Hi, we are planning to travel from Innsbruck to Munich on December 22. Staying in Munich for 4 nights before heading for Salzburg. Does anyone have advice re our itinerary please? If we want to view Nieuschwanstein castle - it is much closer to Innsbruck than Munich. Will it work our cheaper by train from Innsbruck and then back to Innsbruck? Or would that be more expensive than the Bayern ticket from Munich return? It does seem like a waste of time Innsbruck to Munich and then all the way back down again a day or too later to visit the castle. Is it a tourist trap or is it worth the time, money and effort - seeing that December has short days? I have read about the castle and views vary a lot. Thank you.
PS and I would also like to know if it is safe to drink the tap water in Switzerland, Austria, Munich and Prague
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
There are two schools regarding Neuschwanstein. One regards it the typical medieval castle they know from the movies, the other sees it as a nineteenth-century fantasy. Both are right. But it will indeed be a long day. Why not visit another palace of King Ludwig: Herrenchiemsee? One hour by train from München to Prien, and then a short boat trip to the island? See www.herrenchiemsee.de
I can't imagine you having any problem with the tap water.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
9050 posts
Why not stop at the castles on the way from Innsbruck to Munich? That would seem more efficient.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1746 posts
Getting from Innsbruck to Neuschwanstein by public transportation needs a lot of time. Basically train lines are not laid to do that trip and the shortest possible connection, involving several changes and stretches on local buses (beware of waiting buses in freezing weather) needs 4 hours and half. The trip between Munich and the castle is around 2 hours and half so much faster.
If you can go by car, it would take about 1 hour and half from Innsbruck, be warned that there are some very steep roads between Innsbruck and Garmisch or Fussen that you may not want to drive if there is snow or rain.
The sight of the castle in the snow is very suggestive, but you will be basically spend a whole day traveling (and possibly waiting or walking in freezing conditions) for a 20-30 minutes visit.
Personally if I wanted to see a castle I would visit Ambras castle near Innsbruck. A tram ride and a short walk, or maybe a taxi ride, and you are done. Or the Hofburg in the very center, the closest thing to visiting imperial palaces in Vienna without going to Vienna.
The tap water in Innsbruck comes from Heiligwasser spring, up the Patscherkofel mountain, and it is considered to be better quality than most bottles of mineral water. Generally speaking water in Switzerland and Austria is top quality as a mountain spring is never very far.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19294 posts
Train ride from Innsbruck to Füssen (2:40 hours).
I don't know where you got that information. Certainly not from the Bahn website. According to the Bahn, the fastest connection (4H07M) would be to take the train from Innsbruck to Garmisch-Partenkirchen via Mittenwald, change to a train to Reutte in Tirol, then take a bus to Füssen Pulverturm and the bus from there to Hohenschwangau. You could leave Innsbruck at 8:38 and get to Hohenschwangau at 12:45.
That compares with obout 5 hours through Munich.
If you left Innsbruck at 6:38, you could take ta train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, arriving at 7:57. Then you have a wait until 9:40 for the direct bus to Hohenschwangau via Ettal and Oberammergau. That bus goes to Hohenschwangau before going on to Füssen, arriving at Hohenschwangau at 11:45. That route only requires one change; You'd have 1H43M in Garmisch to have the breakfast you probably skipped to make the 6:38 train.
You could also take a 10:38 train from Innsbruck and not have the long wait for the bus from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but that bus would have an 18 min change at Echelsbacherbrücke, a wide spot in the road. That would get you to the Hohenschwangau bus stop at 14:45, no problem if you had advance reservations for the castle tour.
The OeBB fare from Innsbruck to Mittenwald is 10,20€ per person. From Mittenwald on you could use a Bayern-Ticket (purchased online in advance from German Rail) for both the train from Mittenwald and the bus to Hohenschwangau via Oberammergau. If you took the Reutte route, you would also have to pay serarately for the bus from Reutte to the German Border, no more than 4,50€ per person. The Bayern-Ticket would also cover your trip on to Munich after the castle tour.
According to ViaMichelin, the quiickest route from Innsbruck to Hohenschwangau takes 1H42M and goes over Fernpass, a relatively low pass at 4000 ft elevation. Here is a short YouTube video of going over Fernpass in April.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Tap water anywhere in Western Europe, which now also includes the Czech Republic, is safe to drink now.
Posted by
2281 posts
Sorry, I made a mistake in my previous posting. Therefore I deleted it, and that is the corrected version.
In my opinion, the most efficient way would be to go from Innsbruck to Neuschwanstein, visit the castle, and then finish your trip to Munich from there. This can be done in one day, if you leave somewhat early in the morning.
That's one way how to do it:
Train ride from Innsbruck to Ulrichsbrücke-Füssen (2:40 hours). The route crossing the mountains is really scenic, but you have to change trains twice.
Ulrichsbrücke-Füssen is the border town on the Austrian side, whereas Füssen is on the German side. Both towns are only 4 miles away. Unfortunately the public bus does not match the train schedule. Therefore I would take a taxi for that short distance.
Between Füssen and Neuschwanstein there are two bus lines going back and forth.
After you had the tour through the castle, and returned to Füssen, you take a diect train to Munich (2 hours ride).
The castle is closed on December 24th and 25th.
http://www.fuessen.de/en/king-ludwigs-castles/neuschwanstein-castle.html