Let’s get right to it, shall we?
Füssen is the closest city to Neuschwanstein Castle: the fairytale palace that inspired Walt Disney. Many tourists arrive from Munich to Füssen, Germany, and immediately head out to the 19th-century castle Ludwig II held close to his heart.
But there’s a "lute" more to liebe about Füssen — like its long history of crafting lute and violins.
This Bavarian town has its own history, picturesque lookouts, and castle to boot.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Ventura Carmona. Image Location: Heilig-Geist-Spitalkirche, Füssen, Germany
📸 Sehen: Füssen Germany attractions
Your eyes deserve to take in Füssen from more than the tour bus window. Consider this your shot list for an easy Insta story spree:
- Heilig-Geist-Spitalkirche: a small church near the Lechbrücke bridge with an artsy red and gold facade.
- Stadtbrunnen: a sculpture fountain of St. Magnus in Füssen Altstadt, Füssen’s Old Town.
- Hohes Schloss: fantastic sights inside and outside of this gothic castle, partially built then redesigned between 1291 and 1504.
- Lechfall: dazzling blue water cascades over rocks just south of Füssen city center.
🚶🏾♀️Tun: things to do in Fussen
Füssen is a small town, the perfect size for a traveler who wants to say Keene ich schon (“been there, done that”). Here are our suggestions for things to do in Füssen on a day trip from Munich.
- Visit the Museum of Fuessen, a great place to discover the town’s lute and violin history plus art and artifacts, all housed in a baroque-style former Benedictine abbey.
- Catch a performance at Festspielhaus Neuschwanstein, especially the outdoor lakeside shows with the Alps as a backdrop.
- You’re already visiting Neuschwanstein Castle, you might as well pop next door and check out Hohenschwangau Castle.
- And while you’re at it, take a few paces more and stop at the Museum of the Bavarian Kings.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Hiroshi Higuchi. Image Location: Füssen, Germany
🎄 Erfahrung: Füssen Germany Christmas Market
Weihnachtsmarkt Füssen in Füssen, Germany’s annual Christmas Market. It’s held during the first two weekends of advent in December and takes place in Old Town around the St. Magnus statue. Füssen turns into a winter wonderland, so when you’re not shopping stalls with mulled wine in hand, you can:
- Go sledding in Galgenbichl.
- Try your hand at curling or ice hockey at Bundesstützpunkt für Eishockey und Curling.
- Take a treetop walk or wintery hike through Forest Experience Center Ziegelwies.
🥨 Essen: Best Restaurants in Füssen Germany
Füssen is in the Bavarian state of Germany — so scan the menu for regional staples like Bavarian Leberkäse (liver meatloaf), kasspatzen (spätzle with cheese), weisswurst (breakfast sausage), and kuchen (cake). Alert your appetite to these restaurants in Füssen:
- Zum Franziskaner, where traditional Bavarian cuisine is as warm and welcoming as the dining room.
- Madame Plüsch, who serves up the sausages you came all the way to Germany for.
- Restaurant Ludwigs has that soup, salad, and schnitzel combo that hits different in Deutschland.
- Schwangau Castle Brewery for locally brewed helles (traditional German beer).
Image Credit: Getty Images, Liudmila Kiermeier. Image Location: Füssen, Germany
🏨 Bleiben: places to stay in Füssen Germany
The bad news is that you can’t pull a Sleeping Beauty and spend the night in Neuschwanstein Castle. The good news is that there are plenty of places to stay in Füssen that provide the royal treatment for you, your beau, and your budget.
- Hotel Hirsch in Füssen Germany is less than a 10-minute walk from the train station yet still has a peaceful Hirschgarten (traditional Bavarian biergarten) that feels far from Old Town.
- Hotel Das Rübezahl is the charming spa hotel for couples with Neuschwanstein Castle always in view (except for when you’re beneath the sheets, of course).
- Hotel Sommer sits on the shores of the Forggensee reservoir and is perfect for active travelers who want to get out and explore the Alps, no matter the season.
- Villa Fantasia is a budget-friendly boutique hotel steps from Old Town and Hohes Schloss.
🚄 Besuchen: how to get to Füssen Germany
Getting from Munich to Füssen, Germany by train is super straightforward:
- Depart Munich from: München Hbf
- Relax on a Deutsche Bahn train for: about two hours
- Arrive in Füssen at: Füssen
Day trips from Munich to Füssen are nearly as fast to say as they are to do. Download the Trainline app and purchase tickets today.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Wu Swee Ong. Image Location: Füssen, Germany