Overnight Trip to Füssen
Füssen, Germany: Best of Bavaria
Taking an overnight trip to Füssen was the highlight of our time in Germany. Nestled right along the German-Austrian border, we fell in love with Füssen's photogenicity. We were blown away by the quaint Bavarian architecture and fairytale castles set in the middle of the Alps. Since we lucked out with the weather and lighting, we went a bit trigger happy with the camera.
We recommend staying at least two nights in Füssen, it's just enough time to scratch the surface of this charming little town. Molly and I stayed in 'downtown' Füssen at Old Kings Hostel which was great, but a totally different feel than where my (Josh's) family stayed outside town, lakeside at Hotel Geiger.
How to get to Füssen
Füssen isn't too far from the Munich, the capital of Bavaria. It's roughly 115km, or just under a 2 hour drive between the cities so it's certainly possible to make an day trip to Fussen here without spending the night. However we wouldn't suggest doing this, especially if you want to see Neuschwanstein Castle for free.
To get to Füssen from Munich, you can either rent a car or take a train/bus. Germany has great infrastructure so if you don't want to be bothered by driving yourself or just want to save a bit of money return bus tickets are around €25.
- Prices: €23+ ($25+ USD)/Adult Return Ticket
- Pickup Locations: Munich (München)
- Drop Off Locations: Pulverturm, Füssen
- Departure Times: Daily
- Trip Length: 2.5+ hours (one way)
- Prices: €80**+ ($87+ USD) daily
- 2 door/4 person sedan
- Pickup Locations: Munich EuropCar
- Drive Time: 115 km (71 mi) | 2+ hours (one way)
Downtown Füssen
In the morning we left the hostel around 8:00AM to grab some coffee and a bite to eat at Markethalle, a small German style market with a deli, bar, and outside farmers market. Wandering around the narrow streets admiring the bright colorful buildings was the perfect way to start the morning. Later in the evening we caught a stunning sunset down by the Theresienbrücke bridge. The blend of warm and cool colors of the sky contrasted so well against the old fashioned buildings.
Lakeside at Hopfensee
Fortunately my family rented a car and were able to give us a ride to where they were staying near Hopfensee lake. The backdrop of blue Bavarian Alps with reflections of green grass and orange rooftops will be an image I'll never forget. Overall, I think our short overnight trip to Füssen was the highlight of our time in Germany, which was due mostly in part to our stroll around the lake.
See Neuchwanstein Castle for Free!
Neuschwanstein castle for free is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bavaria. It's located about 10 minutes outside Füssen and 1.5 hours from Munich. If you don't want to waste time in the ticket line, find out how to see Neuschwanstein Castle for free, as well as the neighboring Hohenschwangau Castle in our post here. We go over how to get to Neuschwanstein, how to get to the best view point, and the best time to visit.
Where to stay in Füssen
If you decide to take an overnight trip to Füssen, we recommend a few hostel/hotel options both inside and outside of town. Of course, if you rented a car then it might be easier to stay somewhere out of town due to limited parking in the narrow downtown streets. But if you took public transit from Munich, then staying downtown will be easier to get around.
From our experience, we like to use Hostel World to check out potential hostels, then check other booking websites like Booking.com to make our reservations. Sometimes we also message hostels directly to get a better price. We also like to use Airbnb to book accommodations if its a better deal than hostels. Clicking on either of the icons will give you a deal with either of the sites, but are affiliate links so we earn a small commission.
Dorms: €22+ ($24.25+ USD)
Dorms: €24.50+ ($27+ USD)
Amenities: Free Wifi, Luggage Storage, Bicycle Hire, Breakfast available for purchase, Security Lockers
Dorms: €18.50+ ($20.50+ USD)
Private Rooms: €25+ ($27.50+ USD)
Amenities: Free Wifi, Outdoor Terrace, Self-Catering Facilities, Laundry, Luggage Storage, Tea & Coffee Making Facilities
Private Rooms: €100+ ($110+ USD)
Amenities: Free Wifi, Free Breakfast, Coffee/Tea, Self Bar/Restaurant, Mountain and Lake Views, Balcony rooms available
