If you’re planning a trip to Germany, visiting Neuschwanstein Castle is probably high on your list – and for good reason. This fairytale-like castle inspired Disney and attracts millions of visitors every year.
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to plan your visit and make the most of your trip.
Why should you trust me? Because I’m a tour guide for day trips to Neuschwanstein.
Where is Neuschwanstein Castle?
Neuschwanstein Castle is located in in Bavaria, above the village of Hohenschwangau and close to the Austrian border. Hohenschwangau is near the town of Füssen. It is about 120 kms (75 miles) from Munich. The driving time from Munich is approx. two hours, depending on traffic.
The castle sits dramatically on a hill surrounded by the Alps. It is very, very scenic. Personally, I can see why King Ludwig II would have wanted to live here.
How to Get to Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein is not as remote as it used to be. You can visit the castle as a day trip, or as part of a longer road trip.
- By coach: Guided day trips depart (almost) daily from Munich. This is the „castle tour“ or „royal castles tour“. The castle tour is the most popular day trip from Munich and the most convenient option if you are short on time. Some tours only go to Neuschwanstein, others visit Ludwig’s baroque-rokoko castle Linderhof as well.
- By train: Take a train to Füssen, then a bus to Hohenschwangau. If you choose this option, you are basically limited to Neuschwanstein and the surrounding area. To get to Linderhof, you will need to continue your journey by public bus. It’s doable, but you need more time. See my guide on How to Visit Romantic Road and Neuschwanstein On Your Own for further details.
- By car: Around two hours‘ drive from Munich. See my guide on How to Visit Romantic Road and Neuschwanstein On Your Own for further details. I recommend driving only if are planning to spend a few days in the area, or as part of a road trip.
Ticket Types & How to Buy
Yes, you need a ticket to get into the castle. Without a ticket, you can look at the outside, but you cannot even get into the courtyard.
Note that the castle is closed on December 24/25/31 and January 1.
What Tickets are There?
There is only one type of ticket.
Access to the castle interior is possible only as part of a guided tour. You cannot roam around freely, and you cannot linger. Tickets are timed and tours start every five minutes. Yes, it’s a huge operation.
Neuschwanstein castle is one of Germany’s main attractions. It has limited capacity – tickets do sell out, sometimes weeks in advance, especially in high season.
If you are travelling individually, you should buy your tickets in advance. See ⬇️ for details.
If You Are on an Organised Tour/Day Trip
This section is for you if a) you are visiting by means of an organised Castle Tour (offered by various tour companies in Munich and elsewhere), or b) you are travelling around Germany/Europe on a guided tour that includes Neuschwanstein as part of its itinerary.
In both cases, your entry tickets are either included in the tour price, or you can buy your tickets from your guide.
The tour companies all have a certain number of tickets set aside for them. Therefore, as long as you get a seat on the tour, you are guaranteed a castle ticket, even if it is not included in the tour price.
If you are travelling on such a tour or day trip, do not buy your entry ticket separately. All castle tickets are timed. You, however, don’t know when your tour group will arrive in Hohenschwangau. If you miss your time slot, you lose your ticket. No refund, no rebooking.
If you are travelling on a castle tour day-trip with castle tickets included, you must still have an official paper ticket issued by the ticket center in hand before you make your way up to the castle. It is not enough to present a booking confirmation on your phone, particularly not from a third party such as Viator or Get Your Guide.
You will get this ticket from your tour guide after arrival in Hohenschwangau village. Don’t run away to lunch or to shop before you have received your ticket!
If You Are an Individual Traveller
If you are visiting Neuschwanstein individually, you will have to buy your ticket in advance. Here is how.
You can buy tickets from the official ticket center in person or online.
There is a physical ticket center in the village of Hohenschwangau. It’s big and right on the main road. You cannot miss it. That is the official place to buy tickets.
However, by the time you get to the ticket center on the day of your visit, there may be no more tickets available. The castle may sell out weeks in advance, especially in high season.
A few walk-up tickets may still be available on the day, but at inconvenient times.
Therefore, if you travel individually, pre-book your tickets online (⬅️ official ticket center website). You will get a QR code that you can use to enter the castle at your tour time.
There is no ticket office at the castle. At the castle entrance, you will only find a QR code to buy online tickets. You will need data for that. And the tours may well be sold out.
How to Arrive at the Castle from the Village
Neuschwanstein castle is situated on a rocky outcrop above the village of Hohenschwangau. In order to get there, you have three options: you can walk, take a horse carriage, or catch a shuttle bus.
You cannot drive up to the castle entrance or take a taxi.
Walking
Most people choose to walk (30–40 minutes). You are walking along a paved road with a steady incline. The elevation gain is about 200 metres/660 ft. This option is scenic and free.
Snow is cleared in the winter.
Shuttle Bus
This is the fastest option if in operation. In the village, the bus stop is by parking lot P4.
The bus does not drop off at the main castle entrance. Rather, it takes you to a stop above the castle, close to Mary’s Bridge, a popular photo spot.
Tickets are €3.50 per person one-way or €5 return. From the bus stop, you have to walk downhill and then uphill to the castle for about 10-15 minutes. To return by bus, you must thus walk uphill from the castle to the bus stop for 15+ minutes.
Horse Carriage
Going up by horse carriage is faster than walking, though you may spend a lot of time waiting to get on a carriage. Lines are long! I would only recommend this option if you have plenty of time before your tour, or if you can just hop on a waiting carriage.
The horse carriages take the same paved road as human walkers. From the terminus, you will still have to walk uphill for about 5-10 minutes to get to the castle entrance. Carriages stop operating in the afternoon, so don’t bank on catching a ride back down to the village. You may also want to think about animal welfare. A ticket for the carriage is €8.50 uphill and €4 downhill.
Which Option Should I Choose?
If you can walk, walk. That’s my recommendation as a tour guide.
Walk especially if you are tight on time. If it’s a busy day and your tour starts in one hour, take the bus only if you can just hop on it right now. Don’t join the long line because „surely the bus will come any minute now, right?“
To give you an example, once after I had seen my tour group off on their tour, I was approached by a Chinese family. They asked if I had extra tickets. They had arrived 20 minutes late for their tour because they had waited one hour for the bus.
And by the way, no one has extra tickets! Even if I had them, I would not be allowed to sell them.
What to Expect During Your Visit
Outside the Castle
Facilities outside the castle are very, very limited.
There are no toilet facilities on the way up or outside of the castle, only inside the castle.
Just before you reach the castle, there is a viewing platform on your left. You will also find lockers there. Leave large bags or other bulky items there.
Castle Entry/Ticket Checks
As you reach the castle, you will see a huge wooden gate. This is the main entry. Here, a security guard will check your ticket. If you are carrying an expired ticket (i.e., you are late for your tour), or an adult holds a child’s ticket, you will be turned away. If you don’t have a ticket at all, you will also be turned away.
I would recommend getting here 5-10 minutes before your tour time (printed on your ticket) and entering the courtyard.
There may also be random bag checks. Scissors, pocket knives, pepper spray and the like are not permitted.
Once through the gate, you will enter a large courtyard. To your left, you will see three turnstiles and a large screen above.
The screen indicates the current time, which tour number is currently admitted and which will be admitted next. Your tour number and tour time are clearly stated on your ticket.
Once your tour is called, you may go through the turnstiles by scanning the QR code on your ticket. You have four minutes and 59 seconds to do so. Literally. If you miss your window, you lose your ticket. After five minutes, it’s the next group’s turn. No refund if you miss your turn.
On the Guided Castle Tour
The tour operates on a one-way system. Just follow the others.
The castle runs live-guided tours in German, live-guided tours in English, and multi-lingual tours by audio guide.
While you may hate the idea of getting a pre-recorded tour, think of it in this way: The audio narrator will never get bored, will never have a weird accent, will never cough. Your tour will still be led by an official castle guide, and you can ask them questions.
After some introductory remarks, you very quickly reach a long spiral staircase (which King Ludwig II himself used) and will thus get into the main part of the tour.
During the tour, you will walk up and down a total of about 350 steps.
After about 30 minutes, you arrive in the Hall of the Singers. That’s the end of the tour. From here, you walk back down the stairs to reach a gift shop, café and the balcony ⬇️. Do check out the movie (10 mins) about the castle’s construction – and the parts that were not built after King Ludwig II’s death.
You will also walk through the historic kitchen. Ludwig spent 172 nights at Neuschwanstein so the kitchen had to be fully functional. It is massive. Apparently, he liked to eat between seven and twelve courses per meal. 😵💫
And then you’re back outside.
No Photos, Please
Photography inside the castle is not allowed. Drones are not allowed outside, either.
(Note that photos of the outside of the castle are for personal use only and may, strictly speaking, not be published anywhere. Instagram seems to be viewed as personal use, as long as your account is not commercial. See Photography Permits for further information. Yes, I got written permission to use all the photos in this blog post and the others pertaining to Neuschwanstein.)
You cannot touch anything, either. Anything. That includes stone columns.
If the guards catch you taking a photo or touching anything, you will be warned once (sternly, not politely). The second time, you will be kicked out.
What to Bring for Your Visit
Not much!
Make sure you have your paper ticket (or ticket QR code) on you. If you lose it, you will not be able to go on your tour.
You cannot bring big bags, strollers and other large and bulky items into the castle. Ideally, leave them on your coach or in your car. There are also lockers available shortly before you reach the castle entrance.
Small backpacks/bags must be worn on your front.
Do make sure, however, to wear comfortable walking shoes.
Visiting with …
Small Children
Generally speaking, children are admitted into the castle.
However, you cannot bring strollers into the castle. Baby carriers (like a backpack for a small child) are not allowed either. That means that you will have to carry your child throughout the entire tour if it cannot walk.
Children who are big enough to walk may find the tour super boring. Obviously, they cannot run around, touch anything, etc.
Mobility Issues
If you have read this far, you have probably worked out that Neuschwanstein was not built for accessibility.
In the worst case, you will have to walk all the way to the castle and back down.
During the castle tour and afterwards, you will climb up and down a total of around 350 steps.
If you cannot do that comfortably, my strong recommendation would be to skip the tour. You will still be able to see the castle from the village. If your mobility is sufficient for Mary’s Bridge, you can also get some fantastic views from there.
Disabilities/Wheelchairs
Yes, you can visit Neuschwanstein with a disability or as a wheelchair user. Wheelchair users must register at least three weeks in advance.
However, you must get yourself and your wheelchair to the castle first. Even with a wheelchair, you cannot drive to the entrance.
When to Visit & For How Long
Make no mistake, Neuschwanstein is busy year-round.
- Spring and autumn are best overall, with lighter crowds and lots of beautiful scenery to enjoy. It will still be busy though.
- Summer is the peak season and sees massive crowds. Book your tickets (very) early and expect long lines.
- Winter will be cold and, depending on whether or not there is snow, either magical or drab. Also note that some viewpoints (like Mary’s Bridge) may be closed and the shuttle bus may not be in operation.
The best time of day is early morning or late afternoon, before the tour groups have arrived or after they have left. Also, the light will be better for photos.
As for your visit’s duration, keep in mind that everything takes time.
- You should arrive in the village of Hohenschwangau at least one hour before the start of your tour.
- The walk up to the castle will take 20-40 minutes. If you have mobility or fitness issues, it may take longer. If you need the bus or horse carriage, you may have to wait for 20-60 minutes just to get a ride.
- You should be through the first gate and into the courtyard at least five minutes before your tour time.
- The tour itself will take about 30 minutes.
- It will then take you at least 5-10 minutes to exit the castle. You are walking through and past two gift shops, toilets, a cafe, the castle kitchen, the balcony, and finally down a long corridor.
- The walk back down to the village will take another 20 minutes, maybe more.
All in all, you will need at least a good two hours. Allow more time if you want to go up to Mary’s Bridge (30 minutes‘ return and quite possibly 20+ minutes‘ wait to even get onto the bridge – in the summer expect to wait up to one hour!!), walk around the lake, or explore other sights.
Best Photo Spots
Even if you don’t go into the castle, you will most likely want to take a photo or two of the castle. Here are the best spots to do so:
- The classic postcard view is from Marienbrücke (Mary’s Bridge). The bridge is near the shuttle-bus stop, about a 15-minute walk from the castle. It can get very crowded.
- If you prefer to stay in the valley, you can walk around lake Alpsee.
- On the way up to the castle, you will find multiple scenic viewpoints. Shortly before you reach the entrance, there is an area to the left where you can get a great view of the castle’s front facade. There are also lockers here – big bags are not allowed inside the castle!
Facilities Inside the Castle
Inside the castle, i.e., accessible only with a tour ticket, there are toilets, gift shops, and a café. There is also a little movie theatre that shows a video about the construction of the castle.
Facilities in Hohenschwangau Village
Parking
There are four designated (paid) parking lots in Hohenschwangau. They fill up fast.
You cannot buy parking with your entrance ticket. Another reason to not drive here.
Food
The village of Hohenschwangau is a tourist destination, so you won’t starve. You will find numerous restaurants and cafés in the village, as well as a food truck (sausages), but no supermarkets. Prices are higher than in Munich.
On your way to the castle, just past the horse-carriage terminal, there is another restaurant. It also has hotel rooms.
Public Toilets
There are some near the P4 parking. Expect a line. Alternatively, you can go into one of the hotels or restaurants, where you will be expected to leave €1 or to buy something.
Accommodation
Yes, you can spend the night in Hohenschwangau. The little village has a large number of short-term rentals as well as hotels. There is even one halfway up the way to the castle. If you are staying there, you may drive a car up the road (but only to the hotel parking lot).
Expect to pay handsomely for the privilege of lodging so close to the castle.
Is Neuschwanstein Castle Worth Visiting?
Keeping in mind that some people leave 1* reviews for the Egyptian pyramids … let’s look at some of the pros and cons of visiting Neuschwanstein castle.
The castle itself and its location are awe-inspiring. Its history and architecture are quite unique. The views, especially from the balcony, are amazing.
However, keep in mind that you will be sharing these views with hundreds, if not thousands, of other people. You will have worked out by now that Neuschwanstein is not a hidden gem, but a major attraction. The castle is not the right place if you are looking for a quiet amble and lots of time to explore – just like the Oktoberfest is not the place for a romantic date.
Interior tours are short and no photos allowed. Tickets aren’t exactly cheap for what you are getting. Some people will struggle with the walk up to the castle and back down.
Therefore, if you would like to visit a World Heritage Site and are happy with just a quick tour and some great (outside) photo ops, go for it. Otherwise, you might want to consider whether your time is not better spent elsewhere – be that in the village of Hohenschwangau or somewhere else entirely.
What Else is There to See?
- Hohenschwangau Castle is a shorter and less steep walk from the village. This is the family’s „original“ castle, where Ludwig spent time as a child. It is still used by the Wittelsbach family today. Tours take about 45 minutes. They are less popular, but also sell out.
- The Museum of the Bavarian Kings is a great option if you don’t want the uphill hike. Learn about King Ludwig II and his father, King Maximilian II.
- Just beyond the museum, lake Alpsee awaits for strolls.
- There are various hiking trails in the area.
Who Was King Ludwig II of Bavaria?
Neuschwanstein, which translates into „New Swan Rock“, was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 1870s.
King Ludwig II of Bavaria, also known as the “Fairy Tale King” or „Crazy King Ludwig,“ ruled Bavaria from 1864 to 1886. He was deeply inspired by German mythology, medieval legends, the French court and the operas of Richard Wagner.
As a child, Ludwig spent summers at Hohenschwangau castle, one of the family’s summer residences. It sits just across the valley. Ludwig would go hiking with his mother, Queen Marie, one of the first female hikers at a time when it was very unusual for (female) nobles to engage in mountain sports at all.
A Very Brief Historical Overview of Neuschwanstein Castle
In 1869, Ludwig began building Neuschwanstein Castle as a personal retreat rather than a royal residence. The castle is built on the ruins of two actual medieval castles. It was designed to reflect his romantic imagination, with grand interiors inspired by knights, swan legends, and Wagner’s operas.
Despite its medieval appearance, Neuschwanstein was equipped with modern technology, including central heating and running water. Ludwig even had a telephone in there! Unfortunately, the only person he could call was his mother at Hohenschwangau castle – the only other place in Bavaria that had a telephone.
Neuschwanstein castle was never fully completed. While it was still under construction, Ludwig was already making plans for yet another, even grander castle called Falkenstein (to be built on a ruined castle near Pfronten).
In 1886, Ludwig was declared unfit to rule. He died just a few days later under mysterious circumstances. Within weeks, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public to repay his debts. Today, it is one of the most famous castles in the world and a symbol of Bavaria.
Visit Information for Neuschwanstein and Linderhof
Before visiting, make sure you read up on opening hours, guided tours etc.
- Opening Hours & Guided Tours Neuschwanstein
- Admission & Tickets Neuschwanstein
- Opening Hours and Guided Tours Linderhof
- Admission Fees Linderhof
- Further Properties of the Bavarian Castle Administration
More Neuschwanstein Resources
(coming soon)
- How to Visit Romantic Road and Neuschwanstein On Your Own
- All About Mary’s Bridge
- Best Photo Spots
- Is Neuschwanstein Worth it? Honest Review
- What to Expect from the Castle Tour
- 10 Mistakes to Avoid