I will be in Munich for 4 days in May 2020. During one of those days, I'd like to visit the Bavarian Alps to see the views and perhaps do some hiking. Any suggestions?
My current plan is to see the Alps on the day that I visit Ludwig's castles—perhaps I'll take the cable car up Zugspitze—but I'm curious if you have other recommendations.
Max, the Zugspitze is worth visiting, but its not exactly near the castles. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is at the foot of the Zugsptize and a popular alpine resort. The castles themselves would take most of a day just getting there and back from Munich, IME.
Some references:
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
https://www.gapa.de/en/Your-GaPa-experience/Zugspitze
https://www.gapa.de/en/Your-GaPa-experience/Partnach-gorge
https://www.gapa.de/en/Culture-health/Culture/Excursions
Palaces - Castles:
https://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/index.htm
Local buses:
https://www.rvo-bus.de/oberbayernbus/view/index.shtml
Have great time!
Stan: Maybe I'll just aim for Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, then. I know there are some hiking opportunities nearby so perhaps I could fit in a short walk/hike in that area as well...
I also have to be aware of crowds, since the Oberammergau Passion Play will be happening that summer.
Max, as long as you are making an informed decision on seeing Neuschwanstein. For many people (Americans), its a must see because it is so well known in the US from the Disneyland connection. But there are also many people, including myself (three visits), who think less highly of it (its only about 70 years older than Disneyland), and especially when weighing the time it takes to get there, the long hike up the hill to the waiting area for your timed tour, the 20-30 minutes you are actually allowed in the castle, and the dejected walk down the hill. But that's me.
If your priority is mountain scenery, nature, nice alpine villages, hiking, etc., G-P is much more worth it, and other options like Mittenwald or Berchtesgaden, might more fit the bill. Munich is just not that close to the mountains. You use up a lot of time in just getting anywhere, and the time for a hike turns out to be not that much.
The castles you mention are fairly close to Oberstdorf and the Nebelhorn cable car there. Nebelhorn has great views! I do not know, however, whether the cable car lines are long in summer or whether you need to book, but I think it's worth a look.
Konigssee-Jenner. Not the highest but a beautiful area.
Check the visibility before you go -
https://www.netflix.com/watch/80234458?trackId=14277283
start at about 13 minutes
