Ok the first leg of our trip is locked in thanks to help from this forum, I feel good about our next two legs and now I have questions about the fourth leg. We want to see Ludwigs castles and the Zugspitze, we have two days for this and then going to Salzburg. So far we have two nights on the Rhine, Two nights in Rothenburg, three nights in Munich, where do you think would be the best place to stay for the castles and the Zugspitze ? Your help is greatly appreciated, thank you.
Will you have a car or rely on public transportation? And when you say "Ludwig's castles", are you including Linderhof or not?
One bit of advice, though. Due to the vagaries of Alpine weather, don't try to determine which day you visit each without the benefit of a short-term weather forecast. The castles, obviously, are far less weather dependent, but cloudy weather makes an ascent up the Zugsptize and expensive waste of time and money.
Not sure what time of the year you will be in Bavaria, but during the Summer, you can go up to the Zugspitze on the cable car or cog train. Sometimes the glacier is there, sometimes it is not. It will take up at least half a day.
There Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace near Garmisch/Fussen.
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/castles-of-mad-king-ludwig-ii
The third major castle is nearer Munich, at Chiemsee, which is a virtual replica of Versailles.
https://www.getyourguide.com/munich-l26/day-trip-to-the-royal-palace-of-herrenchiemsee-t23217/
You will be in Salzburg, which is not real close to GarmischFussen. You could visit Berchtesgaden instead or perhaps also visit Chiemsee. Best place to stay if you want to see Neuschwanstein and Linderhof is at Garmisch. This is where you would go up the Zugspitze.
I also recommend staying in Gramisch Partenkirchen. I personally, would take one night from Munich and add it to this area. Lots nearby to see and do.
We will be using public transportation and plan to see Linderhof if we have time. We will be there two nights 9/25 and 9/26, thinking we will try to go to Berchestgaden while in Salzburg
Any hotels you recommend in Garmisch ?
The Atlas Grand is probably the nicest hotel I have stayed at in town. Particularly if you can reserve the Ludwig or Sissi rooms.
Just down the street, the Fraundorfer is cozier, and they have a fun restaurant downstairs, with nearly nightly music.
Both of these hotels are located in the slightly more traditional looking Partenkirchen section of town. If your visit is during the summer, the Garmisch section might be preferable, because the Kurgarten here hosts live music nightly. The two hotels I've stayed at in the Partenkirchen section (Wittelsbacher Hof and Vier Jahreszeitsen) weren't quite as nice, but certainly acceptable.
The two sections of town are walkable from each other, but the walk is a little long.
Hotel & Gasthof Fraundorfer was good when we visited several years ago.
Hotel Fraundorfer looks great, is there a way to book directly with them?
I found the website for the hotel, but it was in German, so I clicked on the British flag and this is what it gave me:
https://translate.google.de/translate?hl=de&sl=auto&tl=en&u=www.gasthof-fraundorfer.de
BTW, the staff at the Fraundorfer can speak English, if there is any concern. The restaurant is very popular, and because most of the tables are shared, you meet people from all over the world on vacation here.
Staudacherhof in Garmisch. It's a little pricey but nice. Great breakfast, midday snack, wellness etc. Fairly centrally located too. Last time I ate at the Fraundorfer was probably the last time I'll ever eat there.
Thank you for the help and information, I appreciate your input , it is helping us very much.