Spending 2 nights around Fussen / Ettal / Zugspitze in August - best central area?

Posted by mziolecki on 01/15/24 02:35 PM

First, I appreciate everyone's input on this forum - very helpful. Family of 4 headed to Bavaria this summer. Hoping to spend 2-3 days around Neuschwanstein Castle / Fussen / Innsbruck to see the castles, small towns, the Zugspitze, etc. Is there one central location that makes sense in which to stay? Or does it make more sense to stay different nights in those specific places? We will have a rental car and we will be starting and ending in Munich. Hoping to see some of Munich, Dachau, The Eagle's Nest, and Salzburg as well.

Thank you!

Posted by mchpp

Oberpfalz, Germany

01/15/24 04:35 PM

1293 posts

Just spent a week in Ehrwald, AT. Love the walk across the golf course/cross county skiing area to Lemoos. Ehrwald might not be the best as you will probably cross the Fernpass with it's traffic to Innsbruck. Mittenwald could be nice too.

Posted by liesl309

Bay Area, CA

01/15/24 05:39 PM

5 posts

My family stayed 4 nights in the little town of Grainau in June 2018 (in between stays in Munich and Salzburg), and it was spectacular. We rented a "ferienwohnung" (vacation home... really an apartment) from Ferienwohnung Zugspitze, and had a rental car to get around. Grainau is the last town before the Zugspitze and Eibsee, so the views of the Alps are incredible.

We drove to Neuschwanstein Castle one day, very easy to get there. We hiked to the Kuhfluchtwasserfälle in Farchant, which was lovely (we intended to hike the Partnachtklamm gorge trail but it was closed). The highlight, however, was ascending Zugspitze. We waited until the last day, hoping the clouds would clear (they didn't). We took the second cable car down to the glacier, which was absolutely awesome, one of our best vacation memories ever.

Posted by mkovacevic

Hamilton, Ontario

01/15/24 07:57 PM

15 posts

In Germany I suggest Mittenwald or Garmisch-Partenkirchen or the general areas around the the two towns In 2016 we stayed in the Partenkirchen portion on the main street downtown, last year we stayed in Mittenwald. Both are really nice, Mittenwald is quieter. There are also many options in the countryside around the two towns. Neuschwanstein is about an 1.5 hours from Mittenwald but Innsbruck is only 40 minutes from Mittenwald. Mittenwald seems most central. Garmisch is only 15 minutes away from the Zugspitze aerial car start point at Eibsee. Mittenwald is about 40 minutes away. Fussen is 15 minutes away from Neuschwanstein but almost 2 hours from Innsbruck Go to Google maps and play around with directions. Buy your tickets in advance online for Neuschwanstein and try to get first tickets available for the day in the morning. There will be smaller crowds earlier. Also while there see the castle next to it Hohenschwangau. Take the walk to the Marienbrucke (Marien Bridge) at Neuschwanstein. Buy tickets in advance for it also. I do not think you can fit everything in 2 days. Zugspitze is at least a 1/2 day experience. Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau likely 1 day but you could fit Fussen in at the end and then drive back to your hotel after a dinner in Fussen. Also in the area is King Ludwig's Hunting Lodge/Palace - Linderhof, Ettal Monastery and Weiskirche (Baroque Pilgrimage Church) which all can be done in a day. Innsbruck needs at least a day.