All of the sights mentioned here are carefully selected recommendations. Since you have booked this tour as a private tour, we are happy to accommodate additional requests as far as possible. --> Please also note the following point 'Additional Info'! ... but now: look forward to a wonderful tour and rest assured that you are in the best hands of your friendly and professional guide, who will take you on an eventful, informative, yet relaxing trip in our luxurious minivans. We'll pass the place where King Ludwig I (Ludwig II's Grandfather), celebrated his wedding more than 200 years ago, which we know today as the Oktoberfest! (Depending on traffic conditions or your pickup address, we reserve the right to show you a different attraction.)
20 min later we reach the impressive Lake Starnberg, also known as the “Dukes lake”. Magnificent villas stretch along the lakeshore, including the summer residences of Sissi, the pretty but unfortunate Empress of Austria. See the spot in the lake where King Ludwig II mysteriously died on June 13, 1886. Learn about the strange relationship between Ludwig and Sissi, and why he didn't want to marry Sissis younger sister. The only island of the lake ("Roseninsel") which was in royal possession, too, was the meeting place of Ludwig and Sissi several times...
After another hour drive through the beautiful rural Bavarian countryside we approach the range of the Alps and can see the towers of Neuschwanstein at an altitude of about 3000ft. Soon we will reach the little village of Hohenschwangau which is the starting point for both castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. From your guide you will receive a very detailed map of the surrounding area. He will give you tips on how to spend your stay in the best possible way, e.g. visiting the viewpoint Queen Mary's bridge, using the shuttle bus or horse-drawn carriages, and where it is best to eat or shop. Just as worth seeing is HOHENSCHWANGAU castle, the neo-gothic summer residence of King Maximilian II. with Ludwig's spectacular children's room. Skip-the-line tickets can be booked for the 45-minute tour – please enter your request under 'Special Requirements' (appears during the booking process), and we’ll let you know exactly how to do it.
The famous Fairytale Castle NEUSCHWANSTEiN is one of the most popular landmarks of Germany. It captivates visitors from all over the world with its dreamy beauty, inspired by characters from Wagner's epic operas. You have the option to walk up to the castle, take the shuttle-bus (not during snow and ice) or the horse-drawn carriage --> details see "Additional Info". The guided tour in Neuschwanstein castle takes approx. 35 min, afterwards you'll walk for another 15 min through many more rooms by yourself. About the particularities of these rooms you will be well informed by your guide.
Queen Mary's bridge ("Marienbrücke") - THE TOP VIEWPOINT - built in 1866 by King Ludwig II - one of the most famous in the world! From the bridge you'll reach the castle entrance within a 20-minute walk downhill and pass one more magnificent viewpoint! PLEASE NOTE: For departures after 8 a.m., there may be waiting times for the access to the bridge! But not far away we can show you another spectacular viewpoint without waiting. In snow and ice, the bridge is not accessible.
Enjoy views of the spectacular Pöllat waterfall from the Neuschwanstein Castle Courtyard and from the view point Marienbrücke "Queen Mary's Bridge" (for departures after 8 a.m. waiting times are possible; in case of snow and ice, the bridge is closed). The Pöllat is a 10 km long wild river and rises not far from Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps.
Another unforgetable stop will be at one of the overwhelming baroque churches. Your guide will provide you with all the worth knowing information, for example about the very popular Wies-Church, or – what we not recommend less – one of the other churches on the way, which are still "secret tips", quiet and peaceful far away from the tourist masses. Please note: If we drive along the route by Lake Plansee to Linderhof Castle and/or to Oberammergau, we won't visit the Wies Church, but an equally beautiful baroque church.
For a while we pass Austrian territory on our approx. 50 minutes way to Linderhof palace and/or Oberammergau on a breathtaking drive along the mountain lake Plansee. Depending on the traffic situation or - in winter - if there is a risk of avalanches, we drive a similarly scenic route on the Bavarian side.
(ON REQUEST) - If you have booked the 11 hrs tour, OR AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO HOHENSCHWANGAU CASTLE, we would highly recommend the visit of Linderhof Palace, King Ludwig's smallest but most intimate castle located in a in a secluded Alpine valley with breathtaking french baroque design, spectacular Bavarian trick paintings and the famous "Magic Table" ("Tischlein-deck-Dich"). Let yourself also be enchanted by the baroque palace park, which merges into a landscape park, and where you can admire even more fairytale buildings, such as the Venus Grotto (closed in winter, see the following agenda item). Entrance to the castle park is free.
(ON REQUEST): At the time, the Venus Grotto in the castle park of Linderhof was considered one of the largest artificial grottoes in the world and was completed in 1877 after two years of construction. King Ludwig not only created a private opera house in the design of the famous stage set from Wagner's opera Tannhäuser, but also a private swimming pool, since the water of the lake inside the grotto (with waterfall!) could be heated... If you want to visit the grotto, please make sure to pay attention to the following notes • It’s absolutely necessary that you let us know about this request when you make the booking – under "Special Requirements" • You need AT LEAST 55 minutes for the visit to the grotto, which you will miss for other sights (The tour inside the grotto lasts 15 minutes plus 2x 20 minutes of walking --> on a VERY steep path <-- to get there) Entrance to the castle park is free.
If you want to see (and understand) another baroque masterpiece concerning church decorations, inserted in a 12-wall domed mediaval hall from the 14th century, you should follow your guide in the Ettal Benedictine monastery near a little passo, just a 5 minutes’ drive away from Oberammergau. In the monastery shop you can buy the excellent home-brewed Ettal monastery beer or liqueur.
Shortly after Linderhof we reach the world-famous Passion Play and woodcarver village OBERAMMERGAU. Marvel at the partly over 250-year-old murals ("Lüftlmalereien") as well as the impressive Passion Play Theatre. In the woodcarving shops you'll find a huge range of carved figures, animals, and other items in all sizes, including numerous nativity sets and other enchanting Christmas items.
(ON REQUEST) - If you like to visit this attraction, please note the following: 1) It is imperative to inform us immediately (when booking, in the field "Special Requirements") 2) You will have about 45 minutes less time for the other sights 3) The coaster cannot be reserved; to avoid waiting times, we have to go there first and put Neuschwanstein Castle at the end of the tour. 4) If you're not sure whether you want to do this activity, you can (for free) watch other drivers zoom down the final section of the track! ***** A cosy chairlift takes you through the magnificent alpine world to a cosy mountain restaurant and to the start of the adventurous ALPINE COASTER at 1,270 m (4.170 ft) altitude: With the 1st world's longest weatherproof toboggan run with magnetic brakes, you can reach the valley at a length of 2,600 meters (1,6 miles) with breathtaking views and adventurous curves. ***** Open daily with suitable weather from approx. December - October.
(ON REQUEST) The extremely charming medieval town can look back on a 2,000-year history. As the favourite seat of the Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I, Füssen experienced its first heyday at the beginning of the 16th century; the 'High Castle' - one of the best preserved medieval castles in Bavaria - was already decorated in 1499 with unusually rich architectural and illusion paintings. Let yourself be enchanted by the well-preserved city wall, crooked houses and the Italian-looking former monastery complex with its magnificent baroque church during a walk through narrow streets. Enjoy a refreshment in one of the numerous street cafés or the numerous shopping facilities.
(ON REQUEST) - If you like to this activity, please note the following: 1) It is imperative to inform us about it (e.g. when booking in the field "Special Requirements") 2) You will have about 60 minutes less time for the other sights, or you will have to do without them in some cases. 3) You are neither insured through our company or through the bike rental company) ***** Keen of further activities? Why not take a private guided bike ride through the picturesque Bavarian countryside. During an approx. one-hour roundtrip, you can see mountain lakes and a medieval town (perhaps bring your swimsuites). If you bring your own bike, there are no extra costs for this activity, otherwise bikes (including e-bikes) can also be rented.
Relax on the way back to Munich in your comfortable leather seat and let the unforgettable impressions of this eventful tour pass through your mind again – your tour guide will safely take you back to your accommodation or any other address you want in the Munich area.
Christian was the absolute best. I could tell he had many years experience and had taken many people on this particular trip but still he made it so special and tailored to us. Cozy vehicle, special touches, excellent conversation and general easy going demeanor. We have never had a better experience with a tour ( this was our 3rd in Munich
Stefan is a pro - kind, open, knowledgeable, thorough. Our family of four greatly enjoyed our time with him. We highly recommend him!
We had a fantastic day with Stefan as our guide. Even before arriving in Germany Stefan contacted me to assist with making arrangements for our day. His communication was outstanding and very helpful as we planned our tour. He was right on time to pick us up and we started early to beat the traffic and crowds - so important! His van was clean and comfortable. He provided great details along the drive and prepared a map for us with time stamps so we knew exactly where we needed to be and when. Stefan was a superb tour guide and driver and we hope to take another tour with him again in the future. You will not be disappointed!!
They worked with the time we requested. Christian was our driver. He was on time, friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. We saw both Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein castles. He even made a reservation for us for lunch. It was hot during the day and all the up and down got us tired. But overall, a great day!
What an incredible day! First, Stefan meets you with a warm and welcoming smile and spirit. He’s knowledgeable and so friendly, we stopped a few places along the way, including an incredible old church in a small village that was beautiful. The castle is incredible, his recommendation for lunch was a nice spot, and the palace is beautiful with gardens and fountains. Each one is in a unique and beautiful setting. The day was long, but certainly worth it!
Stefan - our guide was fabulous in his hosting and arranging our trip! We were able to see as much as we could on our day and we arrived safely back to our pick up point. Very knowledgeable guide, good driver, considerate for all in the group. We loved the content of this trip we booked.
First off we had a wonderful full day with Stefan our guide. He smartly starts his tour at 7am to get us into the Bavarian countryside to Neuschwanstein castle before all the big tourist buses. Along the way he pointed out items of interest and explained some Bavarian history. He coached us on how to manage the timing of visiting both Neuschwanstein castle and Hohenschwangau castle as it is very busy, giving us plenty of time to even grab a good meal for lunch. He was kind and patient when trying to answer our hodge podge of questions. His Mercedes van was very comfortable and easy to get in & out of. Stefan was a very safe driver. We rounded out the day with visits to Lindhoff gardens, Plansee, Oberammergau, and Ettal Abbey before heading back to Munich. Stefan could not have been a better fit for us. He left us with many good memories to take home with us.
Had a great tour! Our driver / guide was knowledgeable. He helped us change some of the itinerary around as we weren't familiar with everything. Towards the end didn't rush us or pressure us for anything and when we said we weren't looking to do anymore tours as our 9 year old was at her limit he drove us through some scenic routes and gave some history and facts about the areas.
We booked our excurision through Stefan, who was great with communication and helping us put together an itinerary. Our driver and guide was Karl, who was absolutely fantastic. We requested a somewhat last second detour to a friend’s hometown, which Karl happily accommodated. He also helped us coordinate a food/snack stop at a small grocery store to avoid tourist crowds and grab a bag of Sauer Pommes (a new family favorite candy). Transportation was in an extremely comfortable Mercedez Minibus with plenty of room for six of us- it felt like luxury. In one day we managed visit Neuschwanstein and the Marienbrücke, the Sommerrodelbahn Tegelberg, Highline 179, and made a detour to a small brewery and folks festival in Weilheim, all before making it back to Munich by 6:00 for dinner. Although we never felt rushed, I don’t see how so much could be accomplished without the help of a great tour guide. Many thanks to Sightseeing Bavaria and Karl for the best day of our 10 day trip!
Thomas was an outstanding guide. The castle is a must see attraction when you’re in Munich. Amazing how much ornate detail there is in the castle. The views are incredible.
Great itinerary. Booking process was very easy and Stefan communicated with us from the start. Very busy day but we did everything we requested and Stefan could not have been more kind and willing to provide commentary and answer questions. Overall just a great experience.
Fantastic opportunity to make the most of one full day! Stephan very knowledgeable and did a tremendous job of providing history!
Overall, it was a great day trip. The town was charming, and the shops were reasonably priced. The only drawback is that I wish the price of the bus tickets were included.
Not only were both castles incredibly fascinating our tour guide Maria was fantastic and we learned so much about the history of Ludwig II. Even had time to stop at other spots of interest on the way to and from the castles. This is THE way to do this full day tour and highly recommend Maria as your guide!
A memorable trip all thanks to Karl. He was very understanding and tried to fit in all our interests in the best possible way. Showed us a hidden gem enroute ( a beautiful cathedral with wooden statues and interior which looked like marble). His choice of restaurants was amazing and he also had a decent knowledge about the history of the places. The stop at Plansee was worth a visit.
First, Stefan, our guide, was fantastic and had a positive impact on our overall experience. We were picked up promptly from the hotel. Stefan was so knowledgeable about the culture and history of the region that the drive from Munich to the castles was entertaining in itself. We also got great tips about our overall trip that we learned a few things that helped us along the way. For anyone traveling with kids, he was great with the kids and kept them engaged along the way, remaining flexible to take us to the alpine coaster which everyone really enjoyed. If you want to do Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau (or Linderhof), this is the tour to take. It's tailored to your interests and will learn a lot more than going alone or in a large group.
Very convenient pick up from hotel to the castle and drop off. Guide was courteous and on time. It’s a long day so recommend this over trying to figure this out yourself especially with kids
We had a great day with Stefan. He was very knowledgeable and pleasant. The castle was beautiful. We highly recommend this tour.
What an excellent tour. Stefan had everything planned out according to the selections we had made for this tour. It was all timed perfectly. We got to see and go through 3 castles and all the surrounding area. We made a stop in Oberammergau and visited one of the wood carvers and saw some of the most amazing carvings. Stefan even put us in the perfect restaurant for lunch that had fantastic food. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone. We had 8 members of our family on this tour and everyone couldn't be more pleased.
We left from Munich. Stopped first at Linderhof castle. Then went on to Cinderella’s castle. It was a full day of sightseeing and driving. Maria was our driver. She did a great job of accommodation and it was a pleasure to be with her. Highly recommended.
My husband and I took this tour as part of our Honeymoon trip, and we had a fantastic experience! Stefan was great! He was very informative about the history of Bavaria, the sights we were seeing, and local trivia. I would highly recommend doing a private tour to see Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau as you will be able to take in the sights at your own pace (and not having to worry about purchasing the ticket to Neuschwanstein yourself is an added perk). If you want to go into Hoenschwangau and/or Linderhof you will need to purchase tickets. Tickets to Hoenschwangau need to be purchased in advance, but you can wait to purchase Linderhof tickets till the day of at the ticket office of the palace if you decide you want to see it. We went to all three palaces, and I am glad we did as we got to see three very different structures. Alongside the three palaces, we were able to see the lake where Ludwig II and his psychiatrist were found dead, Oberammergau, and Ettal Abbey. The views of the Alps were stunning, and we were able to enjoy them peacefully. This tour was a fantastic end to our Honeymoon.
We have an excellent guide, Thomas, who was very attentive to our needs. We had elderlies in our group and he made sure the experience was smooth. Stefan, also was very helpful and he has made sure our parents could take the lift ride in the castle (we informed him ahead that our parents had difficulties walking). Definitely the best!
This was a wonderful tour! Throughout the drive, Stefan shared the history of the castles and surrounding areas making the actual castle tours more meaningful. The van was very comfortable and timing of the stops was just right, including the lunch reservations. Starting early (7:30am) did get us ahead of the crowds at Neuschwanstein as stated - definitely glad we followed this recommendation. The walk up the road to Neuschwanstein was a bit of a workout but pretty cool - Stefan provided detailed information about the walk and accessing the castle entrance which made the experience stress free. We also toured Linderhof Palace - I loved it! We visited the quaint village of Oberammergau, where I bought a few wood carved items in a local shop, plus Ettal Abbey, and a few other quick stops along the way. Overall, we truly enjoyed the day and would absolutely recommend it. Thank you Stefan for a fantastic day!
Customized excursion created by my wonderful guide Maria. Castles were super interesting to see and lots of fun facts about the kings who built them.
Christian was a wonderful tour guide! If we could give him a rating of 10, we absolutely would! He is so well informed and gave us an absolutely amazing tour of the castles and Weiskirche. We have taken other tours in the past, and he was by far the best guide we've ever had. He knew the history of each location and answered all of our questions. We highly recommend Christian if you are considering a tour!
This trip is a must do and this is the way to do it!! Christian was wonderful!! He perfectly catered the trip to what we wanted to see and made sure we had plenty of time while keeping in mind we were traveling with a 2 year old. He gave us lots of information about the places we were going to and took lots of pictures for us. We love history so he gave us plenty of that. We asked ahead of time for extra stops to let the little one stretch and he made sure we did; and in some of the most beautiful spots. When we passed scenery we loved, he offered to pull over and let us take pictures. It started to rain when it wasn't suppose to, he met us coming out of the castle with umbrellas. Thank you for making this a day the 6 (3 generations together) of us will never forget!!
Christian did an excellent job not only safely driving my husband and I on a private tour but also having a great deal of knowledge on the history through our drive through the absolutely beautiful countryside, the massive castle and other historic buildings. He choose an excellent restaurant for our lunch which also makes two local beers, (the wheat beer was very tasty for someone from Northern California wine country) Christian mentioned the Alpine coaster being close to the village where we were headed. When I mentioned I’ve always wanted to do that, he made it happen, we treated him to a ride and joined us down the hillside. We highly recommend this tour and thank you Christian for all your knowledge, friendly demeanor and allowing us to wing it!
Maria was the best tour guide we could have asked for. She provided us with so much history and information on the paces we went and even passed. It was truly the best day!
Carl was an absolute amazing tour guide. He went above and beyond to provide us with an incredible tour and a breath-takingly beautiful drive to/from Munich and the castles. We enjoyed his informative and interesting narratives about the sites we visited. He also engaged so well with my 2 college aged kids...kudos for keeping them interested also the entire day! We highly recommend booking this tour with Carl!
Stephan was amazing. So knowledgeable. We had a great day. Everything was perfect. He gave us so many interesting facts and explained everything. Highly recommend!
Our trip with Stefan and Bern was awesome! They went out of their way to accommodate us and set a trip up that suited our schedule. They were on time and very professional. They also knew their stuff and we got a lot of info on our tours. The van was new and clean. They even went out of their way to get us umbrellas when it was raining and helped my wife locate some very unique souvenirs she wanted. Stefan was very trustworthy and easy to work with. We did 3 day trips with them this week alone and they were the highlight of our trip! We will be back and request them again to explore Bravaria!
The tour operator was a bit of a jerk when we asked about an elevator at the castle. We saw only employees of the castle using it, so don’t believe they can try to accommodate you. But outside of this, our tour guide was the BEST we ever have had. Karl became part of our family. He logistically took us everywhere possible in the time allotted. He was fabulous with history, site beauty and selection of extra attractions. We saw the highest peak in Germany, a beautiful Austrian lake, the Alps, Linderhof and Neuschwanstein castles, Oberammergau and cool shops and views that few get to see. The cost of this was a pittance compared to the joy and awe of the trip. We even did serious Karaoke with Karl! This day rated one of our best ever. Just amazing. You are the best Karl!!!!! On the pontoon!!
We had a trip with Thomas today and wanted to let you know that he is a wonderful tour guide. My husband had problems with his mobility but Thomas was so patient and friendly and made the day wonderful for us both. We will definitely recommend your company and Thomas to any friends coming to Munich and just wanted to let you know what a great asset he is to your company We are so glad to have had Thomas showing us around today, he is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We had the best day ever!
We added the alpine coaster which everyone from 12 to 75 loved. It made everyone feel like a kid. Our guide Karl was outstanding. Views were absolutely stunning.
We had a wonderful time with Maria. She showed us many places and it’s such a rewarding time to spend with her. We truly recommend her to anyone. Thank you for everything.
My husband and I had an amazing day on our tour!!! Maria was so nice and was very informative!! Told us much about the history of all the places we visited plus more. Thank you Maria for such a great time!!!
Thomas was the best guide we’ve ever had! We loved our day trip! We got the customized tour we wanted that allowed us to move at our own pace. Thomas was very knowledgeable, and we loved the village he took us to after the castle. We also liked the added safety of having Thomas with us. Favorite tour! We hope to do more with this company!
Karl was a wonderful guide! Very knowledgable and friendly and was great at keeping our kids entertained. He planned a perfect itinerary for us. Would definitely recommend!
Karl was wonderful! He was full of information and stories. He played German Opera to get us into the mood going to the palaces and I played Bollywood music to give him a taste of my music.
I was dealing with Stefan, the owner of "Sightseeing Bavaria Tours". He did not understand I needed the use of the elevator at the castle. I have severe asthma and can not manage the hundreds of steps. I also could not do the walk from the bottom of the hill to the castle. It is steep and cobblestones. He kept repeating the time restraints this request would cause. My husband finally emailed him and told him it was not a want but a must for me to see the castle. He finally agreed to obtain a special ticket that included lift use. I do not recommend this tour because of Stephan.
I booked this because I wanted to see Neuschwanstein Castle but was not sure how to get there or what else to see. Our guide, Thomas, was informative and very easy to get along with. Since we didn't have a set schedule, he was able to point out a few items not listed on the itinerary, which made for a great time. Thomas even showed us around Munich and circled places on the map for us to see on the remainder of our trip. We enjoyed his stories and was very happy he chose great music on the ride around the (just over) 11 hour tour. Dankeschön, Thomas!!
Our guide and driver for the day Karl was fantastic and his English is good. He arrived early in a nice clean van and had some bottles of water for us. He was very easy to talk to and he was knowledgable about King Ludwig and the castles. Everything was planned out well and he took us to a nice spot to have a beer on the way back to Munich. My wife had broken her ankle the second day on our trip. He checked on us several days later and has offered to provide transportation to the airport in his own car. You couldn't find a better person than Karl.
This tour is pricey but completely worth it. We were picked up from the center of Munich and transported privately in a very comfortable Mercedes van to Lindhoff palace before the tour busses had arrived. Coordinating tickets/time slots/etc at Neuschwanstein can be difficult given how popular it’s become but that was all taken care of for us and our guide Christian made sure we were heading in the right direction at the right time to make sure we made our slot. Christian also was a treasure trove of information about the local area/history/etc. We stopped at a beautiful lake in Austria and a quiet small town with a UNESCO heritage cathedral and small beer garden where there were no other tourists in site other than those that biked there - it was a completely different experience than if we had done it with a large group on a bus. This is definitely the way to see Bavaria from Munich!
We really got to tailor the experience to what we wanted. Marie, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable about the area and history. Both castles we saw were amazing. Afterward we got to see Oberamergau for a private tour. Overall a great day and well worth it.
A wonderful day spent with our guide, Karl. He was informative and did a great job of including the three kids. They loved Neuschwanstein, the suspension bridge and best of all the snowball fight! Karl ended the tour with an ice cream treat. Thanks again for the great tour.
Absolutely incredible tour that blew way our expectations. The private guide, Karl, was exactly what you’d hope for in a tour like this, offering his own insights, recommendations and extremely accommodating for unplanned pit stops, photo opportunities and food or bio breaks. Highly recommend this tour and urge you to request Karl. He takes it from a 10 to a 12/10.
We truly enjoyed our fabulous tour guide Maria. What a wonderful day in her company. We toured Neuschwanstein and were able to stop and see several other amazing places. Maria and this wonderful tour company worked with us ahead of time, to plan the perfect day for us. What a surprise that Maria also stopped by her favorite morning coffee and pastry place. We were so pleased. Also, we hadn’t thought about lunch, and she had made us reservations at an amazing restaurant on a busy Easter Sunday, which we were so grateful for. Delicious! The extra attention she gave to us and these details are so appreciated. Thank you!
This was the most amazing and best tour ever! Our tour guide Karl showed up promptly on time to pick us up from our hotel. We drove in a comfortable van that had plenty of room for our group of 6 adults. Karl provided waters for everyone and was more than accommodating to any needs/requests we had. The tours for the castles were very organized and we had plenty of time to see three castles and a few stops along the way. Karl was very knowledgeable and very personable and we ended the tour feeling like friends! The only regret we had was not asking Karl to have dinner and a beer with us afterwards.
The 2 castles and the bridge view of Neuschwanstein were spectacular. Our driver Thomas was very knowledgeable and fun. We had a great day and it flew by. I would definitely recommend the tour!
We had a wonderful day touring the castles with our guide Karl. Karl was very friendly, knowledgeable, English speaking and accommodating to our group. He gave us a wonderful experience explaining the history of these castles and the areas and villages along the route. Kathy M - USA
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