We have one week in Germany in December. We would like to spend a few days in Munich to shop and wander the Christmas markets. We then want to drive to Garmisch and/or Fuessen for a few days to hang out, shop in Oberammergau, see the castles, go up the Zugspitze. Where should we base ourselves? Are the villages too quiet for more than a few days? Is there enough to do for 4 nights or should we spend more time in Munich? We have been to all areas before but not at this time of year.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
If you have a car, base yourself in either GaP or Mittenwald. If the ski season has started, you'll find this area anything but quiet.
Posted by
NYC area
2980 posts
Hi Linda,
I'd defintely spend 4 nights somewhere else. We've stayed in Fuessen and Mittenwald plus have visited Oberammergau twice, Garmisch twice and the Zugspitze once.
Just our opinions... Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a bigger town with way too much traffic, etc. for us to stay in, especially when Mittenwald, THE quintessential Bavarian village (in our opinion), is just 20 or so minutes away.
Oberammergau... a bit too "touristy". Seems every other shop is a woodcarving shop loaded with religious items and not much else. We stopped here the first time to see it for ourselves, the second time just because we were passing through.
Maybe split the 4 nights into 2 in Fuessen and 2 in Mittenwald.
If you have a car, the Zugspitze can also be done from Ehrwald, Austria (a little cheaper and much faster to the top than from the Garmisch side) which is not far from Fuessen. Ludwig's Neuschwanstein (and a cable car, the Tegelbergbahn) is just 5 minutes away also. The Wieskirche (about a half hour drive from Fuessen) is stunning. Ludwig's Linderhof is pretty much halfway between Fuessen and Mittenwald.
Otherwise, I'd spend 4 nights in Mittenwald. We've done this twice in the last 4 years (both stays in mid Oct.) and simply love it. There's also a great cable car right from Mittenwald, the Karwendelbahn. An easy trip to Innsbruck is only 45 minutes from Mittenwald.
Hope this helps.
Paul
Posted by
Ohio Valley, USA
123 posts
With the Bayern Ticket does it cover Füssen and GaP round trip?