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Town in Bavaria, Germany
Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0 de via Wikimedia Commons
Füssen in Allgäu is an enchanting town in the south of Bavaria, Germany known for the Hohes Schloss and its Basilica and former Benedictine monastery of St Mang. The world famous Neuschwanstein Castle is situated a few kilometres to the east. 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.
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Benediktinerkloster St. Mang
Monastery complex dating back to the 9th century. The present Baroque structure was mostly built in the early 1700s.
The most popular of all German castles is only 3 km away from Füssen. The direct inspiration for Disney's Cinderella Castle, this fairy-tale castle is well known worldwide. It's fairly new as far as castles go, being commissioned in 1882, and was built by order of King Ludwig II as a picturesque retreat.
The castle is extremely popular. Admission is only via guided tour (about 25 minutes), and it's highly advisable to buy tickets online at least a month in advance. If you cannot score tickets online, you can try your luck for same-day tickets at Ticket-Center Hohenschwangau, Alpseestraße 12; tickets typically sell out before noon, and even if you get one, you may need to wait for many hours until your allocated time. Allow time to walk up to the castle (30 min uphill) or take the shuttle bus (€3/3.50 one-way/return). Make sure to sit behind the driver while bussing to the castles. Taking photographs is prohibited inside the castle. To get the picture postcard view of the castle, continue another 15 minutes uphill to Marienbrücke, which is also the drop-off point for the shuttle buses. It's one of four castles making up the world heritage site of Ludwig II's late 19th century castles.
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 on the bus to the castles.
The smallest of the three castles the "Fairy Tale King" Ludwig II had built. It is also the only one of them that was finished during his lifetime, and it became his home from 1876. It's one of four castles making up the world heritage site of Ludwig II's late 19th century castles.
This pilgrimage church is one of the world's great rococo masterpieces, a 10-minute bus ride from Fussen in nearby Steingaden. 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 office for departure times.
Another castle, this one is a ruin, a short distance from Füssen, near Pfronten. There is a great hotel and restaurant nearby, but driving there is a bit tricky.
Füssen is on the Via Claudia — the old Roman road from Donauwörth over the Alps to Venice. You can travel the Via Claudia (or parts of it) by bike.
A striking mountain massif rising steeply from the foothills, with highest point at 1881m. The Tegelberg is accessible via the mountain railway of the same name . The mountain is a popular destination for mountain hikers, hang gliders, paragliders and skiers. There is a panoramic restaurant next to the mountain station at 1720 m. Even without using the cable car, the Tegelberg can be reached via marked hiking trails.
RIWA Bar & Restaurant Füssen in Hotel Sonne
in Hotel Hirsch
The "Bierstube" is a charming, Bavarian restaurant with delicious, regional food and draught beer from Munich. A meeting point for the locals and a must-see for visitors.
At the edge of the Old City, the "Pike", as in the fish, is a lovely old-school cellar restaurant serving up generous portions of Bavarian classics like Spätzle and Leberknödelsuppe. Their speciality is wild game including venison (Hirsch) and wild boar (Wildschwein). Don't miss the enormous Kaiserschmarn for dessert: one portion is plenty for a table of four.
Nice atmosphere with some outdoor seating.
A modern, 4-star hotel, directly in the old town of Füssen. About 5 minutes away from Castle Neuschwanstein.
A 2-star, design hotel, a 1-minute walk from town. About 6 minutes away from Castle Neuschwanstein.
A very friendly guesthouse a few minutes' walk from town. The rooms are very comfortable and the price is reasonable. There are apartments or double rooms.
A smaller, 3-star hotel, minutes away from the old town, but in an area with almost no traffic. They have about 26 rooms and a great restaurant. Great people and great atmosphere and wireless internet.
Jugendherberge
Most of the staff are not locals, but Germans from other parts of the country and want to complete their civil service in the area of the Alps, so they can be active in alpine sports.
For those on a budget who wish to explore the region or who are looking for a weekend getaway. They offer private rooms for two-to-five people (suite) and are located in Füssen, near Neuschwanstein Castle. From the balcony or terrace you can enjoy the amazing view of the Alps.
A small guesthouse with 100 years of family history if you don't mind going 10 minutes by car and be off beaten path. Nice authentic food, clean and affordable rooms, great breakfast. Child and pet friendly.
A traditional and welcoming hotel with modern amenities in the center of Füssen. It is a family-run hotel in the 4th generation with Bavarian à la carte restaurant and beautiful guestrooms.
Clocks, decorations and mugs.
By car
Füssen is on the end of the Romantic Road, coming from Augsburg 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.
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.
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