WHY IS NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE ONE OF THE BEST DAY TRIPS FROM MUNICH
Neuschwanstein Castle located in Bavaria is one of the most famous and beautiful fairy tale castles not only in Germany but in the world. That’s why it’s the number 1 best day trip from Munich and the most famous tourist attraction in Germany.
The castle was commissioned in the 19th century by the “mad” King Ludwig II of Bavaria. King Ludwig II loved the glamour and opulent castles. He commissioned other extravagant castles and Neuschwanstein Castle was his favorite.
Since his mysterious death, the castle is open to the public and millions of tourists want to see this magnificent fairy tale castle.
This is also the castle that was also the real-life inspiration for the castle in of the most famous Disney classics, Cinderella.
HOW TO PLAN A DAY TRIP TO NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE
As visiting Neuschwanstein Castle is the number one most popular day trip from Munich, it should be well planned and as early as possible.
The most important thing that you have to deal with is to book a ticket to visit Neuschwanstein Castle. They are very quickly sold out.
Neuschwanstein Castle can be visited all year long. The most popular season is the summer season. That means that if you want to travel there in summer, keep an eye on the tickets as soon as they are available to book.
The best thing to do is to purchase your entrance ticket to Neuschwanstein Castle in advance. You can do it, here.
If you didn’t manage to buy a ticket in advance, travel to Neuschwanstein Castle very early and try to get your entrance ticket at the ticket office. They always have a certain amount of tickets available.
HOW TO GET TO NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE FROM MUNICH
Option 1:
If you are a tourist, the best option is to book a tour in advance. Check out this tour, here: Neuschwanstein Castle Full Day Trip from Munich
The reason for that is that, if you book a tour from Munich, you will also have your ticket to Neuschwanstein Castle reserved by your tour operator.
Option 2:
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle independently. In that case, you can either drive there or use public transport. If you use public transport, make sure you buy the cheapest train/bus ticket which is Bayern Ticket.
WHAT DO DO AT NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE
- Do the famous tour of Neuschwanstein Castle to see the palace inside
- There are several photo spots around Neuschwanstein Castle where you can take awesome photos.
- Take photos at one of the most famous photo spots which is the Marienbrücke bridge
- Visit the Hohenschwangau Castle, another castle of King Ludwig II
- Walk around the beautiful Alpsee Lake which takes about 2 hours
- Swim in the Alpsee Lake
- Rent a boat and discover Alpsee Lake from which you will also have a wonderful view of Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle
- Visting the Museum of Bavarian Kings
COMBINING VISITING NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE WITH OTHER PLACES
If you travel independently using public transport, you can also visit the gorgeous Bavarian town, Füssen on the same day.
In case you drive there, you have more options. You can combine your trip to Neuschwanstein Castle with visiting the magnificent Linderhof Castle, or/and some of the most gorgeous Bavarian towns, Oberammergau and Füssen, or Highline 179 which is the longest suspension bridge in Austria.
Alternatively, you can join a tour where they combine visiting two fairy castles at the same time, Linderhof Castle and Neuschwanstein Castle.
Check this tour out:
WHY ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER IS ONE THE BEST DAY TRIPS FROM MUNICH
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the prettiest fairy tale town in Germany. This gorgeous medieval town with its picturesque buildings is one of the most beautiful spots on the Romantic Road.
HOW TO PLAN A DAY TRIP TO ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER FROM MUNICH
Rothenburg is quite far from Munich. The most important thing is to be prepared to start the day early, especially if you use public transport to get there.
HOW TO GET TO ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER FROM MUNICH
If you are a tourist, I recommend joining a tour from Munich to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This will save you a lot of time and you can also see other places on the way.
The second best option is driving there and the worst option is traveling there by train.
Every time I’ve been to Rothenburg on der Tauber, I used the train. It’s perfect; however, for budget travelers and those who don’t have a car.
If you want to take the train, the cheapest ticket for the train is the Bayern Ticket.
THINGS TO DO IN ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER
- Head to Plönlein, the most famous square of Rothenburg with a unique yellow half-timbered house standing with two other charming structures, the Siebers Tower and the Kobolzeller Gate
- Stroll around the old town and Marktplatz
- Visit the Rothenburg Christmas Market in winter
- Explore the Kathe Wohlfahrt’s Rothenburg Christmas Store & Museum
- Climb to the top of St. Jacob’s Church
- Walk around the wall of Rothenburg
- Check out the castle garden
- Discover the history and punishment from the Middle Ages in the medieval crime museum
COMBINING ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER WITH VISITING OTHER PLACES
If you have a car, you can shortly visit Ulm on the way back.
Olpererhütte is a famous alpine hut with a breathtaking view over the Schlegeisspeicher reservoir.
GETTING TO OLPERERHÜTTE FROM MUNICH
How: From Munich, it’s only possible by car.
To where: Drive to Schlegeisspeicher reservoir. From Munich to the parking area of the lake is around 170 km.
Parking: Try to get here as early as possible if you don’t want to circle around too long to find a parking place.
HOW WILL YOU SPEND YOUR DAY AT OLPERERHÜTTE
After, parking your car, start your hike to Olpererhütte from the Schlegeisspeicher reservoir on Trail 502. It’s an easy hike: 507 km elevation difference, less than 3 km and 1,5 to 2 hours one way.
This is what all the visitors do. It’s definitely the most spectacular trail.
Once you are up at the hut, you will most probably want to visit and take photos at the Instagram-famous suspension bridge looking over the beautiful Schlegeisspeicher reservoir. There will be a lot of people queuing up to do the same.
You can also walk through the bridge and continue walking for about 10 minutes and take awesome photos from there. After photoshooting, have a nice meal at the hut. I recommend Graukasnockerl (11,70 €) and Kaiserschamarrn (10,70 €).
On the way down I recommend you take another route: the Neumarkter Runde. It’s also a magnificent hiking trail. It’s 3 hours but less steep than the other route. It’s full of huge rocks, streams, waterfalls, beautiful pink flowers and pine trees.
SUMMARY OF EXPENSES
– fuel: about 50 € two ways
– toll for the private road: 14 €. Driving into the area of the lake by car costs 14 euros. This is a toll that you pay in many similar places in Austria.
– Meals in the Hütte: 11 – 16 €
– beer: 4,70 €
– expresso: 2,50 €
If you love adventure, speeding and mountains, Mountain Carting at Spitzingsee is for you. It’s absolutely awesome!
HOW TO GET THERE
First, travel to the beautiful Spitzingsee Lake.
By public transport: Take the train from Munich and then change for the bus going to Spitzingsee Kirche, Schliersee.
Ba car:
HOW WILL YOU SPEND YOUR DAY THERE
To pick up a mountain cart, you either hike or take the chair lift to Jagahütte situated at an altitude of 1600 m. You rent the mountain carts and helmets exactly at the top station of the chairlift next to Jagahütte.
The hike starts from Spitzingsee Lake at 1084 m. It’s a short 1-hour hike on a ski slope. It’s quite steep. So, if you are not used to hiking, it will be difficult but it’s absolutely doable. It’s just straight up.
We hiked up twice and used the chair lift once.
You can take the cart until 16:30.
The cart track is 3,5 km long. It can take 10 – 30 minutes to drive down depending on your speed.
BUDGET SUMMARY
3 rides including a cart and a helmet: 13 €
A single ride with the chair lift: 9,50 €
HOW TO GET TO GAISALPSEE LAKE FROM MUNICH
I took the train at 5:52 from Munich to Reichenbach. If you take the train, you need Bayern Ticket. That’s the only ticket valid both for the train to Oberstdorf and the bus to Reichenbach.
HOW WILL YOU SPEND YOUR DAY
As I left Munich early, I started the hike already at 9 am. It’s more pleasant to start the hike early. Otherwise, you will hike in extreme heat.
It took me somewhat less than 3 hours to get to the first lake, Untere Gaisalpsee Lake situated at 1508 m from Reichenbach at 870 m. Officially, it’s a medium-difficult hiking trail. But in the heat, it feels super strenuous.
The way up is full of sparkling cascades.
I reached Untere Gaisalpsee Lake at noon. In this beautiful lake, you can swim.
If you would like to see Obere Gaisalpsee Lake lying at 1769 m as well, just hike another hour.
That means 3 – 4 hours in total just upwards depending on your fitness level, heat and how many times you want to stop to take photos.
Getting down is much quicker. It took me 2 hours.
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU
I consumed 4 liters of water during the hike. I brought 2 liters of water and refilled my bottle from the cascades. If you don’t want to drink from the cascade, bring at least 4 L of water with you if it’s over 30 Celsius degrees.
Waterproof hiking boots are necessary because the way up is rocky and you have to walk through cascades.
Also, high factor sun cream and baseball cap to protect yourself from the intense radiation of the sun.
HOW CAN YOU SPEND YOUR DAY THERE
During the trip, you’ll visit Mittenwald – Lainbach waterfalls – Lautersee – Ferchensee.
First, travel to Mittenwald. If you want to take photos in the old town of Mittenwald without people, the best time for that is early morning.
Second, walk towards Lautersee following the signs. Mittenwald is full of signs showing the hiking routes. Normally, it’s easy to navigate following the signs.
On my way to Lautersee, I took a detour to see the Lainbach waterfalls. Then, I again followed the hiking path leading to Lautersee.
Reaching the beautiful Lautersee this way takes maximum 45 minutes. It’s a very easy hike suitable for everyone.
You can walk around Lautersee, have lunch in their Biergarten and walk another 20 minutes to reach Ferchensee. It’s another gorgeous lake you can walk around. The hike there is simply walking.
To have a wonderful view over Ferchensee Lake, you will have to walk up the hill a bit on the left side of the lake.
And only if it’s sunny, you will Ferchensee Lake sparkling. I stayed there one hour waiting for the sun as it was mostly cloudy and the sun was behind the mountain.
Finally, walking back to Mittenwald is about an hour. Take it slow, on the way back you can meet cows, goats and sheep.
In Mittenwald, when you have time, keep exploring and find more beautifully decorated houses.
End the day in one of the restaurants in the old town with traditional Bavarian food. If you are lucky, they will also have musicians playing traditional Bavarian folk music.
The Gelbe Wand is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Bavaria and one of the most beautiful via ferratas in Germany.
It starts at the Tegelbergbahn Talstation (valley station) at 830 m (2723 ft) and ends at the top of Tegelbergbahn at 1720 m (5643 ft). All the way up, the vista is breathtaking.
The trail I took is a very easy A/B-level Via Ferrata (Klettersteig) trail. It’s an approximately 5 km trail that you can complete in maximum 3 hours. For this, you need proper Via Ferrata set.
The most awesome part of the trail is the beginning where you can walk on a cool rope bridge.
Alternatively, there is an ordinary hiking trail going up to the top of Tegelbergbahn but it is definitely less spectacular. The hike is about 5 km and takes around 2 h 30 minutes. Or, you can take the cable car to get up. The view from the top is thrilling!
If you ever want to try via ferrata, choose the Gelbe Wand. It’s the best place for practicing how to connect yourself to the iron rope and fixtures that are attached to the mountain or rocks.
It’s one of the best things I tried in Germany and I can’t wait to discover more of the Alps through Via Ferrata.
At the top of the Tegelbergbahn, you can find the Tegelberghütte. The view from here is absolutely amazing!
The hut up at the Tegelbergbahn is really lovely. The guys working there were very cool.
From the hut, you can hike further. The most popular hike from the hut is the Königsrunde am Tegelberg. It’s an extra 1 km. For a more spectacular view, do what I did: hiking all the way up to Branderschrofen at 1,879 m (6,165 ft).
HOW TO GET TO THE GELBE WAND FROM MUNICH
By car: Drive to the Oberer Tegelberg Parkplatz where you can park your car. It’s about 120 km and 1 h 40 minutes by car one way.
BUDGET SUMMARY
Fuel: ~ 40 €
It’s the longest all-weather toboggan run in the world with magnetic brakes. It’s a lot of fun!!!
HOW TO GET TO KOLBENSATTEL FROM MUNICH
By train: Buy a Bayernticket and head to Oberammergau. There is a regional train every hour during the day. Travel duration: 1 h 50 mins.
By car: Drive to Parkplatz Kolbensesselbahn (Kreislainenweg 1, 82487). Travel duration: ~ 1 h 10 mins
Leave as early as possible. I recommend that you leave Munich latest at 8 am. It’s because, in the morning, there are not so many people at the alpine coaster and you don’t have to queue up too long.
The walk from the Oberammergau train station to the valley station of the alpine coaster takes abut 30 minutes.
KOLBENSATTEL ALPINE COASTER ITINERARY RECOMMENDATION
In one day, you have time for three rides easily. To get to the starting point of the alpine coaster, you can either hike up from the valley station of the alpine coaster to the Kolbensattelhütte (Kolbensattel hut) and or you take the chair lift called Kolbensesselbahn.
Hiking up from the valley station of the alpine coaster is 2-2,5 km and max 1 hour. It’s a really easy hike. With the chair lift, it’s about 20 minutes.
How long it takes to come down with the alpine coaster depends on your speed. It could take approximately 5 minutes.
The best way to spend your day is hiking up twice to the Kolbensattelhütte and taking the chair lift once. Thus, you come down with the alpine coaster three times.
If you want to have lunch, don’t do it at the hut. We did it but I would not do it again. After we had finished lunch at around 2 or 3 pm, there was a very long queue and we had to stand in the queue at least half an hour. And then it started raining and they stopped the alpine coaster for about half an hour. Bring your own food and drinks instead of spending time in the hut.
After your alpine coaster adventure, you can walk around in the beautiful Bavarian town of Oberammergau. In Oberammergau; however, there are a lot of nice restaurants and cute cafés. If you want to sit in somewhere, Oberammergau is a much better option.
BUDGET SUMMARY
– Bayern Ticket: ~ 12 € / person if you are in a group
– An Alpine coaster ticket: 9,50 €
– A kombi ticket including one ride with the chairlift and one ride with the alpine coaster: 14 €
– Alpine coaster 3 times & Chairlift 1 time: 33 €
Hiking to the breathtaking Christlesee Lake and Freibergsee Lake where you can even swim is one of the best day trips in Munich. It’s an easy hike. The walking time is only 4 h 30 mins.
HOW WILL YOU SPEND YOUR DAY
First, from Oberstdorf, walk 1 hour 30 minutes to reach Christlesee Lake. You can just walk around the lake or swim there. It’s a really tiny lake.
Then, walk another 1 h 30 minutes to reach Freibergsee. Here, you can walk around the lake in about 20 mins, swim and go up to the ski jumping tower for the best view over the lake.
Walking back to Oberstdorf is another 1 h 30 mins.
It’s basically 1 h 30 mins 3 times which is 4 h 30 mins in total.
Bring your own lunch and have a picnic at one of the lakes. That’s what I also did.
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