What to Do Around Neuschwanstein: Hohenschwangau & Füssen Germany Ideas

What to Do Around Neuschwanstein: Hohenschwangau & Füssen Germany Ideas

This was a travel moment of magic and tear-jerking beauty for us. While in Füssen, near Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, we were exploring without a plan one beautiful summer evening. Since there wasn’t much information about this region on the Internet, we felt a phenomenal freedom to simply see what unfolded. 

Meandering and making up our own agenda, we found ourselves walking alongside the river. The teal blue color blared while the setting sun turned the hills pink. It felt like an oil painting done by an artist desperately trying to capture the color of fall yet inadvertently mixing in too much sunlight. We had stepped out of reality and into a fantasy world.

While it seems that everyone else is as enamored with Neuschwanstein as we were before our summer tour around the Alps with our family, I am surprised that there isn’t more information about Hohenschwangau and Füssen, Germany. This was a great visit for us.

Hohenschwengau about

Hohenschwangau (both a town and a castle) is the sister, aunt, grandma(?) of Neuschwanstein. Füssen is a beautiful nearby town in Germany where people live and love. Since we stayed at Neuschwanstein Castle for two nights, instead of doing this as a day trip from Munich, we were able to explore more in the area and appreciated that decision.

While neither of these are large metropolises, I think that is what makes them more appealing. Füssen treated us to the most exquisite sunset spectacular I’ve had in awhile. Hohenschwangau castle was a fabulous foil to learn even more about Neuschwanstein.

Our Adventure in the Alps

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What to do in Hohenschwangau and Füssen Germany

Visiting Füssen

Getting to Füssen, Germany

Füssen is just across the Austrian border in the region of Bavaria in Germany. We drove here while on our epic European adventure in the Alps. We found the driving easy and scenic.

But Füssen is accessible by train from Munich (which is how most tourists arrive).

There are many cute boutique hotels (we stayed near the castle at an older property that was more like a hostel). Like most of this area of Europe, the majority of hotels do not have air conditioning. However, we experienced the weather to be temperate and comfortable.

Fussen Germany

The Riverwalk

We parked at Parkplatz Lechbrucke and then walked along the River Lech for a truly enchanting experience. It was very easy to find our way to a paved walking trail, which we followed all the way to the Altstadt (or Old Town).

This was an easy walk and full of gorgeous views along the river and into nooks and crannies in FüssenFüssen is a place people live and it was heartwarming to see community members gathering as the summer night became a sweet, relaxing song.

Fussen riverwalk

It turns out that this trail is part of the famous Lechweg trail, we were just on the part closest to Fussen.

The Lechweg is an 89-mile trail, usually hiked in 6-8 days, that follows the Lech River through all its wild meanderings.

Fussen river Germany
Hohenschwengau hiking

The Town

Apparently Füssen is best known for violin manufacturing, but we didn’t realize that until after we were back in the States. It is where the Romantic Road ends in the south. Its total population today is just over 16,000.

Since it was founded in Roman times, the cobblestone streets move in snakelike formations between old buildings of all colors kissing each other, crowding together through the centuries. It is an enchanting well-aged town.

Fussen Germany for the day

Where to eat:

We ate at Ritterstuben, where we enjoyed dining outside in the courtyard. They didn’t speak English, but we had some of the best schnitzel. It felt authentic and true.

We did not make a reservation but did arrive early. It filled up with residents gathering in joy fairly quickly.

Things to see:

Of course, we recommend the River and Alstadt, but other things to see include –

Visiting Hohenschwangau (the town)

getting to Hohenschwangau

There is no direct train service to Hohenschwangau. You will need to take the train to Füssen, then a bus or taxi. It is a bit too far to plan to walk.

Hohenschwangau is at the base of the hill that hosts Neuschwanstein Castle.

There are several beautiful hotels in Hohenschwangau (the town) that include spas and Bavarian views. Additionally, by staying in Hohenschwangau, you will be at the ticket center for Neuschwanstein, near some restaurants, and within a quick (uphill!) walk or horse carriage ride to Neuschwanstein Castle.

Hohenschwangau

Visiting Hohenschwangau (the castle)

Hohenschwangau Castle was the childhood summer home of King Ludwig, the famous king who built Neuschwanstein Castle.

King Maximilian II bought Hohenschwangau in 1832 which, although having been a castle site since the 1400s, had fallen into disrepair. King Maximilian and Queen Marie rebuilt it as a hunting lodge and summer retreat of sorts. Queen Marie lived in the castle until she died in 1889 (her son, King Ludwig, died under suspicious circumstances in 1886). The property fell into the hands of Marie’s brother, who lived there until he died in 1912. He was responsible for bringing electricity (and an elevator) to the Castle in the early 1900’s.

In 1913, it was opened to the public as a museum. It is still under private ownership.

Visiting Hohenschwangau

We hadn’t planned to go here, but we were so enamored with what we saw and learned in Neuschwanstein about King Ludwig that our oldest son very much wanted to see the castle down the hill which influenced Ludwig so much.

It was fascinating to see these in juxtaposition and I highly recommend it.

King Ludwig castles Germany
Hohenschwangau gardens

While it is nearly essential to purchase a ticket to Neuschwanstein Castle in advance, especially during the summer months, we were easily able to get last-minute tickets to visit Hohenschwangau.

We would have saved money to bundle our ticket purchase in advance, but we appreciated having some flexibility since we ended up splitting up for this afternoon.

Purchase castle tickets here.

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Hiking Lake Alpsee

There are around 20 lakes in this region. (Read more about the lakes near Fussen at this site.) Lake Alpsee is only one of them and it kisses Hohenschwangau (the town). Lake Alpsee is the closest lake to the castles.

Mr. Family Trip and our youngest went on this circuit hike around the lake and enjoyed it.

They went 6 miles and took 2.5 hours. View the hike on AllTrails here.

Hiking Alpsee Hohenschwengau Germany
Hiking Alpsee Hohenschwengau Germany
Hohenschwangau Germany
Hohenschwangau activities

After their hike around the lake and our tour of the Hohenschwangau castle, we met up at a Biergarten, sitting outside in the sun. Bright red geraniums stood out against a background of Alpine blue.

We were so glad we had stayed and given extra time to this area.

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