Bavarian Itinerary Help

If you want to start off from Munich slightly earlier, get regular tickets for Munich to the first stop you depart from after 9:00. For example - the 8:52 train to Füssen out of Munich goes through Munich-Pasing, leaving there at 8:59; it proceeds to Geltendorf and leaves there at 9:22. So you'd need regular tickets to Geltendorf, but you can use the Bayern ticket from there on.

Needs rethinking, especially with the Bayern Ticket. First of all, realize Bavaria lies at a latitude equivalent to Newfoundland. This means that winter daylight hours are vastly reduced compared to much of the continental US. And you'll be traveling near the winter soltice, with the shortest days of the year. So, expect less than 8 hours of daylight. The lack of daylight isn't very important in the cities, but it makes extensive sightseeing in the countryside very difficult... particularly in Germany, where nightime illumination is kept to a minimum. If you can't even get on the train until 9am, by the time you reach your destinations, you may only have 5-6 hours of daylight.

For 12/24- you won't have enough time to see all of this in one day, particularly because you'll have to wait in long lines with all the skiers on the Zugspitze on one of the busiest days of the year. Gap and Mittenwald are similar, so you really don't need to see both.

A 3 zone single ticket from Munich Hbf to Geltendorf is €6,90 per person, making the trip, using a €27 Bayern-Ticket for the rest of the trip just over €20 per person.

I wouldn't leave out seeing one of the castles in Füssen, but I would delete something else out of town (Andechs?) to spend more time in Munich.

We are only going to GaP to go to Zugspitze then head directly to Mittenwald. Is these another summit in Mittenwald that would be a good substitute for Zugspitze?

Does the Bayern Ticket include transportation to Füssen? When I looked it up the train is RE (Regional) so I assume that it is included.

All of the trains from the Munich Hbf to Füssen, including connections with changes in Buchloe, are regional trains and eligible for the Bayern-Ticket. The Bayern-Ticket also covers the bus from Füssen to Hohenschwangau, where the castle actually are. The bus to Hohenschwangau leaves from bus stop 2, across the parking lot from the station. See the station layout and pictures here.

Hi laura,

There is a cable car, the Karwendelbahn, right in Mittenwald. While not a "substitute" for the Zugspitze, it is a very worthwhile trip with beautiful vistas. Seeing Mittenwald alone is worth the day trip from Munich, so adding the Karwendelbahn is a bonus. Also much quicker and cheaper than the Zugspitze.

Paul

Thanks everyone!

Looks like the Bayern Ticket €27.00 has great value but too much time wasted for winter travel.

12/24 Leave Münich 6:30am to GaP 8am and return to Münich at 22:30, for €70.40.

We still might buy it for the trip to Füssen because we don't expect to be there all day. About how much should I factor in for local transportation in Münich or is it reasonable to walk?

The GPT (Gesamtnetz Partner Tageskarte=entire network partner dayticket) is valid for the entire Munich metro district (MVV) which extends as far as Geltendorf, which the 8:52 train reaches just after 9 AM, but it does not extend as far as Füssen.

If you want to get to Füssen earlier, you might have to purchase full fare regional tickets at about €21 per person, but you could return on a Bayern-Ticket.

But, if you go on a Saturday or on a Sunday, the Bayern-Ticket is good all day long.

If you go to my website page on MVV Automats, you will see how the buttons for a Gesamtnetz Partner Tageskarte and a Bayern-Ticket are arranged.

There are four plausible solutions getting to Füssen, from Münich:

1.) Münich 7am to Füssen 9am Roundtrip Total Cost €88.80

2.) Münich 8:19 to Geltendorf 8:48 Cost €13.80 Zone Three Ticket

Geltendorf 9:22 to Füssen 10:55; and back to Münich Cost €27.00 Bayern Ticket

Total Cost €40.80

3.)Münich 9:51 to Füssen 11:55 Total Cost €27 Bayern Ticket

4.)Munich 7am to Füssen 9am Cost €44.20

Füssen 13:00 to Münich 15:00 Cost €27.00 Bayern Ticket

Total Cost €71.20

Summary:
Fussen by 9am = €71.20-88.80 Roundtrip or Bayern and oneway to Füssen

Füssen by 11am = €40.80 Zone Three and Bayern Ticket

Füssen by 12pm = €27.00 Bayern Ticket

My brain hurts...LOL!!!
P.S. These prices are based on two adults.

Lee, your website is extensive thanks for sharing, and thanks to Harry too! You both are very knowledgable and very helpful.

check on what's open on the 12/24 and 12/25 days...sounds risky. The gorge will likely be closed in Dec. most trails near water closed in early/mid October for ice reasons. Other alpine stuff is turned into ski slopes, so check ahead. Most peaks have websites.

GAP is not like Mittenwald. Mittenwald is tiny and touristy, but ok. GAP is a massive sprawl of tourist mess, traffic, and kitch kitch kitch. I would recommend Mittenwald over GAP ANY DAY. Mittenwald via train may be more tricky though. Zugspitze is also way overrated IMO. Do the Karwendal near Mittenwald if available, check online to see if it's open.