Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Castle

Super easy to take a train to see Neuschwanstein...not so easy for Linderhof because you'll have to use the public bus. If you're looking for a fun tour group then have a look at Mike's Bikes in Munich.

Actually if you have some time I would suggest you spend a couple of nights near Neuschwanstein. THe area is beautiful and allows you a much more relaxing and enjoyable sightseeing to the castles.

"I would suggest you spend a couple of nights near Neuschwanstein".

There is a lot to see in Füssen. There are the two castles, Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, Lugwig's boyhood home, plus the town of Füssen itself. I probably spent 6 hours at Linderhof. This is more than a one day trip.

Oberammergau would be an excellent choice. Lots of places to stay, and there are buses to/from Hohenschwangau (town). Linderhof is only 15 minutes by bus from Oberammergau.

For staying in Oberammergau, I would recommend Gästehaus Richter. It's only a couple of blocks from the Bahnhof/bus station, a good price for Oberammergau, and she speaks good English.

Yes, spend more time, a few nights, in Fuessen or the general area. October is beautiful in the alps. Near Fuessen and Neuschwanstein is the Tegelberg cable car trip and luge ride (Sommerrodelbahn). Also, check out the Zugspite trip from Garmisch, near Linderhof and Oberammergau.

Paul

"Super easy to take a train to see Neuschwanstein.."

It may be easy for some but probably not for others. But you need more than the train. Actually, you will spend close to 5 hours just on trains and buses for a day trip from Munich to N'stein alone. The train gets you to Füssen station. You transfer at Füssen station to a bus heading to the "Hohenschwangau, Schwangau (Schlösser)" bus stop. Then it's 30-40 minutes steeply uphill on foot to the castle from the Ticket Center... and maybe a little less time on the way downhill to the bus stop.

Here's the map: https://www.hohenschwangau.de/typo3temp/pics/ee34144783.jpg
Here's the official info page: http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/tourist/howtoget.htm

I'll throw out renting a car as an excellent option. It gives you flexibility (in some ways), can get you from A to B to C to D in a quicker amount of time (which is valuable on a trip), plus driving on the Autobahn is an experience itself. My wife and I rented a car from Munich to drive to the same areas you are discussing. They drive on the right, and if you get the Rick Steves' German language guide, it has tips on driving as well.

Going from Munich to Hohenschwangau by car won't save you much time (maybe 20 min according to ViaMichelin and the Bahn), but if you have reserved a tour time, with a car you have to worry about traffic jams and wrong turns delaying your arrival and you miss the time. Also, according to ViaMichelin, just the fuel for the car for the round trip is more (~30€) than the cost of a Bayern-Ticket (28€ for 2), and then there is the cost of the car rental.

If you are trying to do both Neuschwanstein and Linderhof in a day, a car might be the only way, but then, in my opinion, you won't won't spend enough time in either place to make it worthwhile. Make it at least an overnight trip.

My suggestion would be to leave Munich on the 8:32 RB (direction Innsbruck). Get off at Murnau at 9:27 and catch the 9:42 RB to Oberammergau. Get to Oberammergau at 10:21, walk two blocks to Gästehaus Richter, leave whatever baggage you have with you there, and return to the Bahnhof for the 11:25 bus to Linderhof, arriving at 11:58. Spend the afternoon at Linderhof and return to Oberammergau by bus in the late afternoon, early evening. All the transportation that day (trains and buses) is with a 23€ (for 2) Regio-Ticket-Werdenfels. The Werdenfels ticket does not have a 9 AM limit like the Bayern-Ticket.

The next morning, take the 8:30 bus from Oberammergau to Hohenschwangau (2 changes at Echelsbacher Brücke and Füsen Bahnhof), arriving at 10:13, tour the castle(s) and come back on the bus (the last on of the day leaves Hohenschwangau at 4:40 PM and gets to Oberammergau at 18:37.) RVO Tagestickets can be obtained from the driver for 9,80€ pP and are good for the round trip; stay overnight in Oberammergau and return to Munich the following morning.

ADDED:

The schedule above is for weekdays.

If you want to return to Munich that night, check with Frau Richter, I don't think she would mind you stashing your luggage at here place until you return from Hohenschwangau. If you purchase a Bayern-Ticket from the bus driver in the morning, it will cover the round trip to Hohenschwangau and the train trip back to Munich, but only the part after 9 AM. You would also have to buy individual bus tickets to Echelsbacher Brücke, from which the bus leaves at 9:00.

Spend the afternoon at Linderhof and return to Oberammergau
Have a stop in Ettal and visit the abbey. It's a beauty.

About Ludwig's palaces: Do you know about Herrenchiemsee? It's an easy day trip from Munich (and the best palace of all in the eyes of some.) It's one hour by direct train from Munich to Prien station; then it's a gently sloped walk (or tourist train) to Chiemsee Lake and a ferry across to this island-palace.

View from the air

Some, if not all, of the buses coming back from Linderhof to Oberammergau stop as Ettal.

"It's one hour by direct train from Munich to Prien station; then it's a gently sloped walk (or tourist train) to Chiemsee Lake and a ferry across to this island-palace."

Don't forget the 1½ mile walk, round trip (or 7€ carriage ride) from the boat dock to the palace.

"Don't forget the 1½ mile walk, round trip (or 7€ carriage ride) from the boat dock to the palace."

Yes, the walk to the entrance will likely require 30-40 minutes round trip - roughly half the time needed for the the walk to N'stein and back to the bus stop.

Those wishing to minimize the total walking can do the tourist train to the dock as well. Boat/train combo tickets are available:
http://www.chiemsee-schifffahrt.de/en/preise/preise-bis-31122015/

Thank you very much, so great information. Have been reading the Rick Steves book. Still talking it over with the family to see if they want to do it ourselves or a tour.