Castles · Tour
Lunch Over the Austrian Border at Reutte, and a Route That Changes as You Go
A private day out of Munich with a small team of local guides, all native English speakers, who drive but also explain: the history, the context, the things a guidebook has no room for.
The midday break crosses the border into Austria, if you want it, to a small restaurant rather than a coach stop, with produce sourced nearby. It is a quieter stop than the castle villages can give you.
Because the group is only yours, the route is adjusted during the day. More time on the history, more time on the photographs, or a detour to somewhere that is not on any itinerary: it is decided as you go rather than at booking.
One practical point: castle tickets are not included in the tour price. The operator helps you secure them, Neuschwanstein included, which is the part that goes wrong most often for people arriving on their own.
What's included
- Private air-conditioned minivan transport
- Personalized itinerary and local insights
- Private hotel pickup and drop-off - Airport pickup is also possible
- Professional native LOCAL English speaking guide
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- Bottled water provided in the vehicle
Itinerary
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Munich Central Station
Pickup at 8am from the lobby of your hotel or apartment, anywhere within five miles of Munich Central Station.
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Schloss Hohenschwangau
Hohenschwangau stands at the foot of Neuschwanstein, so both castles are in front of you at once. The inside of this one is not usually toured; it is seen from the outside.
Extra fee
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Schloss Neuschwanstein
Neuschwanstein sits on a rocky hill above the Bavarian Alps, a 19th-century palace commissioned by Ludwig II. The romantic medieval architecture, the turrets and the interiors, is what Walt Disney borrowed for his castle. Ludwig meant it as a private retreat; it opened to the public shortly after he died. Getting up there: On foot, the cheapest way, a steep but well-surfaced paved walk of about 20 minutes. By shuttle bus, which leaves every 20 minutes, with tickets sold on board. From the bus stop it is another 10 to 15 minutes downhill to the castle entrance.
Extra fee
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Reutte
A stop in this village for lunch in a small restaurant run by Marty, a friend of the operator. Schnitzel, or fish caught locally.
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Plansee Lake
The road passes this lake in the Austrian Alps. On a hot day you can swim in it, though the water is cold.
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Schloss Linderhof
Linderhof was the most private of Ludwig II's palaces and the only one finished in his lifetime. It is modelled on the Petit Trianon at Versailles, with Rococo interiors, and it says plainly how much the king admired the French monarchy. Outside is the Venus Grotto, an artificial stalactite cave built after Wagner's Tannhäuser, with a lake inside it, a gilded shell boat, and lighting effects that once reproduced the Blue Grotto of Capri. The castle tour and the grotto are not included in the tour price. Both can be bought on site, with no need to book ahead.
Extra fee
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Alpine Coaster Oberammergau
For the adventurous, one of the regular stops (Ettal or Oberammergau) can be swapped for the alpine coaster. You control the speed with your own brakes, up to a maximum of 25 mph, or take it slowly. It starts with a 20-minute chairlift up to the summit, with the town and the Alps below. Tell the guide on the day. The chairlift and the coaster are not included in the tour price.
Extra fee
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Oberammergau
Oberammergau is known for the Passion Play its own residents stage every ten years. The rest of the year the village trades in woodcarving and Christmas decorations, and the houses along the streets carry painted facades, the Lüftlmalerei.
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Ettal Abbey
Ettal Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in the valley, founded in 1330 by the Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian. The Baroque basilica, with its dome and frescoes, is the reason most people stop. It is still a working monastery, where monks live by the Benedictine rule of Ora et Labora, pray and work, and it runs a brewery and a distillery among its other businesses.
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Romantic Road
A stretch of the Romantic Road, with the Alps alongside.
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Munich Central Station
Drop-off at your hotel, or at the Augustiner Keller beer garden, five minutes on foot from Central Station.
Not included
- Neuschwanstein Castle admission (€25.50)
- Linderhof Palace admission (€10.00) or simply walk the grounds at no charge
- Lunch and drinks at the Austrian restaurant
- Mountain shuttle bus fees or walk up at no extra charge
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- Alpine Coaster and chairlift tickets
Good to know
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Multilingual English/German guide
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- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR HOTEL ADDRESS FOR AN 8am Pickup.
- Up to 8 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Guiding available in: en.
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