In this guide we include tips on what to do, accommodation, tourist attractions, restaurants and other information for your best visit to Füssen in Bavaria, considered the last town on Germany’s Romantic Road.
Füssen is quite famous for being the main city that is chosen as a base to visit the Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein Castles, but we also list other interesting points that are very worth visiting. worth knowing. Like the Altstadt, the Old Town, the Hohes Schloss, the High Castle, the Benediktinerkloster St. Mang, the Benedictine Monastery of St. Mang, among others.
A travel itinerary to Füssen can be part of planning to get to know the entire Romantic Route of Germany, the best known tourist route in the world. country, or even a weekend or holiday day trip.
We wrote about 8 of the best attractions on the Romantic Road in Germany with up-to-date tips, be sure to check it out.
Where is the city of Füssen in Germany
Füssen is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the district of Ostallgäu (Eastern Algaovia), located a few kilometers from the border with Austria. The city is located on the banks of the river Lech, which flows into the Forggensee.
Füssen is 135 Km from Munich (approx. 1h 50 min trip, possible to make a “round trip” “). I haven’t taken the train to the city yet, but you can search for options on the Deutsch Bahn (train journey takes approx. 2h).
Taking the capital of the country as a reference, it is 709 km from Berlin and even though it is far away, it is possible to go by car (approx. 7h 15 min), whereas in relation to other cities, it is 217 km from Stuttgart (approx. 2h 30min) and 412 Km from Frankfurt (approx. 4h 15min).
How to go to Fussen in Germany
The best way to travel in Germany is very much up to you. We alternated a lot between using the country’s excellent railway network and also taking advantage of the no less excellent German roads and highways (who has never heard of the Autobahns with no speed limit, right?).
If you want to go by train from Munich, the journey takes approximately 1 hour 25 minutes.
Read our Best travel tips for Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.
Romantic Road in Germany (Romantische Straße)
The German Romantic Route is the name given to a travel itinerary in southern Germany that crosses the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It passes through 460 kilometers and 29 cities, starting in Würzburg to Füssen (where the famous Neuschwanstein Castle) linking various historic attractions and picturesque castles.
Füssen is part of the suggested itinerary and we have a complete and well-detailed travel guide with tips on how to get to know Germany’s Romantic Road, be sure to check it out.
Suggestions for activities and tours in the city of Füssen and other destinations on the German Romantic Road:
Travel all Germany with the €49 transport pass
Be sure to read our complete guide on how to buy and use the 49 Euro transport ticket in Germany:
We answer questions like:
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We show you a step-by-step example on how to buy a ticket from Frankfurt to Munich.
Where to stay in Füssen in Germany – Hotel, hostel and Bed & Breakfast
Because of the nearby castles, it is common to have the city of Füssen as a base for getting to know the Romantic Route (although it is still possible, for example, to stay in Munich and do a round trip), and therefore there are several options for accommodation.
Some accommodations close to the center of Füssen that are worth knowing:
- Hotel Sonne
- Prinzregentenplatz 1, 87629 Füssen, Germany
- 8.8 – Fabulous from 3,238 ratings
- Guest comments: A pleasant surprise in the center of Füssen! contemporary space, with a very tasteful decoration.
- Hotel Füssen
- Reichenstrasse 9, 87629 Füssen, Germany
- 8.8 – Fabulous from 2,210 ratings
- Guest Comments: Clean, modern and spacious rooms. Very comfortable beds, quiet room. Excellent location. Very tasty breakfast. I recommend!
- Best Western Plus Hotel Füssen
- Augsburger Strasse 18, 87629 Füssen, Germany
- 8.4 – Very good from 2,274 ratings
- Guest Comments: Impeccable service at the front desk. Very friendly and helpful. Room very comfortable and good standard. Breakfast exceeded our expectations.
- Central City Hotel
- Bahnhofstr. 8 1/2, 87629 Füssen, Germany
- 8.4 – Very good from 3,123 ratings
- Guest comments: The hotel is very well located and has parking (chargeable). Large room, comfortable bed. Big and beautiful bathroom. All brand new and of good quality. Yummy breakfast.
- Hotel Schlosskrone
- Prinzregentenplatz 4, 87629 Füssen, Germany
- 8.2 – Very good out of 2,800 ratings
- Guest Comments: Excellent location. Hotel with own parking. Spacious and beautiful room. Wonderful city.
There are also some other accommodation options in hotels, hostels and inns, be sure to check them out at Booking.com page.
Things to do in Fussen in Germany
The origins of Füssen date back to Roman times. The region was settled around 50 AD. with the construction of a Roman fort on the Schlossberg, on the way to the Via Claudia Augusta, a road led from northern Italy to Augusta Vindelicum (now Augsburg), the former regional capital of the Roman province of Raetia. In Late Antiquity, Füssen was part of an important trade route over the Alps.
Füssen later became the site of the “Hohes Schloss” (High Castle), the former summer residence of the Prince-Bishops of Augsburg. In the 13th century, settlement in the region reached the size and rights of the city.
Füssen survived World War II almost intact, and the Lech Bridge was blown up by its own troops in the last days of the war.
Today, the region around Füssen is a tourist stronghold, known as Königswinkel. Neuschwanstein castles and Hohenschwangau Castle are nearby, attracting many tourists from Germany and abroad.
Top tourist attractions
And we’ve reached the end of Germany’s Romantic Road and it couldn’t be better. Füssen, which lies between mountains, lakes and the river Lech is a mixture of everything we visited in the 460 kilometers and 28 other cities from the river Main to the Bavarian Alps. Natural attractions, trails and bike paths, historic city, castles, churches and the desire to keep traveling even more.
In addition to the most famous castles in the region, we have listed below some other points that can be included in your travel itinerary in Füssen, mainly in its historic city.
- Historische Altstadt von Füssen (Historic Old Town of Füssen)
- In Füssen there are more than 2000 years of living history in medieval streets, historic houses, parts of its old wall, small churches and squares under the High Castle and the former Benedictine Monastery.
- Admire colorful houses with their characteristic tiled roofs and don’t miss a slow walk along Reichenstrasse, the city’s main thoroughfare. Stop for an ice cream or coffee overlooking Castelo Alto and then continue your journey.
- Hohes Schloss Füssen (High Castle of Füssen)
- Address: Magnusplatz 10 87629 Füssen
- Built in 1291 on a hill above the old town of Füssen, the High Castle in Füssen is one of the most important secular buildings of the German Late Gothic period. It was used as a summer residence for the prince-bishops of Augsburg. The “Hohe Schloss”, together with the “Monastery of Sankt Mang”, towers above the historic town of Füssen.
- The grand castle is considered one of the best-preserved medieval castle complexes in Bavaria. It has largely retained its late Gothic design to this day. Subsequent changes mainly affected the interior.
- In addition to the colorful architectural and illusionist paintings on the courtyard facades and the gallery with Bavarian State Painting Collections in the north wing, the “Fall Tower” (Fallturm) and the “Clock Tower” (Uhrturm) are worth climbing ) for a beautiful view of the historic city.
- Its interior has several preserved rooms that represent much of the late German Baroque school, such as the “French Rooms” (Franzosenzimmer) and the “Knights’ Hall” (Rittersaal).
- Benediktinerkloster St. Mang (Benedictine Monastery of St. Mang)
- Address: Lechhalde 3, 87629 Fussen
- The former Benedictine monastery of St. Mang was built between 1697 and 1726 in Baroque style with strong influences from the Italian school of architecture. Its history goes back to the 8th century, when the city’s patron, the missionary Magnus, built a cell and an oratory and died there.
- Fun fact, the oldest fresco in Bavaria, made around 980, can be seen in the Magnus crypt below the monastery church.
- Museum der Stadt Füssen (Museum of the City of Fuessen)
- Address: Lechhalde 3, 87629 Füssen (south wing of Kloster St. Mang _ Monastery of St. Mang)
- The city museum of Füssen is housed in the magnificent baroque complex of the former Benedictine monastery of St. Mang. The visitor is led into the world of Bavarian Baroque, with its exuberant decoration and cheerful colors. The museum’s treasury area is a highlight of the exhibition.
- Füssen’s lute and violin makers made Lechstadt famous throughout Europe. In 1562, Europe’s first lute makers’ guild was founded in the city. Valuable historic lutes and violins are another focus of the museum and are a reminder of Füssen as the cradle of lute making in Europe.
- Up-to-date information on opening times and ticket prices is available on the official website
- Der Lechfall (Fall of the River Lech)
- Address: Maxsteg, 87629 Fussen
- The River Lech winds its way through a narrow gorge before leaving the Alps, where it has been dammed to generate hydroelectric power and prevent flooding. This weir forms the Lechfall, an artificial fall with a height of 12 meters in five steps.
- A beautiful view of the blue waters and surroundings is possible from the König-Maxsteg walkway, built in 1895 directly above Lechfall.
And, of course, even though you are not exactly in Füssen, the tourist attractions that every visitor is looking for (with all the most beautiful reasons in existence) to include in their itinerary are:
- Schloss Hohenschwangau (Hohenschwangau Castle)
- From 1833 to 1837, Crown Prince Maximilian rebuilt the medieval Schwanstein Castle in a new Gothic style, the current Hohenschwangau Castle. The interior is still preserved from the 19th century until today. Each room in the royal apartments is equipped with murals designed by Moritz von Schwind and Ludwig Lindenschmidt.
- King Max II and his family used the castle during summer and as a hunting residence, where young King Ludwig II spent much of his childhood and youth.
- See practical information on timetables and up-to-date ticket prices on the official website of Hohenschwangau Castle
- Schloss Neuschwanstein (Neuschwanstein Castle)
- Neuschwanstein Castle was completed in 1892 shortly after the death of King Ludwig II and has been one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions ever since.
- It was built on the same site as two medieval castles called Hohenschwangau and Hinterhohenschwangau, where the then young heir Ludwig II spent his childhood.
- Of more than 200 rooms, only 20 were completed before the king’s mysterious death. Most of these areas are shown on the castle tours.
- See up-to-date practical information on timetables and ticket prices on the official website of Neuschwanstein Castle.
- Marienbrücke (Queen Mary Bridge)
- The bridge is about a 15-minute walk from the castle and is named after Queen Maria of Bavaria, mother of King Ludwig II. It is an excellent place to take the best photo of the Castle and its surroundings.
- Tegelbergbahn (Tegelberg cable car)
- The cable car runs from the bottom of the valley to the hill station on the Tegelberg. In addition to the wide view of the Ostallgäu and beyond, there are activities on offer such as skiing in winter, paragliding and even a toboggan run for children and adults.
- There is still an archaeological site with traces of Roman properties (Villa Rustica) from the mid-2nd century AD.
- You can see price details and even current weather with up-to-date Webcams on the official website.
In addition to the listed spots, be sure to explore and enjoy the sights when driving through the small streets of Füssen or even through the train window and walks.
In particular, the boat trips on the Forggensee offer the most magnificent views of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles and also of Füssen with the Alps on the horizon.
Tip itineraries for 1 day in Füssen in Germany
If you only have one day to visit Füssen, your focus will be on getting to know the two castles and quickly strolling around Altstadt:
- Start the day by going to the Schloss Hohenschwangau and the Schloss Neuschwanstein, don’t forget to go to the Marienbrücke to take your pictures
Take a break for lunch
Tip: For more than 100 years, the Stadtcaf is on Reichenstrasse serves the cake King Ludwig and, during the Christmas season, Füssener Christstollen as house specialties.
- Take advantage of the late afternoon period to stroll through the Altstadt, especially the Hohes Schloss and its alleys with colorful historic medieval houses.
But our suggestion is that you plan to have at least two days, which can be a weekend trip. This way you can spend more time in the historic city, visit the castles, walk to the Lechfall and also enjoy the natural beauty of the region, including the Tegelberg and the Forggensee.
And that’s the end of visiting the last city on Germany’s Romantic Road (don’t forget to visit the others, though).
Offers for excursions and attractions in Füssen in Germany
Some guided walks in the region of Füssen and region:
Where to eat in Füssen in Germany – Tips of bars and restaurants
If you’re traveling in Germany, I believe you should look for restaurants specializing in the country’s traditional cuisine or even a Biergarten for a German beer.
In Füssen we only saw a few options:
- Madame Pluesch
- Drehergasse 48, 87629, Füssen, Bavaria Germany
- 4.5 out of 1,164 reviews
- Customer Reviews: Very pleasant atmosphere, great service, and most importantly, the food was simply exceptional! We ordered duck in orange sauce which was delicious. High quality and very fresh food. I highly recommend this restaurant in Fussen.
- Hirsch
- Kaiser-Maximilian-Platz 7, 87629, Füssen, Bavaria Germany
- 4.0 out of 419 ratings
- Customer Comments: Very high quality food, typical German cuisine at its core. Attached to the hotel, be sure to eat there! Highly recommended.
- Fruhlingsgarten
- Alatseestr. 8 87629 Füssen, 87629, Füssen, Bavaria Germany
- 4.5 out of 202 ratings
- Guest Comments: The hotel owner recommended this restaurant, and we’re glad he did. One thing we noticed right away was that there were a lot of locals eating there, which is always a good sign. The food was excellent.
- Zum Hechten
- Ritterstr. 6 Direkt unter dem Hohen Schloss, 87629, Füssen, Bavaria Germany
- 4.0 out of 594 reviews
- Customer Comments: Great food, good quality, very courteous service! A great choice for those who are hungry, despite not having any luxury.
- Ritterstub’n
- Ritterstr. 4, 87629, Füssen, Bavaria Germany
- 4.0 out of 400 ratings
- Customer comments: Simple, well-prepared, super tasty food. Pleasant and clean environment. Very fair prices, for 4 people (2 children) we spent $50 euros.
It’s worth seeing on TripAdvisor site some options for restaurants, bars, Biergarten and cafes nearby in other cities.
Watch a video with images of Füssen in Germany
Video description: Huge mountains, pristine lakes, lush meadows: take a deep breath, you are in the “Königswinkel” of Germany. Embedded in the Ammergau Alps is the municipality of Füssen, as idyllic as in a picture book, you could almost call it “kitsch”. Even the fairytale king of Bavaria, Ludwig II, was impressed by the unique natural beauty.
Are you traveling to Germany?
Specifically about international travel by plane to Frankfurt Airport, we have the best post:
Where to stay near Frankfurt Airport Germany – FRA, Frankfurt/Main
Search for the best place to stay near Frankfurt Airport, including hotel and hostel at different prices.
For planning a trip to Germany, we have some publications that can help a lot:
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*Photos from our trips and also from TripAdvisor, official website of Füssen and Wikipedia.