small fitness room. The restaurant is available at any time of the year. You can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms and suites. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is also available on site. The front desk provides luggage storage services;
Hotel Fussen – the hotel is located a few kilometers from the town center and castles. A terrace is available for guests to relax. The guests can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel and is free of charge. Private parking is possible on site at an additional cost.
What to see & do in Fussen
Fussen is a very colorful Bavarian town. It is surrounded with beautiful countryside and delightful romantic castles. Besides the picturesque surroundings, you should definitely take a walk around Fussen. It is better to start with the historic Schrannengasse street and the Bread Market Square. You can see here the paved walkways, colored low-rise houses, medieval fountains and a large number of architectural monuments at every corner.
I did some research and discovered that each of the houses on the Schrannengasse was built at the period of the 16th and 17th centuries. They have a great external decoration and the authentic interiors. There are also small but cozy cafes, restaurants and pubs, where you can try the local cuisine.
In addition to the central street and the square, you should definitely visit the monastery of St. Maginold, whose construction dates back to the 9th century. To be true, only the chapel adjoining the monastery survived to this day from the 9th century, while the monastery has the baroque features now, which indicates its later reconstructing. Inside the monastery you can find a Town Museum. A little further from the monastery, on a hill, you can see the atmospheric castle of Fussen with skillfully painted facades.
Another attraction of Fussen is natural one. This is a river and a lake formed by the river, which is located on the outskirts of Fussen. The Lech River is mountainous; it means it is swift, with strong currents and always with cold water. Downstream, the river forms a small lake, which, thanks to the mountain waters, has an amazing bluish color. The lake is a very picturesque place, which is definitely worth visiting.
Still, Fussen is a very popular, first of all, because of the Bavarian castles, which are located in the closest surroundings of town. The most famous of them are Neuschwanstein and located opposite Hohenschwangau. Both castles can be viewed from the Marienbrucke bridge; this is the most popular view, but there is something to see inside the castles as well. Interiors, art objects, museum collections – all these things can be interested for tourists. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:
- Neuschwanstein castle is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm during the summertime and from 10 am to 4 pm during the wintertime. Visiting is possible only with a guided tour;
- Hohenschwangau castle is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm during the summertime and from 9 am to 3 pm during the wintertime. Visiting is possible only with a guided tour;
- The shuttle buses between Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles run daily. Departure point is parking P4. The ticket fee is 3 euros. Tickets can be bought on the bus.
Another palace located near Fussen is the magnificent Linderhof Palace. Literally everything is amazing in it, including lush landscaped park areas, the baroque architecture of the palace, rococo elements in the interior decoration, art objects etc. The most interesting place in the entire palace is the so-called grotto of Venus, which is something like an artificial cave, partially filled with water. It is recommended to visit not only the palace, but the park area too. You can find here the historical gates and bridge, a swan pond, a Moroccan House, a Royal Lodge, the terrace gardens, a chapel, a Neptune fountain, a Cascade fountain, a Music Pavilion, a Temple of Venus and other interesting sights. I did some research to collect practical information for visiting and here it is:
- Linderhof palace is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm during the summertime and from 10 am to 4 pm during the wintertime. Visiting is possible only with a guided tour;
- Tickets can be bought at the cash desk or online;
- Guided tours take place every 10 minutes.
As you see Fussen is a lovely place to stay and discover surroundings. Here you can stroll around the colorful town, taste some local food and travel further to the castles, which attract travelers from all over the world. In my point of view, Fussen combines a lot of opportunities to discover Southern Germany be it natural attractions or historical,cultural and architectural sites.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Germany, do not forget to take out a travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerged medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase an insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Andrew Czap
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more…