Advice needed for first-time Munich/Salzburg/Fussen trip this July

Posted by elizabeth99 (Pittsburgh, PA) on 12/21/24 07:38 PM

I'm in the very initial phases of trying to sketch out a mother-daughter trip to Germany in early July 2025.
(FYI, daughters are 20 & 22. 22 yo will be taking the train to meet us from Florence, after finishing up a study abroad trip.)

We want to both do a combo of the popular/touristy things (Sound of Music tour in Salzburg and King's Castles in the Bavarian Alps), plus wander around off the beaten path and get the flavor of the little towns in the Alps/hike/bike, and explore the rest of Salzburg.

Right now, my research is showing flights aren't that available to/from our location in the US to Salzburg, but Munich seems to be no problem. While I'm hearing great things about Munich, I'm wondering if three sleeping destinations in 10 nights is too hectic, along with the travel between locations? IF we can fly into Munich and out of Salzburg, or vice versa, would could split our time evenly between the Fussen areas of the Alps and and Salzburg instead. I'll be keeping an eye on SZG flights to see if more are scheduled as we get into the new year...

Here are two possible ways it could work out... any thoughts??

10 nights-- four in Fussen area, four in Salzburg, 2 in Munich
july 2: fly overnight
july 3: arrive Munich/train to Salzburg (2 hrs)
july 3, 4, 5, 6-- four nights in Salzburg/ three full days
july 7 -- depart szg/ train to Fussen (4 hrs)
july 7, 8, 9, 10--four nights in Fussen/alps/ three full days
july 11-- depart for Munich/2 hrs.
july 11, 12, -- tour Munich--2 nights, 1.5 days
july 13 --depart Munich for home

OR
10 nights-- five in each location
july 2: fly overnight
july 3: arrive Munich, 2 hr. train to Fussen-- stay july 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
july 8: 4 hr. train to Salzburg
july 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
july 13: fly home from Salzburg

We'd also *like to keep to public transportation, unless someone can convince me driving around the Alps would be easy/not stressful. On past trips to Europe, when we've gone as a whole family, my husband drives.

Posted by Russ

Paradise

12/21/24 08:38 PM

7107 posts

Prior to planning your hotel nights, I would suggest you look in greater detail at your activities. Wandering, getting the flavor of places, and hiking/biking are all nice things to do, for sure. But I think it's best to pin things down a little more. The SOM tour is a small part of a 4-5 night stay... what else will you do there on the other days, and what besides the King's "castles" will you want to undertake in Füssen? It could turn out that you will want extra time for Salzburg (if Hallstatt, or Hohenwerfen Castle/falconry show, or the SOM Trail, or the Koenigssee, or the Eisriesenwelt Ice cave, or the Eagles Nest are priorites.) Or maybe you are going to want some day trips from Füssen (Highline 179? Linderhof Palace? Or...?) which may call for more time there.

Often left out of the frenzy over King Ludwig II is Herrenchiemsee, the island palace in between Munich and Salzburg. Is that on your list? If so, you'll want to build in a stopover in Prien en route. Not hard to do, just requires some planning.

Munich > Füssen: this is actually a THREE-hour journey from MUC Airport with 2 or more changes of train. MUC to Salzburg will take 2.5 hours with at least one change of train. I would choose to stay in Munich on that first day/night. There's no way to know up front whether or how much your flight will be delayed, and a long train ride after an overnight flight is an aggravation. You could see some of Munich on Day 1 and more of Munich the next day if you wish, then travel at whatever hour you wish to either Salzburg or Füssen on Day 2.

If you end up flying rt out of MUC, that's not a bad thing. Your final day could be filled with sightseeing/activities, followed by a pm train from Salzburg, Füssen, Prien, or wherever, to an airport hotel location, or to Freising (small nice town near the airport, easy ride to the terminal.)