Top 10 Things To See And Do In Füssen

The two most famous castles in Germany are just four kilometres away and can be reached on foot via a series of trails. There is a catch, however. Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau look as dramatic as they do because they are high up in the mountains. Füssen is not. The walk will take about an hour and will shred the knees and/or calves of unfit adventurers. Still, how cool is it to say you walked there?

Neuschwanstein, Schwangau, Germany

Hohenschwangau Castle, Schwangau, Germany

Since Bavaria is extremely Catholic, most cities in Germany’s largest state have some sort of Way of the Cross. And since much of Bavaria is mountainous, many of these make convenient hiking paths with built-in places to sit down an have a rest. Built in the 19th century, the Füssen Kalvarienberg is exemplary in that, from the top of the mountain, you have a fantastic view over the whole town of Füssen, the Lech Valley, Swan Lake and the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles.

Füssen is surrounded by mountains, so it follows that there is plenty of opportunity for throwing yourself down the side of one on a bike. There are several places in town that rent mountain bikes and, good news for people in your party who aren’t in Tour de France shape, there are plenty of options available with a battery for ascent assist.

If you keep walking down the road past the Lechfall – so about 25 minutes from Füssen central station – you’ll very quickly find yourself in Austria. Also, in the forest and probably negotiating some sort of intense incline – this is the Alps after all. Keep an eye out for a sign or a marker in the forest showing the border.