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.
But…
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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Oh my goodness, your trip looks absolutely amazing, and those castles are so beautiful! We’re hoping to visit the Bavaria region of Germany next year during our trip to Europe, so I’ll definitely be keeping these tips in mind.
Ashley Lillis recently posted…How To Spend A Saturday At A Brewery
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!!
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!
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!
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.
I’ve never been very attracted to Germany (I’d never even heard about this castle, whoops!), but I must admit this post is making me reconsider! Bavaria looks so beautiful.
Camille recently posted…Wanderlust Instagrammy Awards: Bolivia in 30 Amazing Pictures
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.
Love the detail! I’ve always wanted to go to Neuschwanstein but never really knew anyone that’s been before. Great post and photos!
Spencer Spellman recently posted…10 of the Best California Road Trips
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!
Cool! Not your typical castle–looks awesome
Totally!
Where was the picture with the fields and horses taken?
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.
Thanks
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 🙂
Thanks for your comment! I definitely think you made a good decision 🙂 Have fun!
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!
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.
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?
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!
this was really helpful.
thank you!
You’re welcome! 🙂
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.
Hi Kelly,
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)
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
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!
Hi, Kelly,
I’ve been reading about this castle a lot because I will be there next month, and I have to say your post is the best. Thanks for sharing, it was really helpful.
Marcia Picorallo recently posted…Santiago: Mercado, Museu de Belas Artes, Cerros, Lastarria e Bellavista
Thank you so much, enjoy the castle! It’s a beautiful place 🙂
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!
Beautiful comprehensive in depth post.
Very helpful.
Thanks and do keep writing
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!
Hi! Traveling to Munich for work. Were you a solo traveler? Is it safe for a single girl to do a day trip?
Yes, I was a solo traveler! Munich and Germany in general felt very safe to me, I had an amazing time there!
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 !
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. 🙂
What a beautiful memory! It perfectly captures the magic of Neuschwanstein <3 Thank so much for sharing!
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!
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.
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!
Ahh I can relate to that feeling of putting off visiting something that’s so close! Glad you’ll finally get to visit soon 🙂
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?
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.
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.
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!
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
Thank you for sharing all of that information, Chris! I did visit Linderhof Palace while I was in Germany and it was amazing!
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.