cherylforeurope

We'll be driving from Rothenburg and staying for two nights before heading to Berchtsgaden. On recommendations from this Forum I was going to base in Garmisch (at Gasthof Fraundorfer)
but am now having second thoughts at staying there both nights. We want to get to Neuschwanstein first
thing in the morning after our lst night (figure there will be less crowds at that time)...I see it's about an hours drive. Instead of back-tracking would it be better to stay in the Fussen area for the 1st night, I don't mind the packing and unpacking. We also want to see Wierschke, Ettal, Mittenwald,
possibly Linderoff & Oberammergau if time permits. Would it also be worth stopping in Ulm on the drive down to see the cathedral? I have no idea how to plan this 1st day..if we leave
Rothenburg by 9 am how much can we expect to be able to do, assuming we don't stop on the way? This trip was conceived 3 yrs ago for when my youngest is off to college in the Fall. I can hardly believe it's time to get down to serious planning! I know I'll have many questions before this is all said and down. If anyone has any itinerary recommendations I would love to hear it.
And I just have to add "I love this forum"!!!

RufusTFirefly

To help beat the crowds at the castles in Hohenschwangau, you can buy your tickets in advance on the internet and pick them up on the day of your visit.
Of course, you have to know when you will be there.

It's about a 2-1/2 hour drive straight thru from Rburg to Hohenschwangau. We drove the opposite direction stopping at the Wieskirche, Dinkelsbuhl, and Nordlingen on the way to our castle hotel in Colmberg--just east of Rburg.

If you don't mind packing and unpacking, you could easily drive straight through in the morning and see the Wieskirche and both castles the same day--depending on how early you left Rburg, of course.

Then the next day drive to Garmisch with stops at Linderhof and Oberammergau on the way.

If you like full days, you could leave Rbug early--let's say 7:30--and be in Hohenschwangau village by 10. See Neuschwanstein in the morning. Have lunch and then see Hohenschwangau castle at 1. After the castles, hop into your car and you'll make it to Linderhof in 45 minutes. See Linderhof and then it's only another half hour or so into Garmisch. It would be a long day, but doable if you enjoy full days.

tomboy

For comparative purposes, 2 years ago we drove in Ettal late one afternoon, having come thru Mittenwald, and found there were perhaps 6 pension/hotels. Got a nice room in one, drove next morning to Neuschwanstein, where we bought tickets about 10:30 for an 11:00 tour, then went thru the other castle as well, out by 3:00. Drove thru Oberammergau (never knew there was an army base there)...ho hum.... then stopped at Wieskirche on the way, then on to Lindau for dinner.

twoflower

You could easily justify 2 nights in the area (e.g. at Garmisch-Partenkirchen) before moving on to Berchtesgaden. But both Linderhof and Neuschwanstein are best seen early. (Although methinks Linderhof more so, because it justifies total exploration inside and out, whereas to be honest, Neuschwanstein is best seen for its views from rather than for its interior). We found Linderhof, Weiskirche and a twilight dinner alfresco at Oberammagau a full day on its own; with Neuscwanstein and lakeside dinner at Tegernsee another good day. (However the second one was from Munich, so we could have fitted more in if we'd beenb staying nearer).

treplow

I would skip Ulm. It's kind of awkward to get off the A-7 autobahn to go into town and then back on the A-7. On day One drive to Fuessen from Rothenburg. After Hotel check-in drive to the "Wies", afterward on your way back to Fuessen see Neuschwanstein from the outside. I would skip the interior and Hohenschwangau. The next day drive to Garmisch via Linderhof, (there is a back road that branches off the Fuessen - Leermoos - Garmisch main route). Visit Linderhof, perhaps stop in Oberammergau and/or Ettal, and overnight in Garmisch.

On your way to Berchtesgaden, or on your return to Munich or Frankfurt, stop at the Chiemsee lake outside of Prien, and take the boat to King Ludwig's palace Herrenchiemsee. (assuming that is where you will

RufusTFirefly

I wouldn't skip either Hohenschwangau or the interior of Neuschwanstein. While most of the interior of Neuschwanstein was never completed, the 12 or so rooms that were finished have some superb and interesting craftsmanship. Of course, I was a history/anthropology major, so this sort of thing ("Mad" Ludwig's story as a subset of the overall social changes taking place in Europe in the 19th century) fascinates me.