Things To Do
Forggensee
If there is one activity that we can recommend for those visiting the area, it is biking around the Forggensee, which is very close to Füssen and Hopfen. The bike path is safe, well-built and separated from the car road. It's about a 2-hour round trip ride and the views throughout are out of this world! We recommend renting bikes (regular or e-bikes) from the Eggensberger Biohotel (if you are staying there) or from a bike shop right near the lake in Füssen called "Bike Füssen" (https://bikefuessen.de/). There are also ferry boats constantly running so you can catch a ride across the lake if you run out of steam ;-) - Here are two kiosks you can drive stop during a bike ride around the lake or drive to anytime: - Panoramastadle - Kiosk Illersbergsee We love this lake and biking around it is something we do a few times per year. It's one of our favorite things to share with our visitors. You can follow signs throughout the loop; it's hard to get lost!
Füssen
The picturesque German Romantic Road ends with a grand finale in the heart of Füssen, a quaint, medieval town with colourful gabled houses, winding cobblestone pedestrian streets, preserved historic walls, and bustling cafes all perched right underneath the Hohes Schloss Castle (which you can walk up to right from the heart of the town). Although definitely touristy and crowded most days of the year, we would recommend a stroll through the quaint old town, a visit to a gift shop, a quick espresso, Hefeweizen or gelato in the town center and a stroll up to the historic castle. You will be surrounded by lots of history (and fanny packs and passport holders)! If you aren't staying in Füssen I recommend parking here: https://rb.gy/bu3yvb
Hopfensee
Whether it's swimming in the lake, lounging on the shore or renting a SUP board or paddle boat, the Hopfensee has a lot to offer. There is a wonderful walking path that takes you around the lake (about a 1.5 hour loop). The main road has many great restaurants and cafes - we can recommend Restaurant San Marco for delicious pizza and Vitushöhle for a traditional Irish Pub. There are also a few mini-golf options around the lake as well. Lastly, there are old castle ruins above the lake that offer a nice short hike and stunning view of the lake and the mountains: https://goo.gl/maps/bPfA27oSpRouaJ2g7
Alpsee
Stunning lake right below Neuschwantstein Castle. We recommend walking a loop around the lake in tandem with your castle visit if you have time. If not, you can stop by for a photo op at the edge of the lake. The walk around the lake will take approx. 1 hour 15 minutes at a leisurely pace. Locals Hack: park for free at the Schwannsee Parkplatz (check GoogleMaps) and add a beautiful extension to your hike past another lake. If you park here and add this extension in combination with the Alpsee loop and walk up to the castle, it will easily be a half-day excursion (budget ~4 hours time).
Neuschwanstein Castle
This is the biggest tourist attraction in the area for a reason; the castle is a masterful work of art. While it's impressive from all angles, we recommend taking the 35 minute walk to the Marienbrücke (bridge) to get the best view down on the castle with the hills and lakes in the background. It gets crowded, especially in the summer months, so we recommend going early or late in the day to beat the crowds and heat. Tours of the inside are available, but you must make a reservation online well in advance. (We have not done a tour yet; we think the outside is impressive enough!)
The Tegelberg
The Tegelberg is the biggest and most accessible mountain right in the area of the wedding. For families or those with less time, you can hop on the Tegelberg Bahn and ride up to the top quickly. This option is efficient but pricey (28,50 Euros round trip). The Bahn is open from 9am until *5pm (*you don't want to miss the last ride down or you'll have to walk) If you want to earn your views, this is a stunning hike that we can recommend! It will take approximately 2 hours to get to the top. There are a few routes up. If you aren't afraid of heights, the Gelbe Wand route is my favorite; it require a bit of scrambling and pulling yourself up with metal chains on the rock face. If you go this route, start early (before 9am on weekends to avoid the crowds)! For a more moderate route, you can walk through the woods to the Rohrkopfhütte (a cozy mountain restaurant), and then from there up to the peak. This route also has nice views. You can hike back down or ride the Bahn back down.
Alpe Beichelstein
If you're looking for a cozy and authentic Bavarian lunch spot amidst your sightseeing, we highly recommend this quaint little family run restaurant. It only serves warm food between 11-2pm Monday-Sunday (except Wednesdays it's closed). You can get cold snacks and drinks in the morning and afternoon. It also serves coffee and cake if you just want to stop by for a little pick-me-up treat. The place is rustic and simple but it offers a stunning view of the mountains, Schloss Neuschwanstein, and nearby lakes. It also is home to a hilariously cute family of Pygmy goats (mini-goats) that will entertain you during your visit. Park in the "Wanderparkplatz Alpe Beichelstein" (you can find it on Google Maps) and walk up the hill to the restaurant. **Likely accepts only cash.
Panorama-Stadl am Forggensee
If you're looking for a casual place for some uncomplicated, traditional German fare and the iciest of German beers while looking at a purely heavenly view, then look no further. This is our go-to lunch stop when biking around the Forggensee or for an afternoon beer after a hike. The menu is small (think bratwurst, currywurst, fries, soup, spaetzle, cakes...sorry no greens in sight) plus an array of refreshing drinks (beer, lemonade, coffee sodas). Seating is all outdoors at wooden tables and the view of the mountains and the lake are stunning. Order from the counter, pick up at the window. Easy, breezy Bavarian dining at its finest. **Likely accepts only cash.
Buchenberg
The Buchenberg is a great option for an easy to moderate hike, that only takes about 45 minutes to get to the top. There are a few different routes, but we like Bachweg (which follows a creek/waterfall through the forest to the top). This hike is very child-friendly (kids can hike up to the top or catch a ride in a carrying backpack) or there is an open ski lift that you can take up and down as another option. There is a very casual restaurant and a playground on top of the mountain, as well as a beautiful view over the surrounding mountains and lakes. On a dry day, you will most likely get to watch a stream of paragliders run off the side of the mountain into the sky.
Munich (Part 1)
Munich is worth a day trip or a 24-48 hour visit. Here are some tips for the center of Munich: -Marienplatz / Rathaus + pedestrian streets -Next to the Marienplatz, climb to the top of St Peter's Church (check opening times!) -The Viktoilienmarkt: lots of kiosks for a quick bite, coffee, biergarten, shopping for local goods -The English Gardens (worth a stroll!): Start at the Odeansplatz, then walk through the Hofgarten and into the park: -Stop 1: Eisbachwelle (the surfing spot) -Stop 2: Monopteros (nice view from the top of this Greek temple replica) -Stop 3: Grab lunch or a beer at the Chinese Tower Biergarten -Hofbrau House - touristy but usually lively/fun for a beer or a meal! -We find the Augustiner restaurants / beer cellars to be the best for German food in Munich. There is one across from the Hofbrauhaus that serves a great pork knuckle with potato salad + much more! *Augustiner am Platzl (our fave), Augustiner Kloserwirt, Augustiner am Dom
Munich (Part 2)
-Fat Tire Bike Tours is a great way to cover a lot of ground and get a good feel for the city. -Beautiful old churches: - Frauenkirche / Cathedral Church Of Our Lady - St. Michael’s Church - Holy Spirit Church - Asam Church - Bürgersaalkirche - St. Ludwig -Nymphenburg Palace (and gardens) - very impressive and pretty to stroll around -Olympic Park (Where Germany hosted the Olympics) -BMW World / BMW Museum (across from Olympic Park) -Dachau (this would need to be a half-day trip from Munich or from Hopfen/Füssen - Entrance is free, Audio Guide is $5 if you want that or a tour costs $4 -Isar River -Deutsches Museum (and many other museums)
Oberammergau
Oberammergau is a quaint town on the edge of the Alps known for its elaborate woodcarving, quaint buildings and the Passion Play that happens every 10 years. From the Füssen area, it's about a 50 minute drive, but if you combine it with other activities it is a nice place to stop. The wood carving is very impressive and the you can spend a few hours just strolling the pretty streets and shops that look like something out of a fairytale. If you make it to this area, here are a few other recommendations: -Laber Hike (or gondola ride) -Kofel Hike -Ettal Monastery
Zugspitze
The Zugspitze is the the highest mountain in Germany, and it is located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Below are some helpful hints to help plan your visit. NOTE: you should budget at least 4 hours for this activity. - Eibsee Gondola up is the fastest route (10 minute ride; probably short waiting time during the week). - (Address: Seefeldweg 1, 82491 Grainau ) - Here is a link to that Gondola station https://goo.gl/maps/yAQhqXS6uggUA3CU6 - The longer, but more scenic/historic way up is to take the cogwheel train from the Zugspitzebahnhof and then you transfer to a gondola near the top; - Address: Olympiastraße 31, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Here Is a link to this location in Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/32ea6PcC3TMua5pn7 - We don’t recommend if it’s rainy/foggy, but you can check a Zugspitze web cam (link here: https://zugspitze.panomax.com/) - You shouldn’t need a reservation on a weekday, but you should on a weekend
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
We have a love/hate relationship with Garmisch. It is beautiful and quaint and there are a lot of great activities in the area. It can just be very crowded and is a big tourist hub. From Hopfen/Füssen the drive will be around 1 hour. If you make the journey to Garmisch, here our our recommendations: - Eibsee (lake at the base of the Zugspitze) - Partnachklamm (this is a gorge that is really neat. WARNING: there are some tunnels and caves you have to walk through so if you are claustrophobic it might not be for you!) After going through the gorge, you can loop around on a 30 minute hike to the Partnach Alm (restaurant with great Bavarian food and a nice mountain view). Then the hike loops back to the parking lot, which is actually where the big Ski Jumping competitions in Garmisch take place. -Olympic Ski Jump -Stroll Ludwigstraße Street
Schongau
If you really want to get the authentic experience for how we live in Germany, then make a visit to our "hometown" of Schongau! Visit the historic old town, for a stroll on top of the medieval walls, a visit in 2 old churches, a coffee at our favorite cafe (Cafe am Rathaus) or dinner IN the old wall at our favorite restaurant (Weinstube). Schongau is small but has lots of outdoor activities to offer: -Lech River and Boathouse: https://goo.gl/maps/S2cRsBrNyLE5NdXx7 -Forchet Forest Walk: https://goo.gl/maps/VkPZmqbW9sZqNHSm8 -Kalverienberg / Weinland Hike: https://goo.gl/maps/NTb7YeUp9Nfrv3ky9 Schongau will be best to visit with us - let us know if you are interested and we can find a time to show you our apartment and some of our favorite Schongau spots!