5 Days: Bavarian Castles & Lakes

Arrive in Füssen, the little spa town at the foot of the castles, and give the day to Ludwig II's pair on the hillside above. Tour Hohenschwangau, where the young king grew up, then Neuschwanstein itself, the soaring turreted fantasy that inspired Disney's castle. The unmissable view is from the Marienbrücke footbridge spanning the gorge behind it, so time your walk up for that. Book your timed castle tickets well ahead, slots are limited and strictly enforced, and the climb from the village takes a good half hour on foot.

Downshift into a gentler day around Füssen. Take a boat out on the turquoise Forggensee, the largest of the region's reservoirs, for castle and mountain views from the water, then wander the frescoed lanes of the old town beneath the high baroque abbey and its colorful houses. There are easy foothill trails and the smaller Lakes nearby if you want to stretch your legs without a real hike. The Forggensee boats run only in the warmer months, so check the season before you count on one.

Transfer to Oberammergau, the woodcarving village famous for its painted Lüftlmalerei facades and its once-a-decade Passion Play. Browse the carvers' workshops and the fairytale scenes painted across the houses, then drive the short way to Linderhof, the smallest and most lived-in of Ludwig II's palaces, a jewel box set in formal gardens with a gilded interior and a grotto. Round out the loop at the nearby baroque Ettal Abbey, where the monks still brew their own beer and distill a herbal liqueur worth tasting. It is a compact, scenic triangle that you can take at a relaxed pace.

Drive on to the Tegernsee, the elegant, deep-blue lake south of Munich that Bavarians have summered at for generations. Take a boat across to one of the lakeside villages, walk the easy shore path, and soak up the gentle, moneyed calm of the place. The classic evening is at the Bräustüberl in the former ducal palace at Tegernsee town, where they pour the monastery brewery's own beer in a vast hall and garden. It fills up and tables are first-come, so arrive on the early side for a good spot.

End on a soft note with a choice. Spend the morning at the lakeside thermal spa for a long soak with mountain views, or ride the Wallberg cable car up the lake's signature peak for a panorama over the whole valley and an easy ridge stroll up top. Either pairs well with a last lakeside lunch before you go. From the Tegernsee it is only a short hop back to Munich, well under an hour and a half, so you can linger here and still make an afternoon or evening flight.