Füssen, Germany: the gateway town to the castles
Füssen lies on the Lech river in the Ostallgäu. It is the end of the line for trains from Munich and the place where bus 73 and 78 start towards Hohenschwangau. The castles are about 4 to 5 km away. Official sources give slightly different figures for the distance, so we say roughly that.
The compact old town has a medieval core. It holds the Baroque monastery of St. Mang, the High Palace, remains of the town wall and the Holy Spirit Hospital Church. Many visitors only change buses here. A few hours are enough to see the main sights, and staying overnight gives you the evening in town too.
What to see in Füssen's old town
Opening hours as listed by the town in October 2026. They change with the season, so check before you go.
| Sight | What it is | Hours 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| High Palace (Hohes Schloss) | Former summer residence of the prince-bishops of Augsburg, with two galleries | Tue to Sun 10 to 5 until 25 October 2026, shorter hours until 8 November, then Fri to Sun 10 to 12:30 in winter. Closed Mondays. |
| Museum of the City of Füssen | In the former St. Mang monastery, with lute and violin making | Tue to Sun 10 to 5 until 8 November 2026, afterwards Fri to Sun afternoons |
| St. Mang Abbey | Baroque monastery complex in the old town | – |
The High Palace and the museum
The High Palace was a summer residence of the prince-bishops of Augsburg. It is late Gothic, and its illusionistic painted architecture makes flat walls look three-dimensional. The St. Vitus Chapel belongs to the complex. Inside you find a branch of the Bavarian State Gallery and the municipal gallery. In season there is a public guided tour on Saturdays at 2 pm for a €2 guide fee, and private tours cost €50. We could not confirm the admission price.
The Museum of the City of Füssen occupies the former monastery of St. Mang on Lechhalde. Its best-known piece is the Füssen Dance of Death from 1602, a series of 20 panels. The museum also shows the town's tradition of lute and violin making. The galleries in the High Palace list slightly overlapping dates for early November, so check the hours if you travel in the first week of that month. Closed on 24 and 25 December, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Our picks: from Füssen
On foot, by bike or through the old town.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Bike hire with castle ticket
Cycle from Füssen to the castle on a rental bike, with a castle ticket according to the tour title. Check the inclusions on the tour page.
Check availability →Guided walk from Füssen to the castle
A guided hike from Füssen station to Neuschwanstein, about three hours. The castle entry and the bus back to Füssen are not included.
Check availability →
Füssen old town walking tour
A 90-minute walk through the old town of Füssen, held in German. A cheap way to see the town before or after the castles.
Check availability →Tours from Füssen and Munich to Neuschwanstein
Guided day trips that include the castle, with live prices and availability.
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Combining Füssen with a castle visit
A day in Füssen works best around your entry time. If your slot is in the morning, take an early bus to Hohenschwangau, visit the castle, and come back to town in the afternoon. In summer the High Palace galleries stay open until 5 pm, and the museum in the monastery too. In winter, castle hours are 10 am to 4 pm and the galleries open only on Friday to Sunday mornings, so the order of your day matters more.
If you arrive by train and have the evening free, leave your luggage at your hotel first. The railway station is the starting point for the bus, so the town is easy to include on the way back. Keep an eye on the last bus and train back to Munich, as disruptions on the line happened several times in 2025 and 2026.
From Füssen to Neuschwanstein
The most common reason to be in Füssen is the castle trip. Here is the route.
1. Bus to Hohenschwangau
Take line 73 or 78 to the stop "Hohenschwangau Alpseestraße". The ride takes about 15 minutes. A single ticket costs €3, the adult day ticket €8.90 and the family day ticket €14. With a Füssen Card or KönigsCard the buses are free. Check the current timetable on the day of travel.
2. Collect your bearings
The Ticket Center on Alpseestraße 12 opens at 8 am. Online tickets are QR codes you show on your phone. Arrive one and a half to two hours before your entry time. A taxi from the station to Hohenschwangau takes about 8 minutes.
Ticket guide →3. Up to the castle
Walk 30 to 40 minutes uphill, or take the shuttle from car park P4 (€3.50 up) or a carriage (€8 up). Details and times are on the Munich page.
Getting there →Guest cards and day trips from Füssen
Overnight guests get a Füssen Card from their host. It covers the allgäumobil bus network (about 500 km) and gives reduced entry to Neuschwanstein, the Museum of the Bavarian Kings, the Museum of the City of Füssen, the galleries in the High Palace and the Forggensee boat service. The KönigsCard adds more than 200 free services from taking part hosts, but it does not work on the Marienbrücke shuttle.
Hohenschwangau Castle
Ludwig's childhood home, 4 to 5 km from Füssen by bus.
Alpsee
The lake below the castles, with a loop of about 5 km.
Tegelberg
Reached by bus 78, with a toboggan run in the valley.
Wieskirche
A Rococo pilgrimage church, free to enter, on bus line 73.
Where to stay
Füssen, Hohenschwangau, Schwangau and Pfronten compared.
Best time to visit
Opening hours by season and how to avoid the busiest slots.
Füssen: frequently asked questions
How far is Füssen from Neuschwanstein?
About 4 to 5 km to the village of Hohenschwangau, where the Ticket Center is. The bus takes about 15 minutes. From the village it is another 1.5 km uphill to the castle.
Is Füssen worth a stop?
Yes, if you have a few hours. The old town is small and walkable, with the High Palace, the monastery and the museum. For a short castle trip you can change buses and go on.
How do I get from Munich to Füssen?
Take the regional train RB 68 from Munich Hauptbahnhof. It takes roughly 2 to 2.5 hours. The line had several closures in 2025 and 2026, so check the live status before you travel.
Are the sights open in winter?
Yes, with shorter hours. The galleries in the High Palace open only Friday to Sunday from early November until March 2027. The museum also reduces its hours.
Does the Füssen Card save money?
It gives free local buses and reduced entry to several sights, including Neuschwanstein. Overnight guests receive it from their host.