Kathey

I need help figuring out how to get 7 people from Zurich to Neuschwanstein and area to see the castles. We don't want to try to drive. Are there buses going there, trains, or what and how long do they take? Are there tour companies in Zurich that will make arrangements? Also can you make it there and back in a day?

Eli

Kathey, you are trying to achieve the impossible. I once drove from that area (Bavaria, north of Austria) to the Zurich area and it took me a day. <BR> <BR>If you really need to squeeze the whole thing into a day, and if you will not consider hiring a helicopter from Zurich, your next best option is to call it off. Why not do it at leisure, when you have ample time to enjoy the journey? <BR> <BR>If I were you, I WOULD drive. 7 people will fit nicely in a small rental van. You can take the shortest route, cutting through Austria. Beautiful trip. You'd need 2-3 days though.

Ed

Train service runs 5-7 1/2 hours with 4 or 5 changes. I suppose it's doable for a day trip, but punishing. <BR> <BR>I'd certainly suggest a minivan. It's perhaps a three hour drive, maybe a bit more. Should be a pleasant, if long, trip. <BR> <BR>Rome.Switzerland.Bavaria <BR>www.twenj.com <BR>

Bob Brown

Figuring out highway routes from road maps is a hobby of mine. So when this one came up, I hauled out my maps of Europe. After studying the Aral atlas and the Michelin maps, I have decided that getting from Zurich to Fussen (I know, they have umlauts in German) is like the old joke about you can't get there from here; you have to go some other place first. <BR>I have two questions that I hope some veteran European highway drivers can help me with. <BR>1. The most direct route toward Fussen out of Zurich leads to St. Gallen and Lustenau. <BR>From there I cannot figure how to go north without going through Bregenz. <BR> <BR>2. From just north of Lindau, at exit 4, the map shows a route, #12, leading toward Kempten. From Kempten there is an Autobahn route toward Fussen. <BR>My map shows the final stage of the route to be under construction. <BR>The map however is a year old. <BR>So does anyone know if the final leg of that route from Kempten toward Fussen is now open? <BR> <BR>3. There is another route through Immenstadt. Any comments on this route? <BR> <BR>The train trip at best takes about 5 and a half hours just to get to Fussen; then you have to figure out a way to get to the castle itself. The return train leaves about 5 PM. (17:05) If you don't make that one, you spend the night. Some of the routes indicated involve as many as 7 changes -- which is intolerable unless someone is chasing you. I think the helicopter is a good idea. I wonder what the round trip cost would be? $4,000? Never rode in one. <BR>

Ed

Bob, you're on track on your routing. MS AutoRoute cranks out the following: <BR> <BR>Time Distance Instruction Road For Dir Toward <BR>9:00 AM 0.0 Depart Zurich [Zürich], CH Local road(s) 1.3 mi N <BR>9:02 AM 1.3 At Zürich-Milchbuck, go onto E41 1.6 mi E <BR>9:04 AM 2.9 At Aubrugg, bear right onto A1 [E41], [A4], [E60] 2.8 mi E <BR>9:06 AM 5.7 At Brüttisellen, stay on A1 [E41], [A4], [E60] *TOLL ROAD* 59.6 mi E <BR>9:54 AM 65.3 At Sankt Margrethen, turn left onto E43 [E60] 730 yds N <BR>9:55 AM 65.7 Entering Austria <BR>9:55 AM 65.7 Bear left onto 202 [E43], [E60] 6.2 mi N <BR>10:04 AM 71.9 At Schendlingen, turn right onto E43 [E60] 1.6 mi SE <BR>10:07 AM 73.5 At Bregenz, turn left onto A14 [E43] 5.6 mi N <BR>10:12 AM 79.1 Bear right onto E43 57 yds W <BR>10:12 AM 79.1 Entering Germany <BR>10:12 AM 79.1 Go onto A96 [E43] 2.5 mi W <BR>10:15 AM 81.6 At Sigmarszell, turn right onto B308 1.5 mi E <BR>10:17 AM 83.1 Bear left onto Local road(s) 1.7 mi NE <BR>10:23 AM 84.8 Turn right onto B12 17.5 mi E <BR>10:48 AM 102.3 Turn right onto B12n 12.6 mi S <BR>11:04 AM 114.9 At Waltenhofen, go onto A980 3.2 mi E <BR>11:07 AM 118.0 At Dreieck Allgäu, bear right onto A7 [E532] 5.7 mi SE <BR>11:12 AM 123.7 At Oy-Mittelberg, turn right onto B309 [E532] 6.6 mi S <BR>11:21 AM 130.3 Turn left onto B310 6.0 mi E <BR>11:30 AM 136.3 Bear right onto Local road(s) 2.0 mi E <BR>11:33 AM 138.2 Arrive Füssen, D <BR>Ed

Deborah Roty

Another website for route planning is www.cwlease.com. You need to spell the city names in their native spelling, not the American spelling.