As far as things to see in Rothenburg does anyone have suggestions? I was planning on the night tour and walking the wall but is there anything else that you would highly recommend?>

Well that seems it plus the town itself - one day and night here is enough for most.

Saltzburg - be sure to drive through the Sound of Music Country - the Lake District just east of Salzburg - it may delight you more than anuything in Salzburg itself for some interests (natural beauty, lake boat rides, mountain train, etc).

I have updated the trip plan based on everyone's feedback. If you have any comments on it, whether good or bad things, I would love to hear your input.

May 3 Salzburg. Arrive MUC, rent car , drive (2 hours) to Salzburg for 4 nights
May 4 Salzburg - Sound of Music related sights
May 5 Salzburg - Koenigsee
May 6 Salzburg - The old city area to include a fortress and also churches in Salzburg
May 7 Drive to Fussen - Linderhof on the way, then explore the downtown and a castle or two possibly
May 8 Drive to Rothenburg - if time allows before driving visit a castle in Fussen, if we did not have enough time the day before. Stop in Ulm for quick visit to Munster, and then in Rothenburg take the Night watchman tour.
May 9 Walk on town walls in Rothenburg, visit crime museum and then drive to Munich and return rental car
May 10 Munich - Visit Churches and the Marienplatz
May 11 Munich - English Garden and Nymphenburg
May 12 Munich - BMW Museum and Olympia Park
May 13 Munich - Dachau and explore the town more.
May 14 Fly Home.

Hi,

Plan looks good. As you know, be flexible with what to do on what days. You most likely can visit a castle on the day you're leaving Fuessen, just reserve your tickets ahead of time for the first English tour of the day. The Tegelberg luge ride (Sommerrodelbahn) is about a mile from Neuschwanstein. A lot of fun. There's another Sommerrodelbahn above Berchtesgaden, which is just a few minutes from Konigsee.

Two Thumbs Up!!! Leave Salzburg early on May 7 for this full day.

It is the exterior of Neuschwanstein that is iconic, NOT the inside which is, decoration-wise, pretty forgettable IMO. Of more note would be Linderhof and even MORE note would be the pargest of all four of the Ludwig builds and that is the <B>palace</b> at Herrenchiemsee which is located between Munich and Salzburg.

This is Ludwig's "tribute" to Louis XIV and Versailles and the "Hall of Mirrors" in the palace is even larger than the one AT Versailles. The interior decoration surpasses all of the other builds so if that's what you enjoy, consider a stop-off there.

I agree, Neuschwanstein was the least memorable. As for lavish over the top interiors, that's a toss up between Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof for me. I also agree, get an early start on the 7th for the drive to Fuessen with the stops you'd like to do.

Well quirky is in the eye of the beholder - I loved Neuschwanstein's interior - a different surprise at every turn - dumb waiters - all kinds of novel things for the 1800s - really the most interesting castle interior I have seen - none of that old stuffy ancient stuff but yes a surprise at every turn. But this is subjective to what one likes and enjoys - many folks here say the inside is anti-climatic after seeing the outside for years in pictures in what is Europe's most famous castle no doubt.

https://www.google.com/search?q=neus...w=1455&bih=977

Images of Neuschwanstein's interior - rather dazzling - not your average castle and to me one of the most sublime awesome interiors of any castle in Europe. Not your usual boring series of rooms stuffed with ancient furnishings, etc.

Re. your Munich itinerary..
The English Gardens is a nice park - I go there pretty often, actually - but aside from the Chinese pagoda (and the beer garden around it) it is just a nice park. As you already have Nymphenburg palace (well, it's more a manor than a Palace) and gardens on your list, I'm not sure if the English Gardens will offer so much extra excitement.
As you never know what will be the weather on those days in May 2015, it would not hurt to check out the TI sites like muenchen.de for plan B indoors options like one of the museums or the Residence.
If you are a serious auto lover, you can also add the BMW factory tour to your list, if you want - reservations required, though. Those tours also start from the BMW World, next to the museum.

If I buy the 2 week castle and palace pass how does that work for scheduling a tour of neuschwanstein in advane? Say I pick it up at neuschwanstein is there an option when scheduling a tour online to say you will use the castle pass?

I second the Chinese Pagoda in Munich's Englischer Gardens as being a fun fun place - an outdoor beer garden under a huge Chinese pagoda - all the German beer hall foods - pretzels, wursts, radishes, etc and often an oompah band - a Haufbrauhaus al fresco. On a nice day a stroll in this vast park can be a great relieve from the rigors of sightseeing.

https://www.google.com/search?q=chin...w=1455&bih=977

Ah the Chinese Pagoda in the Englischer Gardens! Fun, fun, fun! especially on weekends in nice weather.

<<If I buy the 2 week castle and palace pass how does that work for scheduling a tour of neuschwanstein in advance? Say I pick it up at neuschwanstein is there an option when scheduling a tour online to say you will use the castle pass?>>

Good question. email or call the ticket center:

Ticket Center Hohenschwangau
Alpseestraße 12
D-8645 Hohenschwangau
phone: 011+49 (0) 8362 930 830 from USA
Fax: 011+49 (0) 8362 9308320
Email: [email protected]

A side issue. I know the pass does not cover Hohenschwangau castle because it is privately owned.

Your revised plan looks very good. Much improved.

About Herrnchiemsee, it's between Munich and Saltzburg and well-worth seeing. But a visit takes a bit of time. You have to park and take a boat to an island, and then walk a ways to the castle itself.

How about the Deutsches Museum in Munich? Most people find that a highlight.

And another vote for Wieskirche, north of Fussen et al. It's a fancy Baroque church in the middle of a meadow with cows. A really striking juxtaposition.

So many places, limited time. Ever a problem for trip planners.

http://www.destination-munich.com/va...dt-museum.html

For an off-beat museum which I think is right near the Deutsches Museum in Munich check out the Valentin-Karlstadt Museum - and 90 year-olds with their parents get in free!