Baden-Baden to Bodensee to Fussen by train

You really won't see much of the Alps this way, just some of the foothills south of Kempten to Fuessen. Last leg is a bus from Pfronten-Ried to Fuessen.

I've done the Black Forest Railway. It is mildly interesting, but nothing like some of the railways in Switzerland like the Albula Railway.

Would we be better off to go directly to Munich from Baden-Baden and day trip down to Berchtesgaden to see the Alps? Everyone talks about Fussen and the castles as must-see’s. Are they? Thank you!

Neuschwanstein is the number one tourist attraction in Germany, but it was built in the 1880's with reinforced concrete. Entry requires a reservation. I would not call it a tourist trap, but spending a whole day just to see it, you might question your use of your time. I saw it, as a side trip going from Soelden to Munich. It comes down to: its your vacation, see what you want to see. It is all about the use of your limited time and prioritizing what is important to you. You can get from Baden-Baden to Munich in under 4 hours on the ICE trains.

You say you want to see the Black Forest Railway. I've done it twice and felt it was worth while. Once you get to Donaueschingen or Immendingen, it's not much longer along Bodensee via Friedrichshafen to Lindau, then north to Buchloe and then to Füssen then by other routes, and I would strongly recommend the Bodensee route. In fact, take a train that takes you onto the island of Lindau, as opposed to the new rail hub in Reutin. Lindau, with its harbor looking over the lake to the mountain of Switzerland, is magical. I'd spend an hour or so changng trains at Lindau, Insel, so you can spend time on the island.

Has anyone done this trip? Is it too long for one day?

It's a long but very lovely trip along the Black Forest Railway to Lindau and on to your final Bavarian destination after that. Do as Lee suggests and spend a couple hours in Lindau for the views and a meal.

B-B to Lindau Schedule: 10:31 - 15:41

Lindau to Munich Schedule: 17:46 - 20:05

Because this routing/schedule uses regional trains, the whole journey is possible on a day pass called the "Day Ticket for Germany" or "Quer durchs Land Ticket," €51/ 2 persons. Just buy it at the station in Baden-Baden.

Your ideal alpine destination from Munich is Mittenwald. Take the direct train using another day pass and spend the whole day there:

https://hastingshouse.typepad.com/hastings_house_us/travel_in_europe/

I'd call N'stein a tourist trap.

To “see the Alps” from Munich, I’d head to Garmisch and Mittenwald. Garmisch is home to the Zugspitze trip, Germany’s highest peak at 9,718 ft. Mittenwald is roughly 30 min. from Garmisch and is the picture postcard perfect Bavarian village with an alpine backdrop. Here you’ll find a cute pedestrian zone plus the Karwendelbahn, lower than the Zugspitze but very worthwhile as an option to the Zugspitze.

OK, Neuschwanstein isn't a medieval castle, but it is a beautiful ediface and an interesting window into the life of an eccentric king. I thought the Lohengrin motif in the castle was interesting.

Yes, it was built in the late 1800s, same time as the Eiffel Tower and the Brooklyn Bridge (but people go to see those things), and had electricity and running water. As long as you know about the history and don't go there thinking you'll see a medieval castle, I think it is worth visiting.