Füssen Travel Guide

Füssen
[ source: Flickr]

Füssen Overview

Füssen is an enchanting town—at 808 meters the highest in Bavaria—and offers numerous cultural and natural attractions. The world famous Neuschwanstein castle is nearby, and opportunities for hiking and skiing are everywhere. Besides touring the town’s late Gothic “High Castle” (Hohes Schloss), you should also consider visiting the Wieskirche: a pilgrimage church whose baroque art and architecture have earned it the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Some visitors come to tour the castles and leave immediately afterwards leaving the beautiful little town unexplored.This is a great pity as there is much to see in Füssen and the surrounding area if you know what you are looking for! There are magnificent lakes with beautiful views and the Kalvarienberg which has the Stations of the Cross on it.

Getting There:

By train:

There are many connections to Füssen from Munich (Munich vacation rentals | Munich travel guide) and vice versa. Direct trains leave about every two hours. Other options require a change of trains along the way in another city.

By car:

Füssen is on the end of the Romantic Road, coming from Augsburg (Augsburg vacation rentals | Augsburg travel guide) as Bundesstrasse 17 (B 17). From Munich take the Autobahn A 96, leave at Landsberg Ost and follow the B 17. By bus: Maybe the cheapest way to get there: Many bus tours are operated to Füssen from most parts of southern Bavaria, often including a visit of the fairy-tale castle Neuschwanstein. Watch for tours at Munich main station (Hauptbahnhof).

Getting Around:

Füssen is small enough that a car is not really needed. There is a bus to the castles and the trains to Munich and Augsburg and the old town is easy enough to access by foot. You can walk to Neuschwanstein and Hochschwangau castles via some marked roads; travel times posted on the signboards are comfortable over-estimates.

There are some great areas nearby, like some of the lesser-known castles, which would be easier to reach with your own car. It is possible to rent a car in Füssen.

Another alternative is to rent a mountain bike. There are numerous shops, one even right at the train station. Füssen has invested a lot into developing a network of bike routes and paths to make biking easier.

Things to See in Füssen:

• Schloß Neuschwanstein, Neuschwansteinstr. 20 (Bus Nr. 73 or Bus Nr. 78 from Füssen), ? +49 - (0) 83 62 - 9 39 88-0 (svneuschwanstein@bsv.bayern.de, fax: +49 - (0) 83 62 - 9 39 88-19), [3]. Hours of operation: April - September: 9 am - 6 pm, October - March: 10 am - 4 pm. Closed on January 1, Shrove Tuesday, December 24, December 25, December 31. The mother of all German castles is only 3 kilometers from Füssen. This fairy-tale castle is known worldwide. The ticket office closes an hour before the castle does. Make sure to sit behind the driver while bussing to the castles.
• Hohenschwangau, Alpseestrasse 12 (Bus Nr. 73 or Bus Nr. 78 from Füssen), ? +49 (0) 83 62 - 93 08 30 (fax: +49 (0) 83 62 - 93 08 320), [4]. Hours of operation: April - September: 9 am - 6 pm, October - March: 10 am - 4 pm. Closed on December 24. The castle directly across from Ludwig II's fairy-tale castle. This castle served as Ludwig II's home while he was growing up. The ticket office closes half-an-hour before the castle does. Make sure to sit behind the driver while bussing to the castles.
• Wieskirche - This pilgrimage church is one of the world's great rococo masterpieces, located only a ten-minute bus ride from Fussen in nearby Steingaden (Steingaden vacation rentals | Steingaden travel guide). A work of Dominikus Zimmermann and his brother Johann Baptist, it has been designated a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. Two bus trips daily; check at the station or Fussen tourist bureau for departure times.
• Falkenstein - Another castle, this one is a ruin, a short distance from Füssen, near Pfronten (Pfronten vacation rentals | Pfronten travel guide). There is a great hotel and restaurant nearby, but driving there is a bit tricky.
• Via Claudia - Füssen is on the Via Claudia — the old roman road from Donauwörth (Donauwörth vacation rentals | Donauwörth travel guide) over the alps to Venice. You can travel the Via Claudia (or parts of) it by bike.
• Tegelberg - A ski area, but in the summer you can take the lift to the top. Enjoy the view, hike some trails and stop by one of the little restaurants.

Things to Do:

• Visit Castles
• Visit the Stadtpfarrkirche und former Abbey of St. Mang. The church (the Abbey was founded over 1100 years ago) is known for its very beautiful choir and orchestra Sunday Masses and historic organs
• Swim in the public lakes: Alpsee, Obersee, Mittlerersee, Alatsee
• Mountain Biking
• Sauna
• Sail on the Forgensee
• Attend The Füssen Festspielhaus to watch a show.
• Watch hockey at the Bundesleistungszentrum
• Dance

[ source: Wikitravel ]

Additional Füssen Resources:

Füssen is the southern terminal of the famous Romantic Road, nestling in its alpine landscape and close to the famous castles at Schwangau. Since many people prefer to travel the trail from north to south, Füssen is probably the place that they will spend some time relaxing after their travels - find out more about Füssen and the Romantic Road.