There are way too many companies mentioned on the net, guidebooks, and plain old word-of-mouth - and they all have good and bad reviews. Hoping the best travellers ever can help us narrow it down a bit..
We're a late 50s couple, will base in north Munich, a two stop bus ride to the U1 connection to the central Hbf.
When you booked a day trip tour out to the castles, which company really blew you away? We're looking for tickets to both castles, with time to get out to Marienbrücke bridge, and at a pace that doesn't feel like the hounds are nipping at the heels. I could probably put it all together myself - the train ride to/from Fussen (Bayern ticket now €44 after VAT), transport to the castles, and guess-timating how much time we'll need in each place. But if the tour price isn't ridiculously more than the DIY, as RS would say, "it's money well spent".
Thanks for everything, I'd trust this community infinitely more than Google or TripAdvisor reviews..
Posted by
Paradise
8073 posts
When you booked a day trip tour out to the castles, which company
really blew you away?
I don't have an answer for you. Just wanted to mention - in case you weren't aware - that the tours of the interiors are conducted only by official in-house tour guides, not by the employees of whatever tour company you might choose.
People's impressions of the two residential palaces (which is what Germans call them) vary quite a lot. My impression? I found the tours rushed and overcrowded. Neither is a must-see. I preferred Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, where there's more to see and do and you can spend your time more loosely - without the long day trip from Munich.
If your visit to Germany simply must include N'stein and H'schwangau: the more relaxing way would be to spend a night in Schwangau or Füssen. Maybe 2 nights if you'd like to see more of the area.
Posted by
OP
St. Albert, Canada
87 posts
To Mark: yikes, you're absolutely right, I didn't think of that.. thank you, title edited...
To Russ: ok, no one from a tour company actually does the guiding, that's good to know .. (I only called them castles as that is what Hohenschwangau's own webpage uses on their English translated page. I removed that word from the title as well.) We've also read that they are really "busy" - we'll be there early October on a Friday - we fully expect to see the sights with a thousand of our "closest friends". lol.
To both of you, your post counts show you each have a lot of insight and experience - thanks in advance for whatever suggestions you may have.