A Little Background
Visiting this dreamy castle in Bavaria is like stepping out of everyday life and into a fairy tale. Its tall white towers and grand balconies overlooking the forests below are fit for a true princess. Walt Disney certainly thought so. He used Neuschwanstein as inspiration for creating Sleeping Beauty’s castle, an image recognized around the world.
Although Disney created his version for a princess, the real Neuschwanstein was built by King Ludwig II as a private home for himself. He grew up nearby, in the much smaller Hohenschwangau Castle, but dreamed of something much greater.
Construction began in 1868 (relatively recent for a castle!) atop the ruins of two smaller castles in the majestic Bavarian Alps. The castle’s exterior was modeled after old fashioned, medieval style architecture. The inside
Ludwig was able to occupy a small portion of the castle before his death in 1886. Unfortunately, he died years before the outside was
When to Go
There is really no bad time to visit Neuschwanstein. Each season creates a different kind of beauty in the surrounding forests. Along with much of Europe, summer will be especially busy. If you are coming in July or August, be prepared for large crowds and long wait times.
Autumn is an incredibly beautiful time to visit, with fiery foliage creating a picturesque backdrop to the castle. Tourism starts to slow down beginning in October, so crowds will be thinner and temperatures more comfortable. This is when I visited, and it was gorgeous! Even so, someday I hope to go back and see it in the winter.
Covered in snow Neuschwanstein is the ultimate winter wonderland. If Elsa is your favorite Disney princess, visiting in the winter will be a dream come true! Unfortunately, there are also a few drawbacks as well. If the road is too icy, shuttle buses will not run to the castle (more details on buses later) which means an uphill walk in the snow may be necessary. St. Mary’s Bridge, THE place to get pictures of the castle, may also be closed.
Getting There
The castle is perched on a hill overlooking the little town of Hohenschwangau, about 5 minutes down the road from Füssen, Germany. Hohenschwangau is your actual destination, where you will leave your car or bus and buy tickets to the castle.
By Car
Driving down from Munich takes about 1.5 hours by car. There are plenty of parking lots and street parking spots available around Hohenschwangau, all just a short walk from the ticket center. Everything is well marked and easy to navigate, even if you don’t speak German.
By Train
From Munich’s Central Station, it takes about 2 hours to reach Füssen. From there you take a short bus ride into Hohenschwangau. Hop on bus number 73 heading towards Hohenschwangau/Schwangau, departing right in front of the station. The fare is EUR 2.10, payable when you get on the bus.
Buying Tickets
As soon as you are parked or off the bus, head over to the ticket center. There will be signs pointing the way. Hohenschwangau is very small, so you won’t miss it!
First things first, you MUST either buy tickets online ahead of time or in person at the ticket center in Hohenschwangau before heading up to either castle. Tickets are not sold at the castle entrances.
When buying tickets, you also have the chance to see Hohenschwangau Castle, the childhood home of King Ludwig. Although it’s not nearly as grand as Neuschwanstein, it’s still interesting to see! This smaller castle is right in Hohenschwangau as well.
The best thing to do is to buy tickets ahead of time here, so you can reserve your time slot. Tickets are available up until 2 days ahead of time to buy online, otherwise, you will have to wait in line. It’s not unusual for the line to be as long as a two hour wait or for tickets to sell out. Don’t take that chance!
Tickets are given for a specific time
Pay attention to that time on your ticket. Once you park and pick up your ticket, you still have to get up to the castle, so factor that into your schedule. Depending on how you plan to get there (more on this next) it can take another 30-40 minutes.
What to Expect
Getting to the actual castle from the ticket center is easy, and was actually one of my favorite parts! There are three ways to get there; shuttle bus, horsedrawn carriage or good old walking. Whichever you choose, seeing the castle gradually emerge through the thick forest is something special.
Horse-drawn carriages are parked around the village, and passengers line up right next to them. The price is 7€ to go up the hill and 3.5€ going back down. Keep in mind though, the carriages cannot go directly up to the castle, so there is still a 5-10 minute walk at the end. Although this may seem like the most romantic and magical way to reach the castle, please consider walking or taking the bus. These horses are walking up and down steep asphalt all day long, even on the hottest days of summer. Seeing these poor horses put to work is not magical at all.
The shuttle bus is the easiest way up. Tickets are only 3€ for a roundtrip fair. They can be purchased right down the street from the ticket center, and this is also where you line up. If you’re visiting in the winter, the bus may not be running if the roads are icy, so be prepared to walk just in case.
Finally, you can simply walk! Choosing to walk takes about 30-40 minutes. The path can be steep in some spots, but overall it’s not too difficult. The scenery is gorgeous and there are tons of great spots for photo ops. Not to mention it’s free! If you are able, I definitely recommend walking.
Getting Inside
Once you arrive at the top, you will be directed through the gates and onto a terrace waiting area in front of the entrance. Keep an eye on the entry time on your ticket. When it’s your time (times flash on a screen above the entrance), line up and head inside!
The Tour
The actual guided tour is only about 30 minutes long, and not especially informative. Since the castle was never completed, there is only a small section actually shown to the public. You will be shown through 14 elaborate rooms including the king’s bedroom, a grand hall, and the throne room. Unfortunately, photography is NOT allowed in the castle.
After the tour, there is a gift shop and a
Since there are so few rooms on the tour, I’ve heard people say it’s not worth it. When planning my trip I got the advice to just go to see the outside, and honestly, it was something I considered.
So, is it worth it? I say Yes, 100%. Even if the tour is short, it’s still beautiful and unique. Since photography is not allowed inside, you may never get the chance to see it again. You didn’t come all this way just to turn around at the front door, did you?
Photography
Those beautiful shots of the full view of the castle are taken from St. Mary’s Bridge. Look for the word “Marienbrücke” on the signs around Hohenschwangau. For even more views, keep going once you get across the bridge. After about a 10 minute walk there are some excellent spots to take photos. Looking for more details? Here are the best spots for fantastic pictures of Neuschwanstein.
In the Area
There are plenty of cafes and gift shops in Hohenschwangau to visit. These do cater to the tourists though, so if you are looking for something more authentic head into Fussen.
Hotels
Staying overnight can be a great option if you want to get an early start. This is what we did and it worked out great.
We stayed at Hotel Schwansee, which is less than 2 miles away from the castle. Our room was small, but it was clean, easy to find and gave us the opportunity to get to the castle when it opened. There were also packages of gummy bears left as a welcome snack for us. A hotel after my own heart!
With all the castles in Europe Neuschwanstein is in a league of its own. If you plan to visit, soak up every detail you can, and
It’s not just seeing this beautiful famous castle with its mysteries but the unspoiled village life and nature, the scrumptious Bavarian dishes, the frequent local festivals and gorgeous panoramic views that will take your breath away.
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I agree, there is so much to see all around the region!
I’ve never been here, but I definitely want to go in the future 🙂 thanks for a comprehensive guide and lots of information x
i’ve heard of this castle! I would love to go here someday
that’s a great idea! I would love to see a beautiful castle inside and out! looks amazing!
I love castles so beautiful. I would love to explore and visit and take plenty of photos. I agree getting a hotel close by is very ideal. As well as going in Autumn when it’s less crowded and more enjoyable.
Wow, this doesn’t even look real. It really does look like it’s straight out of a fairytale. I just showed my son and he said it looks like Disneyland lol. I have officially put this on my travel list. Thanks for all the detailed information!! Saving this post as a reference.
OMG that castle is stunning, I would love to visit Bavaria
Nice reading about your experience in the castle. You surely had lots of fun. I would love to visit there.
my whole family and I will surely go here, this type of ambiance will make us relax, we will go soon
what a nice place to go and visit, I love the view and my family will enjoy if we go here.
What a gorgeous castle! My goodness, I would love to visit and see it in person. It’s like something out of a fairy tale.
Wow, what a dreamy place! I didn’t think a castle could look any more picture perfect than the ones I saw in France, but this one might just take the cake.
omg i’ve heard so so much about this castle, my parents went there two years ago. Can’t wait to check it myself, it is fascinating.
That castle is unbelievable! I feel like at any moment Bell and the Beast are going to step outside for all the world to see.
I think if I have a chance to visit this castle, I will never forget to bring my faux furry coat and dress up like royalty even just for a photography. This is elegant castle!
I can’t take my eyes off from the dreamy castle . Its absolutely stunning. I would like to stay overnight around to soak into the aura completely. The idea of staying overnight is a great one. Now its on my list. Loved reading about it.
It’s really a fairytale castle. Difficult to believe that it really exists. The pictures taken from St. Mary’s bridge are stunning. Thanks for this virtual tour to the Bavarian castle.
Neuschwanstein castle is my favorite and I would love to see in all season. I visited this place during snow and it was amazingly beautiful but now I would love to go again in summer to see its different looks. It is great that you have listed all the details like buying tickets and how to get here.
I loved Neuschwanstein visiting in winter and you are correct that there is no particular season to visit this place as it looks beautiful in all backdrops. Thanks for sharing all the information about how to get there and ticketing.
Omg so this Castle is definitely on my travel bucket list. I definitely want to check it out for myself one day!
This looks like my dream holiday, what a stunning castle, I would love to explore a real life fairy tale castle
It’s my long time dream to visit this castle! I’m sure it does look beautiful in all seasons 🙂 Love your post, it’s very informative for tips to visit on your own. I’m pinning it!!!
This sounds like an amazing experience! I love that every season gives the castle a new, beautiful backdrop. I would love to visit Germany and see this for myself one day!
Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle was my dream since I once saw a desktop wallpaper with this unusual building during the autumn. The castle looks fabulous and I would like to visit it one day.
I love the mini background introduction of it. I find it so much easier to appreciate places when I know their story. You’re so right too in that there’s no bad time to visit. It looks magical regardless of the sun or snow, etc. Thanks for the online ticket tip too. Will defs keep that in mind for when I visit!
Wow, this place is like a fairyland. I want to go there one day. The castle is very unique and beautiful.
I always love to visit a castle at least once in my life. That would be great!
This place is so amazing. It looks like those I am seeing in a movie. Never thought that it can be so real!
Oh my, I think I could not ever leave that place. One of thw gorgeous place I have ever seen in my entire life.
I have visited the Neuschwanstein Castle and it sure looks like it came out of a fairy tale. A bit too touristy for my taste but the architecture is amazing. It’s literally impossible to click a bad picture of the place 🙂
I can spend a whole day exploring this magical fairytale Bavarian castle. I have always heard of Neuschwanstein Castle – this is the best on Germany has among others in my belief. I would love to have a day-trip from Munich to the castle. This is an informative post that gave me an idea that I can easily rent a car from Munich and head there.
this place is absolutely beautiful! I would love to visit here one day.
I thought only such places existed in DIsneyland! What a beautiful castle!
My daughters would be over the moon to see this place! How enchanting!
Glad to learn about the fairy tale castle, the picture tells it all! Happy to learn that driving from Munich only 1.5 hour and plenty of parking lots. I love renting a car and driving like the local so this is good place for me to explore.
This place is like something out of a fairytale! I would love to visit there
Wow that castle is absolutely beautiful and really does look like something out of a fairytale. I’d love to visit with my family.
What a nice place to make a trip to! The photos in this post are so beautiful, bringing out the buildings in the best way.
wow, I would love to visit this castle! it looks like a movie come to life, i wish they would allow photos inside
Wow, dreamy is right! Looks straight out of a fairytale! I’ve had my eye on this destination for years!
It’s probably ever little girl’s dream to stay in a castle at least once in her life. This one is gorgeous!
Wow, these castles are so fantastic, i would really love to have a tour here someday.
One of the most iconic castles in the world! It’s such an amazing feat of architecture. I would love to go there some day. Going by your tips, which are invaluable, I’d much prefer to go during the Fall and Winter.
Thank you for sharing your own experiences of buying tickets beforehand and joining the short guided tour. The sight of this castle alone is to me worth the whole trip! I definitely have to go there soon!!
Thank you for sharing your own experiences of buying tickets beforehand and joining the short guided tour. The sight of this castle alone is to me worth the whole trip! I definitely have to go there soon!!
Quite an informative post. I did not know that the tours were not that informative. I would still go for the sheer beauty of this place. And as you said, no time is a bad time to visit Neuschwanstein. It looks so angelic and wonderful even in the winters.
Wow! I do really would like to visit to this castle and also to other amazing castles that Germany has. It is a pity that they don’t let you to take photos of the inside. I would like to go to visit in winter time!! It has to be like a fairytale!
Looks like it is best to pre-purchase your tickets to save standing in long queues. It is one of the most beautiful castles I have seen. The photos are amazing. Thanks for your honest opinion about the tour.
Oh boy! The first photo of this beautiful castle is so amazing and breathtaking like a beautiful dream. I too wanna visit this soon…Thanks for sharing your insides, this will help first timers like me a lot.
Lovely detailed post with all the information. I remember hiking up to the castle sometime in 1996 with a group of friends when I was studying in Germany. It really is quite a dramatic and stunning place and one that every visitor to Germany should see. Beautiful photography and I agree that the castle can be visited at any time of the year.
I’ve heard so so much about Neuschwanstein, my parents went there last year. Can’t wait to check it out myself. Thanks for sharing.
OMG, that castle looks amazing! It really does look like a fairy tale. I feel like at any minute Rapunzel is going to let down her hair and Prince Charming is going to climb up!