how to tour neuschwanstein castle

How to Visit the Magical Castle That Inspired Walt Disney

Once upon a time, a Bavarian king was stripped of his powers after his empire was conquered by Prussia. King Ludwig II was so distraught that he no longer held any authority, he commissioned an extravagant castle where he could live like royalty in his own fantasy world. Many people believed the king was insane, dubbing him "Mad King Ludwig."

Construction of Neuschwanstein Castle began in 1869, but was halted by the sudden, mysterious death of the "mad king." He had only lived in his unfinished castle for just 172 days before his demise.

Just weeks after Ludwig's death in 1886, the castle opened to the public. It quickly became one of the most visited castles in the world. In 2017 alone, almost 1.5 million visitors toured Neuschwanstein.

After seeing all of the enchanting photos of this real-life fairytale castle, I knew that I had to see it for myself. That's why, on a vacation to Germany earlier this month, I made the day-trip to Hohenschwangau to see the castle that's believed that have inspired Walt Disney .

Before You Go

If you want to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, the first step is making an advanced reservation for the guided tour. This must be done at least two days ahead of your arrival, but it's recommended that you book as soon as you know your travel plans to get first dibs on your desired time. Requests are prioritized by date, and confirmations for later months will be delayed: So don't fret if your confirmation doesn't arrive right away.

I made a reservation for a date five weeks out and a received an email two days later with my reservation details. I had requested a 3pm tour but was given a 1:50pm time. It's also important to note that you will need to purchase your tickets at the ticket office, and they must be picked up the same day, no later than an hour and a half before your scheduled tour. So, for me, I had to be at the ticket office by 12:20pm for my 1:50pm tour.

Getting There

The Neuschwanstein Castle is a perfect day trip from Munich, Germany . Trains leave hourly from Munich's main train station, Munich Hauptbahnhof. While the castle is in a tiny village called Hohenschwangau, you'll need to book your ticket to Füssen, a charming little town just a 10-minute bus ride away.

Tickets for the train can be purchased through the GoEuro website . Choose between a first-class ticket, which gives you an assigned seat in a comfy leather chair, or a second-class ticket. The latter does not guarantee a seat. If you purchase a second-class fare, make sure to arrive at the train station early to snag a seat before they're all occupied.

Another option is the Bayern ticket , which may be available depending on the time you're traveling to Hohenschwangau. Bayern tickets offer huge savings on transportation within the state of Bavaria and to the first stop across the border (such as Salzburg, Austria — another great day trip from Munich). The ticket is valid on weekdays after 9am and could be used on regional trains, local buses and trams until 3am the following day. For $25, you'll be able to use your Bayern ticket for round-trip transporation between Munich and Füssen, as well as on the bus rides between Füssen's train station and the castle. Make sure to book your entire group on one ticket, because each additional traveler is only $7! You can book up to a maximum of five people on each ticket.

Since the Bayern ticket becomes available at 9am and it takes a little over two hours to get to the castle, this is a good argument for trying to schedule a tour for later in the day.

Ticket Pick-Up

Once you exit Füssen's train station, you'll see the No. 78 bus waiting in the parking lot. The bus is clearly marked for the Hohenschwangau castles, and with all the tourists rushing to board, you really can't miss it. Flash your Bayern pass (or purchase a round-trip ticket from the driver), take a seat and enjoy the scenic ride to the castle.

Within 10 minutes you'll find yourself in Hohenschwagau, where you can pick up your tickets. Bypass the painfully long ticket line, and head to the entrance of the ticket office for the much shorter queue for advanced reservations. Here, you'll purchase the tickets, which cost €13 per person plus an additional €2.50 service fee for each (about $18 total). Children under 18 are free, and there is reduced pricing available for students, senior citizens and large groups.

In addition to the Neuschwanstein Castle, there is another castle named after the village called the Hohenschwangau Castle. A combination ticket that grants admission to both castles is available for €25 (or $29).

There's a good reason why you need to pick up your tickets at least an hour and a half before your tour time: There's a mile-long trek up to the Neuschwanstein Castle from the ticket office. The walk up the mountain is not terribly steep, but if you'd rather hitch a ride Cinderella-style, take a horse and carriage up the mountain for €3.50 ($4). You'll will, however, have to wait in a rather long line for the ride. Very unprincesslike.

The carriage ride ends outside a gift shop and restaurant slightly downhill from the castle. If you have time to kill before your tour, stop into the restaurant for a quick bite to eat. I ordered a hot bowl of goulash, which came out in under 10 minutes and brought me back to life after the cold journey up the mountain.

The view from the top is really impressive. The castle is nestled in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps and flanked by the rugged mountainside. Pause to admire the storybook-worthy panorama before heading to the entrance for the tour. Unfortunately, you'll have to stash away your cell phone and camera, as no photos are allowed inside.

Personally, I found the tour of the castle to be the most lackluster part of the whole experience. Of course, if you go all the way there you should definitely go inside, but the exterior views — and the journey — are far more impressive.

Though Neuschwanstein was inspired by medieval castles it was built in the late 19th century. So in the grand scheme of castles, it's relatively modern. And since King Ludwig II died before the castle was completed, many of the rooms remain unfinished. The rooms that you will be able to see on the hurried, 30-minute tour include the king's bedroom, dressing room and throne room, among others.

At the end of the tour, there's a room with a large screen showing a 15-minute film depicting what the castle would have looked like if it had been finished. This includes a 3D rendering of additional exterior towers and images of what the unfinished rooms may have looked like once furnished.

The Grounds

Marienbrücke.

The guided tour is just a small part of this magical adventure. Outside the castle, there's a path that guides visitors to Marienbrücke (translation: Mary's Bridge). From the bridge, visitors can enjoy the most popular, picture-perfect view of the castle. You'll have to fight for a spot on the bridge for a photo opp during the summer (beware of selfie sticks!) but in the winter, there's a chance the path to the bridge may be closed due to weather. I was there on an exceptionally snowy day and the pathway was in fact closed. That did not, however, stop crowds of tourists from climbing around the gate or taking an alternative pathway up to the bridge.

I had really been looking forward to the view from the other side of the bridge, and no one seemed to be enforcing the bridge closure, so I followed the herd out to Marienbrücke.

After a 15-minute walk, I made it to the bridge. At this point, the snow had really picked up and the view of the castle in the distance wasn't great. I continued on the path past the bridge to find the ultimate photo spot that I had seen on Instagram.

The Not-So-Secret Lookout

It's a little tough to find, but I was guided by a group of tourists in front of me that were in search of the same look-out point that floods social media. We followed a track of snowy footsteps off the main path and up a steep hill. Eventually, we found ourselves at what I believe is truly the most breathtaking location in the area. The not-so-secret spot had a short line of people waiting for their castle selfie. I may have been a human icicle by the time I reached the site, but it was worth it for the 'gram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsMfnqiAgCs/

Taking the path back from Marienbrücke offers a fantastic view of the back of the castle. In fact, the back and side views of the castle are the only angles you will be able to get, unless you're splurging on a helicopter ride or traveling with a drone. Since the front of the castle peers out from the perch of the mountain, you won't otherwise be able to get that front-facing shot: the one that's most reminiscent of Cinderella's castle.

After a long day of walking, take the horse and carriage down the mountain. The line is considerably shorter than the one going up. Grab a warm mug of glühwein (if you're also visiting during the winter) to enjoy on your descent. As great as it was to experience Neuschwanstein in the snow, I believe visiting a day after snowfall would make for a better experience and much greater visibility, if you can swing the timing.

Finish the trip off with dinner in the town of Füssen before heading back to Munich. Be sure to try my favorite German dish, a llgäuer käespätzle — essentially a German-style mac and cheese topped with crispy onions.

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15 Top Tips For Touring Historic Neuschwanstein Castle

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Perched high on a hill overlooking an Alpine lake and the largest nature preserve in Bavaria, Neuschwanstein Castle was constructed as a retreat for Ludwig II. He’s known by many nicknames, including the Fairy Tale King and the Mad King, but you’ll see ties to the moniker Swan King woven throughout Neuschwanstein, from its name to its decor.

While the reclusive King of Bavaria wouldn’t live to see Schloss Neuschwanstein (New Swanstone Castle) completed before his death in 1886, the lavish palace with soaring circular towers was Walt Disney’s real-life inspiration for Cinderella’s castle. Here are 15 helpful tips for visiting this fairy tale castle in Southern Germany near the Austrian border.

Noppasin Wongchum / Shutterstock

1. It’s Easy To Visit By Car, Train, Or Tour Bus

Neuschwanstein Castle is located in the Bavarian town of Schwangau, about 70 miles southwest of Munich. The castle is about a 90-minute drive from Munich. Whether you travel by car or with a tour group, driving is the most direct way to visit the castle.

However, you can also visit Neuschwanstein Castle via public transportation. Take the train to Fuessen and then take an 8-minute bus ride to the “Hohenschwangau Neuschwanstein Castles, Schwangau” stop. If you choose this option, it’s important to note that it’s about a 1-mile walk from the bus stop to the castle.

2. Getting Up The Hill To Neuschwanstein Castle

If you visit Neuschwanstein Castle by car, you’ll want to park in one of the private parking lots in the town of Hohenschwangau. While you can certainly ascend the steep hill to the castle on foot, the 1-mile route is quite steep and will consume about 30 to 45 minutes of your visit.

If you prefer to see the sights more quickly, you can also climb the hill in a horse-drawn carriage or shuttle bus. However, neither of these options can drop visitors right at the castle door. Instead, dropoff and pickup are at Marienbrucke (more on that later). It’s an additional quarter-mile uphill walk from the dropoff spot to the castle.

Pro Tip: While it’s certainly a fairy tale experience, a carriage ride to Neuschwanstein Castle can take quite a bit of time. Consider taking a carriage ride down the hill once you’ve completed your visit.

Massimo Santi / Shutterstock

3. Purchase Your Tickets In Advance

If you plan to see the interior of the castle (and are skimming through this article), slow down and read this section very carefully.

Can you go inside Neuschwanstein Castle? Yes, but you can only purchase tickets to Neuschwanstein Castle at the Hohenschwangau ticket center . Do NOT head up the steep hill to the white palace without tickets in hand if you plan to tour the castle’s interior. If you have limited mobility, be sure to read this before you plan your visit to the 19th-century castle, as there are about 300 steps to climb inside.

Can you visit Neuschwanstein Castle without a tour? Visitors can only see the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle as part of a guided tour at a fixed admission time. There are limited tickets available each day, so be sure to plan ahead, especially when visiting Neuschwanstein Castle during peak travel periods. Tickets can be purchased online at least 2 days in advance of your visit, and you will want to allow ample time (up to 90 minutes) to pick up your tickets. If you miss your timed entry (and Germans come by their reputation for being precise honestly), your spot may be given to another visitor, and your tour may not be rebooked.

Once inside, your 30-minute guided tour of Neuschwanstein Castle will wind through 14 rooms of the 65,000-square-foot castle, including the throne room, dining room, bedroom, dressing room, study, grotto, and conservatory.

Pro Tip: There is no fee to tour the outside of Neuschwanstein Castle, so if there aren’t any tickets available on the day you visit, you can still explore the grounds and see the castle’s exterior.

jack_photo / Shutterstock

4. There’s A Good Chance You’ll See Scaffolding

Keeping one of the world’s most popular castles in tip-top shape requires constant upkeep, so don’t be surprised if portions of the interior and exterior are under construction when you visit. The throne room’s current renovation is expected to last until fall 2021.

5. Backpacks And Other Large Items Are Not Allowed

Large backpacks and other bulky items are not allowed inside Neuschwanstein Castle, so it’s best to leave them in your vehicle, on your tour bus, or at your hotel. If you have a small backpack, you’ll be asked to wear it across your front to ensure you don’t accidentally bump any items inside the castle.

6. The Swan King’s Symbol

Like the interlocking C symbol representing Catherine de Medici in castles in the Loire Valley in France, the Swan King incorporated the long-necked elegant bird throughout Neuschwanstein Castle. Look for swans etched into glass windows and adorning fixtures. It’s also said that the comforters at the castle are stuffed with swan feathers instead of the more traditional goose down.

mironov / Shutterstock

7. The Link Between Ludwig II And Composer Richard Wagner

The beautiful fairy tale castle was dedicated to German composer Richard Wagner, who King Ludwig II admired since he was a teen. In fact, some historians and psychologists have suggested that the Swan King was madly in love with the musician.

When you tour the interior of Neuschwanstein Castle, look for works of art inspired by Wagner’s operas. For example, in the bedroom, you’ll see frescoes featuring scenes from Tristan and Isolde (which reminds me a bit of Romeo and Juliet ). And, it’s probably no surprise that Richard Wagner’s romantic opera Lohengrin features a swan knight who is believed to be the namesake of Ludwig II’s fairy tale castle.

8. See The Latest Technology (For The 1880s)

Neuschwanstein Castle was designed as a place for Ludwig II to escape from the rest of the world. As a result, he paired his love of medieval architecture with the latest modern conveniences. Decades before it would become commonplace in upscale homes across Europe, Neuschwanstein included hot and cold running water and automatically flushing toilets. Ludwig II’s living quarters incorporated a central heating system that was sure to take the edge off the cold winters in the Bavarian Alps.

In France, King Louis XV’s dining room at Versailles was so far from the kitchen that he often ate his meals cold . But a century later at Neuschwanstein, Ludwig II’s meals were efficiently delivered via an elevator rather than walked up several flights of stairs. He also had an electric bell system and telephones at his disposal to summon servants and connect with the world beyond his hilltop castle.

9. Photography Is Not Allowed Inside Neuschwanstein Castle

Unfortunately, visitors are not allowed to photograph or take videos inside Neuschwanstein Castle. While you cannot fly drones outside the castle, you may take as many photos of the exterior as you’d like.

10. Food With A View

If you’d like to grab a drink or bite to eat after your tour, check out the cafe and bistro on the second floor of Neuschwanstein Castle. Or, for a change of scenery, you can pack a picnic and enjoy it on the castle grounds.

11. Don’t Miss This View Of Neuschwanstein Castle

One of the most beautiful exterior views of Neuschwanstein Castle is from Marienbrucke (Mary’s Bridge). Named for Ludwig II’s mother, this footbridge nearly 300 feet above the Poellat Gorge offers bird’s eye views of the fairy tale castle.

During inclement weather, the Marienbrucke may be closed. Find the latest details on bridge closings and shuttle bus tickets to the bridge here . (If you’re looking to burn off some schnitzel and beer calories, you can skip the shuttle bus and take a strenuous 45-minute hike uphill to the castle.)

12. Neuschwanstein Castle Is Beautiful Year-Round

Neuschwanstein Castle attracts the most visitors in the summer months when as many as 6,000 people a day wander through the ornate palace. In addition to avoiding heavy crowds, see the castle in a different setting by visiting when colorful fall leaves, powdery snow, or new spring buds frame the white limestone building.

13. If You Crave More Castle

In addition to Neuschwanstein, you can also tour Hohenschwangau Castle . Down the hill and across Alpseestrasse, you already know Hohenschwangau as the destination to purchase admission tickets to Neuschwanstein. But what you may not know is that it was the childhood home of Ludwig II. If you choose to see both castles in one day, your ticket will direct you to the Hohenschwangau Castle first and then up the hill to Neuschwanstein.

Pro Tip: In addition to Neuschwanstein Castle, here are nine other beautiful places to visit in Bavaria, Germany .

Vladimka production / Shutterstock

14. If Time Permits, Explore The Ammergebirge Nature Reserve

Just to the east of the castle, what is now the Ammergebirge Nature Reserve was once Ludwig II’s royal hunting ground. Hike the trails that wind through the thick Alpine forest and feed wild deer.

15. Where To Stay Near Neuschwanstein Castle

If you’d like to linger near the castle, search for accommodations in the town of Fuessen. If you’re visiting Neuschwanstein Castle as part of a larger itinerary in Germany and Austria, the castle is located about halfway between Munich and Innsbruck. This makes it a perfect day trip from either city as well as a great stop en route.

While it’s a somber destination, I recommend visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp just north of Munich before leaving Bavaria. In stark contrast to the elegant extravagance of Neuschwanstein Castle and natural beauty of Bavaria, touring the memorial is a way to honor the memories of the 32,000 innocent people who died there and help ensure that we never forget this dark chapter of human history.

Related articles:

• 6 Disney Princess Castles Inspired By Real Places
• 8 Tips For Touring Hearst Castle

Bitten by the travel bug as a preschooler when her family moved abroad for the first time, Sage Scott is addicted to travel. From her nomadic upbringing in a military family to her personal and professional travels as an adult, Sage has visited all 50 states, lived abroad twice, and explored nearly 30 other countries.

Now settled in America’s Heartland, Sage writes with a midlife traveler’s perspective from Kansas City — the Midwestern cowtown affectionately called the Paris of the Plains and the undisputed Barbecue Capital of the World — and is always in search of new experiences whether in her hometown or halfway around the world.

Neuschwanstein Castle Travel Guide

Perched over one of the world's prettiest gorges, Neuschwanstein Castle is everyone's fantasy dream. It's the image you've seen everywhere that makes you want to start planning your trip to Germany. Why not rent that Porsche and hit the romantic road ? We'll give you what you need to know.

Neuschwanstein Castle, one of the most popular destinations in Europe, is located in the German State of Bavaria close to Germany's border with Austria , not far from the popular ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The closest airport is Munich, 128km to the northeast.

Tickets and Guided Tours

Entrance tickets to the castle must be purchased at the ticket center in Hohenschwangau before you start the climb to the castle. Cost is 9 Euros for an adult. The mandatory tour takes a little over half an hour. There are 165 stairs to climb on the tour, and 181 to descend. A recent traveler reports that there is now a cafe inside. Tours for the disabled in wheelchair and walkers are held on Wednesdays. 

Best Views 

You can get good pictures of the castle and waterfall from Marienbruecke (Mary's Bridge). Between the bridge and the castle is a view of Hohenschwangau castle. Photography is not allowed inside the castle.

Getting There

• By rail: Take the train to the town of Füssen, then bus 9713 to Hohenschwangau. 
• By car: Take the A7 to Füssen, then on to Hohenschwangau where you'll find parking. From Hohenschwangau, you can walk to the castle in 30 minutes. You can get​ a 5-minute ride by horse-drawn carriage for 5 euros uphill and 2.50 euros on the return downhill. A bus is also available from Schlosshotel Lisl, Neuschwansteinstraße in Hohenschwangau.

Where to Stay

We recommend staying spending the night in Hohenschwangau.​ The Hotel Mueller has views of both castles and a good restaurant. You can also stay nearby in Fussen, as many do.

Description and History

Neuschwanstein Castle was built by King Ludwig II, sometimes known as Mad King Ludwig although less and less these days. His aim was to replicate medieval architecture, especially the Romanesque, and to pay homage to the operas of Wagner. You may think you've already seen it--it's Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle, but real.

The foundation stone was set on September 5th, 1869. When Ludwig II died in 1886, the castle was still not complete.

The building site near Pöllat Gorge is probably one of the most beautiful in the world.

Interesting Facts

• The Castle is under tremendous tourism pressure; in summer over 6000 people wind through the castle per day - 1.3 million per year.
• Since 1990, the state has spent 11.2 million euros on renovation and maintenance of the castle and improvement of the visitor service.
• Neuschwanstein Castle was opened to the public 7 weeks after the death of King Ludwig II.
• Although the Castle was designed to look medieval, it had quite modern refinements: hot air, running water, automatic flush toilets were all part of the royal residence.
• The kitchen at Neuschwanstein has been preserved in its entirety, featuring automatic spits and cupboards that could be heated with hot air from the large kitchen stove.
• From Neuschwanstein Castle , there are great views of alpine lakes, especially the ​Alpsee. Hiking trails abound near the ​Alpsee, and the one circling the lake is protected as a nature reserve.

Around the Area

Germany's "Romantic Road", which runs from Würzburg to Füssen can be combined with a visit to the castle.

The Best Places to Photograph Neuschwanstein Castle

The Best Cities to Visit in Bavaria: Munich and Nuremberg

Neuschwanstein: Germany's Fairytale Castle

Top 10 Things to Do in Bavaria, Germany

Germany's Best Scenic Drives

The Top Places to Visit in the South of Germany

The Best UNESCO Sites in Germany

Best Medieval Cities to Visit in Bavaria

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Most Romantic Locations in Germany

The Top 23 Things to Do in Munich

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How to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany: What to Know Before You Go

You’ve probably seen Neuschwanstein Castle before without realizing it—Schloss Neuschwanstein is the real-life castle in Germany that inspired Cinderella’s Castle at Disney World, and the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. Of course, needing to fulfill my Disney princess dreams, I set out to figure out how to visit Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich.

Overlooking the Alpsee, a stunning lake in Ostallgäu, Neuschwanstein Castle truly looks like something out of a fairytale. Unlike a true fairytale, this one is actually attainable—Neuschwanstein is just a 1.5 hour drive from Munich. This area of Bavaria is rich in charming, painted towns such as Oberammergau and Mittenwald, along with other beautiful castles like Schloss Hohenschwangau and Linderhof Palace.

Of course, I couldn’t resist visiting Neuschwanstein Castle to live out my princess dreams. When visiting Munich for Oktoberfest, I finally got the chance to! Here’s what you should know before visiting:

How to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany: What to Know Before Visiting

How to get to hohenschwangau from munich.

To get to Neuschwanstein Castle, you’ll first need to get to Hohenschwangau. From Munich, you’ll be able to reach Hohenschwangau by driving, taking a train, or booking a tour.

Driving and Rental Car

Renting a car and driving is the best option for travelers looking to explore Bavaria freely, and save time.

Driving to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich takes around 1.5 hours (faster if you like to floor it on the Autobahn). For most of the drive, you’ll be on the autobahn, Germany’s freeway. From Munich, you’ll take the A95 or A96, before exiting onto the the B17, Germany’s famous Romantische Straße (romantic road).

Driving on the Autobahn is not for the faint of heart—in many areas, there is no speed limit. If the Autobahn isn’t your speed (literally), you do have the option to stay on the Bundestrasse, the regional roads in Germany, the whole drive, taking the B2 from Munich, then exiting to the B17.

We were on a time crunch, so we chose to rent a car and take the Autobahn.

While navigating Munich’s streets and traffic can be confusing to a foreign driver, once you’re out of the city and on the Autobahn, the drive becomes much more straightforward (unless you’re like us, and your phone’s GPS can’t figure out where you are). The drive passes through Bavaria’s beautiful countryside, filled with lots of hop farms (because you are in Germany, after all) and quaint cottage homes.

When you reach Neuschwanstein Castle, you’ll be able to park in lots P1 and P4. We made the mistake of parking in P1 immediately because it was the first one we saw, when in reality, P4 is a lot closer to where the ticket office and walking trail to the castle are.

If you’re planning on driving to Neuschwanstein Castle and are going as a day trip from Munich, be sure to leave early , around 7-7:30am. If you’re opting to book a hotel in Füssen or another surrounding town for a few days, I recommend visiting Neuschwanstein in the morning after waking up, rather than on your drive in. The castle is a hotspot for tourists and large tour groups, getting busy very quickly.

Keep in mind that while rental cars in Munich are not very expensive, Germany has some of the most expensive gas in the world. We paid over $7 a gallon at some gas stations, which adds up quickly!

Public Transportation

Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle via public transportation is doable and relatively easy, but it’s not for the traveler stressed for time. There’s no direct train to Hohenschwangau. You’ll need to take a train to Füssen, then transfer to a bus. It takes about an hour longer to reach Neuschwanstein from Munich by train, rather than by driving.

You’ll catch the train to Füssen at München Hauptbahnhof, Munich’s central station. On arrival, you’ll take a right at the end of the train platform, then hop on Bus 73 or 78 from Füssen to Hohenschwangau. While the trip is just 10-15 minutes, busses only come once every 30 or so minutes.

The train costs about €25 each direction if booking tickets separately, but luckily, there’s a much more affordable solution. The Bayern Ticket is a day pass you can purchase for unlimited train trips throughout Bavaria. The ticket is €27 for one person, making it much more cost effective than booking separate tickets! Additional travelers don’t need to purchase their own Bayern Ticket—you can add them for just €9 per person (up to five people).

Of course, there’s a catch. On weekdays, the Bayern Ticket is only valid from 9am onwards, meaning that you’ll end up visiting Neuschwanstein Castle during peak tourist hours.

Click here to check train schedules to Neuschwanstein from Munich.

Neuschwanstein Castle Tour from Munich

If the idea of navigating the hectic autobahn or trying to figure out Bavaria’s train system is overwhelming, there’s tons of day trip tours to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich available.

Tours to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich will run you anywhere from $50-$200 USD per person, depending on if castle admission is included, and the other attractions on the itinerary. Typically, Neuschwanstein Castle day tours include stops at Linderhof Palace, Oberammergau, Bavarian cheese farms, and more.

Neuschwanstein Castle day tours from Munich typically last 9-10.5 hours, depending on the tour you take.

While tours are not the most inexpensive option for visiting the castle, and I’m anti-tour generally speaking (it’s just not my speed), I have to admit that this $58 round trip tour to Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderof Palace, and Oberammergau is still a great solution for the solo traveler looking to do it all without the hassle of self-navigation.

Click here to discover Neuschwanstein Castle tours including transportation from Munich.

How to Get to Neuschwanstein Castle

You’ve reached Hohenschwangau. Now what? Neuschwanstein Castle is located high above the village, and you’ll need to find a way to get up there!

The journey to actually reach the castle from Hohenschwangau took much more time than I was expecting. Depending on if you walk, take the bus, or hire a horse and carriage, expect to spend up to 1.5-2 hours round trip, getting up and down from the castle.

Although there is a shuttle bus and horse and carriage available to reach the castle, both of those methods require at least 20-30 minutes of additional walking, roundtrip. Some of the walking is uphill, which I’d take into consideration if yourself, or anyone you’re traveling with, has accessibility challenges.

Bring your tennis shoes, because there’s nothing princess-y about this walk! Once reaching Hohenschwangau, follow the road to the ticket office. From there, keep going. Eventually, you’ll see a trailhead on the left side of the road (there will likely be several tourists on it already).

You can decide whether you want to walk to Marienbrucke, the most popular viewpoint of Neuschwanstein Castle, or if you want to walk to the castle directly. We chose to walk to the castle first, then walk around the castle to Marienbrucke before coming back down.

Walking from the parking lot to the ticket office will take 10-20 minutes. From there, it’s about 40 minutes from the ticket office to get up to the castle. Walking to Marienbrucke from Neuschwanstein Castle will take another 10-15 minutes.  Although a 40 minute walk may sound long, when factoring in wait times for buses during peak tourist times in the summer, it is usually the quickest option.

As mentioned above, wear good walking shoes. The walk is steep, and you’ll definitely feel the incline. The path is dirt, and tends to get muddy and slippery after rain.

Shuttle Bus

Take the shuttle bus to Neuschwanstein Castle if walking 40 minutes uphill isn’t appealing to you, or you’re not physically able to. The bus runs between P4 and Marienbrucke. It gets busy, so I’d plan on arriving to the castle early if this is your plan!

The Neuschwanstein Castle shuttle bus costs €2.50 for uphill trips, €1.50 for downhill trips, and €3 for a roundtrip ticket. You’ll need to pay your bus driver directly, and you will need exact change.

The bus drops off right at Marienbrucke (you’ll probably be able to see the line for it from the stop). From Marienbrucke, you can walk 10-15 minutes to the castle, as described above.

Horse-drawn Carriage

If you really want to embrace the fairytale, you can hire a horse and carriage to take you up to the castle. To do this, you’ll need to find Hotel Müller, just past the ticket office.

Horse-drawn carriage trips are surprisingly affordable for a tourist attraction of this magnitude. Expect to pay €8 for uphill trips, and €4 for downhill trips. Tickets need to be purchased from your carriage drive, so have exact change.

It’s worth noting that like the bus, your horse-drawn carriage can’t go all the way up to the castle. You’ll go on a 20 minute ride up to the castle, and be dropped off a 10-15 minute walk away. If accessibility is an issue, the walk from the bus drop-off point is much flatter.

I know that animal rights for experiences such as these can be a touchy subject. In full disclosure, like the shuttle bus, horse-drawn carriages are not operated by the Bavarian Palace Administration, but instead by individual companies. When I was there, I was concerned about how tired some of the horses looked, which is part of why we opted not to do this. Of course, I’m no animal expert and have no insight into how these horses are actually treated—that’s just my quick observation.

When to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle

Autumn is the best season to visit Neuschwanstein Castle. The first week of October is the best time to visit the castle, as all of the leaves will be changing around it. The shoulder season months of May, June, and October are all great times to visit, as you’ll likely have decent weather, and lowered crowds.

Avoid visiting Neuschwanstein Castle in the summer. The castle grounds will be packed, and you’ll likely experience long lines.

If avoiding tourists entirely is your goal, visit during the low season of November through April. Although I wouldn’t recommend climbing up to the castle in the winter months, you can take the bus, or admire the castle in the snow from afar.

We visited when we were in Munich for Oktoberfest, at the end of September. Due to the wiesn, there were a ton of tourists, but we still avoided the crowds of summer tourism, and we got to see the castle when the leaves were just starting to change color. If we would’ve waited one, maybe two weeks to visit in October, the leaves likely would’ve been perfect.

Neuschwanstein Castle Hours and Admission Times

Pay close attention to the dates that you’ll be visiting Neuschwanstein Castle on—the castle’s hours change seasonally.

In the winter, from October 16th-March 31st, Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle are open from 10am to 4pm.

In the summer, from April 1st-October 15th, Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle are open from 9am to 6pm.

Both castles are closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

Neuschwanstein Castle Entrance Ticket Price

Neuschwanstein Castle guided tour tickets prices are as follows:

• Adults: €15
• Children under 18: Free (if accompanied by an adult)
• Seniors over 65, students, handicapped individuals, and guests from qualifying hotels: €14
• Companions of disabled individuals: Free

You will need to add on a €2.50 processing fee if booking in advance online, which I highly, highly recommend that you do.

Neuschwanstein Castle is so busy that tickets sell out days, weeks, sometimes months in advance. When we were there, we arrived around 10am, only to find out that the next available entrance wasn’t until 3:30pm.

Buy your tickets in advance, and only buy them through this link . If you purchase them from a 3rd-party vendor, you’ll likely show up to find that they’re invalid.

Neuschwanstein Castle Guided Tours: How to See the Inside

Do I need to buy a ticket to visit the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle?

You need a ticket to visit the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle. Unfortunately, there’s no way to view the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle without being on a ticketed, guided tour. 

A ticket is not needed to walk around the exterior of the castle—that’s completely free.

Guided tours last about 30 minutes, and cover the 14 finished rooms that King Ludwig II lived in before he died (there were over 200 planned rooms in the castle).

To be honest, the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle might feel underwhelming if you’re already visited other palaces in or near Munich, such as Residenz and Nymphenburg Palace. That’s because the palace was never actually finished.

Neuschwanstein Castle’s castle was commissioned by King Ludwig II, but he died before the castle could actually be completed. After his death, his family did finish constructing the exterior of the castle, but didn’t pay attention to finishing the rooms inside.

On top of that, the castle is also currently under construction for restoration efforts.

The cost of Neuschwanstein Castle feels a little steep for the actual tour duration, especially when considering that entrance to the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle is much more expensive than entrance to other popular palaces in Bavaria, such as Nymphenburg Palace and Residenz in Munich, where an €8 tickets grants you untimed, open access.

Is it worth visiting the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle?

That’s for you to decide. For us, after reading so many disappointing reviews of the tour, we decided that if tickets were available when we arrived, that it was, but if we had to wait for entrance, it wasn’t.

Best Neuschwanstein Castle Views

Marienbrücke.

The Marienbrucke is a bridge suspended across from Neuschwanstein, with a dramatic view of the castle. Marienbrucke is by far the most well-known Neuschwanstein Castle viewpoint. It’s also the easiest to access.

To reach Marienbrucke, you’ll follow the main path to the castle (in red), then walk another 10-15 minutes past the castle (purple trail). This is the official way to to reach both the castle, and Marienbrucke in one go, but it’s also the longest.

There’s two walking shortcuts to Marienbrucke you can take:

The first option is similar to the full trail, but instead of starting at the main trailhead, you’ll start by walking up the concrete stairway behind P3 on Alpseestraße. From there, you’ll connect into the red trail, then follow the same path around the castle.

The second method is by taking the red trail, then immediately following the sign on the right side that says “Marienbrücke.” You’ll reach Marienbrücke in about 35 minutes rather than an hour, but won’t pass by the castle at all.

Of course, if you don’t want to bother with walking at all, the bus drops off right at Marienbrucke. Easy .

If you think you’ll get the bridge to yourself, think again. Even if you arrive at 9am, expect to have at least a few people up there with you (although, a little morning sprint would definitely help your chances here).

When we visited, we waited in line for 15-20 minutes to get on the bridge. When we did, the bridge was absolutely packed . Staff was yelling at people to move, people were forcing their way through the crowd, and it was all around chaotic. I noticed that bridge traffic was definitely dependent on bus and tour group timing—as tour groups left, it got somewhat more breathable, but was still very crowded. Trying to get a nice photo was a bit of a struggle, as fellow tourists weren’t necessarily the most considerate bunch.

Up-close Observation Decks

When you reach Neuschwanstein Castle, you’ll notice that there’s a glass observation deck right in front of the castle itself! Although this deck doesn’t have the dramatic view that the castle is known for, it does have the best view of the front of Neuschwanstein Castle.

The observation deck in front of the castle is nowhere near as busy as Marienbrucke. With a little patience, it’s easy to get a good photo here.

The deck is also a great spot to admire the landscape around Neuschwanstein—it’s not talked about enough, but there’s some really beautiful forest around the castle!

View of Neuschwanstein Castle from Above

So you saw Marienbrucke and were over the crowds of tourists that made the view less-than-relaxing. I get it. Luckily, there’s a view to view the castle from above, that’s much quieter.

To reach this birds-eye viewpoint, you’ll cross Marienbrucke and continue the trail uphill. You’ll find yourself on a long dirt road that’s not in quite the same condition as the main paths, but eventually, you’ll reach a fenced in overlook of the castle.

If that isn’t enough for you, you can continue hiking up the hill further, where you’ll reach a view from above. It’ll be marked by a log with a cross on it. The view will be a little obstructed by tress.

Hidden Neuschwanstein Castle Viewpoint

The Neuschwanstein Castle view taking Instagram by storm isn’t an official viewpoint (and technically, requires trespassing), but isn’t far away from Marienbrucke.

To reach it, you’ll get on the trail that leads between Marienbrucke and the castle. Where the path curves towards the river, near Marienbrucke (but before the angle), you’ll have to dodge under the fence, then walk for another couple minutes down the road, turn, and climb up a small dirt hill. 

The hill is not marked, but after getting up it and turning left, you’ll be back on an abandoned hiking trail. If you follow that trail, it will lead you to the best view of the castle.

I really wanted to find this spot, but unfortunately because it was raining, cold, and slippery when we visited, we decided it wasn’t safe to attempt. If you do try it, be careful. The viewpoint is on a steep cliff with no gate, and it is considered trespassing to go up there.

Dramatic View of Neuschwanstein Castle from the Valley

I stumbled upon this Neuschwanstein Castle by complete accident. After coming down from the castle, we got back to the car and started leaving to head to Oberammergau. On the way, we drove past this wide open field with a fairytale-like view of the castle above.

If you’re driving, you’ll likely pass by this view regardless (it’s on Schwangauer Straße, which is the only road you can take to exist the castle parking lots).

The field is across from Restaurant-Cafe Allgäu (früher Restaurant Meier). Just past the restaurant, there’s no buildings on either side, so you can easily pull over and park.

We almost didn’t pull over in my usual “no, it’s okay” approach, but luckily my boyfriend knew I’d regret it if we didn’t. I’m so glad we did! I love how romantic this view of the castle is.

Where to Go Near Neuschwanstein Castle

Oberammergau.

Pairing Oberammergau with Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the best day trips from Munich. This is the trip we chose to take, and I’m so glad that we chose to stop at this charming, painted town.

Oberammergau is best known for its beautiful painted buildings, woodcarvers, and the Passion Play that it puts on once every 10 years, as part of an agreement with God that they made all the way back in 1633, when the bubonic plague was raging through the town.

When we visited, Oberammergau was performing the play for the first time since it was put on hold for the pandemic. It was so interesting to see how the play really affected the town! The play lasts 6 hours, is performed five nights a week, and basically closes down the town while the curtain is up. Despite being entirely in German, it’s a huge tourist attraction that sells out every show.

I recommend stopping at Oberammergau after Neuschwanstein Castle for a bite and a calm stroll around town to see all the buildings, and visit the cute woodcraft souvenir and Christmas shops.

Alpsee is a beautiful lake near Hohenschwangau Castle and Neuschwanstein Castle. On your way to Neuschwanstein Castle, you’ll actually be able to catch a glimpse from the trail between the castle and Marienbrucke.

Alpsee was King Ludwig II’s favorite lake. From it, you’ll be able to see both Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Hohenschwangau. For €10, you can rent a paddleboat or rowboat for 30 minutes.

Keep in mind that the boathouse is only open from May until September or October, and is only open when the weather is good. Hours are 10am to 7pm. Had we visited with good weather, this would have been such a pretty place to go!

Mittenwald is a true Bavarian alpine town, with lovely painted buildings, and a view of the mountains from the cobbled streets. The town repeatedly makes lists for the best towns in Bavaria to visit, and I can see why.

Mittenwald is best known for its history of violin craftsmanship—there’s a museum dedicated to it. It also acts as a base for exploring and skiing the stunning Karwendel Alps.

I really wanted to visit Mittenwald, but unfortunately, we just didn’t have the time (squeezing Neuschwanstein Castle, Oberammergau, and Mittenwald would’ve been way too much in one day).

Linderhof Palace

Linderhof Palace is the most common attraction you’ll visit on a Neuschwanstein Castle tour. Most tours from Munich include Linderhof Palace, if they’re stopping at an additional destination.

Linderhof Palace , located in Ettal, is the smallest of the three castles built by King Ludwig II. Although it sounds funny to call a palace “small,” by Bavarian standards, it is. Linderhof Palace wasn’t built to be an all-out royal palace, it was meant to be a hunting lodge. For a hunting lodge, it’s definitely posh.

Like Neuschwanstein, you can only visit with a guided tour, which lasts 25 minutes. You have the option to visit just the palace and park buildings, just the park buildings, or only the royal lodge. I recommend against visiting Linderhof Palace in the winter, as you can only visit the palace.

Linderhof Palace was on my list, but due to time restraints, we couldn’t make it (getting to Neuschwanstein took longer than expected due to GPS issues). I wish we could’ve—while Linderof Palace is similar to many of the royal hunting lodges around Munich, the park, including the Moroccan House and Music Pavilion, make it noteworthy.

Click here for Linderhof Palace tours from Munich.

Hohenschwangau Castle

You’ll spot Hohenschwangau Castle before even making it to Neuschwanstein Castle. Hohenschwangau Castle is the yellow castle overlooking Alpsee lake. 

Hohenschwangau was the childhood home of King Ludwig II, built by his father, King Maximillian II. The castle is lesser known that Neuschwanstein Castle, for reasons that I can only attribute to Disney. Despite being not quite as well known, it’s just as beautiful. When I first saw it, my first thought was that it looked exactly like what I’d expect Belle’s castle to look like.

Like Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace, you’ll need to be on a guided tour to visit. Tours last 35 minutes and are €21 for adults.

Visiting from Neuschwanstein is easy. If you parked in P4, the castle is just a 20-minute walk away. Most Neuschwanstein Castle tours from Munich skip Hohenschwangau Castle, so if you’re looking to visit, your best option is to drive to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich or take the train to Füssen.

We didn’t visit the interior of Hohenschwangau Castle, but it was absolutely picturesque from afar.

Neuschwanstein Castle inspired both Cinderella’s Castle in Disney World, and the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland.

You can visit the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle, as long as you’re on a guided tour. Tours last about 30 minutes, and photos are not allowed.

You need more time at Neuschwanstein Castle than you think. Expect to spend 3-4 hours here. The amount of time you need to visit the castle is dependent on whether you’re walking to it, taking a horse and carriage, or are hopping on the shuttle bus. If you think Neuschwanstein Castle can be done as a half day trip from Munich, think again. Even if you’re driving, between the round trip drive and time spent at the castle, you’ll need at least 6-7 hours to visit.

All parking at Neuschwanstein Castle is private, and costs €10 for cars, €13 for RVs and campers, €3 motorbikes, and €30 for buses for up to eight hours. Each additional hour is €1, with a max of €15 per day.

Neuschwanstein Castle is located in Germany’s Bavaria region, overlooking the village of Hohenschwangau. The towns of Füssen and Schwangau are nearby.

Neuschwanstein Castle is 1.5 hours away from Munich driving, and 2.5 hours away via train and bus.

Looking for more Germany travel guides? Click here for more of the best day trips from Munich , Oktoberfest guides, and what Munich solo travel is like.

One Day in Oberammergau: Your Guide to Exploring Bavaria’s Most Charming Town from Munich

A Single Girl’s Guide to Munich, Germany: Unique Things to Do, Eat, and Shop for Solo Travelers

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9 Best Neuschwanstein Castle Tours for All Ages

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Table of Contents

Have you been wondering the best Neuschwanstein Castle tours? I’ve got you covered!

Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Europe. Located in the Bavarian Alps, it was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Visitors who take a Neuschwanstein Castle tour are treated to breathtaking views of the castle and its surrounding countryside.

I personally had the chance to visit Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich while on vacation in Germany , and I can confidently say it was one of my most memorable trips ever!

Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle with a guide is perhaps one of the best ways to learn about this unique landmark. Professional guides are typically well-versed in the castle’s past and present, as well as its cultural importance, making them invaluable companions on your journey through time.

Keep reading to learn about the best Neuschwanstein Castle Tours.

My Top 3 Picks: Tours of Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace Day Tour from Munich

✅ Visit Neuschwanstein

✅ Visit Linderhof Castle

✅ Spend time in Oberammergau

Neuschwanstein Castle Day Tour from Munich

✅ Professional Guide

✅ Transportation included

Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Castle Small-Group Premium All-Inc Tour from Munich

✅ Entrance to both Linderhof & Neuschwanstein included

✅ Snacks and drinks

Best Neuschwanstein Castle Tours

⭐️  RATING:  4.5/5 Stars | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  10.5 hours | ✅  Book it!

This specific tour is our #1 pick.

Experience Neuschwanstein and Linderhof’s enchanting fairy tale castles, masterpieces created by Germany’s eccentric King Ludwig II. Join in on a captivating day trip from Munich, traveling in comfort on an air-conditioned coach through the breathtaking Bavarian scenery.

Discover Ludwig’s opulent rococo-style hunting lodge, Linderhof, which was also his last home. Upgrade your experience and take an optional interior tour of the picturesque Neuschwanstein, the very castle that inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.

Explore the charming village of Hohenschwangau and enjoy some free time for lunch. Learn captivating stories about the fascinating and ‘mad’ King Ludwig II, who constructed these fantasy castles.

And don’t miss the chance to do some shopping in the quaint and picturesque Oberammergau, renowned for its Passion Play.

“This tour was a lot of fun! Our guide, Lotti, brought necessary enthusiasm as we traveled through the Bavarian countryside. The views were gorgeous and the castle is a must-see.” -Kevin L ( Read more reviews )

🤩 Check Prices and Availability!

⭐️  RATING:  4.5/5 Stars | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  10 hours | ✅  Book it!

Embark on an enchanting day trip from Munich to Bavaria’s iconic Neuschwanstein Castle. Travel in style with round-trip train transportation (which is included!), and delve into the fascinating history behind this Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Discover how it served as the inspiration for Walt Disney and hear captivating tales about the eccentric King Ludwig II, who brought it to life. With skip-the-line access, you’ll bypass the crowds and enjoy a guided tour of the castle’s opulent interiors.

Take in breathtaking views of the lake, waterfall gorge, and the nearby Hohenschwangau Castle. Your journey to Fussen and back will be a memorable part of your extraordinary experience in Germany.

“Excellent information and superbly presented information about the castle. Nice and clean transportation.” -Patrick M ( Read more reviews )

⭐️  RATING:  5/5 Stars | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  10.5 hours | ✅  Book it!

Embark on a magical journey through Germany and experience the allure of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof. Escape to the enchanting world of fairy tales as you explore these royal residences that inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.

Relax and take in the breathtaking beauty of the Bavarian Alps during a scenic coach ride. Immerse yourself in opulence as you tour the grand halls, unique spaces, and incredible kitchens of the castle.

Discover the 19th-century Bavarian treasure that is the Linderhof Palace. Dive into the history, intricate architecture, and fairy-tale inspiration behind these iconic Bavarian landmarks. This 10.5-hour trip from Munich promises an unforgettable adventure filled with legend and enchantment.

Don’t miss your chance to visit the charming village of Oberammergau, the perfect ending to a day filled with captivating wonders. Travel in style and luxury on a guided tour that will transport you to a world of dreams.

“The tour guide and bus driver were both absolutely fabulous! Very professional and the guide knew the history and area so well. The castles are just amazing and surrounding small towns so charming. Great day…. Well worth it!” -Mary E ( Read more reviews )

Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Castle Day Trip from Munich

Visiting two of Germany’s most popular attractions in one day is a must-do for every traveler who goes to Munich. On this 10.5-hour Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Castle Day Trip, you will learn about King Ludwig II, the 19th-century monarch who built numerous castles and palaces in Bavaria.

The first stop is Linderhof Palace, a small but elegant palace with gardens and fountains. After exploring the area around the palace, you will travel to Neuschwanstein Castle, one of King Ludwig’s most famous creations.

Although tickets to enter the castles are not included in this tour, you will still be able to get stunning views of the interior from outside its walls if you choose to not pay at your own expense.

Along with getting some great views, you can also enjoy a delicious Bavarian lunch before heading back to Munich. Enjoy an air-conditioned vehicle ride as your guide engages you with exciting stories about King Ludwig II and his legacy in Bavaria!

“Tour was comprehensive and guide lovely and knowledgable. Bus ride had beautiful views with commentary.” -Sheri H ( Read more reviews )

Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau Castle Private Skip-the-Crowds Tour from Munich

⭐️  RATING:  5/5 Stars | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  9.5 – 11 hours | ✅  Book it!

This Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau Castle Private Skip-the-Crowds Tour from Munich is the perfect way to visit this incredible castle and its grounds without the hassle of long lines and tiresome crowds.

You will be picked up right from your hotel in Munich, so you can start the day off relaxed and ready for an adventure! You’ll travel in comfort with a Mercedes or VW Minivan, both of which feature air conditioning to keep you cool.

Once you arrive at the castle, you can skip the line and go straight to exploring. Plus, if you want to add more stops like Oberammergau, that too can be arranged so you have even more memories to take away from your trip.

No matter what your plans are for visiting this majestic destination, this tour has got it all covered!

Stops on this tour include Starnberger See, Hohenschwangau, Schloss Neuschwanstein, Marienbrucke, and more.

“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.” -Christopher C ( Read more reviews )

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VIP tour to the royal castles Neuschwanstein and Linderhof from Munich

⭐️  RATING:  5/5 Stars | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  11 hours | ✅  Book it!

Explore a part of Bavarian history on this VIP tour of the royal castles from Munich! See two grandiose masterpieces of classicist architecture – Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Castle – and learn about their unique histories.

On board, there are snacks and drinks, so you don’t need to worry about going hungry! It’s also an opportunity to take in the beauty of Oberammergau Church, perched high atop a hill in the mountains.

And don’t forget to get off at Marienbrücke for one of the most iconic views of Neuschwanstein Castle! Make sure your camera is ready for this amazing experience – you won’t want to miss out!

“The bus ride was very smooth and the staff is very polite. They are generous with the snacks and water. Monica, our guide was knowledgeable and professional.” -Georges A ( Read more reviews )

Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof, Ettal, Oberammergau Private Tour from Munich

⭐️  RATING:  5/5 Stars | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  8 to 11 hours | ✅  Book it!

This private tour from Munich to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof, Ettal, and Oberammergau is perfect for travelers who want a comprehensive and immersive experience in Bavaria.

Start the day by visiting the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle, built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. After exploring this masterpiece, you’ll visit Plansee to have an Austrian-style lunch.

Then, make your way to Oberammergau, famous for its Passion Play. You’ll travel on to Ettal Abbey, and finally, stop at Schloss Linderhof. There’s an optional tour here, as tickets aren’t included in the price.

This private tour gives you a chance to explore some of the most beautiful places in Bavaria while learning more about the culture and history of this amazing region. Come see why so many people consider it one of Europe’s hidden gems!

“Great day with our guide Alex. We left right on time and we beat the crowds at Neuschwanstien. So glad to have the private guide when we saw the buses rolling up and we were already done taking photos. Had a great lunch in Austria, and on to Linderhof. As a group of six ranging in age of 10-50, we all enjoyed our day, learned a lot about the Bavarian region and have many memories of our day.” -Tara B ( Read more reviews )

Private Neuschwanstein Castle Tour in Mercedes Van(up to 6 people) Skip the line

⭐️  RATING:  5/5 Stars | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  8 to 10 hours | ✅  Book it!

This private tour to Neuschwanstein Castle is a perfect way to discover the area in an intimate and meaningful way. Your party will have the entire experience personalized for you.

Enjoy a local lunch or snack as you take it all in, creating memories that will last for years to come. Visit the famous Neuschwanstein Castle and marvel at its impressive architecture and scenic views.

Or, if you’d like to add on an extra stop, Linderhof Palace awaits your arrival for an extra dose of grandeur! Explore this ancient palace and learn about its history from your knowledgeable guide.

Whatever you choose, this private tour is sure to be a highlight of your journey through Bavaria!

“Aiman was one of the best we have ever had! He was kind, knowledgable, and attentive to our needs and comfort the entire day! The day was organized and relaxed. We stayed on the timeline but were not rushed at all. He had taken time to think of the small details. Cold water, snacks, tissues. Overall he was so accommodating and puts on an excellent tour!” -Ellen G ( Read more reviews )

Neuschwanstein Castle Skip-the-Line Private Tour for Groups

⭐️  RATING:  5/5 Stars | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:  9.5 hours | ✅  Book it!

Neuschwanstein Castle is a must-see for every traveler. And our group tour makes it easier to get there! With door-to-door transfers from your accommodation, you won’t have to worry about getting lost. Plus, skip-the-line tickets mean no waiting in long lines – just straight to the castle!

Inside you’ll find stunning architecture and a fascinating history. The castle was built for the King of Bavaria as a romantic retreat and it’s definitely worth exploring.

Afterward, we continue on to Oberammergau, a village that prides itself on its craftsmanship, followed by a horse and carriage ride to Hohenschwangau Village for more spectacular views.

FAQs About Tours to Neuschwanstein Castle

The ideal time to visit Neuschwanstein Castle is during the summer months, May through September. The beautiful mountain scenery around the castle is best seen when the weather is mild and sunny.

Yes! There are many guided tours of Neuschwanstein Castle available. Many of these tours can be booked online or through your travel agent. Tours usually include a guided walkthrough and a chance to explore the grounds outside the castle walls.

It depends on where you are starting from! The drive from Munich takes approximately 2 hours, while from Frankfurt, it is 4 hours away. Of course, if you’re coming by train or bus, it may take some more time, depending on your route and connections.

Prices for tours vary depending on what type of tour you are looking for. Generally speaking, most tours will cost between $50 to $1000 USD (the higher end is for private tours).

🤩 This tour to Neuschwanstein Castle is our #1 pick because it also includes a stop at Linderhof and is highly rated!

Final Thoughts: Neuschwanstein Castle Tours

Neuschwanstein Castle is an enchanting symbol of culture, romance, and adventure. Every traveler who takes a tour of the castle will be enthralled by its majestic beauty.

Whether you’re seeking a taste of Bavarian culture, a romantic getaway, or an exciting experience that you won’t soon forget, Neuschwanstein Castle has something for everyone.

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to explore one of Europe’s most historical sites – book your tour to the castle today!

Check out our Neuschwanstein Castle vlog!

Explore Germany!

Germany is a beautiful country to visit and explore. Check out all of our posts about the country below!

• How to Take a Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich

13 Free Things To Do in Nuremberg, Germany

• How to Spend the Perfect 1 Day in Munich
• 11 Best Free Things to do in Berlin, Germany
• München Instagram Spots: 16 Most Instagrammable Places in Munich, Germany
• 15 Most Beautiful Cities in Germany
• 16 Amazing Free Things to do in Munich, Germany

KP is the head blogger and founder behind Volumes & Voyages. After studying abroad in Dublin for a semester, KP got bitten by the travel bug. Now, she writes articles to help other travelers in between trips where she chases her wanderlust. KP has lived in many different places, including Boston MA, Denver CO, Las Vegas NV, southern VT, and Dublin IE.

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The Wandering Blonde

Solo Female Travel Blog

Europe , Germany , Travel Guides · July 14, 2015

The Complete Guide to Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle

Ah, Neuschwanstein. The castle so beautiful that it even inspired Walt Disney’s vision of Sleeping Beauty’s castle.

It’s arguably one of the most famous historic sites in the entire region of Bavaria, and easily the most famous of “Mad” King Ludwig’s castles and palaces.

What’s the story behind it? Who is King Ludwig? Why was it built? Does it serve any purpose other than just sitting and looking pretty amidst the rolling Bavarian landscapes? And how the heck do you get to visit it?!

Despite having seen countless pictures of the famous palace, these were all questions that I couldn’t answer before visiting…but questions that you definitely need to know the answers to before you go!

So, to help you all out, I’ve put together this handy-dandy little guide to visiting the crown jewel of Bavaria.

What are Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau?

Schloss Neuschwanstein (“Schloss” meaning castle/palace) is the result of the vivid imagination of King Ludwig II, who was the King of Bavaria from 1864 until his death in 1886.

Ludwig is known by Bavarians as the Swan King, the Fairy Tale King, and–less affectionately–the Mad King , as he suffered from depression and shyness throughout his life, coupled with a childlike imagination.

As a young prince, Ludwig spent many years in his family’s summer palace, Hohenschwangau. After his father’s death, Ludwig took up residence in Hohenschwangau while his own palace, Neuschwanstein, was being built.

Construction of Neuschwanstein castle began in 1869. It was designed as a kind of private retreat for King Ludwig, with much more of a creative–rather than a functional–purpose.

The architecture very much follows a Medieval style, and the interior of the castle is whimsical, ornate, and over-the-top colorful. Paintings depicting Bavarian legends and Biblical narratives line nearly every wall. Unfortunately, only around 15 rooms of the planned 200 were completed before Ludwig’s mysterious death (to this day, it is unknown whether his death was the result of suicide, murder, or an unfortunate accident).

Both castles are located in very close proximity, and can be seen up in the hills from the town of Hohenschwangau below. Although Neuschwanstein is the more famous of the two, both castles were very important in the life of King Ludwig II.

Visiting Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau

Where should i stay.

Before you even think about visiting the castles, you need to decide where you want your base to be.

You can certainly take a day-trip to the castles from Munich, and can reach them easily via train, rental car, or big-bus tour company. However, depending on how much time you have in the region, I really recommend basing yourself in one of the smaller towns near the castles.

The small village of Hohenschwangau would make an extremely convenient base, as you wouldn’t need any further transportation (aside from the bus/horse carriage up the hill to Neuschwanstein). However, it’s totally one of those little tourist towns that’s quiet during the early morning and evening, but explodes with visitors during the day. All signs and menus are in English, and despite the beautiful views and cool local history, it kind of feels like you’re walking around Disney World during the day in peak season.

I stayed in Fussen, which ended up being a perfect base for my visit. There are regular buses between Fussen and Hohenschwangau, and if you have a car, you can find metered parking or paid lots in both towns. It’s a 15 minute drive from Fussen to the castles. Plus, Fussen is ultra cute! The streets are lined with colorful and decorative buildings, in true Bavarian style.

How do I get tickets?

If you want to enter Neuschwanstein and/or Hohenschwangau, you are required to book a guided tour; you cannot enter the castles on your own, although you can view both from the outside without purchasing the tour tickets.

You can purchase tour tickets in advance online , or at the ticket center on the day of your visit. Even if you purchase tickets online, you cannot print them and must pick them up in the ticket center in Hohenschwangau. So, whether you buy tickets in advance or not, you will have to visit the ticket center and wait in line. However, the line for picking up tickets is MUCH shorter than the line for purchasing tickets.

I waited for about 10 minutes to pick up my reserved tickets, and the line for purchasing tickets looked to be about 3x as long as my line…and that was at 9:25am. Also, if you purchase tickets in-person on the day of your visit, you have a smaller chance of getting the time slot you want. Even if you get in line at 9am, all of the tours until 3pm may be booked–there is no way to know beforehand.

So, unless you really need the flexibility of purchasing tickets day-of, I highly recommend booking in advance online.

When you book your tickets online, you will be asked to choose a tour time for Hohenschwangau, as this is the castle you will visit first if you are visiting both (if you are only visiting Neuschwanstein, obviously the time you choose will be for that castle only).

Make sure you check the tour time listed on your confirmation email, as it may not be the exact time you picked. I selected 10am as my preferred tour time for Hohenschwangau, and was given 10:25am for Hohenschwangau and 12:55pm for Neuschwanstein.

How long do the tours last?

The short answer? Much less time than you’d expect.

Tours of each castle take roughly 35 minutes, but the entire experience of picking up tickets, walking/taking the bus to the castles, touring both castles, and time between tours adds up to around 4-5 hours total.

Here’s a rough timeline of my entire visit:

• 9:25am: Arrive in the town of Hohenschwangau and go directly to the ticket center to pick up my tickets.
• 9:35am: After only about 10 minutes in line, I receive my tickets and walk up the hill to Hohenschwangau Castle. It takes about 10 minutes to walk up, and I spend the rest of the time before my tour walking around the outside of the castle and taking photos.
• 10:25am: Tour of Hohenschwangau castle begins.
• 11:10am: Tour of Hohenschwangau castle ends. Go directly to wait in line for the bus ticket, which merges into the line to get onto the bus. Ride the bus to Marienbrucke (Mary’s Bridge) above Neuschwanstein castle.
• 12:15pm: Arrive at Marienbrucke (so the entire line/bus experience took about 1 hour). Take pictures, buy an ice cream cone and wait for tour to begin at 12:55pm.
• 12:55pm: Tour of Neuschwanstein castle begins.
• 1:30pm: Tour of Neuschwanstein castle ends.

Should I visit both castles, or only Neuschwanstein?

This one is totally up to you. Neuschwanstein is not only the most famous of the two castles, but it’s definitely the more impressive of the two, both inside and outside.

However, if you’re making the visit to this little town in the middle of nowhere and don’t have anything else in the area planned, I’d say go ahead and see both. I visited both during my visit, and was completely done with the entire experience before 2pm, so I still had time left during the day to see more of the area after touring both castles.

Are the tours inside the castles worth it?

If you’re asking this question, it’s probably because you’ve heard someone say something along the lines of “The tour wasn’t even that great” or “Just see the outside of the castles and skip the tours” or “It’s so touristy.”

Yep, yep, and yep. I actually totally get all of those responses. Yet, my response is that yes, you SHOULD do the tours. Are you really going to come all the way to this little village just to look at the outside of the castles?

Yes, the outside of the castles, especially Neuschwanstein, really is the most impressive part. It’s a beautiful white castle set amidst the rolling green Bavarian alps, overlooking an adorable little town and the big blue beauty of Lake Alpsee. No interior could ever compete with that!

However, I actually thought the interior was quite beautiful, and it was unlike any other castle interior I’ve ever seen, even in the region. The tours are a little lacking when it comes to being informative and exciting, but getting to see the inside of this gorgeous castle built by a mysterious king was totally worth it to me.

What else is there to do in the area?

If you’re staying in Fussen, Hohenschwangau, or another little alpine town nearby, you’ll have plenty of shopping and dining options to entertain you. All of the above towns are very cute, with colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, and adorable Bavarian charm.

You could also do some hiking nearby, or rent bikes and explore the greater area.

There are a handful of gorgeous lakes in the region as well, which make for epically scenic boating, walking, sunbathing, or swimming spots (although, be warned: the water in these alpine lakes is COLD).

I spent some time walking around and swimming in Lake Alpsee, which offered killer views of both castles from across the lake. Alpsee is extremely easy to reach; if you walk uphill from the center of town in Hohenschwangau, you’ll be to the edge of the lake in around 10 minutes.

Quick tips for success:

• Book your tickets ahead of time , and double-check your tour time before you arrive.
• Plan ahead to make sure your preferred tour times will work with your planned transportation schedule .
• Make sure to arrive at the ticket center to pick up your tickets at least 1 hour before your preferred tour time.
• Be aware of the fact that you cannot take pictures inside either castle.
• Leave yourself plenty of time to either a) Take the bus (recommended), or b) Take the horse carriage up to Neuschwanstein. Walking up to Hohenschwangau castle is fine, but the walk up to Neuschwanstein is very steep and somewhat long.
• WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES . There is a lot of walking involved during this trip, even if you do take the bus up to Neuschwanstein. The town itself is quite hilly and there’s a lot of walking between the ticket center/the bus stop/the castles/restaurants/shops. I actually saw a girl wearing stilettos on the walk uphill to Hohenschwangau castle…on cobblestones. Why anyone would do this is beyond me.
• Wear sunscreen or bring a hat. Maybe I’m just an L7 weenie, but I actually got sunburned during my visit and it was SO hot. If you’re visiting during the summer, be prepared!

Have you ever visited Neuschwanstein, and did you love it as much as I did? If you haven’t been, would you like to go?

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July 14, 2015 at 1:58 pm

July 14, 2015 at 2:03 pm

You definitely need to see these castles when you visit–they were incredible! Actually, all of Bavaria was incredible…you’re going to love it!!

July 19, 2015 at 8:06 pm

Ahhhh yes you went to Neuschwanstein! When I read that you were going to Germany I realllyyy hoped you’d be going here because I love reading about it. Sounds like you had an amazing time and hopefully I’ll make it there myself one day!

July 19, 2015 at 8:07 pm

Oh yeah, and you said you DO think the other castle is worth touring? That’s so interesting, I haven’t seen many blog posts where people have gone to both. Love the new perspective!

July 19, 2015 at 9:07 pm

It was amazing, I hope you do get to see it yourself one day soon! And yes, I honestly enjoyed going on both tours and would recommend it. They’re both so short at only 35 minutes, and not very pricey, so I kind of feel like why wouldn’t you go if you’re already there? Plus, the insides were actually pretty cool.

July 23, 2015 at 12:39 am

July 23, 2015 at 1:47 pm

I totally LOVED Bavaria! This castle was really beautiful and had a pretty interesting history too, but there were really SO many other cool things to see in addiiton to this one.

July 30, 2015 at 6:35 am

August 2, 2015 at 4:43 pm

Thanks! There were definitely a lot of little details to keep track of during my trip planning. Hope you get to go one day, it’s definitely an interesting sight!

August 7, 2015 at 7:18 pm

Cool! Not your typical castle–looks awesome

August 7, 2015 at 7:29 pm

September 2, 2016 at 2:12 pm

Where was the picture with the fields and horses taken?

September 6, 2016 at 3:23 pm

I actually don’t remember the exact location, but I do remember that I took this picture when I was driving from Munich into Hohenschwangau/Fussen. I spotted the castle from the road, and pulled over to snap some photos.

September 6, 2016 at 9:41 pm

September 9, 2016 at 5:10 pm

I have been searching for an article like this to reaffirm my decision of choosing to visit these castles and to stay in Fussen for 2 extra days. I’m going there next week, Your article is such a help! I loved the parts you’ve highlighted and the way you’ve structured it! Thank you 🙂

September 12, 2016 at 2:47 pm

Thanks for your comment! I definitely think you made a good decision 🙂 Have fun!

November 16, 2016 at 1:42 am

Thank you SOOOO incredibly much. You’re very well organised and thorough, so this is a “type-a” persons heaven. The tips were appreciated greatly!

November 18, 2016 at 10:07 pm

Glad it was helpful! I tend to write my blog posts by thinking about the type of information that I was looking for while planning my trip.

February 12, 2017 at 1:07 am

I heard you ARE not allowed to take pictures inside the Neuschwanstein Castle? Was there a reason? And is the tour in English or German?

February 13, 2017 at 2:16 pm

My tour was in English, but there are options for German tours as well. And that’s correct that you’re not allowed to take photos – to be honest, I’m not sure why!

March 14, 2017 at 9:43 am

this was really helpful. thank you!

April 3, 2017 at 2:02 pm

You’re welcome! 🙂

April 8, 2017 at 10:37 am

I recently visited Nuremberg and someone there recommended visiting this place! What are the best flights to get into Germany? When I search it seems to say Munich.

May 11, 2017 at 8:08 am

It is very helpful, can you please advise me further i know its all written above.

i am solo traveler from Dubai

10,11,12,13,14 June 2017 Munich – I can do a Day Trip to castle back and forth (from and to munich)

August 4, 2017 at 6:42 am

So, if the bus takes an hour between the castles…how do you get back to where your rental car is parked at the other castle? Does the bus take you back? Thanks!! xoxo

August 4, 2017 at 9:58 am

Hey Kathy, good question! So the hour-long bus experience I mentioned includes time spent waiting in line for the bus. I don’t remember exactly how the time was split, but it was a REALLY long line. Maybe 40 minutes in line and 20 on the bus? So the drive itself wasn’t that long. The bus also goes up a hill and past the castle itself, to the bridge overlooking the castle. So after you take your pictures of the castle you walk back down the hill a bit to do the tour, and then afterwards you can either take the bus all the way back down or walk, since it’s really not that far. My memory is a bit fuzzy, but I’m pretty sure I just walked! Hope that helps!

September 17, 2017 at 6:31 pm

September 22, 2017 at 12:16 pm

Thank you so much, enjoy the castle! It’s a beautiful place 🙂

November 20, 2017 at 11:34 pm

THANK YOU!! You laid that out the same way I plan my trips and it was everything I was looking for! Thank you so very much! I will be checking out your blog for other destinations!

November 21, 2017 at 10:34 pm

Beautiful comprehensive in depth post. Very helpful. Thanks and do keep writing

February 26, 2018 at 5:11 am

Oh, wow, Kelly! Neuschwanstein sure looks as amazing in summer as in winter.

We visited it during winter but we were so eager to go back and see all the nature around during summer as well.

You can check our freezing visit here https://www.traveldiaryofafightingcouple.com/2018/02/01/the-enchanted-trip-to-f%C3%BCssen-and-the-neuschwanstein-castle/

Happy wander!

January 6, 2019 at 4:50 pm

Hi! Traveling to Munich for work. Were you a solo traveler? Is it safe for a single girl to do a day trip?

January 8, 2019 at 9:52 am

Yes, I was a solo traveler! Munich and Germany in general felt very safe to me, I had an amazing time there!

February 8, 2019 at 7:17 am

I really enjoyed your article , it gave me a current view of visiting the castle. My husband and I plan to visit in April. This will not be my first visit . I visited Neuschwanstien with my parents and little brother in 1960 ! We rode up in a horse carriage and were the only visitors on Christmas Day in the snow. An older gentleman and his wife let us in after a few minutes of banging on the door.( I’m sure we interrupted their Christmas Dinner.) We were given a brochure that had parts in English . I guess our little family looked harmless. So we were left to discover on our own. We loved our visit. When we were ready to leave we discovered the horse carriage was not available- so we walked. We all had on boots and heavy coats, but it was very cold. I’m not sure if it’s the same road today because it was a long walk to the small town at the bottom. No visitor center or buses then. We were so cold my fingers and toes were numb. My father quickly ushered us into a small cafe/bar that thankfully was open. I remember being sat down next to large warm , beautiful blue tiled furnace and being handed a glass of gluwine , my first! After removing my boots my mother rubbed my feet until they were warm . The proprietors we very concerned about my brother who was 8 at the time. They fussed over him like he was a little prince. We then were served the most wonderful bowls of Humgarian goulash. Quite an Adventure, even for a well traveled 15 year old Army brat !

March 2, 2019 at 11:05 am

What a great story! I will be in Hohenschwangau this coming June, and plan to walk up to Neuschwanstein. I will think about your story. 🙂

March 12, 2019 at 9:09 am

What a beautiful memory! It perfectly captures the magic of Neuschwanstein <3 Thank so much for sharing!

April 14, 2019 at 3:54 pm

Great tips – we’ll be visiting this summer. What is the website we should be pre-booking with? I’m having a difficult time finding the actual site versus tour groups from Munich, etc… Thanks!

April 23, 2019 at 12:07 pm

There is also a pickup time the tickets have to be picked up by, in my case 1 hour before tour or they are invalid. I don’t think the article mentioned that.

June 20, 2019 at 10:21 pm

I lived about 45 min away from Neuschwanstein castle in 1991-1993 and never went there. It was always : “I can do that tomorrow”, and when tomorrow came, then it was the next tomorrow, until I left. I am going to Germany (Munich region mostly) with my daughter in 2020 for a reunion, and am making sure I don’t miss it. Thanks for the write up and suggestions!

June 21, 2019 at 8:24 am

Ahh I can relate to that feeling of putting off visiting something that’s so close! Glad you’ll finally get to visit soon 🙂

September 17, 2019 at 6:09 am

Did you use Bayern Ticket on the day? If yes, how did you navigate the time restriction of 9am to reach Fussen at 9:25?

September 18, 2019 at 10:04 am

I did not, I actually stayed in Fussen the night before visiting Neuschwanstein. If you’re able to make that work I recommend it, because it made the experience very smooth. If not, I’d probably pick a later time to reduce stress.

September 18, 2019 at 12:11 pm

This is so helpful. I’m planning to head up with my family in a couple of days. We have not reserved tickets and we are with and infant! Let’s see how it goes. It doesn’t sound stroller friendly, so we will definitely have the ergo 360.

September 30, 2019 at 8:19 am

Hi! This article has been so helpful. I am planning to visit both of the castles with my 2 friends later in October and we are staying in Fussen for 2 nights. I have a question about luggage storage though. Are there lockers available at the Fussen train station that would hold a 45 liter hiking pack? I ask because I want to visit Hohenschwangau the day we arrive, but we can’t get into our Airbnb until 4 PM; and I know we can’t take the packs on the castle tours. I was planning on doing Neuschwanstein tour the next day. Alternatively, do any of the hotels in Fussen store luggage? Thanks so much!

January 29, 2020 at 12:26 pm

Hello, nice of you to tell everybody about Ludwig the Second but you got quite a bit wrong, and it looks like you missed the real jewel of Ludwig 2. Ludwig and his parents never got on very well at all, so when his Father, Maximillian 2nd died he didn´t want to live with his Mother in Hohenschwangau, he chose instead his Father´s hunting lodge at Linderhof to live in while he was building Neuschwanstein! As the hunting lodge wasn´t fit for a King he got 180 workers to convert it into a small version of Versailles as he wanted to ape his hero, Louis 14th of France, the so called Sun King. Ludwig and his brother Otto lived in Hohenschwangau as children and young adults, and Ludwig did live there off and on, mostly when his Mom was away, he visited his Mother on her birthday and when Ludwig died she took to her bed for a Month and missed his funeral. The Palace at Linderhof is near the Passion Play village of Oberammergau, so handy for PP visitors in 2020. Best Regards, Chris Edwards, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

February 1, 2020 at 12:08 pm

Thank you for sharing all of that information, Chris! I did visit Linderhof Palace while I was in Germany and it was amazing!

December 30, 2020 at 5:01 pm

Hi Kelly, we plan to visit Germany this summer, hopefully the covid has been gone at that time. If I may know, if I am to depart from Munich, do we go straight to Fussen first or straight to the Hohenschwangau castle? Any recommendation for hotel in Fussen? Thank you so much for your help.

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Neuschwanstein Castle // Everything You Need to Know Before Your Visit

Nestled in the hills of Bavaria, just above the village of Hohenschwangau, lies a beautiful fairytale castle fit for the pages a story-book. Neuschwanstein Castle was commissioned by King Ludwig II in 1869. Rather than hiring an architect to draw up the plans, King Ludwig hired a theater stage designer to create the building’s magical design. Today, Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the world’s most photographed and popular castles, receiving 1.3 million visitors each year. Disney even based their model for Sleeping Beauty’s castle on it.

Neuschwanstein Castle is located at the end (or beginning, depending on the direction you’re headed) of Germany’s Romantic Road , in the heart of Bavaria. It’s only a 2 hour drive from Munich, so it’s a perfect day trip for those wanting to get out of the city. Nick and I made Neuschwanstein the first stop during our road trip and it was my favorite destination on the Romantic Road.

Keep reading for visitor information, photos and tips for making your trip to Neuschwanstein Castle the best it can be.

RELATED POST :  GERMANY’S ROMANTIC ROAD // TRAVEL TIPS AND SUGGESTED ITINERARY 

TIPS FOR BUYING TICKETS TO NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE

I was a little nervous about the ticket situation before our visit. There are a lot of guidelines and it seemed really complicated when I was researching how to do it. Here is everything you need to know to make your ticket purchase go smoothly (it’s not as hard as it looks).

• You can purchase your tickets online , or at the official ticket center in the village of Hohenschwangau.
• If you purchase tickets online, you still have to pick them up at the ticket window in Hohenschwangau. They will not accept printed tickets.
• You have to pick your tickets up 1 hour before your tour time, or they will be given away.
• You cannot purchase tickets at the top of the hill, or once you reach the castle. Tickets are only available at the ticket window in Hohenschwangau.
• Once you buy your ticket, you will be given a tour time. Make sure you are on time for your tour or they won’t let you in.. and you can’t join another tour.
• It took us 25 minutes to get from the bottom of the hill to the entrance of Neuschwanstein Castle. We were there early in the morning when there weren’t many people. It’s highly advised to start heading up the hill 40min-1 hour before your tour starts to ensure you don’t miss your tour time.
• During high season, tickets sell out fast and there are long lines. I highly recommend reserving them online before you visit. We visited during August and were worried that they’d be sold out. We woke up early and got to the ticket window before it opened. There was a line, but we did get our tickets.
• Tickets can be reserved in advance (for additional charge) up to  two days before your visit.

TICKET PRICES

YOU CAN PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS ON HOHENSCHWANGAU’S WEBSITE HERE

HOW TO GET TO NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE FROM HOHENSCHWANGAU

One you have your tickets in hand, there are 3 options for getting up to Neuschwanstein Castle: walking, riding a horse drawn carriage, or taking the shuttle.

It’s about a 40 min, 1 mile (1.5 km) walk up a semi-steep hill to the castle. Unless you are prepared to get a workout in, I wouldn’t recommend walking for casual visitors.

The shuttle is the most popular option. There are no set times and they leave when they’re full. There are a tons of busses, so you will not have to wait long if you miss one.

It’s important to note that the shuttle does not take you directly to the castle entrance. It drops you off .4 miles (600 meters) from the castle, at the Marienbrücke lookout point. From here, its about a 10-15 min walk to the castle. The walk from the shuttle to the castle is mostly downhill, but on the walk back is slightly uphill. It’s not hard if you are in moderate shape but for those with impaired mobility, you might have a difficult time.

SHUTTLE TICKETS 

Adults: uphill 1.80 euros / downhill trip 1 euro / return trip 2.60 euros Children: uphill 1.00 euros / downhill trip .50 euro / return trip 1.50 euros

Purchase your ticket on board.

HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE

Similar to the shuttle, the carriages cannot take you to the castle entrance either. They will drop you off .2 (300 meters) miles away and you must walk 5-10 minutes uphill to the castle.

CARRIAGE TICKETS Uphill 6 euros / Downhill 3 euros

Purchase your ticket directly from the driver.

MARIENBRUKE BRIDGE // THE BEST VIEW OF NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE

To find the famous view of Neuschwanstein Castle (you know, the one on all the postcards and Pinterest boards), you’ll need to head to Marienbrücke (Queen Mary’s Bridge).

If you’re taking the shuttle, it drops you off very close to the bridge and there are plenty signs guiding you in the right direction. It’s a short 2-3 minute walk from the shuttle drop off point.

If you are walking to Neuschwanstein Castle, you will pass the bridge on your way up. It’s about 30 minutes uphill from Hohenschwangau village.

TRAVEL TIP : Walk to the other end of the bridge for a crowd-free view. I don’t know how people can be so oblivious.. but there was a massive crowd of people pushing each other around to get their photo, when the 2nd half of the bridge was totally empty.

THE NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE TOUR

The only way to go inside of Neuschwanstein Castle,  is by taking a tour. The tour is surprisingly short 30-35 minutes, and it moves very quickly. Even though I wish I had a little more time in each room, I found the interior to be fascinating.

King Ludwig seemed like such an eclectic and artistic guy, and the inside of the castle is uniquely designed. Many rooms were inspired by Operas and there were hundreds of swans hidden in throughout the castle. King Ludwig designed this elaborate castle, only spent 11 nights in it before his death. Even though the tour is short, I do recommend doing it. It was the most interesting and unique castle I’ve ever been inside of.

You are unfortunately not allowed to take photos inside the castle.

TOUR LANGUAGES

Guided tours are offered in German and English.  If you speak a different language,  audio guide tours , are available in Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian, Czech, Slovenian, Russian, Polish, Chinese (Mandarin), Portuguese, Hungarian, Greek, Dutch, Korean, Thai and Arabic.

HOW TO AVOID THE CROWDS

Neuschwanstein Castle receives up to 6,000 visitors each day! In the peak season (July-August), lines can be extremely long. We visited Neuschwanstein in the middle of August with no advanced ticket (not recommend) but had no issues because we went early in the morning. We experienced almost no lines, and even found a free parking spot in front of the ticket window. If you can, I highly advise  getting there as soon as they open. You will have a much nicer, less stressful visit.

TIPS FOR VISITING NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE

• Book your ticket in advance.
• Get there in the morning. The earlier the better, and pick your ticket up at least 1 hour in advance.
• Consider staying in Fussen , a little town 5 minutes from Hohenschwangau. It’s a fun overnight stay and it allows you to get to the castle before the day trippers from Munich arrive.
• Hohenschwangau is small. It’s extremely easy to find the shuttle stop, horse drawn carriages and ticket office. Everything is also within short walking distance of each other and there are signs everywhere.
• Wear shoes you can walk in. You don’t have to come prepared to hike, don’t wear heels or uncomfortable shoes.
• Check the weather. In the winter months, Marienbrücke is sometimes closed and if there is ice on the roads, the shuttle will not run.

RELATED POST:  5 THINGS TO DO IN FUSSEN, GERMANY

HOW TO GET FROM MUNICH TO NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE

To drive from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle, take the A7 motorway (direction Ulm-Kempten-Füssen) until it ends. From here, you’ll be in Füssen. Next, follow the road B17 to Schwangau, then follow signs to Hohenschwangau.

It’s a super easy and beautiful drive to the castle and the journey takes 1hr 40min. Once you arrive in Fussen, getting to Neuschwanstein is pretty self-explanatory. There are a lot of signs.

TRAVEL TIP: If you’re visiting in the warmer months, stop at Bernried am Starnberger See on your way back! It’s a gorgeous lake just off the highway.

From Munich HBF (the main train station) get on the train to Füssen. From Fussen, follow the crowds which will lead you to the Neuschwanstein bus. Then get off at the stop Hohenschwangau Neuschwanstein Castles, Schwangau.

SAVE MONEY WITH A BAYERN TICKET 

If you’re traveling on the weekend or after 9am on a weekday, purchase a Bayern ticket.  A Bayern ticket allows up to 5 adults traveling together to use unlimited all regional trains, busses and local transportation in Bavaria for one day. It costs  €23 for one person + €5 per additional person up to five people for a round trip journey. You’ll save the most money with this ticket.

If you are leaving earlier than 9am on a weekday, train tickets cost about €27 each way.

The train takes apprx 2 hours from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle.

GUIDED TOUR

While it’s very easy to travel to on your own, you can take the guesswork out of your visit by arranging a tour from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle.

NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE VISITOR INFORMATION

Opening hours.

Ticket Center

April to 15 October: 8 am-5 pm 16 October to March: 9 am-3 pm

Neuschwanstein Castle

April to 15 October: 9 am-6 pm 16 October to March: 10 am-4 pm Open Daily except 1 January and 24 / 25 / 31 December

TICKETCENTER ADDRESS

Alpseestraße 12, D-87645 Hohenschwangau Telephone +49 8362 93083-0

Regular Admission: 13 euros Reduced Admission: 12 euros Under 18: F ree.

PIN IT: NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE // EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING GERMANY’S FAIRYTALE CASTLE 

19 thoughts on “Neuschwanstein Castle // Everything You Need to Know Before Your Visit”

This is so beautiful and well done! The pictures are stunning and I enjoy reading all of your posts and the information you provide is so well organized, it is really fantastic.

Thank you Robyn!! 🙂

This is a beautiful place, I was wondering if they still sell the slides if inside the castle. I was there years ago. But my slides have gotten old. Wanted to know if where you buy the tickets they still sell the photo slides of the insides and if they would ship them to the USA. If anyone knows.

Hi Deborah, sorry for the late reply to this! I didn’t notice any slides while I was there. You can try and contact them through this site, the Bavarian Palace Dept. http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/service/contact/kontakt.asp . Hopefully they will be able to help.

Hi Deborah, I think there are no slides anymore. However, they do have an app. Even a ‘virtual reality’ app that you can walk into the castle.

Wow, thank you for your great summary! It is so well-organized, informative and clear! The pictures look fantastic! I had thought Mary’s bridge is the only easy location for photographs of the castle, now I think there may be another one. May I also know where do you take the last picture with the castle high above from the meadow? How do you get there?

Hey Michelle! Thank you so much for reading. If you’re heading into Hohenschwangau, instead of turning right (which takes past the ticket booth and up the mountain to the castle), turn left. I think you’ll drive past a parking lot.. then keep going a little further. You’ll see a big meadow on the right, it’s not far from the town at all and easy to find.

Brilliant article. I now know what to expect and how best to enjoy touring this fairy tale castle.

Merci’❣️

So happy to help! Have an amazing time!!

This was so helpful, thanks a lot of putting it together 🙂 Do you know if Queen Mary’s Bridge is accessible out of hours? I’d love to go up really early for the sunrise.

I’m not 100%, but I’m pretty sure it would be accessible. The only issue would be that you’d probably have to hike to it since no shuttles would be running that early in the morning.

Are you able to walk around the outside of the castle without a ticket? Im not sure I have time for the whole tour. Thanks, Ashley

Yes you can walk around outside without a ticket. They take your tickets as you enter the castle.

Also, the tour is only 25-30 minutes so you might have time since it’s so short 🙂

Thank you so much for the help !!! ❤

You’re so welcome! Have an amazing time at the castle 🙂

Great article! We’ll be visiting Marienbrucke in 1,5 weeks. Do you know when the first shuttles start driving up there? Thanks in advance for your answer.

Hi Saskia! The shuttles don’t operate on a fixed schedule but the first tour of Neuschwanstein is at 9am so I’d imagine the shuttles start running around 8:30-ish.

I just came back from Neuschwanstein. What a journey. It’s such a beautiful place. I took the carriage up and would just note that you should also allow plenty of time because there was a line. Also, the shuttle buses were not operating due to the snow. I also purchased the First Class Bayern ticket and ended up sitting the cabin all by myself both ways from Munich.

Hi Nat! Thanks so much for the update. Those are great additions, especially the snow information. I’ll add them to the post 🙂

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• The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle

If you’re looking for an incredible travel experience, then you simply must visit Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany.

This fairytale castle is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Europe, and it’s not hard to see why! With its stunning architecture and idyllic location nestled among the mountains, Neuschwanstein is a must-see for any traveler.

In this guide, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about visiting Neuschwanstein Castle, from how to get there to what to do once you arrive. So read on and start planning your adventure today!

* Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link. *

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Table of Contents

History of Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle was built at the request of King Ludwig II who was the king of Bavaria from 1864 until his death in 1886.

He spent his entire childhood in the Hohenschwangau castle (which was rebuilt by his father) and he was always obsessed with fairytales. Therefore the people of Bavaria often called him Swan King, Fairytale King, or even Mad King.

Once he became king he decided to build himself a true fairytale castle. The construction of Neuschwanstein Castle began in 1868 and it was originally designed to have more than 200 rooms. Unfortunately, the construction of the castle was never finished.

King Ludwig was found dead a few weeks after he moved into his new castle in 1886. By this time only 15 of the room were finished and the funds for the project has been immediately cut.

His death remained a mystery until this day – many people think he committed suicide and others think it was murder. Guess we will never know the truth.

Two months after his death Neuschwanstein Castle was opened up to the public and it quickly became one of the world’s most famous castles.

Neuschwanstein Castle usually features on the top of everyone’s Germany bucket list and as a consequence, it’s the most visited tourist attraction in the country that usually receives 1.3 million visitors every year.

The fairytale design and the breathtaking surroundings inspired many talented artists, including Walt Disney. Both Cinderella’s castle in the 1950 movie and the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland were modeled after Neuschwanstein Castle.

After seeing some pictures of this beautiful castle you can’t blame him for that, can you? If you’re interested in visiting more fairytale castles in Germany read this article about the most impressive castles in Thuringia !

Best Time to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle

As Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most beautiful fairytale castles in Europe no matter when you visit it, it will be an unforgettable experience. I’ve seen many different photos of this fairytale castle and it looks gorgeous every season!

Late spring and summer are great times for visiting if you want to see the castle with a lush green backdrop. Spring can be a bit rainy but it’s less crowded than the summer months.

As I’ve said before, Neuschwanstein castle is the most visited spot in Germany and summer is the absolute peak season in tourism.

Fall is one of the best times for visiting Neuschwanstein castle. The surrounding area looks breathtaking in fall colors! September and October are some of the driest months and the temperature is still mild. As the summer crowds are already gone, fall months also tend to be quieter.

I know Neuschwanstein Castle looks incredible when it’s covered with bright white snow but visiting in winter can be really tricky. First of all, the temperature is really cold, it gets below freezing from late November to mid-April.

Most of the hiking trails are closed due to the snow and ice and since the castle sits on top of a hill it’s not so easy to reach either. However, if you are mostly interested in seeing the interior of Neuschwanstein Castle, winter can be still a great time for visiting without the crowds.

How to Get to Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is located near a little town called Hohenschwangau in the Bavaria region (South Germany), close to the Austrian border. The castle itself is nested at the foot of the Bavarian Alps so a drop-dead gorgeous view is guaranteed.

Step 1: Getting to Hohenschwangau

Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to the area. If you plan to arrive by plane you need to fly to Munich (Germany) or Innsbruck (Austria).

The easiest way to reach Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich is by driving. You can rent a car at the Munich Airport and you need to drive 150 km (93 miles) which takes around 1h 45min.

If you are not comfortable with driving then public transportation and organized tours are also available. For more information check out my detailed guide about how to get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich !

Innsbruck is actually closer to Neuschwanstein Castle than Munich. Although there is no public transportation available your only option is to rent a car. You have to drive 115 km (71 miles, around 1h 35min) to reach Neuschwanstein Castle from Innsbruck.

Keep in mind that you need to cross the Austrian-German border during your trip! Therefore you need to notify your rental company in advance that you will leave the country.

Step 2: Getting up to the Neuschwanstein Castle

After you arrived at Hohenschwangau you need to find the path that leads up to Neuschwanstein Castle.

Actually, there are more starting points, you can see the official map right below. It takes around 30-40 minutes to reach the castle from Hohenschwangau on foot. You need to walk up on a steep uphill road for like 1.5 km (0.9 miles) so be prepared with comfy shoes!

Cars and bicycles are not allowed on the road to the castle, however, you can take a shuttle bus that departs from the Hohenschwangau Palace.

The bus can’t go directly to the castle so it will drop you off around the Marienbrücke (Mary’s Bridge) from where you still need to walk 10-15 minutes downhill.

Prices for the shuttle: €3 for the uphill trip and €2 for the downhill trip, or €3.5 for a return trip.

You can also choose to go up with a horse-drawn carriage. It won’t take you to the castle either, you need to walk 5-10 minutes uphill from the ending point of the ride. Tickets can be bought at the horse carriage driver, the uphill ride costs €8, and the downhill ride is €4.

As I don’t support this kind of animal tourism I would politely ask you not to use this service! Walking up there is not that bad and the views you get along the way will definitely make you up for your burning thighs.

If you can’t walk for some reason it’s still cheaper (and a lot more ethical) to take the shuttle bus. So please choose wisely!

Where to Stay Around Neuschwanstein Castle

You can easily visit Neuschwanstein Castle on a day trip from either Munich or Innsbruck. Munich is a really great base to explore the nearby area so if you have to choose between the two I would definitely recommend Munich!

If you choose to stay in Munich you might be interested to read a post about how to spend one day in Munich or the best day trips from Munich!

Although the castle can be easily reached from the two above-mentioned cities, I would still suggest staying near Neuschwanstein Castle for 1 or 2 nights. This way you can spend more time in the area which I highly recommend! 

There are 3 towns nearby where you can stay if you want to stay close to Neuschwanstein Castle. Below you can see my top picks for each town for every budget.

Hohenschwangau

If you wish to stay as close to Neuschwanstein Castle as possible then Hohenschwangau is your best option. No matter which accommodation you choose, you can reach the path that leads up to the castle within a few minutes.

Check out all the hotels in Hohenschwangau here !

LUXURY – Hotel Villa Ludwig und Chalet

This 4-star hotel is set directly beneath Neuschwanstein Castle. The hotel was newly opened in December 2012 and all rooms have free WiFi, wired internet, a flat-screen satellite TV, and a balcony, while some have a view of Neuschwanstein Castle.

MID-RANGE – Hotel Müller

This hotel is located between Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle on the Romantic Road. Hotel Müller offers elegant rooms and a Bavarian-style restaurant. Some rooms have a balcony or terrace offering a view of the nearby castles.

BUDGET – Hotel Garni Schlossblick

With some rooms offering wonderful views of the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles, this traditional hotel is just a 5-minute drive from Füssen and the Austrian border.

The second closest town to Neuschwanstein Castle is Schwangau. The distance between the two is 2.5 km (1.5 miles) so even if you don’t have a car you can easily walk or bike. You can find more options here but don’t expect hundreds of hotels.

Check out all the hotels in Schwangau here !

LUXURY – Hotel Das Rübezahl

This 4-star-superior hotel in Schwangau offers great views of the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles, a modern spa and beauty area, and a gourmet restaurant serving regional food.

MID-RANGE – Hotel Weinbauer

Hotel Weinbauer is a traditional hotel peacefully and centrally located in Schwangau, 1.5 km (0.9 miles) from Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles. Built in 1865, the cozy hotel is decorated with frescoes. Breakfast is served on-site.

BUDGET – Casa Patrizia

These spacious and modern apartments lie between Füssen and Schwangau in the Bavarian Alps. All apartments at Casa Patrizia feature a fully-equipped kitchen, living room, large bedroom, and bathroom.

Füssen

Füssen is the third option to stay close to Neuschwanstein Castle. The distance is 5 km (3.1 miles) so technically you can still walk but having a car or a bike is much better.

You can also call a taxi if you don’t have your own car and it will take you to Hohenschwangau within a few minutes. Check out all the hotels in Füssen here !

LUXURY – Hotel Sommer – Urlaubs- und Wellnesshotel

Located on the shores of Forggensee Lake, this 4-star spa hotel offers regional cuisine and great views of Neuschwanstein Castle and the Alps. An extensive spa area with various saunas, steam rooms, and indoor/outdoor swimming pools are available.

MID-RANGE – Hotel Hirsch

This family-run hotel lies in the heart of Füssen, within a 10-minute drive of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles. The stylish rooms at the Hotel Hirsch Füssen are individually furnished and feature Bavarian antiques. All rooms include a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom.

BUDGET – Hotel Ludwigs

Located directly in the pedestrian zone in Füssen’s old town, this traditional hotel offers free WiFi. It is 500 m from Füssen Train Station, and 5 km from Neuschwanstein Castle. Hotel Ludwigs provides bright rooms with wooden floors, elegant fabrics, and chandeliers.

Tickets for Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle

Visiting the hiking trails and the surrounding area of Neuschwanstein Castle is completely free. However, if you wish to see the castle from inside you will need to buy an entrance ticket for that.

Neuschwanstein Castle can only be visited with a guided tour that lasts for like 30 minutes. The adult tickets cost €15 and you will receive them with a fixed entrance time. Make sure to allow yourself enough time to get up to the castle otherwise your ticket will lose its validity and it can’t be refunded.

The tickets can be only bought at the Ticket Center in Hohenschwangau. Yes, that means that you can’t buy them at the entrance of the castle! So don’t try to show up without a ticket because you won’t be allowed to enter the castle at all.

And since you need to walk around 30-40 minutes from the Ticket Center to the castle on an uphill road, it can be a really unpleasant surprise if you are not prepared for it.

However, you can  reserve the tickets in advance  and if you plan to visit in high season I really recommend doing so! In this case, you will have to pay an additional €2.5 as a handling fee.

You can reserve the tickets up to 2 days before visiting and you can collect them on the day of your visit. Keep in mind that you can’t print them at home so you must collect them at the Ticket Center!

Best Things to Do Around Neuschwanstein Castle

Marienbrücke (mary’s bridge).

As I said before, walking up to the castle takes like 30-40 minutes from the town of Hohenschwangau. But the hiking trails don’t stop at the castle, you can venture further up on the hill to find some unique viewpoints of the castle.

If you are looking for that iconic castle view, you have to visit Marienbrücke for that!

But there are many other, not-so-known viewpoints around the castle. If you are curious about them, check out the list I’ve put together about the best viewpoints at Neuschwanstein Castle !

Hohenschwangau Castle

Remember the stories about the childhood home of King Ludwig II? If you are already in the area it’s worth checking out the Hohenschwangau Castle as well!

The adult tickets cost €21 and the same conditions apply to them as for the tickets to Neuschwanstein Castle.

Linderhof Palace

Bavaria is full of fairytale castles and palaces and Linderhof Palace is also one of the most famous places in the area. It is located 60 km (37 miles) from Neuschwanstein Castle so you can easily reach it within an hour by car.

The visit to the palace is only possible with a guided tour, the adult ticket costs €10.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

All the alpine towns in the Bavaria region have their own charm but Garmisch-Partenkirchen was one of my favorites! The town lies near the Zugspitze and the breathtaking views combined with the cute cobblestoned streets make this town a must-visit place on your Bavaria trip.

It takes around 35 minutes to reach the Linderhof Palace or a little more than an hour if you start from Hohenschwangau.

With its 2,962 meters (9,700 ft) height Zugspitze is the highest peak in Germany. It lies south of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Austrian-German border runs through its western summit.

You can take a cable car or a cogwheel train to go up to the top, although be prepared for the prices – the tickets cost €63 per person!

Eibsee is one of the most beautiful lakes in the whole Bavaria region! It lies at the foot of the Zugspitze so the scenery is just simply breathtaking. Eibsee is a true paradise for nature lovers – you can walk around the lake, hire a boat or just simply admire the stunning landscape.

You can reach the lake in 1.5 hours from Hohenschwangau but you can easily organize a day trip from Munich to Eibsee as well.

Planning a trip to Germany?

Then you might want to take a look at all our other travel guides about Germany. I promise, they are just as awesome as this article was!

• Germany Bucket List: 28 Best Places to Visit in Germany
• 22 Best Things to Do in Berchtesgaden, Germany
• 3 Day Berchtesgaden Itinerary: A Long Weekend in Berchtesgaden, Germany
• Lake Königssee, Germany: Best Things to Do + Tips for Visiting
• How to Find the Best Neuschwanstein Castle Viewpoints

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29 thoughts on “The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle”

Amazing photos! It’s my dream to go here!! Ahh!

Thank you Amanda! It’s really such a beautiful place!

Such beautiful photos! The castle is such a fairytale dream. Fascinating that its creation was born out of a love of fairytales!

Yeah I loved reading about its history too! So amazing 🙂

Your pictures are absolutely breathtaking girl!! I’m in love. This is my favourite castle in the world and reading your post brought back such good memories 🙂 Thanks for this!!

Aww thank you so much Jiayi! It’s definitely the most beautiful castle I’ve ever seen 🙂

Wow, what a stunning place! I’m not so much into castles myself, but my best friend is so I’d love to visit this place together with her 🙂

Oh that sounds like an amazing trip! 🙂 I’m sure she would love it.

Excellent post! I visited Neuschwanstein Castle from Germany last spring and it was literally amazing. Next time I go, I’d love to stay directly in Fussen. Unfortunately the bridge was closed when I went too. 🙁

We visited in wintertime and it was stunning. Although I spent a lot of time on my butt sliding back down the hill! I hope to return in the autumn to see it surrounded in golden trees so elements of this guide will be so useful, thanks!

Oh it can be so amazing to visit in winter! I would love to do it once 🙂

Love the extra ideas about thing to do in the area! One of my top castles I still need to visit.

I can only recommend visiting, it was an unforgettable experience!

Love your photos! Neuschwanstein Castle is so beautiful. I have been to Garmisch, but never made it to the castle – did not even realize that it is that close. Hopefully, next time when I visit Germany I will be able to make it to the castle. Thank you for sharing!

Thank you Polly, I’m so glad you liked it!

Loved this post Kriszti! It brought back amazing memories, and made me want to go back so much! Next time I will need to go inside as well, and your post will come handy for that. By the way I liked Garmisch-Partenkirchen so much too!

Thank you so much Léa! I didn’t go inside either but next time I will totally do that too! 🙂

That’s crazy how you can only visit with a tour, I love being able to explore at my own pace

Yeah it’s a little bit disappointing, it was part of the reason why we decided not to go inside. But hiking in the area was more than enough for me, the scenery is extremely gorgeous 🙂

Thank you for sharing this handy guide! I would love to visit Neuschwastein Castle!

Hope you will be able to visit soon Elina! It’s such a beautiful castle!

Kriszti, your photos are just stunning as always!! So breathtaking! I miss this place so much, it’s my favourite castle in the world! 🙂 This guide is so comprehensive! Didn’t know there were so many cool luxury hotels around! And I loved Mary’s Bridge, still dream about the view from there 🙂

Thank you so much Jiayi! I’m so happy you liked this guide 🙂 Yeah next time I would love to stay at one of the luxury hotels, they look so so amazing!

What a great blog post with all the necessary information about visiting the Neuschwanstein Castle! I have been there several times as I live in Munich. Your photos as always are really perfect. It inspires me to visit the castle again with my new camera and take some great shots. I’m definitely learning from you about how to take awesome photos and I’m sure you are an inspiration for a lot of photography enthusiasts.

Aww thank you so much, you are so sweet! I would love to visit the castle again, especially in winter or autumn!

This is on the list for sure, so beautiful. Good to know a little more of the history too and hotel options. I was worried it would be so popular that everything wad ridiculously priced

I’m so glad you liked it Emma! Luckily there are many budget hotels in the area and hiking around the Neuschwanstein Castle is totally free so it’s not expensive at all. It was such an unforgettable trip 🙂

Wow, love the comprehensive article! So much to learn from! It’s so funny: Even I am initially from Germany, I’ve never visited Neuschwanstein so far…

Omg really? You really should go sometime, it’s such a beautiful castle! 🙂

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What You Need to Know to Plan Your Visit to Neuschwanstein Castle

November 2, 2020 By Gina Posts on this site may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here .

Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany can be stressful. It doesn’t need to be. 

Neuschwanstein Castle is set high on a hilltop among incredible scenery, but it is a bit of a headache to get to if you don’t plan accordingly in advance.

If there is just one lone tip you listen to from this post, it’s this one: Get your ticket to Neuschwanstein Castle in advance and pay extra to reserve a specific time, which you can do up to two days before arriving.

And then don’t be late – which isn’t as easy as you might think. Here’s why.

The line to get tickets onsite is usually incredibly long, and even if you bought your ticket in advance you need to pick it up at the ticket center (though there is a separate, usually shorter line for this).

If you don’t already have a designated time, they will assign one when you get there, which could be longer than expected depending how many people arrive ahead of you.

That’s why if you’re short on time in Bavaria , it’s wise to upgrade to the online option of securing your time in advance. But then be sure to get there on time. “There” is important, though, as it’s not just to the ticket center, it’s to the actual castle entrance and that takes awhile.

You’ll be Arriving in Hohenschwangau…Not at Neuschwanstein Castle

Once you have your ticket in hand, you may think you’re all set to tour Neuschwanstein Castle, but not quite.

When you arrive to Neuschwanstein Castle, you’ll actually be arriving in Hohenschwangau, which is where you must park. Hohenschwangau is basically a little village wholly dedicated to tourists arriving to see the Neuschwanstein Castles and a couple other attractions, namely the Hohenschwangau Castle (skip touring this if short on time). There are also restaurants, shops, and the ticket counter I mentioned in the above paragraph.

Once you arrive in Hohenschwangau, focus on parking as fast as possible. There is only paid parking and I parked in P4, which is relatively close to where you’ll begin the journey to Neuschwanstein Castle…which is quite the journey.

Find a Parking Spot…Then Hurry Up and Wait

After you park, which can take a bit of time getting through the line of cars if it’s the height of busy season, it’s still at least another 20 minutes to get to the castle – and that’s only if you can get on one of the castle buses right away.

You can also walk or take a horse-drawn carriage up the hill to the castle, the former of which takes about 40 minutes unless you’re in great shape since it’s a steep hill. The carriage is faster, but still involves a 10-15 minute walk (as does the bus) since it can’t access any roads to drop you right in front of the entrance.

So in order to make sure you aren’t late and don’t miss out on your tour time, I’d recommend arriving in Hohenschwangau about an hour before your ticket time. It might seem like a waste of time if you’re limited in how long of a stay you have in Bavaria, but luckily the scenery around the castle is beautiful and helps make up for the length of time you need pre-tour.

Start that walk up the hill (or bus or carriage ride) straight away, and if you have spare time when you get to the top, while it away on Marienbrücke Bridge.

Marienbrücke Bridge: Cross it for the Views…if You Dare

Marienbrücke Bridge is just a few minutes walk down a sloping trail from the castle entrance and hangs magnificently between two cliffs, but I was a bit terrified to go onto it, for this reason:

But luckily the bridge didn’t collapse and I was able to get some incredible shots of Neuschwanstein Castle with Alpsee Lake glistening in the background.

If you’re there when the bridge has reopened and don’t think you’ll have time to make it to the Marienbrücke Bridge and back before your ticketed time to tour, go to the bridge after. Remember, you don’t want to miss your tour time!

Waiting to Enter Neuschwanstein Castle…No, You’re Not at Disneyland

About five to 10 minutes before the time on your ticket, head to the outdoor waiting area, where you’ll mill around until your slot is shown on the screen. Then you’ll be able to get in line to go in.

Neuschwanstein Castle is nicknamed the Sleeping Beauty castle for good reason.

Its majestic towers and turrets stretch up into the sky flanked by white and gray toned walls and elegant fortifications are reminiscent of the famous Sleeping Beauty castle at Disneyland .

Waiting to enter, it may start to feel as if you actually are at a Disney amusement park due to all the hoopla surrounding getting up to and inside the castle, but once inside, the atmosphere will immediately change as the varied play in light and mesmerizing architectural details of the castle envelope newcomers in a stately welcome.

Touring Neuschwanstein Castle…Which King Ludwig II Never Wanted

Neuschwanstein Castle was built by King Ludwig II in 1868 in order to be a place tucked away in the mountains where he could escape to and live a more private life.

Toward the end of his life, King Ludwig II was quite a recluse and Neuschwanstein Castle provided a haven for him until his death in 1886, after which the castle was swiftly opened up to the public, who have been touring the rooms of the former king ever since.

Because the castle was never intended to host other royals or guests, I thought it had more of an intimate feel in its setup and décor, despite still being a massive residence that is laid out with typical palace rooms: a hall, oratory, bedroom and dressing room, dining room, grotto and more – all of which are elaborate and intricately detailed.

Photos aren’t allowed inside Neuschwanstein Castle so you’ll have to visit it yourself to see the splendor of it.

The second floor of the castle was never completed during Ludwig’s time, though later was converted into a restaurant and gift shop where you can spend some time after your tour.

Back Down to Hohenschwangau…Through the Wilderness

It was a gorgeous day when I visited Neuschwanstein Castle so instead of waiting for the bus to go back down, I decided to walk. I was smack dab in the middle of the Bavarian Alps after all, and though the trail was a bit steep and unpaved, I had on sturdy sandals so it seemed a shame not to take some advantage of the wooded nature surrounding me.

I was glad I did.

Neuschwanstein Castle Quick Tips

Address:  Alpseestraße 12, D-87645 Hohenschwangau

Phone: +49 (0) 83 62 – 9 30 83 – 0

Neuschwanstein Castle Open Hours: March 19 to October 15, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; October 16 to March 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Open daily except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Ticket Office opens and closes one hour earlier.

Neuschwanstein Castle Cost: Adults, €12; Children, Free with Adult; Students, €11

Online Reservations: Click here  (€1.80 surcharge to reserve date and time — WORTH IT)

Bus Cost (to Neuschwanstein Castle): Uphill, €1.80; Downhill, €1; Roundtrip, €2.60

Horsedrawn Carriage Cost (to Neuschwanstein Castle): Uphill, €6; Downhill, €3

Parking Cost:  €5

Website:   www.neuschwanstein.de

Exploring more of Germany? You might also enjoy reading:

One Day in Munich

One Day in Berlin

10 Best Day Trips From Berlin

Day Trip to Oberammergau and Mittenwald

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I'm a former travel agency marketing director turned freelance travel writer. My editorial and copywriting work has been published on and in USA TODAY, Travel + Leisure, the Travel Channel Cities app, TripSavvy, and many more online and print publications. I especially love sharing my knowledge of traveling with limited vacation time, making the most of cruise ports of call, and vacationing with kids. I also enjoy sharing my favorite travel gear and products to make traveling easier!

December 21, 2017 at

Thanks for sharing your experience and suggestion!

December 3, 2017 at

I visited this castle using a tour company from Munich. They run daily bus trips and book your castle tickets so you just need to find your way up the hill in time for your tour. The bus tour was well organised and stopped at Linderhof Royal Castle and Oberammergau on the way. Would recommend it if you have an extra day in Munich.

November 2, 2017 at

I visted the castle in 1991. Things certainly have changed since then. At that time the second floor was off limits and parking was free. However the bus up the hill and the horse drawn carriage did cost. It was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for writing this update!

October 8, 2017 at

Hi Tess, that would be hard to do, unless you shorten the Munich itinerary and just do late afternoon/evening there.

Hi Sally, yes, that is correct. Though you’ll probably still have to pay for parking if not taking public transportation.

September 10, 2017 at

Beautiful views! So the ticket is just if I want to go inside the castle, right? I mean, can I do all the walk to the door and have this views, cross the bridge and take a close look to the outside of the castle without a ticket? Thanks

September 7, 2017 at

Excellent tips on visit..I have read your one day munich..can i combine this Neuschwanstein castle along with that..please suggest the possibility..I will be travelling from Frankfurt to Munich and back on the same day.

Thanks,Tess

August 17, 2017 at

Yes, you can definitely go inside! You have to pay for a tour, though. I just don’t have any pictures of the inside on this post because you aren’t allowed to take pictures.

Hi Margaret, I’m not sure about this. You may want to try emailing the tourism board in Bavaria or seeing if there is a tour company that works with travelers with mobility restrictions.

August 7, 2017 at

I will not be able to walk up the numerous steps for the tour inside the castle. Is there a way to do only a portion of rooms, then exit before going up the steep steps?

June 28, 2017 at

I would Like to ask you didn’t go inside the caslte only outside or they let go inside ? I really want to see the caslt from inside Great picture and very good advice thank you .

April 22, 2017 at

Thanks, Jessica! Enjoy your trip this summer!

April 12, 2017 at

A very complete guide! Thank you! We’ll be visiting this summer so Im glad I bumped into your blog 🙂

January 10, 2017 at

we went between Christmas and New Years and it was crazy. I read your blog after we went and you were spot on with all your advice.

October 5, 2016 at

Summer months — particularly July and August.

Hi Priya, I’ve heard that is a beautiful time to be in Bavaria! I don’t have specific tips for that timeframe, but I do know Neuschwanstein Castle can get snow around it and considering the roads are steep, I’d make sure you can get up to the castle the day you want to go before you make the journey there (check weather and call if concerned). Not sure how much of an issue that ever is, but as someone who grew up with snowy winters you never know when it can cause a road to be inaccessible so good to double check beforehand if there’s been snow in the area. Hope you enjoy your trip!

October 1, 2016 at

Do you happen to know when peak tourism season is?

September 18, 2016 at

Hi Gina, I came across your blog via Pinterest and appreciate all the tips you have given about visiting this place. I’m planning to go there this winter 2 weeks before Christmas. Any special tips on what to expect during this season? Travelling all the way from Malaysia and it’ll be my first time winter travel experience. Excited!

Cheers Priya

September 9, 2016 at

Thanks for your blog! We are headed there next month and it’s great to have some advice about the tickets as we were unsure whether to purchase them before we travel there. It looks fantastic.

August 31, 2016 at

Hi Amanda, it was pretty crowded when I was there as you can see from the picture, but there wasn’t a line — you just might have to wait for people to move before you can be right by the railing of the bridge. I would give yourself a little bit more than an hour if you want to visit the bridge beforehand just to make sure you’re not rushed. And remember you can always visit it afterward, too, if the process before your tour doesn’t go as planned. Hope you enjoy your trip there!

August 29, 2016 at

Thank you so much for this! I was wondering if we buy our tickets in advance and have to park and would love a photo on the bridge how much time should we give ourselves ? Is there a line to get on the bridge and take a photo? I know your article says 1 hour but does that include taking a photo on the bridge before your tour start time? Cannot wait to see it and appreciate any extra advice! Thank you

August 12, 2016 at

Hi Daniela, glad you found it helpful. Hope you enjoy your time there! It’s a beautiful place.

August 9, 2016 at

The lake behind the castle when viewing from Marienbrücke is actually Forggensee (lake Forggen). Alpsee is the lake behind the village of Hohenschwangau when viewing from the castle. Hope this helps!

August 8, 2016 at

Thank you so much for this! This is at the top of the list for my husband and I when I visit in September. I love to be punctual and stream line experiences as well as be informed and this was incredibly helpful!

June 2, 2016 at

It is such a beautiful place. Thanks for sharing your experience!

May 26, 2016 at

I’ve been there and it’s amazing. Would go back again tomorrow. Just wonderful. I walked and climbed right up to the top of the hill looking over. Words can’t explain the wonders of it. Thanks for sharing with me.

April 22, 2016 at

Thanks Peggy! I’m sure you’ll have a great time at the castle!

Glad to hear you found it helpful! Hope you have an amazing trip!

Thanks Susan! That’s neat you know so much about Ludwig!

April 19, 2016 at

LOVED this and pinned it — Ludwig is one my favorite historical figures, and I have a biography of him that I wrote with visitors in mind (only about 150 pages, with all the “good stuff”). I’m pinning this link because I’ll use these tips when I visit Neuschwanstein again. Thanks! http://www.amazon.com/Not-So-Happily-Ever-After/dp/1477494537/

April 2, 2016 at

Hi Gina. We are going in August with 3 teenagers and we cannot wait! Thank you for all of the excellent time saving tips. Cheers.

March 29, 2016 at

Fantastic post. Not sure what part I like better, the great advice or the awesome pictures! 🙂

March 15, 2016 at

We are visiting our granddaughter this summer and plan to visit the castle. Thanks for all the great tips. It will make it so much easier and less stressful.

February 11, 2016 at

Hi Amila! It is a pretty amazing setting for a castle. Very fairytale like. 🙂

February 10, 2016 at

wow!This is an amazing castle.Love the views and the bridge is really exciting.

February 4, 2016 at

Thanks Claire! Hope you get to visit it soon.

I am desperate to visit this castle, and your guide is brilliantly informative. When I get the chance to go, I’ll be sure to use this post and all its tips to help me plan the perfect visit. Thanks!

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Visiting the Neuschwanstein – the Dream Castle of a Mad King

Last Modified: January 25, 2023 //  by  Anda //   52 Comments

High up above the village of Hohenschwanau, the elegant silhouette of Neuschwanstein Castle rises gracefully from the mist of the Bavarian woods. A symbol of extravagant taste and refined sophistication. The dream palace of Ludwig II of Bavaria – the so-called ‘ Mad King ‘ who built it. Visiting the Neuschwanstein Castle was one of my favorite day trips from Salzburg .

Neuschwanstein is one of Germany’s most famous landmarks and visiting it is in every sense exciting. But it’s not only its slim towers and delicate embellishments that stirs curiosity. It is also the interesting history and the mystery that surrounds the short and controversial life of its monarch. 

Was Ludwig II really insane? A paranoid man obsessed with grandeur and seclusion? Or just merely an eccentric and reckless spender? To get a better sense of Neuschwanstein Castle when visiting it, you’ll need to know a little about Ludwig.

Table of Contents

Ludwig of Bavaria, a King Obsessed With Wagner

The history of neuschwanstein castle, visiting the neuschwanstein castle, practical information for visiting the castle.

The son of King Maximilian II and Queen Marie of Prussia, Ludwig grew up in Hohenschwangau , a castle built by his father near the Schwansee (Swan Lake). Maximilian had made the swan the leitmotif of Hohenschwangau so, not surprising, Ludwig loved swans.

From an early age the prince had a vivid imagination and a tendency to detach himself from reality. Always a loner, he grew up immersing himself in the heroic tales of Lohengrin , a medieval knight of the Holy Grail who rescues a princess with the aid of a swan.

At the age of thirteen, after first hearing Richard Wagner’s opera “Lohengrin,” Ludwig became a passionate admirer of Wagner’s music. But it wasn’t too long before his passion turned into an obsession. He started impersonating Wagner’s operatic characters, dressing up like them, dining with his imaginary friends, then going out for midnight carriage rides in the woods. 

Ludwig was trying all along to create a fantasy world of his own. He always identified himself with the legendary Parsifal – the medieval knight who embarked on the sacred quest for the Holy Grail. 

In 1864, the unexpected death of his father brought the eighteen year old Ludwig to the Bavarian throne. But the handsome and inexperienced boy wasn’t ready to rule. He cared nothing for the matters of the government that were so different from his personal interests: music, art and architecture.  

But Wagner wasn’t Ludwig’s only obsession. He was also fascinated with building extravagant castles. After visiting the Palace of Versailles, he returned to Bavaria determined to erect even greater edifices in his own country. Ludwig’s most grandiose project was the flamboyant castle of Neuschwanstein. He built the palace just above the village of Hohenschwangau, near his childhood home.

The construction of Neuschwanstein Castle began in 1869. Neuwchwanstein was inspired by Wagner’s operas, which themes are featured in almost every room of the palace. Even the name –  Neuschwanstein  (meaning “New Swan Stone”) – is significant. It’s derived from one of Wagner’s characters – the Swan Knight. 

Neuschwanstein Castle never had a functional purpose. Ludwig’s goal was to build a replica of an old German medieval castle, that would be a shrine to Wagner and a grand location for the composer’s operas performance.

During the construction, the anxious king lived next door, at Hohenschwangau Castle, so that he could supervise the process. From the second floor at Hohenschwangau he could peer across the valley and followed the progress through a spyglass. But the vast and opulent Neuschwanstein took much longer to build than the king expected. 

In 1884 Ludwig moved to Neuschwanstein while it was still unfinished, but stayed only 6 months in his dream castle before he was found dead, drowned in a nearby lake. Only 15 of the 200 rooms planned had been completed before Ludwig’s mysterious death. Ironically, Wagner for whom this castle was planned, died without ever setting foot in Neuschwanstein.

Visiting the Neuschwanstein Castle is quite an experience. You’ll never see another castle quite like it! The castle’s architecture follows a Medieval style.

The interior is very eccentric, overly ornate, and quite colorful. Everywhere you look, there are paintings depicting scenes from Wagner’s operas, Biblical narratives and Bavarian legends. 

   • How to Buy Tickets for Your Visit

Unfortunately, you can’t visit Neuschwanstein Castle on your own. If you want to enter the grounds, you have to book a guided tour. You can purchase tickets in advance online, or at the ticket office on the day of your visit. If you want more flexibility, you should buy them in person.

When you book your tickets online you’ll have to choose a time for your visit. Be sure to arrive a little before the appointed time, not to miss your tour. Also, be aware that you can’t print the tickets you buy online. You will have to go to the ticket office to pick them up in person. However, the line for the tickets purchased in advance is much shorter. 

  • How Long is the Castle Tour ?

Most people visit the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles together, given their proximity. Visiting both castle (plus the time between the tours) takes about 5 hours. The visit at the Neuschwanstein is actually quite short (only about 30-40 minutes) and not very informative.

Like on any guided tour, you are constantly moving at a pace that makes you feel rushed. You can’t lag behind  and you are not allowed to take any photographs in the castle. Stealing a couple of shots is really difficult, as you are under constant supervision.

   • Is Visiting Neuschwanstein Really Worth It?

After what I mentioned above, you may be thinking that touring Neuschwanstein may not justify your efforts. And I agree that it takes a bit of an effort to put this visit together. Especially if you come here from Münich.

But despite the long distance from the city and the many inconveniences of this tour, Neuschwanstein remains one of the most impressive and sophisticated castles you will ever see. 

If you like castles, don’t just stop in Hohenschwangau. Most people see Neuschwanstein as THE quintessential castle to see in Germany and forget that Bavaria has so many other castles and gorgeous cities to offer besides this. A day trip to Bamberg for instance would reveal many other treasures along the way.

   • How to Get to Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is located in Fussen, a small town just north of the Austrian border. The castle  can be reached from Munich,  either via train, rental car, or big-bus tour company.

However, depending on how much time you have in the region, I really recommend staying in one of the smaller towns near the castles. This will help you avoid the crowds and even choosing the right time of the day for the best pictures. The small village of Hohenschwangau would make a convenient base for visiting Neuschwanstein Castle and its sister, Hohenschwangau Castle. 

Pin for later: 

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Anda is an award winning travel writer, avid globetrotter and passionate photographer. She is the voice behind "Travel Notes & Beyond," a collection of stories and travel impressions from her wanderings around the world. When she is not busy writing, traveling, or editing photographs, you can find her hiking in the foothills behind her house together with her husband and their dog.

Reader Interactions

PlacesofJuma

February 14, 2024 at 2:12 am

What a fantastic guide! This castle looks so magical. What do you think – is this place also worth visiting in winter? best regards, Martina

February 14, 2024 at 5:20 pm

I’m sure it is, but I didn’t visit it in winter.

John Poulton

August 29, 2018 at 2:13 am

An interesting read, it’s an amazing castle. My wife and I visited Neuschwanstein and stayed in the nearby ‘village’. I wouldn’t recommend it as it only exists really to serve the day trippers who visit; consequently it’s a ghost town at night. There’s a lovely walk around the nearby lake.

Anda Galffy

August 29, 2018 at 10:27 am

Thanks for reading my post, John. The area about Neuschwanstein is beautiful indeed.

Branson Atterbury

August 20, 2018 at 8:30 am

Great article Anda, thanks for sharing this 🙂

I’m always really fascinated to read about people’s experiences with anything related to Austria as its a country close to my heart.

Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net)

July 20, 2018 at 9:32 am

Neuschwanstein is a definite Bucket List item for us! We love the opulence and the idea of building your very own fairy tale castle! Your photos are beautiful, and make us even more eager to visit. Thanks for sharing all of the detail, too. We’re pinning this for later, but hopefully not too much later! 😉

Victoria - Meet The Wards

July 16, 2018 at 8:31 am

Good Job getting the inside photos after you said they weren’t allowed and they don’t look rushed at all. Lol I want to visit off the background story of the mad king alone. Not sure if I’ll ever make it here but you made it look like a cool place to be.

July 15, 2018 at 1:17 pm

Neuschwanstein castle has been on my bucket list for some time now. It looks so pretty, standing on a hill shrouded in mist. Some great tips here on how to visit, thank you! I’ll pin this for later!

July 15, 2018 at 11:40 am

I love the look of Ludwig’s study, jusy the place for a bit of contemplation. I have yet to see any of Germany’s romantic castles, I’m hoping 2018 will be the year so thanks for this information!

July 14, 2018 at 2:55 pm

beautiful pictures, Anda, as always. we stayed in Ettal which made a visit a bit easier and we enjoyed boating on the nearby Alpsee lake which affords a gorgeous views onto both castles

July 14, 2018 at 5:44 pm

Lucky you. We wanted to see the lake as well, but it started snowing.

July 14, 2018 at 1:15 pm

I was there laset year with my kids but unfortunately it was impossible to visit the inside because it was fully booked for the day. So I would advice to buy the tickets in advance. Thanks for sharing, because now at least I have seen some beautiful pics.

July 14, 2018 at 1:57 pm

During the summer you can always have this bad surprise, Wendy. We were there in late fall and it was not so crowded.

July 14, 2018 at 9:32 am

We visited the castle last fall, and the opulence, setting, and history of Neuschwanstein make it a must see. Your photos captured it well. It’s ironic that he only inhabited the castle for six months.

July 14, 2018 at 6:15 am

I had no idea that you could only enter the castle as part of a guided tour! I’m glad I didn’t make the mistake of trying to visit it without one. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen pictures of the interior. It looks just as grand as outside!! Would love to visit and take the tour because it just seems magical!

beatravelling

July 14, 2018 at 2:26 am

Still have to cross this off my list, but I will someday 🙂 It looks so beautiful!

Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields

July 14, 2018 at 1:33 am

Ironically we were just near Bavaria a few weeks ago. Staying at Nonnenhorn on Lake Constance, about one and a half hours from the castle we set out one morning to visit it. We decided to take the scenic route through the mountains which took much longer than we expected so we never got there. I had read a lot of negative reviews on Trip Advisor about the crowds, long queues and rushed tours so I wasn’t too disappointed.

July 14, 2018 at 12:55 pm

I agree, Lyn. The guided tour is not great at all, but it’s the only way to see the interior of the castle. I wanted very much to see Neuschwanstein and after two failed attempts, the third time we managed. The lines were not so long because it was mid October. However, in October the weather wasn’t too good, as you can see from my pictures.

California Globetrotter

July 13, 2018 at 6:56 pm

So jealous that you have interior pictures of Neuschwanstein because it’s not allowed. Did you sneak the photos or did you get a special permission?

July 14, 2018 at 12:57 pm

Hahaha, I am ashamed to say but I sneaked them, of course. You know there is not much room to negotiate with the Germans. Once they say “no” is NO!

July 13, 2018 at 6:49 pm

The timing for this post couldn’t be more perfect – I have a day planned to go to Neuschwanstein in September. Definitely bookmarking this! I enjoyed reading the background and history of Ludwig and the castle. I had no idea that he was so eccentric but I guess I should’ve guessed with the Mad King Ludwig title. 🙂

July 14, 2018 at 12:58 pm

Have a wonderful visit, Jill. I’m looking forward to hear about your experience at Neuschwanstein.

Eric Burkhart

July 12, 2022 at 10:09 pm

Many people seem interested in learning more about Ludwig II. You never mentioned the issue of his sexuality which was no secret by the 1870s. It certainly played a part in his forced abdication and may have been connected to his untimely death. Thank you for sharing your experiences, lovely photos and truly useful information about visiting Neuschwanstein.

Rhonda Albom

July 13, 2018 at 2:32 pm

Neuschwanstein is definitely a fairy tale castle and the interior is gorgeous. It is no wonder that so many people visit it every year. I did not know all the history and background behind Ludwig II.

July 13, 2018 at 12:24 pm

I haven’t been yet, but it has been on my radar. It just looks so beautiful. I like your suggestion about staying in a town close to the castle.

Jessica - Independent Travel Cats

July 13, 2018 at 12:03 pm

It is a such a stunning castle and beautiful surroundings. We enjoyed our visit, but felt the tour a bit rushed and not much to see in the castle since much of it was never finished. We preferred the tour of Hohenschwangau.

July 13, 2018 at 12:05 pm

I agree, Jessica. I prefer Hohenschwangau Castle more.

July 13, 2018 at 4:05 pm

Now that you live closer, you should go Anisa!

July 12, 2018 at 5:33 pm

This castle has been on my list of places to eventually visit… because I knew its story. It’s a fairytale castle, with the setting around that no one really ever lived in it. Fascinating. Love your photos!

March 16, 2016 at 2:24 pm

I am surprised to find no mention of the performance Grotto, the most visually striking element of the castle, complete with gold covered Swan Boat designed and built for an audience of one.

March 16, 2016 at 3:27 pm

Yea, we missed the Grotto. Unfortunately, we visited both castles that day and time was really tight. While we were visiting Neuschwanstein, a snow storm started out of the blue (totally unexpected for September.) We were scheduled to be back in Munich that evening and we feared we may get stuck in the snow with no snow tires, so we had to cut our visit short. I’m planning to go back though, I heard the Grotto is really beautiful.

February 17, 2016 at 2:39 am

Thanks for sharing this story! The castle is stunning, and the history behind it is fascinating. King Ludwig sounded like quite an eccentric character. Do you know if anyone lived in it after he died?

February 17, 2016 at 5:38 pm

Neuschwanstein was never inhabited, except for the few days when Ludwig lived in it before his passing.

Joe Ankenbauer

February 15, 2016 at 2:52 pm

One of my favorite castles in Europe! Glad to know some of the history behind it as well!

February 15, 2016 at 5:18 pm

Good to hear that, Joe.

February 15, 2016 at 3:22 am

The castle is absolutely stunning and fairly tale-like, but what I love is learning the history behind it. Sad that he was only able to live in it for a short time. Thanks for sharing the story!

February 14, 2016 at 9:15 pm

Wow its like a fairytale, the interior is breathtakingly beautiful. Thank you for the history lesson, learned lots i didn’t know before!

February 14, 2016 at 2:06 pm

A very interesting story! Everybody tells me it’s much better from outside than inside, but I still have to go there and find out myself 🙂

February 14, 2016 at 8:25 am

What a fascinating story! And a beautiful castle, he may have been a bit mad but he certainly had style;-)

February 14, 2016 at 10:23 am

Ha,ha,ha I thought so too, Lotte.

Brenda Tolentino

February 14, 2016 at 7:08 am

Thank you for bringing us the story of King Ludwig. I just absolutely love history lessons, I imagine his people didn’t appreciate any of his nutty explorations or incurring debt. Good for us though that we can reap the rewards and appreciate this fairy tale now. I wonder if he drowned in the lake nearby because of one of his crazy dreamscapes?

February 14, 2016 at 10:24 am

There is a lot of truth in that, Brenda. But for the extravagance of some rich people in the past, we wouldn’t have so many architectural marvels today.

Natalie Deduck

February 13, 2016 at 8:14 pm

Tks for sharing such an interesting story. I didn’t know anything about King Ludwig. Your pictures are just stunning! Congrats!

Ssrah Christie

February 13, 2016 at 11:07 am

This is so interesting , and what a breathtaking castle, like something from a fairy tale x

tammyonthemove

February 13, 2016 at 5:42 am

I love love love Neuschwanstein. I have been twice. Not only is the castle something out of a fairytale, but the surrounding mountains are stunning too. I love going on hikes in the area as you can always see the castle at some stage too.

February 11, 2016 at 5:10 pm

But what a dream of a castle.. Great photos too.. too bad he only lived there for such a short time!

Suze - Luxury Columnist

February 11, 2016 at 10:50 am

What a fascinating insight, I didn’t realise that Ludwig built up such huge debts building castles – at any rate the place is magnificent

Sand In My Suitcase

February 11, 2016 at 6:27 am

Oh, that’s quite sad that the king only lived for such a short time in his dream castle. But what a dream of a castle it is! Your photos really show off more of its opulent magnificence than we’d seen before in the usual exterior photos. It would be something to tour in person…

February 10, 2016 at 10:40 am

Quite a charming castle, although it seems more like a fantasy than a real residence. The creation of a troubled mind…

February 10, 2016 at 10:43 am

I believe so too.

February 10, 2016 at 10:36 am

I lived in Germany for a few years and was fortunate to visit some of Ludwig’s castles. Neuschwanstein is definitely the most beautiful one. Ludwig’s story is really fascinating and perhaps gives more meaning to this castle that was never inhabited.

February 10, 2016 at 10:46 am

Yes, I remember when you lived there. Do you miss it?

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Navigation:

Main information:, how to get there.

Neuschwanstein Castle is situated near Schwangau and Füssen in the Allgäu.

The path to the castle starts in the village of Hohenschwangau, and this is also your last opportunity to park.

By car or coach

Take the A7 motorway (direction Ulm-Kempten-Füssen) until the end. From Füssen first follow the road B17 to Schwangau, then the signs to Hohenschwangau or take the A7 motorway until the exit Kempten and then the road B12 to Marktoberdorf. Follow the road B16 to Roßhaupten – OAL I to Buching – and then take the road B17 to Schwangau and Hohenschwangau.

The village of Hohenschwangau has only private parking facilities .

By public transport

Take the train ( www.bahn.com ) to Füssen, then the bus to Neuschwanstein (stop "Hohenschwangau Neuschwanstein Castles, Schwangau"). Information on bus routes and timetables can be found at: www.rvo-bus.de

How to get from Hohenschwangau (car park /ticket center) to Neuschwanstein Castle

Please note: Entrance tickets for Neuschwanstein Castle can only be bought at the Ticket Center Hohenschwangau !

Map of the the village of Hohenschwangau with special information for visitors (section); you will find the complete map with a legend on www.hohenschwangau.de

Please be aware that cars and bicycles are not allowed on the road to Neuschwanstein Castle (Neuschwansteinstraße) and the road may only be used with the permission of the Neuschwanstein Castle administrative office. If you are a cyclist, please use the cycle path that branches off Neuschwansteinstraße after about 100 m .

It takes about 30-40 minutes to walk from the ticket centre to the castle (around 1.5 km on a steep uphill road).

By horse-drawn carriage

Departure point: Hotel Müller, Alpseestraße, Hohenschwangau

Because of space limitations, the carriages cannot go right up to the castle . From the carriage turning area beneath the castle it is an uphill walk of about 450 metres or 10-15 minutes to the castle entrance.

Price: Uphill trip 8 euros / downhill trip 4 euros (as of 1 August 2022 )

Tickets can be bought from the carriage driver.

The carriages operate all year round and shuttle according to demand, with no fixed timetable.

Reservations are unfortunately not possible.

Current information you will find on the website of the Ticket Center in Hohenschwangau: www.hohenschwangau.de

Please note that the carriage service is not operated by the Bavarian Palace Administration , but by independent companies.

With the shuttle bus

Departure point: parking P4 (below Hohenschwangau Palace)

Because of space limitations, the buses cannot be driven right up to the castle , but go via Bleckenaustraße to the Jugend lookout point (Marienbrücke) above the castle. From here there is a downhill walk of about 500 metres or 10-15 minutes (gradient of 12-19%) to the castle entrance.

Price: Uphill trip 3 euros / downhill trip 2 euro / return trip 3.50 euros (as of May 2023)

The buses operate all year round and shuttle between Schlosshotel Lisl and Neuschwanstein Castle according to demand, i.e. without a fixed timetable.

Tickets can be obtained on the bus.

The buses do not run if there is snow or ice on the roads. Current information you will find on the website of the Ticket Center in Hohenschwangau: www.hohenschwangau.de .

Please note that the bus service is not operated by the Bavarian Palace Administration , but by independent companies.

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How to reach the castles...

By walking....

You can reach Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein castle on foot. The respective routes are well signposted. 

The duration (walking time) uphill on foot from Ticket Center :

• to Hohenschwangau castle approx. 20/ 30 minutes.    
• to Neuschwanstein castle approx. 40 minutes.

Map of Hohenschwangau

Shuttle-bus to Neuschwanstein castle

Shuttle-bus to Neuschwanstein castle:

• Bus stop valley: at the "Alpsee" parking are P4 (below Hohenschwangau castle)
• Bus stop castle:  Viewpoint "Jugend"/ Mary's bridge (above Neuschwanstein castle) 

Prices per person:

• Uphill: € 3,00    
• Downhill: € 2,00
• Roundtrip: € 3,50

Children price:

• 0 - 6 years: free of charge
• 7 - 12 years: - Uphill:  € 1,50 - Downhill:  € 1,00 - Roundtrip:  € 2,00

You pay at the cashier at the bus station or directly to the bus driver (no credit cards).

Groups at least 10 persons get only one ticket free for the tour guide.  No validity at the bus: Königscard, SchwangauCard, DB BayernTicket (Bavarian ticket) and Deutschland-Ticket (49 Euro D-Ticket).

The shuttle-bus has no fixed departure times. The bus operates about every 20 minutes. 

In the summer season: •    First departure uphill: at 8.00 am •    Last departure uphill: at 5.30 pm •    Last transfer downhill: at 6.45 pm In the winter season (in suitable weather conditions - no ice and no snow): •    First departure uphill: at 9.00 am •    Last departure uphill: at 3.30 pm •    Last transfer downhill: at 5.00 pm 

IMPORTANT NOTE: The bus does not go directly to Neuschwanstein castle. There is a steep 15 minutes walking from the bus-stop "Jugend"/ Mary's bridge to the entrance of Neuschwanstein castle. The viewpoint "Jugend" is approx. 5 minutes walking from the bus-stop-castle. Pets are not allowed in the bus-shuttle. During winter time limited service only depending on the weather.  The shuttle bus only operates in suitable weather conditions (no snow or ice). ⇒ No bus service on December 24th, December 25th, December 31st and January 1st.

Horse carriage to Hohenschwangau castle

Horse carriage to Hohenschwangau castle:

• Carriage stop valley: in front of the Ticket Center
• Carriage stop castle: directly at the Hohenschwangau castle
• Uphill: € 5,50
• Downhill: € 3,00

You pay directly to the horse carriage driver.

Duration of the ride : approx. 10 minutes.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  During the winter opening hours of the castle, there is no carriage transfer to Hohenschwangau castle.   

Horse carriage to Neuschwanstein castle

Horse carriages to Neuschwanstein castle:

• Carriage stop valley : across the Hotel Müller
• Carriage stop castle : below Neuschwanstein castle

Prices per person:

• Uphill: € 8,00
• Downhill: € 4,00

Duration of the ride : approx. 20 minutes.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  The horse carriage do not drive directly to the main entrance of the Neuschwanstein castle. You need to walk approx. 15 minutes uphill from the carriage-stop to the entrance of the castle. The horse carriages run the whole year around. 

IMPORTANT NOTE

• The transportation campanies are independent and different private companies. They run independently according to the demand of the visitors, but without schedule . Please note, that you are responsible for your own schedule.
• The horse carriages and the shuttle-buses cannot be reserved.
• During all holidays and specially during the summer months and around Christmas / New Year, there are considerable waiting times at the bus-stops and carriage-stops. Therefore, you have to calculate enough time for possible queues at the departure-stops.
• The shuttle-bus is unsuitable for mobility-impaired guests, since the path from the bus-stop "Marienbrücke" (Mary's bridge) down to the Neuschwanstein Castle is very steep. We recommend to use the horse carriage to Neuschwanstein castle. From the terminal-stop below the castle you need to go uphill 10-15 minutes to the main entrance of the castle. Please note, that the horse carriage has no ramp. 
• You can use the transport facilities even without an entrance ticket for the castles.

The Most Magical Day Trip from Munich: How to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle

Last Updated: February 16, 2022

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The day trip from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle is one of my favourite trips to do. Read on for a full guide to making this visit for yourself!

Of all the gorgeous castles near Munich, none is more famous or sought after than beautiful Schloss Neuschwanstein, glittering like a fairytale from its home in the Bavarian Alps.

Seeing as how a day trip from Munich to Neuschwanstein is definitely one of the most popular things to do for visitors, I figured it was finally time to pen a thorough guide on how to have the perfect visit.

And trust me, I don’t mind. Whenever friends come to visit me and say “you probably don’t want to tag along since you’ve done it so many times”, I’m practically foaming at the mouth, tiara half-adjusted, bellowing “OF COURSE I’LL COME. HOLD MY GOWN.”

(At this point, I could honestly sleepwalk the journey from Munich to Neuschwanstein if I really wanted).

So, eager to see this famous castle near Munich for yourself? If you want insider tips from an obsessive Disney princess wannabe, then this guide is for you. Here’s everything you need to know to conquer a flawless day from Munich, Germany to Neuschwanstein Castle. Enjoy!

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First – How Far is Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich?

The distance from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle is about 120km.

By car, this would take 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours to drive.

By public transportation (note that there are no direct connections by train from Munich to Neuschwanstein), it would be about 3 hours total, including the train ride from Munich HBF to Füssen (2 hours), then a short bus ride from Füssen to the base of the castles (10 minutes) and finally an ascent to the castle which you can do by foot, horse carriage, or by shuttle bus when weather permits. NOTE all of the options will involve at least 10 minutes of walking as the buses and carriages don’t go right to the castle entrance.

… And by pumpkin carriage, well… I’m still waiting on the official numbers on that one.

How to Get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich: Step by Step

Alright, now let’s get to the planny stuff! The journey from Munich to Neuschwanstein is a relatively simple and straightforward one so there’s no need to be too stressed. Here are the many options at your disposal:

OPTION A: (Most Convenient!) – Book a tour

Hands down, the most convenient way to tour Neuschwanstein from Munich is to book a tour. While this won’t be the cheapest option, I highly recommend it if you’re travelling as a family with kids or have older members of your party. Doing Neuschwanstein from Munich with public transport isn’t tough, but it’s a long and draining day, so often having transport and a guide arranged will do wonders for ease of mind.

If budget allows, the most convenient option is to hire a driver for the day, which allows you ultimate control, flexibility and privacy. Welcome Pickups offers this service with English speaking drivers who pick you up from your hotel, and honestly, if you are travelling with a small group, this might be worth it! Click here to check rates/availability.

Otherwise, there are plenty of tours of Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich that you can book. Here are a few options with consistent 5* reviews:

Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace Tour (Recommended!): Neuschwanstein is lovely but I actually way prefer the interior tour of the lesser-known Linderhof Palace, which is where King Ludwig II spent much more time than Neuschwanstein anyway. The trouble is, Linderhof is much tougher to get to with public transport, so combining the two in one tour makes splurging on private transportation much more worth it in my opinion. Click here for reviews and availability.

NOTE: There aren’t a lot of Neuschwanstein Castle tours from Munich by luxury coach, but they do offer a ‘Premium’ version of this trip which includes snacks and a nicer vehicle. Click here to learn more.

Half day tour to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich: While most Munich tours to Neuschwanstein take 9-11 hours (a pretty full day), this tour bills itself as a half-day, lasting only 6 hours and departing Munich at 7am to ensure you get first dibs on the castle. Unlike most other tours, the package includes skip-the-line tickets to the castle and the tour as well. Click here for reviews and availability.

Neuschwanstein Castle Luxury Bus and Bike Tour from Munich: If you want to enjoy more of an active experience during your Munich to Neuschwanstein day trip, this tour includes transportation by luxury coach AND a guided cycling tour near the castles + a lake swim.  Click here for reviews and availability.

Here’s a table so you can quickly compare your options:

OPTION B: (Cheapest!) – Use a Bayern Ticket & take public transportation

The journey from Munich to Neuschwanstein is broken up into two legs: firstly, you need to get from Munich HBF to Füssen, then take a bus from Füssen to Schwangau, the village at the foot of Neuschwanstein Castle.

I highly advise you purchase a Bayern ticket ( which you can buy online here ) for this day trip because it will cover you on the train rides to/from Munich and Füssen, as well as the bus ride to Neuschwanstein. This will save you LOADS of money, especially if you’re travelling in a group. Click here for my Bayern Ticket guide.

NOTE: Currently, unless you book a tour, there is no direct bus from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle, so if you’re doing the entire trip through public transportation, you’ll need to have at least this one transfer in Füssen.

Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle by Public Transportation: Step by Step

STEP ONE: Catch the Munich to Füssen train. This route is serviced once per hour, BUT there is only a direct train every two hours . While transferring isn’t too much of a hassle, I like to keep things simple, so if I were you, I would go for the direct trains which leave at 9:52, 11:52, and every two hours after that. This Munich to Füssen route is covered by your Bayern ticket, which you can either buy at the machine the day-of or online here . On weekdays, it’s only valid after 9am, so be wary of that. If it’s a weekend though, it’s valid from midnight onwards, so you can catch an even earlier train if you wish!

To check out the Munich – Füssen train timetable for your day of departure, make use of either the official DB website or the DB app .

As I mentioned though, trains go from Munich to Füssen every hour, w/ every second one being direct, as per this pattern:

STEP TWO: Catch the bus from Füssen to Schwangau. You have the option of either the 73 bus (direction Steingaden / Garmisch-Partenkirchen) or 78 bus (direction Schwangau), getting off at Hohenschwangau. Just follow the mob as you exit the train. It’ll be very obvious.

STEP THREE: Once at Hohenschwangau, if you intend to tour the inside of Neuschwanstein, proceed to the Ticket Office to get tickets. Line-ups can get long in peak season, and they’ve been known to even sell out, so it’s highly advisable you reserve tickets in advance here.

STEP FOUR: Remember, the bus stop and ticket center are at the very base of the big mountain/hill that Neuschwanstein is on. To get to Neuschwanstein, you can either continue by foot, shuttle bus or horse carriage. Horse carriage rides cost € 6,00 to go uphill and € 3,00 to go downhill, whereas the shuttle buses cost € 1,80 for uphill, € 1,00 for downhill and € 2,60 roundtrip.

Anyways… Yaaay! You’re all done! Welcome to beautiful Neuschwanstein Castle 🙂

OPTION C: Drive from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle

If you want to do the day trip from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle by car. here’s how you do it:

(Taken from the official Neuschwanstein website): “Take the A7 motorway (direction Ulm-Kempten-Füssen) until the end. From Füssen first follow the road B17 to Schwangau, then the signs to Hohenschwangau or take the A7 motorway until the exit Kempten and then the road B12 to Marktoberdorf. Follow the road B16 to Roßhaupten – OAL I to Buching – and then take the road B17 to Schwangau and Hohenschwangau.”

Remember, this will lead you to the parking lot in Hohenschwangau, but not all the way up to the big hill that Neuschwanstein is perched on. To get up there, you’ll need to take an additional walk, shuttle bus or horse carriage ride (which is very touristy but fun!)

Horse carriage rides cost € 6,00 to go uphill and € 3,00 to go downhill, whereas the shuttle buses cost € 1,80 for uphill, € 1,00 for downhill and € 2,60 roundtrip.

Getting Back from Neuschwanstein Castle to Munich

After getting from Munich to Neuschwanstein on your own, getting back should be a breeze.

The main thing to note is of course that the final REGIONAL train leaving from Füssen back to Munich is at 6:05pm.

According to timetables, there are trains that leave after that, but they require transfers onto high speed trains like the TGV and ICE that are not covered by the Bayern Ticket.

So, remember to hop on that last train if you want to get back to Munich using your Bayern ticket.

Important Must-Knows Before Your Munich Day Trip to Neuschwanstein

To ensure you have the smoothest trip possible, here are my top tips for you!

1. Reserve Neuschwanstein tour tickets in advance if you want them

Is the tour of Neuschwanstein’s interior worth it? Having done it, I feel it’s quite meh. The tour is very short and rushed (35 minutes total) and to me, the interior isn’t THAT incredible compared to the outside and other palaces in Bavaria. The view is, however, stunning.

If you feel like you do want to see the inside of the castle though, then I strongly advise you reserve a ticket in advance for a small additional fee. They sometimes sell out in the ticket office and it’s better safe than sorry.  Click here to reserve (must be done at least two days in advance).

2. Check the weather, always

Don’t assume that Neuschwanstein’s weather will be the same as Munich’s! Remember to check the weather before you head out because it’s not too fun to go sightseeing in the rain, plus, in heavy snow a lot of the routes close up. On that note…

3. Check if anything is closed

Often in times of bad weather (or simply renovation work), parts of Neuschwanstein, the Marienbrucke bridge and the paths around the castle will be closed. The best way to find out is to call the ticket center or check the official website here.

4. Have cash with you

Cash is king in Germany! That’s one of the important must knows to keep in mind before your visit ( click here for more ). If you want to take the horse carriage ride, buy fried donuts as snacks, etc., you’ll need cash, so make sure to have some on you for your Neuschwanstein day trip.

5. Bring some snacks and food

Getting from Munich to Neuschwanstein is a long day trip, so make sure you have plenty of water and snacks to keep you going.

While there are food option around the castles, you’ll mostly be restricted to typical Bavarian fare, so if that doesn’t sound like your thing, also pack some sandwiches or something to keep the hanger at bay.

You can even treat yourself to a nice picnic by the lake!

6. Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate shoes

You’ll be doing a LOT of walking during your visit to Neuschwanstein, so you need to make the shoes you pack are comfortable and good to walk up/downhill.

Bring an extra layer for warmth

You’ll be up in the mountains after all! I find the weather at Neuschwanstein to be quite chilly… and quick-changing as well.

Even when the sun’s out, there’s usually a cold breeze that randomly hits, so bring an extra layer or scarf to make sure you don’t freeze.

Suggested Itinerary for Your Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich

Okay, so I’ve already given you the full scoop on how to do your Munich to Neuschwanstein day trip with public transport, but here’s my full suggested itinerary for you. Step by step, here’s the best way to get to Neuschwanstein castle from Munich in a day.

OPTIONAL: Reserve your ticket for your Neuschwanstein tour

If you want to see the inside of the castle, then I strongly advise you reserve a ticket in advance for a small additional fee. They sometimes sell out in the ticket office and it’s better safe than sorry when your bucket list is at stake!  Click here to reserve (must be done at least two days in advance).

Purchase a Bayern Ticket for the day

You can buy this online here or in-person on the day of your trip. As I mentioned before, these special tickets are valid from 9am-3am on weekdays (from midnight onwards on weekends and holidays), and offer one day of unlimited access to regional and local transport within Bavaria. Yes, you can use your Bayern Ticket from Munich to Füssen AND back, along with the roundtrip bus ride to/from the castles from Füssen, which makes it the best deal.

How to get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich (my suggested step by step itinerary):

Weekdays: Catch the 9:52am train bound for Füssen from Munich Hauptbahnhof

On weekends and holidays, I might even catch the 7:52am train to make sure you get there before all the crowds arrive. If you want a leg up over the rest of the crowds when you catch the bus to Neuschwanstein, then sit at the front of the train so you can run ahead of everyone else 😉

Upon arrival, take either the 73 or 78 bus from Füssen to Schwangau 

When your bus arrives at Füssen, follow the Hunger Gamey mob (or I guess, lead the mob if you followed my tip earlier) and run over to the bus bay right next to the train station. You can now either hop on the 73 bus (direction Steingaden / Garmisch-Partenkirchen) or 78 bus (direction Schwangau), getting off at Hohenschwangau.

NOTE: No need to actually run! The buses carry a surprising amount of people. Don’t hurt yourself before you actually get to the castle haha.

When you arrive at Hohenschwangau, go to the ticket office (if you want to tour the inside of Neuschwanstein, that is)

If you’ve decided you want to do a tour, head ASAP to the ticket office to pick up tickets for your tour of the castle. You should allow for at least an hour before your desired tour time (more during peak season, as it can get busy!). If you take the 9:52am train, I suggest you go for the tour at 1:55pm.

Head up to the castle by foot, shuttle bus or horse carriage

NOTE: All of these options will require walking. The shuttle bus drops you above the castle, so you walk about 10 min downhill, whereas the horse carriages park below the castle, about a 10 min walk uphill.

Enjoy Neuschwanstein and its surroundings!

Remember your ticketed tour time and don’t miss it! Otherwise, walk around and enjoy the stunning surroundings. One of my favourite things about visiting Neuschwanstein is actually the view you get of Alpsee and Hohenschwangau Castle on the walk up to the Marienbrucke Bridge.

NOTE: The bridge gets very very very busy, but you’ll find the crowds thin out as you walk over to the other side. If you’re feeling active, you can even a hike a little on the other side of the bridge for some excellent views.

Head back down and GET DONUTS!

When you’re done taking a million photos, head back down. Along the path, you might smell some fried goodness known as Quarkbällchen.

They are super delicious and I highly recommend you try them! They’re like deep fried donuts made with fresh cheese. So good!

Take the bus back and explore Füssen

Füssen has got to be one of the most underrated and underloved towns in Germany. SO many visitors come through the station just to visit the nearby castles, and spend zero time in the town itself at all.

If you have time, I highly encourage you explore Füssen just a little. A few points of interest include the Altstadt (Old Town), Hohes Schloss and Lechfall.

NOTE: Just be mindful of the time and ensure that you don’t miss the last regional train back to Munich, which leaves at 6:06pm. There ARE trains that leave later, but these are not regional trains, and your Bayern ticket will not cover them.

Take the train back to Munich, and take a nap on the way home 😉

The day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich is a long, tiring and busy one… but how worth it, right?

Treat yourself to a little snooze on the way back to Munich, or maybe start sifting through the ten bajillion photos you’ve just captured. Don’t worry – I simply call it the Neuschwanstein effect.

Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle Day Trip FAQ

How far is Neuschwanstein from Munich?

About 120km (75 miles) separate the two. By car, the distance is about 2 hours, and by public transportation the total trip would be 3.

Is there an airport near Neuschwanstein Castle?

The closest airport to Neuschwanstein Castle is actually the (very little known) Memmingen Airport, AKA Allgäu Airport Memmingen. This airport services many low cost airlines operating within Europe, and is less than a 1 hour drive from Neuschwanstein.

Otherwise, the closest airport would be Munich International Airport (about a 2 hour drive) or the Salzburg Airport (about a 3 hour drive).

What’s the closest train station to Neuschwanstein Castle?

The closest train station to Neuschwanstein Castle is Füssen, which is only a 10 minute bus ride away from the base of the castles.

How do I buy train tickets from Munich to Neuschwanstein?

While there’s no direct train from Munich to Neuschwanstein, you can buy a Bayern Ticket which covers you for your train from Munich to Füssen, then your bus from Füssen to Neuschwanstein. Bayern Tickets can be purchased on the day of from any DB ticket machine, or you can get one in advance here.

Confused about the Bayern Ticket? This post has a detailed step by step tutorial on how to buy them.

Can I do a half day tour to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich?

Most Munich tours to Neuschwanstein take 9-11 hours, but I have found one tour online that bills itself as a half-day, lasting only 6 hours and departing Munich at 7am to ensure you get there as early as possible.

Unlike most other tours, the package includes skip-the-line tickets to the castle and the tour as well. Click here for reviews and availability.

Can I buy Neuschwanstein tickets in advance?

Without booking a tour, it’s not possible to BUY Neuschwanstein tickets in advance, but you can reserve them for a small fee (and pay at the ticket office when you arrive). You can reserve tickets up to 2 days before your visit here.

Am I able to use the Bayern Ticket from Munich to Füssen?

Yes, so long as you are using regional trains only (no high speed ones or anything), Munich to Füssen Bayern ticket validity shouldn’t be an issue.

What is scenery like on the train ride from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle?

It’s honestly one of my favourite train rides in Europe!  It’s beautiful any season, I assure you and passes by endless beautiful mountains and cute towns!

What’s the best Neuschwanstein Castle tour from Munich?

“Best” depends on what you’re looking for! The truth is, most tours from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle offer the same service – they mostly just transport you to the castle via coach, with minor differences.

Some offer additional activities like a guided cycling tour, others offer perks like skip-the-line tickets, so “best” would depend on your priorities.

To help you out, here’s a comparison chart of different tours you can book:

Is it possible to book a full royal castle tour from Munich?

Yes! Realistically, you wouldn’t be able to visit more than 3 castles in a day (Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau and Linderhof for example) but you CAN book this tour here that brings you to these three in one day.

How do I get from Munich airport to Neuschwanstein Castle?

It’s easy to get from Munich Airport to Neuschwanstein Castle – just hop on the S1 or S8 at the airport, get to the Munich HBF and follow the directions above to get from Munich HBF to Neuschwanstein.

Can I book a Neuschwanstein Castle tour from Füssen?

If you’re staying in Füssen and not Munich, I’d say doing the trip to Neuschwanstein independently is very simple and you probably won’t need a tour for it.

BUT, if you do want an expert guide (to learn more about the area) or want to make the process easier by also getting skip-the-line tickets taken care of for you, click here for a tour that you can book from Füssen to Neuschwanstein that includes skip-the-line castle admission and a horse-drawn carriage ride.

Any more questions about how to reach Neuschwanstein castle from Munich?

I hope you enjoyed this thorough guide to your Munich -> Neuschwanstein Castle day trip! If you have any more questions, let me know in the comments!

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9 thoughts on “The Most Magical Day Trip from Munich: How to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle”

Hi Christina

The castle looks lovely and your advice on the bayern ticket is fantastic. We may consider doing it on a Sunday to beat the crowds as we are not bound by the 9am restriction. However, we have just read that there is extensive maintenance at the front of the castle which has resulted in a lot of scaffolding. Whilst we may still get a great sideview, the front view is going to look ugly and I feel it may reduce our overall experience of this place. Given this fact and that we also have to travel almost 3hrs from Munich, do you think it is still worth going or better to visit when it is all done? It’s only that there are so many other places in Bavaria that we would like to visit so we do have other options for sightseeing and day trips. What is your honest opinion?

Hi Jeff! I don’t know how bad the scaffolding is right now, but I would recommend searching the Neuschwanstein Castle location tag on Instagram and looking at recent photos/Stories to see what the situation is. I just had a quick look and it seems there is some scaffolding on parts of the main gate/courtyard, but the most famous view that people get from the bridge is undisturbed [based on photos anyway]. If that’s the case, then I don’t think the scaffolding will impact your experience too much, but like you said, there are loads of amazing places in Bavaria that are worth seeing too that aren’t scaffolded haha. Either way I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time! Safe travels 🙂

one of the nest blog read so far.. so much details a for a person like me who loves to plan. photos in your blog are from which month?As We are planning a trip to this castle from munich during our euro trip in coming December.

Love your articles (I’ve read way to many of them). Is there any easy public transportation route from the castle to Linderhof?

Hi Michael, so happy to hear you’ve been enjoying my site! I’ve only ever been to Linderhof with a car, but according to the official website ( https://www.schlosslinderhof.de/englisch/tourist/howtoget.htm ) you can get there by public transport by taking a train to Oberammergau and then Bus 9622 🙂

Hi Christina, Thanks for sharing your itinerary and all the tips plus ticket hack generously! Im glad that I saw your article and it will definitely help us a lot for our upcoming trip to Neuschwanstein Castle. Again, thanks for writing up such a informative article and have a great day!

You’re welcome, Joe! Hope you have a great trip 🙂

This article was so helpful! Just visited Neuschwanstein Castle and loved it! Here’s a beautiful drone video of the castle in winter I thought I’d share 🙂

https://www.airvuz.com/video/Neuschwanstein-castle–winter?id=5c38f1c96c8ced339574dd8b

Hi Christina! I’m making all of my wintery/Christmas-y dreams come true this year and heading to Munich/Bavaria in December. I’ve been doing hours of research to plan out our itinerary and I’m SO happy I landed on your site. This article – and your others about Munich and surrounding areas – have been the absolute best and most helpful articles I’ve found! I’m SO excited 🙂 THANK YOU!

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