We will be traveling from Stuttgart to the Neuschwanstein Castle (2 /1/2 hours) on Monday, May 9. Would it be unrealistic to think that we could also see Zugspitze in the same day (1-hour away)? If so, is the best place to stay overnight in Garmisch P. , dropping our rental car and taking the train to Munich after the visit to Zugspitze? Is transportation to the Zugspitze cogwheel train easily available without a car? thank you
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1533 posts
It takes some time to visit the castle - you have to buy the ticket, walk half an hour uphill, wait for your time window - the actual visit is quite short - and then walk downhill to the parking area. So if you want to do it all before lunch time, you have to leave Stuttgart very early. As for visiting Zugspitze, it depends on weather; the train is quite expensive and if weather is not optimal I would not do the trip. In the Alps usually the morning is clearer than the afternoon and clouds develop after midday but on the finest days. So in general I would not advice to program your Zugspitze visit in the afternoon, but it depends on the weather on the specific day you do the trip.
Posted by
NYC area
2910 posts
HI,
I'd stay very close to Neuschwanstein in the old town of Fuessen. IF you can manage the Zugspitze trip on the castle day, do it from Ehrwald, Austria, not far from Fuessen or Neuschwanstein. If not, early next morning head to Ehrwald, do the Zugspitze trip and then drive to Garmisch to drop the car. The Ehrwald trip is cheaper than from Garmisch and quicker, just one 20 minute cable car to the top. Both the Ehrwald trip and the Garmisch trip go to the exact same spot, top of the Zugspitze which is on the border of Germany and Austria.
You could also do the Zugspitze trip on May 9th if the weather is clear, then stay overnight in Fuessen, get up early and drive less than 10 minutes to Neuschwanstein castle for a tour.
This way you have 2 chances of clear weather (May 9 or early May 10) to do the Zugspitze and tour Neuschwanstein the other day/morning.
The Tegelberg luge ride (Sommerrodelbahn) is a lot of fun and about a mile from Neuschwanstein.
Paul
Posted by
693 posts
I think trying to do it all on one day would be very tiring. The cog railway has its own station on Olympia Strasse not far from the main town station and there are plenty of hotels and guest houses within walking distance of the main station where you could stay. I cannot give a recommendation as I have only stayed in the countryside near Garmisch.
I would get there late in the afternoon and then do the Zugspitze the following morning. In this way you could perhaps visit Oberammergau on the way from Neuschwanstein (assuming you take the northern road option rather than going into Austria) or visit Partnach Gorge just outside Garmisch before checking in. Alternatively, Garmisch is a pretty town with a nice pedestrian area about 10 min walk from the station so you could explore that in the afternoon.
Posted by
693 posts
Just read Paul's advice to do it from the Austrian side. It is much quicker - just depends on if you want the train trip. For me the train is part of the fun, for others it is less so.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19100 posts
From the Garmisch-Partenkirchen side, it's easy to do without a car. The Bahnhof for the Zugspitzebahn is right there next to the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bahnhof. Just walk a few meters. From there you can go by train to Eibsee to the cable car or all the way to the top via the cog train (and an additional cable car).
From the Erwald side, you need to take a bus to the Zugspitze Talbahnhof.
In 1988, I came out from Munich and took the cable car up to the Zugspitze around noon. By that time the mountain was socked in and I couldn't see anything.
I think it would be far better to come out from Stuttgart to Füssen, see the castle, then take the bus from Hohenschwangau (at 17:18) to Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the night. In the morning, go up the Zugspitze.