We will be in the Fussen area to see the castles and then want to go to Switzerland to the Lucerne area. What would be the best routing via rail travel. Is there any particular towns or sights that we should see between the two? Our time frame is flexible. Thanks!

Going directly from Fussen to Luzern may be a little difficult as Fussen is not a major train hub. Going directly means quite a few rail changes before you get to somewhere with a remotely direct connection. The trip is between 11-13 hrs traveling on several local/regional trains that go slow. Consider going from Fussen to Munich (~ 2hrs). Munich to Innsbruck, Austria (2 hrs) to Zurich (4 hrs) to Luzern (1 hr). Or skip Zurich and go direct from Innsbruck to Luzern (5 hrs, but w/ changes). I suggested going through Munich as it's a personal favorite, and the stops as I hate being on trains overnight and for long periods (5 hours is really my limit). Check out http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en for more info on different routes. There are other routes (of course This one is my favorite as it takes you through the Alps - the ride between Innsbruck and Zurich is breathtaking.

Sjk's route has a lot to recommend it, but the trip can be done more quickly than 11-13 hours. For example: leave Fuessen at 11:05; Buchloe 12:16-12:54; Zurich 16:27-16:35; reach Lucerne at 17:28. Maybe a more interesting route would be via Kaufbeuren, Lindau, St. Margrethen, and St. Gallen, leaving Fuessen at 10:05 and reaching Lucerne at 17:03.

Thanks for the help. I had read that we could take a bus from Fussen to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and then take a train to Innsbruck. We are a little apprehensive about the bus though. Any thoughts?

I don't see any reason to be apprehensive about the bus, but you can avoid it if you prefer. Going by train from Fuessen to Innsbruck via Buchloe, Kempten and Garmisch will take 6:45 (leave 8:05, arrive 14:50). Using the bus for part of the way reduces the time to 4:15. Try www.rail.ch for schedules.

If I'd taken my own advice and used www.rail.ch instead of www.bahn.de, I'd have found that you can get from Fuessen to Innsbruck by train in 5:45, via Kaufbeuren, Kempten and Garmisch.

I can find the route that Jhoulith mentions on the Swiss site, but the indicated schedule is longer: 6 hours; 23 minutes via Kaufbeuren and Kempten. The German site does not agree that this connection exists because there is no departure from F&uuml;ssen listed at that time. (13:08)<BR><BR>The DB site lists a connection using a long bus ride that takes 5 hours, 53 minutes, but, you must leave at 11:35 and the bus ride is over an hour. The whole trip involves 4 changes. <BR><BR>Has anybody actually ridden that Swiss connection? <BR><BR>I find it hard to believe that the SBB site would have better and more accurate information for train and bus schedules in Germany than the DB site.<BR><BR>I think the best connection that probably really exists takes about 6 hours and 25 minutes with 2 changes. <BR><BR>The route is from F&uuml;ssen to Buchloe, to Z&uuml;rich, , to Luzern. You change in Buchloe for Z&uuml;rich and in Z&uuml;rich for Luzern. The whole connection is train train travel.<BR><BR>I don't mean to carp, but there is enough discrepancy between some of the Swiss schedules and some of the German schedules to doubt the accuracy of one or the other. I personally would bet on the German site to know better what is coming out of F&uuml;ssen.<BR>At any rate, Kathy, before deciding definitely how you are going to travel, you might have to actually turn up at the station and start asking questions. And check the DB site in about a month to see what exists at that time.<BR><BR>Frankly, having done something similar.<BR>I suggest you rent a car for the trip out of Munich.<BR>Otherwise you cannot easily see the Wieskierche, which is fabulous. Nor can you get around as easily. Then drive back to Munich to drop the car and take a faster train from Munich to Zurich.<BR><BR>There are 4 hour, 15 minute connections Munich - Zurich at 8:14 and 12:14.<BR>

Thanks to all for your help. With all of the time involved and the uncertainty we have decided to alter our itinerary a bit and go to Munich from Fussen and spend some time. From there we will then head to Zurich and Lucerne. Thanks again.