I have never been to Europe. For our first trip we are planning on starting in Paris, and traveling by overnight rail to Fussen, Germany in Bavaria to see the Neuschwanstein castle. We then plan to rail out to Venice and finish our trip in Italy. Question is, what is the best way to get to Fussen? I can't seem to find a good rail path? Also, if anyone can recommend great hotel in Fussen, that would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19092 posts
I am in no way a Francophyle, but if you start in Paris, see France. Come back another trip and see Bavaria. Come back again and see Italy.
There is so much to see in Europe, you don't have to jump all over the place. If you do, you will spend too much time and money traveling in between places and maybe think that travel in Europe is too expensive and to exhausting to ever come again. Plan to come back again. For now, slow down and "smell the roses".
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Jennifer: The easiest to use train travel planning website is this one (click blue text at bottom of this), you can go to the website and put in your starting and ending points and it will give you a lot of information. You don't have to buy your train ticket at the website but it will tell you how many hours and show you schedules. Many travelers report that they have difficulty sleeping on overnight trains, for a lot of reasons. If you want to investigate that subject further, if you use the search box in the upper right corner you will find a lots of prior discussions of the arguments for and against using my trains. Here's the rail travel website: Click Here
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Kent has given you a link to the best site for European train timetables. From what I see there, your best night train would be CNL 261 leaving Paris at 22:45 and arriving at Ulm at 07:25. Booked well in advance (up to 90 days allowed) at www.bahn.de, you can get cheap SparNight fares. Do a dummy booking within the next 90 days FOR THAT LEG ONLY to see the fare breakdown. When you're ready to book, do the night train leg separately or you won't be able to get SparNight fares.
You can leave Ulm at 07:58, change in Kempten, and be in Fuessen at 10:30. Book Ulm-Fuessen separately at www.bahn.de.
Posted by
NYC area
2902 posts
Hi Jennifer,
In Fuessen, we stayed 2 times ('01 and '03) at Hotel zum Hechten and can highly recommend it. Make sure to get a room with balcony! Very good buffet breakfast (incl.) and a good restaurant also. You walk out the front door and your in the cobblestoned pedestrian zone of Fuessen. Very nice old town to walk around.
Paul
Posted by
Maple Valley, Wa, USA
108 posts
Jennifer you may want to think about this option. Fly from Paris to Munich then take the train from Munich. Check out fares www.airberlin.com. We found it much cheaper than the rail. Of course if you have a pass then that might not be the case. Just an option for ya to check into.