If you’re planning a visit to Neuschwanstein castle, surely you have heard of Mary’s Bridge (Marienbrücke). This 19th-century bridge is the most famous viewpoint for Neuschwanstein castle.
What makes it so special? It is the one point (apart from some spots on the road) where you can see the entire castle.
What is Mary’s Bridge Exactly?
Mary’s bridge is an iron bridge over the Pöllat river gorge. It was built by King Ludwig II during the construction of Neuschwanstein castle, replacing an older wooden bridge his father had built. He wanted a special place from which to gaze at his castle. He found it.
Today, tourists from around the world love this spot.
The scenery around the bridge is spectacular. There is a 30-metre waterfall directly underneath. However, the real focus then as now is, of course, Neuschwanstein castle itself.
The bridge was named after King Ludwig II’s mother Marie von Preußen (Mary of Prussia), who married King Maximilian II of Bavaria in 1842. It is made of iron and was a technological masterpiece at the time. It is not a suspension bridge, so it does not sway. However, there are wooden boards on the floor which move as people walk.
Is There an Admission Fee?
There is no admission fee to the bridge.
There is no skip-the-line, either. Holding a castle tour ticket does not entitle you to get onto the bridge faster (or at all).
How Do You Get to the Bridge?
There are three ways to reach the bridge. All will eventually get you to this sign ⬇️.
Once you see this sign, you are almost there. Follow the arrow into the forest. This is a well-worn, but unpaved and somewhat uneven path. You can see the railings in the background of the photo. From here, it’s about a 5-minute walk to the bridge.
If you’re unlucky, you won’t be able to breeze past this sign – because the line to even access the bridge will be that long.
So how do you get there?
Walking – the Easier Path
From the village, you can walk up the normal paved road towards the castle (ca. 25-40 minutes). As you get to the base of the castle, you will see a paved path branching off to the right. It’s about another 15 minutes of uphill walking before you get to the bridge sign.
Walking – the Harder Path
For more of a workout, start walking towards the castle at the bottom of the paved road. Just past the security checkpoint, a steep path branches off to the right. This path takes you right up to the sign pointing to the bridge. It is unpaved, and it remains steep. Sometimes really steep. The indicated walking time is 40 minutes. We did it in 25 minutes, but it depends on your personal fitness. Wear at least trainers if you choose this path.
Easiest – the Shuttle Bus
The easiest way is to take the shuttle bus from the village. It runs approx. every 20 minutes from the stop near the P4 parking lot. For €3.50, it takes you right up to the bridge sign.
Remember there may be a long line to get on the bus, and there is no fixed schedule. You may end up waiting an hour just for the bus!
The shuttle bus is not operating when there is snow and/or ice on the ground!
How to Time Your Bridge Visit
Keep in mind that everyone wants to take a photo from the bridge. It therefore gets very, very busy. Do not expect to ever just rock up and have the place to yourself.
Expect to wait in line. At the beginning of the summer season, I waited about ten minutes. By late May, the waiting time was half an hour. In the summer, you may be looking at waiting times of an hour or so.
You therefore have to manage your time wisely, especially if you want to visit the bridge before your castle visit. It will take you 15 minutes to walk from the bridge to the castle entrance. You should get to the first entrance gate five minutes before your tour.
Traveling Individually
If you are visiting Neuschwanstein individually and are not under time pressure, you can basically go whenever you want. If you go before your tour, go well before your tour. For less stress, go after your tour.
Traveling by Castle Tour
If you are on a castle tour (= organized bus tour from Munich or elsewhere), you will have a schedule. Your guide will announce a departure time that is calculated on the basis of your tour time, allowing you to complete the tour, spend some more time in the castle and then walk back down to the bus.
Therefore, you must go to the bridge before your castle tour. In the summer, when it gets very busy in the area, skip lunch and make a beeline for the bridge. You can grab a sandwich from various places in town if you haven’t packed any snacks.
Bridge Closure
The bridge and all access paths will be closed in snowy conditions and whenever it becomes necessary – whether for repairs or for safety reasons. Nothing you can do about it.
Beyond the Bridge
There is more to the area than just Neuschwanstein castle.
If you are an experienced hiker with some time on your hands, cross the bridge and continue on the (increasingly rocky) path to hike all the way to Mount Tegelberg. It is going to take about three hours. From Tegelberg, you can catch the cable car down into the valley and enjoy more views of Neuschwanstein.
Hiker Beware
You must have hiking gear and hiking experience to hike from Mary’s bridge to Tegelberg.
This route is not suitable if this is your first-ever hike or you’ve just got flip-flops on. The trail is rated „hard“; it is very narrow at times and may be running right along steep drops. It is only open in summer.
Do not undertake this hike without getting local advice first!!
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
- Neuschwanstein Castle Travel Guide
- Best Photo Spots
- Is Neuschwanstein Worth it? Honest Review
- What to Expect from the Castle Tour
- 10 Mistakes to Avoid
- How to Visit Romantic Road and Neuschwanstein On Your Own
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