Gray Line Münchener Stadtrundfahrten — Local services in Munich

I was abandoned alone on a mountain by Munich Sightseeing Tours.

I joined their “Premium Tour” to Neuschwanstein Castle, paying €178 — almost my monthly rent — expecting professionalism and safety. Instead, I was left stranded in freezing weather, terrified, and ignored.

Their own customer service agent told me that if there was no bus down from the bridge, I should walk or run down the mountain to make it within 20 minutes. She then hung up, and no one ever called me back, even though they promised they would. I called 26 times — twenty-six times — begging for help. Nothing.

I was completely alone, in the woods, in near 5°C, with no idea what to do. I had no companion, no guide, no staff nearby. I was shaking, drenched in sweat and tears, terrified I would miss the bus and lose my passport, wallet, and belongings, which were on board. If I hadn’t run back up to the bridge in panic, I would have lost everything — and the company wouldn’t have cared.

Their official response to my complaint? A sterile corporate message blaming me for a “misunderstanding.” They said everyone else made it to the meeting point, so it must have been my fault. They called my abandonment “an operational constraint.” They “regret the inconvenience.”

Let me be clear: Leaving a woman alone on a mountain, in a foreign country, after ignoring 26 emergency calls, is not an “inconvenience.” It’s negligence. It’s a safety failure of the highest level.

No refund. No accountability. No apology that meant anything. Just a tone-deaf email saying their schedule was more important than my safety.

Their “Premium” tour is a cruel joke — a €178 ticket to humiliation, fear, and helplessness. Their customer service is soulless. Their communication is nonexistent. And their “care” for travelers ends the second they get your money.

This was supposed to be my birthday trip, something I had planned for five years. Instead, it became the most distressing and degrading experience I’ve ever had while traveling.

If you’re reading this: Do not trust this company with your safety, your money, or your dignity. They will leave you behind, blame you for it, and still smile about their “operational...

I’m surprised the rating is so low, I had a good trip!

1. I emailed Gray Line Munich about entrance fees, got an automated response saying someone will get back to me within 72 hours. Although I ended up going on the trip before that, they did provide a response within that time frame.

2. The bus was ready for us 30 minutes before departure. There are signs outside each bus so it was early to find.

3. Our tour guide Manuela and bus driver Borris were incredibly friendly and professional. The people on our bus were also very nice. The timing at each site was perfect. I hope the company pays them well because these 10-hr trips require a lot of energy and attentiveness.

4. Yes they charge you €33 for the tickets to Neuschwanstein castle and Linderhof palace, but you can also get them on your own. Note that the palace and castle had specific entry time, if you want to stick with the whole group and save the hassle of running to the ticket office, you can consider purchasing them from your guide (credit card accepted). I already had a 14-day pass, which gave me free admissions to those two places. I had to get the tickets myself and ended up with different entrance times from the rest of my group, but it still worked out.

Lastly, I wish someone had told us to bring cash for the drinks on board (€2) and the buses to Neuschwanstein (€3.50 round trip). Someone from our group didn’t have cash and the ATM’s were not working for her. Two incredibly kind American gentlemen ended up helping her out, but customers should be provided with information about potential essential needs. Please update the tour information on the third-party...

Amazing Royal Castles Tour from Munich to Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Royal Castle and Oberammergau. Just over 10 hours on a very comfortable double-decker coach from Munich. The driver was very professional and friendly. The guide, Faizan, was informative, caring and friendly. He took time during the trip to add interesting information about the destinations and the logistics for the guided tours. Faizan also visited every guest to ensure they understood the plan and checking they were having a good time. Note that tickets for entering the castles with guided tours is an optional extra that is paid on the bus. It was 37€ when we visited in August 2024. These are skip the line tickets so no waiting in line and guaranteed admission times, especially useful during the busy Summer season. These are not mandatory and several people took the opportunity to walk the castle grounds taking photos of the sights. Highly recommend the tour and thanks to Faizan for making our day trip thoroughly enjoyable. PS we booked through Expedia but you can also book directly...