shereene1

On our upcoming trip to Europe we will be in Dornbirn, Austria for 2 days as a stop over and planning on touring Neuschwenstein Castle. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on whether to rent a car and drive to the castle or take the train. We have seen where it is
only 2 hrs by car and 4 by train but didn't know if any had any experience with that route by car. We have obtained an international driving permit, just can't decide which way would be better .... thoughts?

michelhuebeli

It's an hour and a half by car, you can't come close to that by public transport - train (via switches in Lindau and Kaufbeuren and Füssen) to Hohenschwangau take at least 3 1/2 hours, often more than four hours.

michelhuebeli

Given what you sort of knew and what I just confirmed, wouldn't you say a quick 90-minute-trip is way better than spending half a day, door-to-door which is a what the train journey would amount to? Because from the time you leave to get to the station in Dornbirn, and then you're at the station in Hohenschwangau where you're not at your hotel yet, that's an entire morning.

But you didn't define what you mean by "better" so...? Do you like driving? Then go for it. You can take a route that won't cost any toll if you figure it out at www.viamichelin.com.

Realize that nobody may ever ask for the IDP, it doesn't take the place of your own DL, but the law requires that you have it.

In Switzerland any vehicle driven on major roads (signed in green) must have the road-tax sticker called vignette on the windshield - it's for an entire year and not transferable. In Austria they also have a Vignette, different, available for shorter periods. Just so you know the difference. Germany has and requires nothing like it.

Dukey1

Be aware that if you do decide to travel by rail the trains only go as far as Fuessen. To get from there to Neuschwanstein you will need to change to a public bus or take a taxi.

A car will give you a much greater degree of flexibility but it will cost more I suspect once you figure in fuel and possible insurance costs as well as possible parking charges and the use charges for the faster roadways.

Russ

You're better off driving it time-wise, but it's a long trip for a weak 30-minute tour of a non-castle (a late 19th-century private residence, really) so perhaps you're better off visiting Burg Meersburg in Meersburg instead, a real castle with roots that go back 800 years and one that's only 40 miles from Dornbirn. Pay a visit to lovely Lindau (island town in Lake Constance) on the way.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...rttemberg.html

shereene1

Thanks everyone, will take all this into consideration .... May just drive

treplow

I agree 100% with Russ. However, there is an Austrian autobahn from Dornbirn to the German border that requires a Vignette, a toll sticker on your windshield. Costs ab out $10 for 10 days , available in service stations in Dornbirn. But you can also drive on roads paralelling the autobahn which don't need the vignette. Just get yourself a decent road map in Dorbirn, and you will. be fine.

Should you decide to drive to Fuessen, there is a very scenic road through the Bregenzer Wsald: Dornbirn to Bad Oberstaufen on the routes 200 and 205. From Oberstaufen to Hindelang on the German B-308,part of the Deutsche Alpenstrasse (German Alpine Highway); Hindelang - Oberjoch - Weissenbach on the Austrian 190; Weissenbach Reutte - Fuessen on the 198. Thus is the shortest route to Fuesen. Have driven it dozens of times. All on good roads.

shereene1

treplow, thanks for the extensive information on roads. From everyones suggestions,we have decided to drive and have already rented a car. Appreciate all the info, looking forward to it !