Hello! My son and I plan to take a day trip from Munich in late July. I would like to get an early start to travel to Zugspitze, have lunch in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, then head to Neuschwanstein. We plan to see the views and area around, but not do the inside tour. Anyone have recommendations as to if we should rent a car from Munich and drive or if trains would be better? I like the flexibility of the car, but am concerned about traffic and parking.
Posted by
Walnut Creek, CA
725 posts
We rented a car to drive around Bavaria and visited both N-stein and the Zugspitze on separate days. we stayed in Schwangau and G-P.
It would be very difficult to visit both on the same day using public transportation.
As for driving, we rented a car at the Munich airport to avoid downtown Munich. From the airport, it's all autobahn and fast two lane roads. I had no issues with traffic and had no issues with directions using Apple Maps.
I will say driving on the area on the autobahn that had no speed limit was really an adventure. I got the BMW up to 100 mph (miles per hour- NOT kilometers per hour) in one section.
N-stein has ample pay parking lots and in G-P there is parking at the cog wheel train station where you begin the trip up to the Zugspitze. You can also park at Eibsee to catch the cogwheel train. they had a huge parking lot.
We had no traffic or parking issues at either place.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
9335 posts
Public Transport Munich to G-P and then the Zugspitze is quite easy. Trying to add Neuschwanstein in on the same day/day trip with public transportation makes this idea much harder. If you must see both on the same day, renting a car will be the only way to go.
Posted by
Paradise
7420 posts
I doubt you'll be back from the Zugspitze in G-P by lunch time.
IMO the idea of renting a car just to look at Neuschwanstein is a non-starter. The area around G-P is RIPE with other options. There are natural wonders like the Partnach Gorge in G-P. Or take a direct train from G-P station to the attractive alpine village of Mittenwald - walk the old town zone, check out the violin-making museum... Mittenwald also has a cool mountain lift and river gorge. And it's a small town that is easy to explore on foot from the station. This walking guide is a good tool:
https://hastingshouse.typepad.com/hastings_house_us/2007/04/mittenwald_germ.html
Since you are planning a meal in G-P, why not have dinner there after the Zugspitze and Mittenwald? The FRAUNDORFER INN's "Bavarian Evening" is perfect for traditional food and entertainment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD8SvqNDZxE
If you stay late, trains run back to Munich from G-P at 9:07, 10:07 and 11:07 pm.
The Bayern Ticket is good all day (on Sa or Su) or from 9 am on on other days, for as many trips as you want, so it costs nothing more to include the side trip to Mittenwald.
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
1979 posts
My advice would be to reverse the order you have planned. Rent a car, drive to Neuschwanstein in the morning, earlier the better, and do your sightseeing there. You want to see the castle in the best light, and that's in the morning. Then drive into G-P, park at the train station in town (or nearby) and catch the train to Eibsee and the Zugspitze. There's no need to drive all the way out to the seilbahn. You can have a meal in town, or up on top of the mountain. But you want to be on the peak (again) when the lighting is best, and that's after 11 am.