I am traveling with my wife in October to Munich (and points east). We are train travelers and are interested in going up the Zugspitze and seeing King Ludwig's castles, as well as the Munich sights. What I am kind of scratching my head about is this: I know that you can do either as a day trip from Munich. I know that it's easier to do both from a base like Reutte or Fussen (since we won't be having a car, I think Reutte is out). Does it make sense to sleep a night or two in Fussen or to take the train/bus down from Munich, using the Bayern ticket? Thank you for your help.
Posted by
DALTON, MA, USA
172 posts
Interesting reading these posts. Will be in Munich/Innsbruck/Salzburg from 9/18 unti 9/27....and visiting castles, too. Can you please tell me what you think the weather would "normally" be like? I know it's hard to predict, but do we need light jackets and layer, or should we bring winter jacket for up in the ALPS? I'm hoping we have sunshine and can get out without umbrellas !
Thanks for any info.
Posted by
NYC area
2914 posts
Hi Susan, We did a trip late Sept. 2009 to Salzburg/Berchtesgaden, Zillertal (near Innsbruck), Zell am See and the Italian Dolomites. Day times were coolish to very warm, even a few hot days (low mid 80's) and nights were cool to chilly. A sweater and light jacket were the most I needed. Can never predict the weather, but that was our experience. Bring an umbrella or get one there just in case. Paul
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19113 posts
From what I hear, you want to go up the Zugspitze in the morning, since it often clouds up later in the day. (I went up right after lunch and it was too cloudy to see anything from the top, but I don't know that it was clear earlier in the day when I went up.) If you go from Munich to Garmisch using a Bayern-Ticket on a weekend day, you can leave early in the morning and get to the Zugspitze early, but on a workday it is difficult to get there (the bottom) before about 11. You could stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and be right there in the morning. You could also stay in Oberammergau and take the 8:35 bus to the GaP station and be there by 9:17. If you went back to Oberammergau for the next night, there is a bus from there at 8:30 to Hohenschwangau (castles) at 9:49.
Posted by
NYC area
2914 posts
Hi Max, No need to scratch your head any further. Yes, it does make sense to stay in the area. Fuessen is a charming old town 10 minutes from the castles. Garmisch of course is the starting point for the Zugspitze. Pick one. While I like Fuessen more, Garmisch may make more sense with it's transportation options. Not sure about this. Fuessen and Garmisch are relatively close, maybe 1:30 or so apart. Either place will be a nice break and different than Munich. We've been to these areas many times in October. Our favorite time of year to visit the alps. We did the Zugspitze trip in mid October around 1pm on our drive from the Innsbruck area to Fuessen. It was a beautiful, clear fall day. Oh, it was cold and windy at the top! Didn't bother us. There's an indoor restaurant/cafe and more at the top (with views) to take a break from the cold outside. Paul