Many travelers visit Füssen to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, only don’t take the time to discover Füssen itself. This is a pity because Füssen is a great place to visit. It is nice to walk through the historic center and above all is a cozy place.
Besides Füssen itself, the area is also wonderful to discover because you have many large green plains, you can do some awesome hikes in the Alps, visit lakes and visit fairytale castles.
In this article, we share the best things to do in Füssen and many other tips such as where to stay.
Things to do in Füssen
The location of Füssen is perfect because it is close to the mountains where you can do great hikes, it is perfect to visit the Neuschwanstein castle, it is surrounded by large green plains and beautiful lakes. Read here our 8 best things to do in Füssen.
Tip: use the map below to see where the best things in Füssen are located. Click on the top right corner to enlarge the map. If you click on the star symbol next to the title, you can save this map to your Google Maps account. You can show or hide different categories on the map. You can use this map to navigate when you are in Füssen.
#1 Visit Neuschwanstein the most beautiful castle in Europe
You have probably seen pictures of the Neuschwanstein castle. For many, the Neuschwanstein is the most beautiful castle in Europe. It is without a doubt the most visited castle in Europe, this is because it was the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle. The advantage is that when you are in Füssen you are at the castle within 5 minutes by car.
The nice thing about visiting Neuschwanstein is that you are amazed how such a beautiful castle could be placed hundreds of years ago. Especially the fact that the castle is located on a mountain and is surrounded by mountains from which you have a breathtaking view from the top, makes this castle a popular place to visit.
You can visit the Neuschwanstein castle in different ways. We have written a special article about visiting Neuschwanstein to give you all the tips.
#2 Enjoy the authentic historic center
Füssen is a city that is known for its beautiful Baroque architecture, for example, you can see a couple of Baroque churches here. The nice thing about Füssen is that it is not large, so the atmosphere is cozy. This is because the center has all kinds of colored houses and small streets where there is always something nice to see making Füssen an awesome place to walk through.
There are several small boutique shops, our favorite is Deli Schlaraffenland. Here you can buy local products such as Allgäu which is mountain cheese that comes from small cheese farmers around Füssen.
If you are in Füssen, we also recommend visiting Hohes Schloss. This is the castle on top of the mountain of the city from which you can see beautiful Füssen. In addition, don’t forget to visit the former Benedictine monastery of St. Mang, you will find the city museum where you can learn more about the history of the city.
#3 Hike to Hohes Schloss
On top of the mountain next to Füssen is Hohes Schloss which means the high castle. This castle was once the summer residence of the Prince-Bishops of Augsburg. Today you can admire the Bavarian painting and the city gallery here. To visit it you have to walk up from Füssen for a few minutes. When you arrive at the top you can walk around the courtyard. This is nice because you can see several towers and battlements. We liked the murals because it seems that it is larger than it is due to the way of it is painted.
We did not visit the castle from the inside because it was closed. You can visit the castle from Tuesday to Sunday between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm. From November to March, you can only visit it during the weekends from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
The castle is nice to visit because you have a great view over the region from the top and the castle is also special because of the good condition in which it can be admired.
Where to stay in Füssen
Option 1 typical German: Hotel Schlosskrone
The most complete stay you can choose in Füssen is Hotel Schlosskrone, the price-quality ratio is very good. The rooms are neat, breakfast is good and the quality of the whole hotel is excellent.
Check prices and availability for Hotel Schlosskrone here.
Option 2 stay in a small castle: Hotel Hirsch
Another option is to stay at Hotel Hirsch, this hotel resembles a small castle upon arrival. Rooms are modern by German standards and spacious. If you want to stay in a luxury hotel, this is the best choice for you.
Check prices and availability for Hotel Schlosskrone here.
#4 Discover the lesser-known Hohenschwangau Castle
Almost all travelers who visit Füssen visit Neuschwanstein. However, a visit to the castle Hohenschwangau is also highly recommended. This castle is often skipped which is a shame. This castle does not look as spectacular from the outside as Neuschwanstein, only the inside has more to offer. This is because the Neuschwanstein Castle was never finished. The Hohenschwangau is a wonderful place to visit because it shows how the people lived in this castle. For example, Louis II of Bavaria grows up at this castle.
Hohenschwangau can only be visited with a tour. The tour is 45 minutes and is in German and English. If you come from Munich it is recommended to book this tour to visit Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. If you are in Füssen, it is best to buy your ticket here in advance.
Hohenschwangau Castle can be visited daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. If you choose to buy the tickets on the spot, it is wise to be at the Ticket Center of Hohenschwangau on time. The castle advises being there around 8:00 am. We recommend you buy tickets in advance to avoid inconveniences or the possibility of selling out.
#5 Relax at Hopfensee
A 10-minute drive from Füssen is located Hopfensee, a large lake that is great for relaxing. You can sit here by the quay and do nothing for a while. We liked the Hopfensee to visit because the view you have of the mountains is beautiful. You can also walk around the lake or take other walks that are indicated at the lake.
You can park the car at the parking lot in the east of the lake, costs are €2 ($2.50) per 2 hours. Because this is the official start of the Hopfensee hike, this is a popular parking lot, which means it can be busy. You can see exactly where the parking lot is located on the map at the beginning of this article.
#6 Hiking near Füssen
Füssen is located against the German Alps, so you can take many beautiful walks in the mountains. If you are not a fan of hiking in the mountains, you can also do simpler hikes around lakes and in forests.
The best walk you can do at Füssen is the one that starts at the cable car of the Tegelberg and ends at the information point of Hohenschwangau. During this route, you will walk high in the mountains so that you can enjoy a breathtaking view. If you take the cable car, the real hiking starts from the panorama restaurant Tegelberg. Here you can eat and drink something and then walk towards the Neuschwanstein viewpoint.
During the walk, you walk through the mountains so that you are always surprised by the view. The best part is when you arrive at the Neuschwanstein lookout point, this is the best point to look out at the castle. After this stop, you continue in the direction of Hohenschwangau. The walk is not difficult because you always walk partly down. We recommend that you start with the cable car of the Tegelberg because then you can use the cable car so that you only have to walk down and walk towards the castles. If you do it the other way around, the walk is a lot harder. You can also choose not to use the cable car, see below what the differences are:
Tegelbergbahn – Hohenschwangau
- Distance: 6 km / 3.7 miles
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Ascent/descent: 67m / 932m
- Departure and end point: Tegelbergbahn and information point Hohenschwangau
Tegelbergbahn – Hohenschwangau (without cable car)
- Distance: 9.4 km / 5.8 miles
- Duration: 4.5 hours
- Ascent/descent: 943 m / 936m
- Departure and end point: Tegelbergbahn and information point Hohenschwangau
#7 Visit St. Coloman
In the plain near the Neuschwanstein castle is a baroque-style church dating back to the 17th century. This church is worth a visit because the location of the church is beautiful. The inside of the church is also very colorful. It is best to visit the church by car, you can park at the parking lot of the church itself. If you have 30 minutes this is enough to visit the St. Coloman church.
#8 Learn more about German history at the Museum of the Bavarian Kings
If you want to learn more about the history of the German kings, then a visit to the Museum of the Bavarian kings is a must. This museum is perfect in combination with a visit to the two castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. In this museum, you can find a large exhibition where they tell everything about the history of the Bavarian kings. You can find interesting objects that tell the story of that time. Tickets can be purchased on-site at the museum or in advance here.
How many days do you need for Füssen?
You need at least 2 days (1 night) to see the most important things in Füssen. We only stayed 1 night in Füssen and found this far too little. We saw a lot in a short period of the two days that we were there. If you have the opportunity, we recommend staying longer. If you have the same travel style as us, we recommended staying 2 nights in Füssen.
Where to stay in Füssen?
Even though Füssen is not huge, you do have a couple of options for finding accommodation due to its popularity. It is therefore important that you make your reservation on time because the best places are fully booked quickly. Below are our two recommended accommodations.
Typical German:
Hotel Schlosskrone
The most complete stay you can choose in Füssen is Hotel Schlosskrone, the price-quality ratio is very good. The rooms are neat, breakfast is good and the quality of the whole hotel is excellent.
Stay in a small castle:
Hotel Hirsch
Another option is to stay at Hotel Hirsch, this hotel resembles a small castle upon arrival. Rooms are modern by German standards and spacious. If you want to stay in a luxury hotel, this is the best choice for you.
Where to eat in Füssen?
Our recommendation to eat at Füssen is Gasthaus Zum Schwanen. We ordered käsespätzle and we loved it! This is a typical German dish that can be compared to mac and cheese with spätzle which is a version of pasta noodles. The dish is simple but very tasty. Especially if you have been active for a day, this is the dish that will make you happy. This dish costs €11.50 ($13) so it is certainly not expensive. If you want you can of course try another dish. In addition to the delicious food, it is also nice to sit because it is cozy. Plus the staff is friendly. We had one of the best evenings of our trip here.
Another place where it is always full during the day is Gasthof Krone, which is a typical German restaurant. The food is good, the people are nice, and the decor is authentic which makes it all the more enjoyable. We recommend choosing typical dishes from Bavaria. The chicken breast with potatoes is a must because it is prepared locally. Add a typical German beer and you can not be happier. The dish costs €15 ($17), which is reasonable.
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How do you get to Füssen?
Because Füssen is close to Neuschwanstein Castle, it is easily accessible. You can travel to Füssen by public transport or your transport.
If you want to travel by plane to Füssen, it is best to fly to Munich and then use public transport. Below you can read how to travel by public transport from various popular locations next to Füssen.
- From Munich to Füssen: use the train, check the actual train schedule here | from €23 ($25) one way | 2 hours travel time
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Füssen: check the train schedule via the link above | from €14.10 ($16) one way | 1 hour and 45 minutes travel time.
- Berchtesgaden to Füssen: from Berchtesgaden, it is not recommended to travel to Füssen by public transport. You have to go to Munich first to reach Fussen. Check the actual train schedule. Cost is €34 ($36) one way and travel time is 5 hours 40 minutes.
If you travel to Germany by plane and you are looking for a car to rent, you can rent it through Rentalcars. We use Rentalcars when we want to travel by car to discover new destinations. They’re easy to use and book with.
Car to Füssen: Füssen can easily be reached by car. Travel time from the most famous places to reach Füssen is as follows. The easiest and best option is to travel from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Füssen.
- Munich to Füssen: 1 hour and 50 minutes | 135 km / 83 miles
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Füssen: 1 hour | 60 km / 37 miles
- Berchtesgaden to Füssen: 2 hours and 55 minutes | 220 km / 136 miles
- Innsbruck to Füssen: 1 hour 45 minutes | 110 km / 68 miles
When is the best time to visit Füssen?
Füssen is a destination where you can enjoy a vacation all year round. In the winter you can do winter sports and outside during the winter months, you can do some great hikes. So if you want to go on winter sports, the period from November to March is the best. If you want to be active in general, the months of April to October are the best months, with the summer period the best. The average temperatures are then around 22°C / 71,6°F.
Do you want to see more of Bavaria?
After reading this article, we hope that you have got a clear picture of what you can do in Füssen. Besides Füssen there are many more beautiful places to discover. If you want to make the same round trip through Bavaria as us, your next destination is Munich. Find out everything you need to know when you have 2 days in Munich here.
Besides Munich, you can also travel to Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Berchtesgaden. In Garmisch-Partenkirchen, you can visit the beautiful lake Eibsee and climb the highest mountain Zugspitze. In addition to these two attractions, there is much more to see in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
In Berchtesgaden, you can discover lake Königssee and the city of Salzburg in Austria. Berchtesgaden is a great place because you can do many varied things here. The hikes in Berchtesgaden are awesome to do.
What do you think of Füssen? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Disclaimer: the prices mentioned in this article may differ from the current situation. We regularly update our articles. Would you like to help us to provide to best possible insights to help other travelers leave a comment with the latest information. Thanks!
