Munich-Salzburg-Zugspite-Nueschanstein- Rothenburg

You are underestimating driving times. High Bavaria is larger than it looks on a map, and while landscapes are lovely, the drive for example from Salzburg to Garmisch will take the best part of a morning.

Thank you!
So would I have time to drive from Salzburg to Ga-Pa, go to top of Zugspite and arrive in Schwangau by dinner? I have a booked room in Schwangau.

The google map I used says I need 2 hours and 14 minutes for the drive from Salz to Ga-Pa. Do you feel it is an underestimate?

It says I then need an hour to drive from Ga-Pa to Schwangau.

So I was hoping to leave Salz at 10a, arrive in Ga-Pa by one. Go to top of mtn., starting no later than 1:30-1:45, and descended back down to car by 5 pm. Am I dreaming here that 3 hours for ride up and back on mtn to be completed in 3 to 3.5 hours?

The viamichelin.com road trip planning website will give you the travel times you need to plan your trip.
Of course, their times are "on the road" times only, so you'll add in time for stops.

The Autobahn route between Salzburg and Munich is one of the most Stau-prone in all of Germany. It's a beautiful drive, but it tends to crawl for large stretches of time. And at this time of year, unless you get a rare sunny day with low humidity, visibility is usually low and the countryside takes on a dull grey hue.

Once again, for the Zupspitze, think about weather. If it's typical winter weather, it won't be worth your time ascending the mountain... unless you plan to ski on the upper level pistes... but it doesn't sound like that's your plan. You would also have to drive back along the same Stau-infested road.

I don't see your plan for day two working. I'll let others who have done the SOM tour comment about day one.

Hi,

Pretty ambitious to say the least.

On day 2, since you have a car, head right to Fuessen via the Fern Pass. IF the weather is clear, stop in Ehrwald, Austria (you'll be going right past it) and take the Zugspitze cable car. One 20 min. cable car ride right to the top of the Zugspitze. It goes to the exact same spot as the trip from Garmisch.

www.zugspitze.at

IF it's bad weather, skip the Zugspitze and head right to Fuessen/Schwangau and try to see at least 1 castle (or both) upon arriving. Next morning, if the weather is clear, head to Ehrwald again for the Zugspitze. If the weather is iffy, maybe you would be satisfied with taking the Tegelberg cable car a mile or so from Neuschwanstein. Much cheaper than the Zugspitze and requires less time.

Paul

Just wanted to throw this out there... you could simply base in the Berchtesgaden/Salzburg area and visit Salzburg, SOM, Salt Mine, then substitute the Jennerbahn for Zugspitze and Ludwig's Herrenchiemsee Palace for Neuschwanstein all from this one base. The drive to Rothenburg from here is about 4.5 hours. We did this drive from Rothenburg to Berchtesgaden.

Paul

Thanks for all the great info. We now decided that Nueschwanstein is a must (over Herrenchimesse).

Still trying to decide on Salt Mine versus Zugspite.

What private tour guide has anyone used in Salzburg?