We have purchased tickets for Neuschwanstein Castle on May 23. Trying to figure out how best to book the train from Munich to Fussen. I have looked at the Deutsche Bahn website but it is a little confusing. I looked at the Bayernkarte ticket but not sure how to use that ticket to reserve a specific train. It seems to be a generic ticket that you use when you get on the train.
Thanks,
Tom
This trip is possible only by regional train. All regional train rides in Germany are the same when it comes to getting a seat, no matter what ticket you use - there is no reserved seating. Regional trains might travel very long distances, but they fall into the same general category of transportation as buses, trams, and subways. You buy a ticket, then you get on and look for a seat.
There is zero advantage for early purchase when it comes to regional-train-only journeys. The Bayern Ticket is non-refundable if your plans change. So just buy it on the 23rd, or on the 22nd for the date of the 23rd.
The Bayern Ticket covers regional trains and buses too - so after your train trip, the bus trip to the ticket office area is covered by the Bayern Ticket also. You are traveling on a weekday, so you may not use the Bayern Ticket until 9 am. The Bayern Ticket is more than a ticket - it's a day pass, so it's valid for the trip back to Munich, and it's also valid for any additional trips you might need to take within Munich or outside Munich on that same day, as long as your travel keeps you within Bayern (Bavaria.)
You don't reserve a specific train. The Bayern ticket is good on any regional trains in Bavaria for the specified day any time after 9 am weekdays or any time weekends. Just make sure its a regional train, and not an IC//EC train.
Also, if you will be multiple places in Germany, you might look at the Deutschland ticket, good for all regional trains and local transport for all of Germany, for a calendar month, for 58 euro, with the plus that you are not restricted to after 9:00 AM. See the discussion on Man in Seat 61 https://www.seat61.com/ for details on purchase.
