If you plan to visit Füssen and are still looking for the most beautiful Füssen attractions, you’ve come to the right place. You will also get the best travel tips and activities around Füssen and the Allgäu region. And if you don’t know how to get to Füssen, I’ve got you covered.
Füssen is a charming Bavarian town I regularly visit as I only live 6 miles away. Therefore, I know the best tips and things to do in Füssen and the nearby attractions.
Füssen, located at an altitude of 2,625 feet (800 meters), is the highest city in Bavaria, primarily known and visited for Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle.
However, Füssen itself also boasts some attractions worth exploring.
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At a Glance
Where To Stay In Füssen
Hotel Recommendation (personal favorite): AMERON Neuschwanstein Alpsee Resort & Spa is located on the shores of Alpsee and offers fantastic views of the lake, the Alps, Neuschwanstein Castle, and Hohenschwangau Castle. You can’t stay any closer to Neuschwanstein Castle. → Current price for Hotel AMERON Neuschwanstein.
Hotel Recommendation in the center of Füssen: Hotel Sonne is located in the heart of Füssen, right at the beginning of the Old Town. Each of the modern rooms at the hotel has a unique design and a private bathroom. → Current price for Hotel Sonne
Contents
The Best Things To Do in Füssen
Füssen has a lot to offer in terms of sightseeing. After a day trip to the 700-year-old town, there’s plenty more to see and do in the surrounding area of Füssen and the neighboring Außerfern region in Austria (Reutte District in Tyrol), which is just a few kilometers away from Füssen.
But first, let’s talk about the Füssen attractions. You can also find the attractions in Füssen on the map below.
1. Füssen Old Town
Füssen’s Old Town captivates with charming alleyways, restaurants, and small shops. In addition to these, there’s also the market hall, which is worth a visit.
The best approach is to stroll through Füssen’s historic center and its narrow alleys.
In the summer, you can sit outdoors and enjoy ice cream (my recommendation: Café Hohes Schloss) or visit the numerous restaurants serving traditional Bavarian or other delicious food.
There are plenty of options. I often visit Füssen, and when I dine there, I enjoy the Italian restaurant Michelangelo, Kyoto, a Vietnamese restaurant, or M43, which offers burgers (including vegetarian options).
And for coffee lovers, I can recommend Füssener Kaffeerösterei, located at Ritterstraße 1.
Opposite the coffee shop, you will see a shop that sells “Schneeballen” (snowballs). They are a unique treat made from strips of crispy, sweet dough.
It is bound together into a round shape, looking like a snowball. The Schneeballen are dusted with powdered sugar and come in different flavors.
The most popular ones are vanilla, chocolate, or with nuts. I personally don’t enjoy them, but you might love them. Let me know your thoughts if you happen to try a Schneeballen.
2. Hohes Schloss Castle
Hohes Schloss towers prominently above Füssen’s Old Town. This castle, built in the late Gothic style, served as the summer residence for the Prince-Bishops of Augsburg.
Inside, you’ll find the City Gallery as well as the Gallery of the Bavarian State Paintings Collections.
A walkway from the defensive corridor leads up to the 6th floor. From the gate tower, you have a beautiful view of Füssen and the Allgäu region.
The garden at the castle is also worth seeing, as it contains various medicinal plants and spices. For more information on opening hours, current prices, and guided tour times, click here.
3. Lechfall Füssen
The Lechfall (Lech Waterfall) is impressive in every season. From the Old Town, you can take a walk along the Lech River to the Lechfall and the gorge.
There are also parking lots near the Lechfall.
The gorge at the Lechfall is the last one in the Bavarian Alps through which the Alpine river flows freely, without being dammed.
From the bridge, you can see the Lechfall on one side. The Lech descends here in multiple stages and winds its way through the deep gorge, flanked by high cliffs, on the other side of the bridge.
In both summer and winter, the Lechfall and the gorge offer a breathtaking view.
4. Kalvarienberg (Calvary Mountain)
Kalvarienberg is a hill opposite Füssen’s Old Town. From here, a Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) leads up to one of King Ludwig II’s favorite spots.
The view from Kalvarienberg extends over the city, and from here, you can also see the King’s castles, Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle, as well as Lake Swan (Schwanensee).
You can reach the summit of Kalvarienberg from the city center in about 35 minutes.
It’s about a 25-minute hike from the parking lot at Lechfall.
5. Treetop Walk and Forest Adventure Center Ziegelwies
The cross-border treetop walk (Germany and Austria) and the Forest Adventure Center Ziegelwies are located near Lechfall.
The 0.3-mile (480-meter)-long and 69-foot (21-meter)-high treetop walk opened in 2013 and takes you through the forests along the Lech River.
Inside the Forest Adventure Center building, you’ll find exhibitions about nature and the animals that live here.
There are two different paths to explore from here. The 1.06-mile (1.7-kilometer)-long mountain forest trail offers an adventure playground, a music area, and a massive rope net where kids can climb like spiders.
The mountain forest trail is also informative. This path is particularly interesting for children, but the circular route is also worth seeing for adults.
On the other hand, the 0.93-mile (1.5-kilometer)-long riverside forest trail is more water-focused. Here, you can cross a river in various ways, move along the water, or even become a ferryman.
The Forest Adventure Center has a free parking lot.
The following two points are also suitable for rainy and winter weather.
6. Museum Füssen
The Museum of the City of Füssen is located in the former Benedictine monastery of St. Mang.
The monastery, built in the Baroque style, houses historical lutes and violins. The museum also showcases the history of the Benedictine monastery.
A special highlight is the Füssen Dance of Death (Totentanz), which is located in the Baroque Annakapelle (Anna Chapel).
It was created in 1602 during the plague and is the oldest Dance of Death cycle in Bavaria. The Kaisersaal (Emperor’s Hall) and the monastery library are particularly beautiful.
If you don’t have time for a tour of the Museum of Füssen, be sure to visit at least the inner courtyard of the Benedictine monastery, which is freely accessible.
7. Reptile Zoo Allgäu (Reptilienzoo Füssen)
The Reptile Zoo Allgäu is an excellent choice for a rainy day. It is located in Magnuspark/Füssen, an old industrial area, right next to the Lech River.
You can reach it on foot from the Old Town by crossing the bridge towards Schwangauer Straße.
There is also a free parking lot right in front of the somewhat hidden but well-signposted Reptile Zoo.
On 656 square feet (200 square meters), you can see around 200 species of various rainforest and desert inhabitants.
In addition to snakes, spiders, birds, fish, and turtles, there are various frogs, iguanas, chameleons, and mammals to see here.
You also have the opportunity to have professional photos taken with some of the animals. For opening hours and prices, visit the website: Reptile Zoo Allgäu.
8. Forggensee
Forggensee is Bavaria’s fifth-largest lake and, at the same time, the largest reservoir in Germany in terms of surface area.
Since the 1950s, the lake has been used as a reservoir.
One unique aspect of Forggensee is that it is drained in winter, and you can then see remnants of the ancient Roman road Via Claudia Augusta, which runs right through the lake area.
In the summer, Forggensee is popular with walkers and cyclists who can walk or ride along its shores.
Boat trips on Forggensee are also very popular.
For culture enthusiasts: On the edge of Forggensee, the Ludwig Festival Hall (Ludwigsfestspielhaus) hosts the musical “Ludwig², as well as other musicals. Find out about the current schedule and prices.
Sightseeing Map of Füssen
On the Füssen map, you can find the featured attractions. Clicking on an attraction opens an information box.
How To Get To Füssen
There are different ways to travel to Füssen. There is no airport in Füssen, but you can choose from various airports nearby.
You can reach Füssen by train or drive there, which I highly recommend, especially if you want to visit the nearby attractions. You can also book a bus ticket which brings you to Füssen.
Good to know: Füssen is located in a more remote area of Southern Germany. If you only want to visit Füssen and Neuschwanstein Castle, you might want to take the train.
- Flying To Füssen
If you travel from overseas or anywhere in the European Union, the closest airport to Füssen is the international airport in Munich (MUC).
Another great option is to fly into Memmingen airport (Munich West). This tiny airport is great if you fly in from London Stansted and various cities in Europe.
The next best option is the Innsbruck Airport in Austria. You can check out the different flights and find the best deals on Omio for flights within Europe or WayAway for international and European flights.
- Taking The Train To Füssen
From Munich and Innsbruck, you can take a train to Füssen. There are frequent train connections between Munich and Füssen. There are also trains departing from Innsbruck to Füssen.
You can check out the train schedules here.
- Driving To Füssen
If you want to be flexible and also visit other attractions in the surrounding area, I highly recommend renting a car.
Füssen is in a more remote area in Southern Germany. If you want to visit Linderhof Palace or Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze, the easiest and fastest way is to drive. You can book a rental car via DiscoverCars. It is a great website because you can compare all the major rental car agencies and get the best price.
- Taking The bus To Füssen
You can book a ticket with Flixbus. It brings you directly from Munich and other places to Füssen.
Where To Stay In Füssen
The most searched term, when it comes to Füssen hotels, is whether there is a Neuschwanstein Hotel or if you can stay in Neuschwanstein Castle.
While there is no Neuschwanstein Hotel (you cannot stay in Neuschwanstein Castle), there is still a good selection of hotels in Füssen and the surrounding area.
Hotel Recommendation (personal favorite):
AMERON Neuschwanstein Alpsee Resort & Spa: The AMERON Hotel is located on the shores of Alpsee and offers fantastic views of the lake, the Alps, Neuschwanstein Castle, and Hohenschwangau Castle.
You can’t stay any closer to Neuschwanstein Castle. → Current price for Hotel AMERON Neuschwanstein.
Hotel Recommendation in the center of Füssen:
Hotel Sonne: Hotel Sonne is located in the heart of Füssen, right at the beginning of the Old Town. Each of the modern rooms at the hotel has a unique design and a private bathroom. → Current price for Hotel Sonne
Tip for guesthouses and vacation rentals: Prefer staying in vacation rentals, apartments, or guesthouses? Then you can find nice accommodation options in Füssen and the surrounding area here.
→ Book accommodations in Füssen and the surrounding area
Planning a Trip to Fussen Germany
- Compare flights to Munich, Memmingen, and Innsbruck with Omio or WayAway.
- Book a bus trip to Füssen with Flixbus.
- Find and book hotels in Füssen on Booking.com; alternatively, you can find budget accommodations and budget hotels on Hostelworld.
- Book train tickets on Trainline
- Find the cheapest rental cars for Füssen and the Allgäu on DiscoverCars.
- Book a quad, scooter, scooter, or bicycle with Bikesbooking.
Füssen Attractions Nearby / Füssen and Surroundings Sights
There is plenty to see and do around the city of Füssen. You can choose between mountains, lakes, culture, and culinary delights.
Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle
For many, the main reason for visiting the city of Füssen is Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle.
Neuschwanstein is just 2.5 miles (4 km) from Füssen.
In the summer, you can, for example, rent a bike as part of a combined ticket that includes admission to Neuschwanstein Castle.
You can also drive by car to the parking lot (parking costs about €6) or take a bus. From Füssen, you can reach the castle by taking bus line 78 towards Schwangau or bus line 73 towards Steingaden/Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
The correct stop is Hohenschwangau/Alpseestraße.
Tip: AMERON Neuschwanstein Alpsee Resort & Spa: You can’t stay any closer to Neuschwanstein Castle!
Since the castle is very popular, I have written separate tips for visiting the royal castles: Tips for Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle
Hopfensee
Hopfenee is part of the city of Füssen but also borders the municipality of Hopferau. It is up to 1.3 miles (2.1 km) long and one and a half kilometers wide.
Hopfensee is a popular destination for walkers and swimmers, especially in the summer. Due to its shallow depth, Hopfensee warms up quickly in the summer.
The area around Hopfensee is particularly busy on weekends.
Kristalltherme Schwangau
The Kristalltherme Schwangau offers a beautiful view of Neuschwanstein Castle from its outdoor pool. The illuminated castle is especially beautiful to see from the heated outdoor pool in the evening.
Linderhof Palace
Like Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle, Linderhof Palace was built by King Ludwig II. Depending on your route, it is 45 minutes to 1 hour from Füssen. The more scenic route takes you through Reutte and Plansee, through the Ettaler Forst to Linderhof Palace.
Schloss Linderhof was King Ludwig’s favorite residence. In front of the palace is a beautifully landscaped park. Unfortunately, the famous grotto on the grounds is closed until 2024 due to construction work.
Photography is not allowed inside Linderhof Palace, just like in Neuschwanstein Castle. In the park, you are allowed to take pictures, but they may not be published.
In general, Schloss Linderhof is less crowded than Neuschwanstein Castle. I personally prefer the interior of Linderhof Palace to Neuschwanstein Castle. However, it’s worth visiting both castles if you have the time.
Highline179 – Thrilling Views
The highline179 is located in Reutte and is a famous pedestrian bridge. The market town in Tyrol is 10.56 miles (17 km) from Füssen.
The cable suspension bridge, up to 374 feet (114 meters), connects Ehrenberg Castle Ruins with Fort Claudia.
It got its name from the B179 road that passes beneath the bridge. In 2014, the 1,328-foot (406-meter) highline179 was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “longest Tibet-style pedestrian bridge in the world.”
Zugspitze – Germany’s Highest Mountain
Zugspitze, at an altitude of 9,718 feet (2,962 meters), is Germany’s highest mountain.
Zugspitze can be reached by cable car from both the German side near Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Austrian side from Ehrwald.
It’s about 28.13 miles (45 km) from Füssen to the Zugspitzbahn via Austria.
If you travel from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, it will take a little longer to get to Zugspitze. In the winter, Zugspitze is a ski resort, and you can even stay overnight in an igloo there.
Fun Fact: Zugspitze “belongs” to both Germany and Austria.
Allgäu Attractions What else is there to see in the Allgäu region?
Here are a few more attractions in the Allgäu:
- A trip to Tegelberg mountain with a view of the royal castles
- Bad Faulenbach
- The legendary Alatsee
- Hopfen Castle Ruins
- Hike up to Säuling
- Drive along the Romantic Road: Starting in Füssen, this road leads through the Allgäu and ends in Würzburg on the Main River (Mainfranken). The route is 255 miles (410 kilometers) long and features significant sights.
- Eisenberg and Hohenfreyberg Castle Ruins
- Germany’s highest castle ruins, Falkenstein
- Breitenberg in Pfronten
- Germany’s longest zipline in Nesselwang (AlpspitzKICK) …
FAQs about Fussen Germany
What are the top attractions to visit in Fussen?
The best attractions in Füssen include the Old Town of Füssen, Hohes Schloss (High Castle), Lechfall (Lech Waterfall), and the nearby royal castles Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein Castle.
Is Füssen Germany worth visiting?
Füssen Germany is definitely worth visiting. The highest town in Bavaria has a beautiful historic center, an impressive castle (Hohes Schloss), and the Lechfall waterfall and gorge. It is also a great place to stay when visiting the Neuschwanstein Castle and Castle Hohenschwangau.
What are the must-do activities in Füssen?
Must-do activities in Füssen include exploring the Old Town of Füssen, visiting Lechfall (Lech Waterfall) and Kalvarienberg (Calvary Hill) for panoramic views of the city and the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles, as well as exploring the lakes around Füssen.
What is near Füssen?
Near Füssen, you can find Hohenschwangau Castle, Neuschwanstein Castle, and Hopfensee. Füssen is close to the Austrian border, and from here, it's just a short drive to the popular highline179.
zuletzt aktualisiert am September 13, 2023
