By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 24th March 2019 | Updated: 13th December 2024
Germany is well known for its impressive cities like Berlin and Munich, but what about a trip to a small but character-filled town in Bavaria called Füssen?
Füssen is a small town located 1km north of the Austrian border, 2 hours south of Munich and the last stop on the Romantic Road of Germany. It is also well known for its fairy tale castles and colourful 700-year-old town centre, so why would you not want to visit?
Here is our 1 day Füssen itinerary and the top things to do in Füssen:
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1 Day Füssen Itinerary
Start off the day in the colourful old town of Füssen. It is such a delight to wander through, with every building painted a bright colour with ornate decorations and flower boxes in every window. So why not grab a cuppa and watch the world go by?
Wander the streets throughout the centre of Füssen, exploring the tiny eateries, hidden alleyways and beautiful architecture before grabbing a schneeballentraüm and any other local delicacies for snacks, and hitting the road out to the famous castles. Make sure you stop by Hohen Schloss, or the High Castle of Füssen before you leave the town.
There is a network of walking and cycling trails around the town that go out to the famous castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. Whether you walk or cycle, you just have to get out to witness these beauties in all their historic glory.
It is really easy to follow the cycle path out of the town to the east, across the river Lech and out through the vast farmland fields following route 17, to gaze at Neuschwanstein from below.
When you reach Schwangau cross the road and take the small road called Tegelbergstrasse closer towards the castles. Follow along Colomanstrasse to the south even closer to the castles until you reach a little village i.e. the bottom of the castles! From here take your pick of where to go and what to see.
After getting your fill of famous castles, the next stop on the way back to the main town of Füssen is the two lakes of Lake Schwansee & Lake Alpsee. With incredible views of the two castles and enough cycling routes to keep you busy for a day or two, a trip out to the lakes is well worth doing even for a few hours.
From the bottom of the castles head west along the Alpseestrasse and you will soon reach Alpsee Hohenschwangau, ready for a cycle around to get some of the most unique views of the castles. Lake Schwansee is just to the north, so the perfect place to stop on the way back to Füssen in the northwest.
Now get ready for a feast of Bavarian classics! We’re talking krautschupfnudeln, bratwurst and of course some good beer! So fill your boots after all that cycling and exploring.
Where to stay in Füssen In Germany
There are numerous accommodation options in and around Füssen, check out the below map for the best rates during your stay:
Top Things To Do In Füssen In Germany
1. Rent bicycles
Bar far the best way to get around in Füssen, and out to explore the nearby castles, is by bicycle, so be sure to rent one from the train station so you can get about on your own two wheels.
2. Explore the old town
Füssen is incredibly beautiful, with historic timber buildings painted all shades of colour and quaint cafes at every corner. This 700-year-old town might be small but it will take a little bit of time to explore as you will want to stop every few steps.
3. Visit Hohen Schloss
High on a hill overlooking the town of Füssen, this often-overlooked Gothic castle is one of the most beautiful things to do in Füssen. Inside and out this castle is amazing, and the views from the castle walls back over the town are stunning.
4. Try a schneeballen
Traditionally made for weddings, these round balls of cookie strips are a must-try when visiting Füssen. The traditional flavour is plain with powdered sugar, but now they come in all sorts of flavours. Head to Diller Schneeballentraüm for the best ones.
5. Visit Neuschwanstein
Most tourists to Füssen are there to visit the famous castle Neuschwanstein and it is clear to see why. This picturesque castle on the hill is roughly 1-hour walk from the centre of Füssen but it is like no other castle in Germany. Be sure to buy your tickets for visiting in advance though as they often sell out quickly as it is one of the best things to do in Füssen.
6. Visit the other castle in Füssen – Hohenschwangau
When visiting Neuschwanstein, be sure to stop by Hohenschwangau as well. This bright yellow castle sits lower down in the valley and is the perfect place to learn about the Bavarian King Ludwig II who grew up in the castle, and who built Neuschwanstein.
7. Cycle to Schwansee & Alpsee
The area surrounding Füssen is home to numerous lakes, with hiking trails as well cycle trails around the lakesides. Schwansee is a small lake halfway between Füssen and Hohenschwangau village so a great place to stop by on route, whilst Alpsee is a much large lake closest to Neuschwanstein that you can rent boats on. These lakes are the perfect place to cool down on a summer’s day, picnic by in the spring or autumn, and even ice skate on in the winter.
8. Try traditional Bavarian food
Of all the things to do in Füssen trying traditional Bavarian food is a must. From the schweinhaxe, (pork knuckle) to the array of wurst, (sausages), on offer, to the krautschupfnudeln, (a type of German potato noodle with cabbage), and the käsespätzle, (potato dumplings with cheese), there will be something you like the sound of!
1 Day Füssen Itinerary & The Top Things To Do In Füssen FAQs
Where is Füssen?
Füssen is located in Bavaria in the south of Germany, roughly one kilometre from the Austrian border.
How to get to Füssen
There are a couple of options for how to get to Füssen, including via plane, train and car. The easiest by far is by car as Füssen lies at the end of the German Romantic Road, so is often a pickup / drop off location for car rentals. (If you are looking to rent a car for your trip check out Rentalcars.com as they have great offers and numerous vehicle options).
Another option is to arrive via train, with Füssen Bahnhof located fairly centrally, and with the German train network running across the country and into neighbouring Austria.
Arriving by plane to visit Füssen isn’t the best option as the nearest airport is located nearly 60km away in Memmingen. The nearest airport with international flights in Germany is at Munich, which is 120km away.
How to get around Füssen
Füssen is so small you can easily explore the town itself on foot. If you are looking to venture further afield like out to the castles, then you can still go on foot, but it is a lovely cycle too. We rented bikes from Bike Rental Füssen, who are located in the train station in the centre of Füssen, and have lots of different options for bike rentals such as E-Bikes, mountain bikes and trailers for kids.
Parking in Füssen
There are numerous car parks and parking garages in Füssen, so finding a space shouldn’t be a problem. Just make sure you know the height of your vehicle so that if you end up parking in a parking garage, (which generally go underground), you can actually get in and out! It might sound like a silly thing to know but we had people in front of us having to reverse out the in way as they couldn’t actually fit the campervan in the underground parking…
Best time to visit Füssen
Füssen is a dream to visit year-round, with markets for the winter and spring and great weather in the summer and autumn. We visited in the summer and although it was busy in places when you get on your bike and cycle out to the surrounding area, or explore down the streets away from the main square it is super quiet.
What to eat in Füssen
When in Germany, and more specifically Bavaria, it would be rude to not eat and drink some Bavarian classics. So, make sure you head to a little shop on Brotmarkt 3 and get yourself a Schneeballentraüm, or German Snowball Cake. You will not regret it! Word to the wise, don’t go for the most chocolatey-covered one, it gets quite sickly quite quickly…
The other thing you must try in Füssen is krautschupfnudeln. It is a delicious concoction of sauerkraut, bacon, cheese, and German potato noodles, (yes you heard it right German noodles), and also a great tummy filler after a day of cycling.
Is Füssen worth visiting?
Do you want to see castles that look like they’ve been plucked right out of a fairytale? If the answer is yes, then yes Füssen is absolutely worth visiting. And even if you’re not a fan of castles the historic old town and the Bavarian food on offer in Füssen is amazing.
What is Füssen known for?
Füssen is known as the closest town and transport location for visiting the nearby castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, but it is also known locally and historically for its violin-making. For this, it is often known as the romantic soul of Bavaria.
What is the Füssen card?
Anyone staying for at least one night in Füssen will receive a Füssen Card from the Füssen Tourism Board which then gives you a wide range of discounts on various attractions in the area, (such as guided tours and museum entrance), as well as free public transport. It also gives you reduced tickets for Neuschwanstein Castle and the Museum of Bavarian Kings in Hohenschwangau.
Is there a bus from Füssen to Neuschwanstein Castle?
Yes, there are actually multiple buses that go between Füssen and Neuschwanstein Castle. Bus 73 to Halblech or bus 78 to Schwangau both stop at Neuschwanstein Castle leaving from Füssen Station. They take roughly half an hour to get there and run every 30 minutes Monday to Friday and hourly on the weekends and holidays.
Can you walk from Füssen to Neuschwanstein?
Yes, you can walk from Füssen to Neuschwanstein, but we would highly recommend you cycle there instead. Hire a bicycle from one of the numerous rentals in the main town then hit the cycle paths out to Neuschwanstein via flower-filled fields and the bluest of blue lakes. Not only will you get there quicker, but you can also stop by the other castle in the area Hohenschwangau.
How far is Füssen from Munich?
Füssen is roughly 1 hour 45 minutes, 130km drive from Munich, or a 6 hour 30 minute train.
How far is it from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle?
Neuschwanstein Castle is just under two hours from Munich so it can be done in a day trip if you are basing yourself in Munich and have a vehicle with you. We wouldn’t suggest trying to visit for a day trip if you are using public transport however as it can take 7 hours or more!
Is Füssen in Austria or Germany? / Is Füssen in Black Forest?
Füssen is located in Germany, however Füssen is not located in the Black Forest, it is actually located north of the Austrian border in Bavaria.
How much time do you need in Füssen?
A day is plenty of time to see the town of Füssen, but if you want to explore the castles and potentially further afield into Germany, Austria or Liechtenstein, then we would recommend staying for at least 4 days.
Füssen Tours & Day Trips from Füssen
Due to its location, Füssen makes for a great base to explore surrounding Bavarian Germany as well as nearby Austria or, for the even more adventurous, Liechtenstein.
📍 Zugspitze – (1 hour drive)
📍 Innsbruck – (1.5 hour drive)
📍 The micro country of Liechtenstein – (2 hour drive)
If you would rather take a tour out to these locations, or even just around Füssen then check out the Get Your Guide tours below for some of the best options in the area.
Is there a Füssen to Salzburg train?
Yes, you can get to Füssen from Salzburg via train. It takes on average 4 hours 35 minutes, but depending on the route you take, you can get a fast train that only takes 3 hours 35 minutes.
Conclusion: 1 Day Füssen Itinerary & The Top Things To Do In Füssen
So, hire some bicycles, eat some traditional Bavarian food and explore this wonderful Bavarian town with this 1 day Füssen itinerary. From the incredible castles to the mouthwatering food, enjoy all the best things to do in Füssen.
Planning your own trip to Germany? Be sure to download Wise by far the best currency conversion app around. We use it daily living on the border of two countries and it is a game changer when travelling!
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.
