Please review my itinerary! Also looking for suggestions!

My friends tell me Salzburg is magical at this time and the Christmas markets are wonderful both in Salzburg and Munich. In fact, I’m going there on a Rick Steves - Munich Salzburg Vienna tour 12/01-12/08.

Your trip itinerary sounds good to me, I’m sure you will enjoy it!

paige, Munich and Salzburg are both great destinations and worth all the time you can afford to spend there. You asked this question: "Is the castle worth it?" You'll find a lot of opinions on both sides of this question, but I'll just point out to you (if you didn't know) the tour inside only lasts about 20-30 minutes, much less than the long walk up the hill to get there. Use the Search button on top this page (gray box) to search on Neuschwanstein and you'll see a lot of discussion on whether its worth it.

Garmisch is another option if you want to see the mountains and spend time outside. Or you could spend an extra day in Salzburg and day trip to Berchtesgaden.

Salzburg is lovely - and if the weather is really nice - and you have a need for more "Alps" the bus trip to Berchtesgarden is only about an hour.

https://www.muenchen.de/int/en/events/christmas-market.html

https://www.berchtesgaden.de/en/home

https://www.salzburg.info/en/salzburg/advent/salzburg-christmas-market

I'll join Judy in saying I think your trip looks great. Neuschwanstein is such a subjective experience that no one can really answer the "Is it worth it?" question for you. I thought it was really cool... but I tend to think everything in Europe is cool. :)

My off-the-beaten-path Salzburg suggestion: Get coffee or a snack at the Panoramabar at the Stadt:Bibliothek Salzburg (the library!) in the "new town;" here is a picture of the library. Walk into the library; admire the shockingly red carpet; follow the signs to the Panoramabar (the structure at the top of the building in the picture). The path includes a ride on a nifty diagonal elevator. The Panoramabar includes a reading area and a cafe, and it has great views over the city, including a nice view of the fortress in the distance. Nearly all the staff, including servers, have developmental disabilities, so someone in your party needs to speak German well enough to be able to order, if you want coffee or a snack. Across the street from the library is an Interspar hypermarket that I find fun to explore. IMHO, this is a worthwhile excursion that gets you into a part of Salzburg most never see, lets you view Salzburg as a real city instead of just a cutesy old town, and lets you catch a glimpse of a program that employs individuals with development disabilities.

Just my two cents worth, but if the weather is poor (and at that time of year most likely to be), skip the whole castle thing. The great views only happen when it's clear, most of the postcard shots are from helicopters, and walking that hill in snow or rain sucks.

Neuschwanstein is worth it. Salzburg is great. Your plan is fine.

Great questions! We are thinking of going the same time as you. Arrive 11/23 and depart 12/1. Most of what we are considering is based around which Christmas markets will be open. It looks like a few will open at the beginning of that week, but more seem to be opening at the end of the week. I’m sure we will find lots to do!
Have fun planning.

most of the postcard shots are from helicopters

Maybe. But I got a shot from Maria's Bridge with my iPhone (on a clear, sunny day) that I would put up against any postcard.

I felt that the hassle of waiting in lines, getting tickets, waiting in lines, just for a 20-30 minute tour of the N-Castle was just too much wasted time. Perhaps skip Fussen, and do a few days in the wonder of Vienna?
In either case, you'll have a great time, and safe travels!

Looks good to me. Good for you planning something manageable. Usually when people say "review my itinerary" on this board, they are visiting 15 cities, 5 countries, in ten days! (I exaggerate only a little).

You might consider Nuremburg over Fussen and Neuschwanstein Castle. Nuremburg is a much-underrated city which I prefer to Munich, having visited both more than once. I am not among the many detractors of Neuschwanstein--if it really speaks to you, by all means go.

I went to Neuschwanstein, staying in Fuessen, in January after already having lived and traveled in Germany for 6 years and you know what? I loved it! Yes, the tour is short, but you have more time to explore the neighboring Hohenschwangau (which is more of a "real" castle) and Fuessen has it's own fortress, too!

I think 3 days is a little heavy for Salzburg but if you spend one of those days taking a trip to Berchdesgaden (or a tour if you don't want to deal with public transit - I liked Bob's Special Tours (We did the "Bavarian Mountain Tour" because my in-laws wanted to visit the Eagle's Nest and we didn't have a car, but this tour looks like it would be great for you!). Also while the central Christmas market in Salzburg is great, we had such a good time this last Christmas taking the bus outside of the city to Schloss Hellbrunn. One of the best markets I've been to, anywhere!

Also look and see if any Krampus activities will be going on Salzburg while you're there!

Munich has tons to do, obviously, and a lot of smaller Christmas markets spread throughout the city.