My way germ-aust-switz. Time for Neuschwanstein

Elaine. This is just my opinion, as a older, jaded traveler. Unless you are traveling with kids, I think Neuschwanstein is not worth visiting. You realize it is not that old? It's in a beautiful location, but is best seen from a distance. The inside tour is not worth the effort to climb the hill or the time it eats up. Maybe the other "castle" there is, but I wouldn't waste the time. I would go to Dachau if you've never seen a c-camp.

Answering your last question, IMO, yes, Munich "has more to see than a half day can cover." Any guidebook will give you the details on that.
The Neuschwanstein view from the bridge is like a postcard.
But with only 1 and 1/2 days total in that part of Germany, you have a decision to make.

One factor would be: how meaningful will it be for you to bear witness to an actual concentration camp? Some feel strongly that it's a sobering, riveting and required experience to personally witness the horrors of what happened in these camps; others find the experience too dreadful and depressing to do on their vacation.

I like Neuschwanstein and I think it's a fascinating monument to a very strange king, but it would take you most of the day to get there and back to see it. Only you can say if that's worth it, but for me, it wouldn't be.

Neuschwanstein is certainly unique, it was designed and built to be. It is the work of a slightly eccentric ruler who spent most of his kingdom's money building these fantasy follies (there are several) to satisfy his strange fantasies. Built from scratch, it is only 120 years old.

In terms of which is more important, which is more important to you? That is the only answer that matters.

Thanks for all the responses. I looked deeper at the guide book and came to the right conclusion for me. There will be plenty of fun and excitement on this trip. I think for me some reality of the Dachau camp can be handled and even appreciated. That is what travel is for me. Reality. Not a movie I watched a long time ago in high school that impacted me, but reality. If later that day I end up in the hofbrauhaus, I will still have spent some time in a different part of Germany.

Elaine,

You've received lots of great suggestions! I also believe a visit to the Castles would be worthwhile for the reasons mentioned, but with such a very limited time frame, going to Dachau would be a more effective use of time. You can either make the trip on your own or take a guided tour with Radius Tours. I most definitely agree with Kent that there's LOTS to see in Munich and a day and a half will hardly scratch the surface.

Enjoy the tour!

Glad you're getting your plans figured out. I've enjoyed many palaces, but the palaces that you can get more easily in Vienna will hold you for a while. Similarly, you could make a long daytrip from Vienna to Mauthausen Concentration Camp memorial (2 hours each way), but Dachau is the much simpler option. Both cities have excellent museums, too.

I, too, will be taking the My Way tour in Sept, the tour that begins on the 14th. I had the same question and decided on Dachau.