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Advice on making our short itinerary in Bavaria work.

I need some advice on possible itineraries for our short trip to Bavaria please.

We booked some flights to Munich in September, arriving very late on Saturday night and flying back on Tuesday afternoon, giving us limited time (we had to use some companion vouchers or lose them and my partner works unusual shifts and can't take any more time off, hence these are the best times we could do). I am not sure how to best use our time however.

We love alpine landscapes, pretty old towns, easy hikes in mountains (we are not experienced hikers so places with cable cars taking you up a mountain for some easy walks around are ideal) and Bavarian food.

We went to Garmisch-Partenkirchen a few years ago and absolutely loved it, it ticked all the boxes. We went up the Zugspitze, walked around Lake Eibsee, did the Partnach Gorge and some hiking up some of the mountains around going up via cable cars. The two old towns are pretty and we found some great Bavarian restaurants.

This time, my partner wants to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, so we plan to go to Füssen on Sunday morning, visit the castle and stay the night. We're undecided whether to stay another night in Füssen or go back to GP however.

I don't know if Füssen has the perfect hiking options we enjoyed in GP with its dramatic mountainous landscapes and cable cars taking you up the mountains, are the hikes more further down the valleys?

Also the non-direct train back to Munich from Füssen on Tuesday morning is long and with a risky tight connection given our flight schedule so if we stay there on Monday we might have to go back to Munich in the evening anyway.

Or we could go back to GP on Monday morning, that involves a 2.5-hour trip with a bus and a train so we will really only have one afternoon there and I wonder if it's worth it, although at least we can stay the night as there are some frequent and direct trains back to Munich on Tuesday morning.

Any advice on what works best you think? Or some suggestions for other places for that last night?

Posted by
33613 posts

what time is the Tuesday flight? Checking luggage?

Posted by
158 posts

You are asking the impossible. Been to the towns you talk about many times and can’t imagine your itinerary working. Then is tons to do in Munich and enjoy the parks. Your there hours not days.

Posted by
6 posts

@Nigel, our flight is at 1250pm, no luggage. The first train out of Füssen is at 815am, arriving in Munich at 1015 then we'll have to take the S-bahn to the airport so I guess another 30/45mn. So we should make it on time but it's a little tight no?

Posted by
6 posts

@LifetimeTravel sorry I am a little confused, what do you mean we're there hours, not days?

I know option 2 is a little tight but not option 1, surely 2 days in Füssen isn't? We had 2 days in GP last time and managed to do all these things I listed comfortably.

Posted by
33613 posts

a little tight looks a bit of an understatement - but that seems your style so I won't suggest otherwise

Posted by
1370 posts

I don't think I would revisit Garmisch-Partenkirchen. I would not overnight in Füssen. Take a look at Obertsdorf as one option, if you can get a train/bus to Munich in time for your flight. Cross youtr fingers for good weather.

Posted by
5358 posts

For an out of Schengen flight, you would want to be at the airport by 10:00 at the latest. So, for safety sake, youd want to be only an hour or so from Munich Hbh and at a place with early and frequent train service if you aren't going to rent a car. That's not Fussen. Nor would I waste hours of my available 2 days changing hotels midway. You might look at the hiking around Tegernsee. Various routes, varying degrees of difficulty. And you could even do them as day trips from Munich.

Posted by
6 posts

Thank you @Cjean, I hadn't considered Tegernsee but it looks like a winner, easy to get to with some hiking and it looks very pretty. It has brought more questions but I will start a new thread.

Posted by
1368 posts

Forget Fussen. Go to Chiemsee. It's a straight shot by train, with multiple trains daily, and beautiful in September. You can easily spend 2 days there.

Posted by
613 posts

We love alpine landscapes, pretty old towns, easy hikes in mountains
(we are not experienced hikers so places with cable cars taking you up
a mountain for some easy walks around are ideal) and Bavarian food.

Do something different from what you already love. Spend the time in Munich. Just relax and enjoy this interesting city. You may find something new to love.

Posted by
19242 posts

I'm of the stay in Munich camp. You didn't say at what time you are getting into Munich on Saturday night, but since most places in the southern Alps are at least 2 hours away, I'm not sure you have time to get there, especially considering that your trans-Atlantic flight could be late arriving.

And considering that you have an early afternoon flight from Munich, you really don't have time to reliably get to the airport from south of Munich.

Stay in Munich. As someone said, there is a lot to see and do in Munich.

Posted by
16 posts

Have you considered renting a car.. Can pick it up at the Munich aiport and drop it there as well, then right to the flight!
This would be ideal for you on this trip! (see below).

Munich airport to Neuschwastein (100 miles) 2 hours, Sunday AM
Neuschwanstein to Garmish (40 miles) about 1 hour. Sunday PM
Monday all day Alpine stuff!
Garmish to Munich airport (85 miles) about 1- 1/2 hour. Tuesday AM

Since you have such a short time, there is something to say about visiting a familair place. You know where to go/stay. You could top the Zug and then go down the other side to Austria. (really cool). All in one Day!

You can side trip from Garmisch to the Castles. . (MAKE A RESERVATION) You can purchase the tickets online. (make sure you get an english speaking tour)., . The Drive is BEAUTIFUL! Allow extra time, because you have to park below the castle and catch a shuttle bus up (at lleast you used to).

https://shop.ticket-center-hohenschwangau.de/Shop/Index/en/39901

Happy Travels!
BTW...Are you in Munich for Octoberfest...It starts in September (late) Sept 21, 2024 to Oct. 6, 2024. GREAT TIME!