Our group of 4 will be spending 2 nights in Schwangau on our way to Italy. We would appreciate feedback on the following before our itinerary planning:
1. We will be taking train from Paris and arriving Fussen station around 16:55. Is best way to get to our accommodation in Schwangau by taxi? We are thinking that evening of having meal w/German food & beer. Any suggestions?
2. We want to visit Neuschwanstein the next day. Should we take a tour company from Fussen ($51 each) to best use our time? This would be 4 hour tour leaving us time then for other things. Or,alternately, can we do it much cheaper on our own and not sacrifice much time?
3. We want to see Old Town Fussen and are interested in hike to Mt. Calvary. I understand Fussen stores closed on Sunday. So, should we do old town Fussen Saturday afternoon/evening and try to do Mt. Calvary hike on Sunday morn before we leave Fussen on train to Munich to catch overnight train (21.08) to Florence? Our hotel checkout time is 10 am but could maybe check out/store bags then hike. I have seen that hike takes about 30 min. but am unclear where to start--near our guesthouse in Schwangau or in Fussen.
4. Does Fussen station have left luggage or baggage lockers?
5. Any other help and/or suggestions will be welcome.
Thanks for your time and expertise.
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
2588 posts
Taxis are at the train station. The distance is not far so the fare is very reasonable.
Take the tour on your own. Make reservations in advance.
Check to see what time things close on Sat. afternoon. In many towns, things close around 2 pm
There are baggage lockers at the station.
Posted by
OP
NC
5 posts
Thanks, Stephen, for the info & advice
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
"We want to visit Neuschwanstein the next day. Should we take a tour company from Fussen ($51 each) to best use our time? This would be 4 hour tour leaving us time then for other things. Or,alternately, can we do it much cheaper on our own and not sacrifice much time?" I'm a little confused here. If you're staying in Schwangau, you're right by the castles. Füssen is about a kilometer or two away. Why would you return to Füssen for a tour that just takes you right back to Schwangau?
There's no reason to book an outside tour of the castles, particularly if you're staying right there in Schwangau. The tour of Hohenschwangau is run by the Wittelsbach family foundation and that of Neuschwanstein by the Bavarian government, so I don't see what any outsider could offer other than parting you from your money. I don't even think you need to reserve tickets. Just go to the ticket booth right after breakfast. You'll beat all the crowds coming from Munich, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Oberamergau, Mittenwald, Innsbruck and the Rickniks who stay in Reutte.
"So, should we do old town Fussen Saturday afternoon/evening and try to do Mt. Calvary hike on Sunday morn before we leave Fussen on train to Munich to catch overnight train (21.08) to Florence? " Weather is your determiner here. Füssen seems to specialize in trinket stores, so you're not missing a whole lot if the weather forecast forces you to do the hike on Saturday.
Posted by
OP
NC
5 posts
Thanks, Tom --after I wrote I saw how close we are to castles and had the same thought as you. Thanks for the validation that I'm on the right track. Also, thanks for the thoughts about shopping vs. hiking.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
We love Schwangau. It's one of our favorite places with its wide open green pastures with cows, goats and horses, lots of paved bike paths, bavarian chalets both houses and hotels dotted all over - not to mention the spectacular view of the castles from Schangau. A car is very handy to have in this area but no necessary. Many of the hotels have their own bicycles for their guests. Favorite hotel - Helmerhof.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
A taxi from Füssen to Schwangau is probably unnecessary. At 17:05 and at 17:10, buses leave from in front of the Füssen Bahnhof for the stop in Hohenschwangau (castles), then go on to make 5 or more stops in Schwangau, including at the Rathaus. One of those stops must be close to your Gasthaus (what's the name of your Gasthaus?). If you know the address of your Gasthaus, you can look up the route using the German Rail Website. Use Start > Station/Stop > Fuessen Bahnhof and Destination > Address > (the address). It should show you the bus and stop for the least walking.
I wouldn't waste your time on a 3rd party tour from Füssen. In the morning, take a bus from Schwangau to the Hohenschwangau stop. It will be faster than going back into Füssen. Go early enough to buy your ticket at the kiosk before any lines. The tour ticket will give you enough time to walk up to the castle and it's a pedestrian road; a 3rd party tour cannot get you there any sooner. There are horse carriages if you don't want to walk, or a bus to Mary's bridge above the castle and you walk down.