Day 2: MUNICH - NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE - FUSSEN
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Is an alarm ringing it? It's 6 in the morning? Where we are? Mmm ... it's true !! We are in Munich, we arrived yesterday evening and today we go early in the morning to the famous Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany.
This is one of those traveling dreams that we have had for years, as we have already explained in the preparations for this trip and that today, finally, we will fulfill in this trip to bavaria.
We have spent several days watching a webcam that is installed in the Neuschwanstein Castle and a few days ago that the images do not stop seeing with fog, something that the truth, has us a little scared and that we hope, today is the day that time gives us a little truce to be able to enjoy this incredible landscape at 100% .
About 7 in the morning when we went down to breakfast at the lounge of the Holiday Inn Express Munich Airport, where after recharging energies, leaving our luggage in the car, checking in and paying 8 euros for parking, we set off with our rental car in Bavaria.
GPS already marks us that it will take us about 2 hours to arrive, so we take it easy, since it is 7.30 in the morning and we don't need to run.
How to visit Neuschwanstein Castle
We made the reservation to enter the Neuschwanstein Castle several months ago online, to make sure both and in the paper reservation we have, they call us at the box office at 10.45, to collect the final tickets and pay the amount of the tickets.
If you do not have a car, a good option is to book a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle by bus with a Spanish guide from Munich that also includes the beautiful village of Oberammergau or this train excursion, one of the best excursions in Munich.
We have been traveling for a little over half an hour and the fog seems to have no desire to let us fully enjoy this trip to bavaria.
Remind us again the day we spent in San Marino, a month or so ago and the morning we spent a few weeks ago in Budapest.
But in the end, we were lucky, after 9 in the morning a sun has risen that has left the sky completely clear, leaving us in sight an impressive landscape with a mixture of colors that we had not seen for a long time.
The best moment has been when, in the distance, we have seen the Neuschwanstein Castle between the mountains sheltered in the green and brown of the trees.
An image that will surely stay in our retinas for a long time.
At this moment we have left the car on the side of the road and we have gone down to see it more closely and take some photos.
Bavarian Landscapes
Enjoying the landscape of Bavaria
The colors have reminded us of the landscapes of Tuscany with that green breaking the landscape hard.
Once the photos have been taken, we have gone to parking 3, where we have paid the 5 euros of rigor and we have gone to the ticket office in search of tickets.
From here we can see that the north facade of the Neuschwanstein Castle They are restoring it and we only hope that the image from the Marianske Bridge will be without scaffolding.
North facade in full restoration ... Hopefully the rest is finished!
The initial idea is to walk up, but when looking at the time we have left and the position of the sun, we prefer to take the bus to arrive as soon as possible and try to take some photos in good light.
So we go up a little more and we arrive at the bus stop that will take us, for 1.80 '- euros per person until almost the entrance of the Neuschwanstein Castle.
Shortly before the bus stop, we cross many horse-drawn cars that also go up to the entrance. We do not ask the price because we do not fancy too much with the cold it is, but we see that the carts fill people from different groups, so we interpret that the prices will be per person, not per car.
Waiting for the bus that will free us from the climb with the horse carriages in the background
Views of Hohenschwangau Castle from the bus stop
Once the bus is full, in less than 10 minutes we plant ourselves in the upper part and seeing that we still have 1 hour to be the time of our visit, we go to the Marianske Bridge, from where they say there are the best views of Neuschwanstein Castle.
Just put one foot on and look to the left, we see it, that image that we have seen so many times in books, in photographs, even in puzzles ... and we remain with our mouths open.
It's amazing how it blends with the landscape in such a subtle way. Seeing it now, we understand why they call it The Mad King's Castle, only a madman could have built it.
Views of Neuschwanstein Castle from the Marianske Bridge
Here we are more than 30 minutes, taking some photos and above all trying to record the image that we have right now in our retinas.
It has certainly been worth coming here, we only have a few hours, but we know that this trip to bavaria We will always remember her.
Waterfall under the Marianske Bridge in Neuschwanstein Castle
Now he plays perched at Neuschwanstein Castle from the Marianske Bridge
And another one 🙂
Now the two together ...
Although we see it in many places, we are always struck by the locks that the lovers put on the bridges, although in this they have a privileged view.
Padlocks on the Marianske Bridge with stunning views of Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwnstein Castle
At 11.30 we return on our feet to go to the entrance, it takes about 5 minutes or so from the Marianske Bridge and we find some screens where they announce the group number and time.
A good option to enter the castle is to book this ticket in advance, you will avoid waiting in line and include the audio guide in Spanish.
Map of the surroundings of Neuschwanstein Castle
When our turn comes, we pass the tickets through the machine and already inside the Castle they give us the audio guide in the language we chose in the reservation we made online.
Entering Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle entrance
Book the best rated tours and excursions in Munich in Spanish
- Guided tour of Munich
- Walk through the Munich of the Third Reich
- Excursion to Neuschwanstein Castle
- Excursion to the Dachau Concentration Camp
- Excursion to Salzburg
- Many more excursions and tours in / from Munich here
The visit does not last more than 30 minutes and the interiors are spectacular, we could almost say that they are the ones that have impressed us most of all we have seen so far, which are not few.
They do not allow to take photos or videos, something that we find perfect, but not everyone respects. Especially a group that has entered with us and do not stop taking photos clandestinely. This is something we will never understand. When you see people taking these types of photos, quickly without light and you see that afterwards they will not be able to see anything on their screens, so they spend that time making those photos while they could be watching what is presented before their eyes ...
The truth is that after the visit, we have to say that we were pleasantly surprised. After our trip to Scotland or Austria where we were able to meet some of the most famous castles, we thought it would not surprise us so much.
From here we go down to the platform below, with a kind of glass that allows us to have an incredible perspective of the castle.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Marianske Bridge Perspective
The bad thing has been the hour, that by the sun did not let make good photographs.
The good perspective is looking towards the other side, where we can see views of the landscapes of Bavaria awesome.
Views of Bavaria from Neuschwanstein Castle
Views of Hohenschwangau Castle from a distance
Amazing views of Bavaria
And so, we spend the morning flying. We look at the clock and see that it is time to get on our way, this time walking. In the signs they mark that the route is about 20 minutes, that in the end they are reduced to about 15 walking fast and stopping to take many photos along the way.
Views of Hohenschwangau Castle
Upon reaching the area of souvenir shops and restaurants we have a fantastic view of Hohenschwangau Castle in front of us and since we have no intention of visiting the interior, we take the photos from this point.
Hohenschwangau Castle in black and white
Frozen autumn ...
Hohenschwangau Castle
The truth is that looking left and right, from the point where we are, we have an incredible perspective of the two castles, too bad we can not take any photo that encompasses these two architectural beauties.
Hohenschwangau Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle from a distance
From here it takes just under 5 minutes to reach the parking area and we see the odd restaurant and a beach bar where they sell fast food.
Restaurant in the area of one of the parkings
With the time it is, if we have to reach Fussen Checking in, looking for a restaurant ... etc, they'll give us so many, so we don't think about it too much and ask for 2 currywurst and 2 sodas plus potatoes for 15 euros at the fast food beach bar.
Mmm ... currywurst ... mmm ... great !!!
As soon as we try them, the famous Currywurst 36 in Berlin comes to mind, but really, now, we would not know which of the two is better 🙂 This is doing us very, very well.
Fast food beach bar, overlooking Neuschwanstein Castle
After 2 in the afternoon, we return to the parking lot, put the heating of the car to the fullest and get on our way to what will be our accommodation today: Fussen.
We are a little less than 5 kilometers, but it took more than half an hour to arrive, why on the way back, we see some perspectives of the Neuschwanstein Castle Awesome and we can't help getting out of the car to take some pictures.
Bavarian landscapes with Neuschwanstein Castle in the distance
Seeing these landscapes, we decided to go for a walk around the surroundings to finish this morning in the best possible way.
Strolling through Bavaria with Neuschwanstein Castle in the distance
Posing with Neuschwanstein Castle in the distance
More practical information to prepare your trip to Bavaria
- 50 things to see and do in Munich
- The 5 best excursions in Munich
- 10 essential places to visit in Munich
- 10 essential tips for traveling to Bavaria
Bavarian landscapes with Neuschwanstein Castle in the distance
Bavarian Landscapes
Happiness in Bavaria with Neuschwanstein Castle in the distance
After a good time walking, we return to the rental car in Bavaria, wanting to stay longer in this area, but also wanting to know more ...
And so, speaking non-stop what we liked this visit and the luck we have had over time, we planted in what will be our accommodation for tonight, the Apartment Scheibel Füssen.
We check-in, we rest a little, we take the opportunity to make some calls, with free Wi-Fi and we are going to tour the city now that there are few hours of light left.
And that we do, stroll and stroll, through some streets that move us again, inevitably to our trip through Austria and in some moments we did in the Czech Republic where we were a few years ago.
Füssen streets
Showcase of a Füssen store
Colors in the streets of Füssen
Strolling through Füssen
The streets, despite the cold, are full of people and after buying the odd souvenirs, we could not resist, we took a last walk before the end of nightfall.
Church in Füssen
Füssen reflexes
Füssen
Füssen architecture
When we are returning to our accommodation, we see a pastry shop and we cannot avoid entering and buying when we see such a showcase !!
Showcase of a Füssen patisserie
Mmm ... cookie and chocolate balls ... great !!
It's almost 7 in the afternoon, so we return to Apartment Scheibel Füssen, which is less than 5 minutes from downtown and we rest until 8 that we go out to dinner. We deserved that we have a full day!
Returning home"…
Today it's time to have dinner at Pizzeria La Perla de Fussen recommended on several websites and where we can not avoid entering after seeing that the restaurant is full and that is always a very good sign.
We eat a plate of pasta from the house and a pizza, plus a half-liter beer and a water for 28 euros.
Pepperoni Pizza in La Perla
Pasta au gratin Very good!
Of course, tomorrow we have German cuisine. We promise!!
We return to rest after 9 pm, not too tired, but wanting to lie down and review some of the photos we have taken.
Day 3FUSSEN - OBERAMMERGAU - MUNICH
