Are you looking for a destination having the best lakes and castles in Germany? Then Füssen and its surrounding region is the perfect answer for you! This charming town in Bavaria is located close to the Austrian border and is highly popular among tourists for its beauty. But trust me, it’s definitely worth the hype.

A) Hopfen am See

This is a beautiful lake in Swabia, Bavaria with the majestic Alps in the background. Located close to Füssen (just 5 km away), this lake offers beautiful panaromic views with a lovely lakeside promenade ideal for spending a relaxing day. The promenade area has restaurants and cafes where tourists can enjoy the scenery while sipping some coffee. There is also a circular hiking trail around Hopfensee for people to walk along the lake or cycle around the region. 

It is better to take a car if you are travelling from Füssen or nearby locations since the public transport to this region not a very convenient option. Car parking is available just next to the promenade area but gets quickly filled on a bright sunny day. 

B) Lechfall

Lechfall is a natural waterfall about 1 km from Fussen town close to the Austria border. The water plunges over five large steps making this a beautiful spectacle. Below the waterfall is the Lech Gorge which was carved by the Lech river. There is no entry fee here. You can park your car at the parking along the road near the waterfalls but very limited spots are available.

C) Neuschwanstein Castle

The most famous castle of Germany also popularly known as the ‘Disney Castle’ needs no introduction. Neuschwanstein Castle was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The construction started in 1869 and unfortunately King Ludwig II died in 1886 under mysterious conditions before the castle’s completion. After his death, the castle was opened to serve as a museum and has now become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany.

The architectural style of Neuschwanstein Castle is based on Romanesque, Gothic and Byzantine styles and the castle's interior is adorned by beautiful frescoes and murals inspired by German mythology.

If you are travelling by car, four parking sites are available near the Neuschwanstein Castle. The closest site is P4. For there, you can board shuttle buses to go to Marienbrücke.

D) Hohenschwangau Castle

Located very close to Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau Castle was the summer residence of the Bavarian royal family where King Ludwig II spent his childhood summer days. This castle was acquired by his father in 1832 when it was in ruins and he finally rebuilt it as per the original design.

Note that there are no shuttle buses to Hohenschwangau but the elevation is not as high as Neuschwanstein. It is quite easily walkable or else you can take a carriage ride up to the castle.

E) Alpsee

Alpsee is a beautiful lake near Füssen and very close to the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles. This crystal clear lake is a serene spot to spend some peaceful time or enjoy a lovely boat ride.

3. Useful Tips

• Weather: Check the weather before going to Neuschwanstein Castle since a sunny day guarantees the best views from Marienbrücke.

• Castle tickets: Remember to purchase castle tickets in advance especially if you are travelling during holiday season since tickets are sold out very fast. 

• Base location: Pick a suitable base from where you can travel to different places around Füssen. Most people chose to stay in Füssen if they are travelling by bus or train. If you are travelling by car, do consider choosing Hopfensee. It is a beautiful location close to Füssen, but not very crowded.

4. Goodbye

Finally, it’s a wrap on this blogpost. Hope my post will be useful to plan your upcoming trip to Füssen. Incase you plan to spend some more days in Bavaria, then you can combine a trip to Garmisch Partenkirchen with Füssen. You can check more information about Garmisch Partenkirchen in my blog Bavarian Holidays: Garmisch Partenkirchen. 

Until then Auf Wiedersehen and see you soon!