Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle – The Perfect Day Trip from Munich
Did you know that Neuschwanstein Castle is the most visited attraction in all of Germany? I didn’t until I visited recently. And the best part? It’s only about 90 minutes from Munich, making for the perfect day trip.
Neuschwanstein Castle is renowned for inspiring the Disney castle – and I can understand why. It’s an exquisite castle situated on a Bavarian hill in the lush green German countryside.
In this guide, I hope not only to share a few practical tips to help you plan the perfect trip to the castle, but also to sprinkle in some interesting facts I learned while on my visit.
The Best Time To Visit
Neuschwanstein Castle is beautiful year-round (duh, it’s actually just a fancy building!), so it’s really just about what YOU are looking for.
If you want to see the castle surrounded by snowy Alps, visit during winter. If you prefer a lush green setting, summer is the perfect time to go.
If, like me, you prefer to avoid the massive crowds, plan your trip during the shoulder seasons (March-May and October-November).
Summer does come with a bonus, though: You’ll be able to make the most of the surrounding Alps and the nearby lake. The Bavarian countryside is really at its most beautiful during summer, so this is one of the few times I’d actually recommend visiting during summer.
We visited during peak season (early July – peak tourist season is from June to August) and, to be honest, I didn’t get the feeling that it was overcrowded, considering that it’s the most visited tourist attraction in the country.
I would HIGHLY recommend checking when the German (and specifically Bavarian) summer holidays are for schools. Choose a week or two before the holidays start for the best shot at avoiding the huge crowds.
How to Get There
Being Germany’s top tourist attraction, there are tons of ways to get from Munich to Neuschwanstein.
All three options will only take you to the foot of the hill on which Neuschwanstein castle is built. From there, you will have to take one of 3 further options to get to the castle.
1. By Taking a Guided Tour
The easiest way to get to Neuschwanstein is by taking a guided day tour. This is the option we went for when visiting. In general, a tour will include transport to and from Neuschwanstein.
It’s a great way to visit without having to do any planning yourself, and generally, you’ll also get to see some of the beautiful surrounding area. Some tours also offer stops at other attractions, like Linderhof Palace or Oberammergau.
If you’re considering this option, check out the section about the exact tour we took later in this post.
2. By Public Transport
Public transport is the best option if you’re on a budget. It may take the longest, but if you’re traveling in a bigger group, it’s definitely the cheapest option. To get all the way to the castle, you’ll have to take multiple forms of transport.
First, take a train from Munich main station to Füssen. The journey takes about 2 hours. You can either book a ticket or (what I’d recommend to save money and travel more flexibly) buy a Bayern Ticket. Both can be bought on the Deutsche Bahn App or website.
A ticket to and from Füssen costs about 29€ each way (if you book early), while a Bayern Ticket gives you access to all regional trains and local buses for the whole day for only 32€ for two people! If you’re traveling in a group of up to 5 people, you can pay an additional 7€ for each person you add to your Bayern Ticket. The ticket also covers the bus you take from Füssen.
From Füssen, take bus 73 or 78 to Hohenschwangau – the trip takes about 10 minutes. This bus will take you to the base of the hill on which the castle sits.
The last train from Füssen to Munich covered by the Bayern Ticket usually leaves at around 6PM. Most trains that run later aren’t regional trains, so you’ll need to buy a separate ticket. Make sure to ask a train conductor whether your ticket is valid if you’re not sure.
3. By Car
If you have a car, you can also drive to Hohenschwangau. Take the A96, then the B17 to Schwangau. It takes about 1h30 minutes to 1h50 minutes, depending on traffic.
Parking in Hohenschwangau may be limited and costs around 6-12€ for the whole day.
Ways to Get from the Base of the Hill to the Castle:
1. By Walking
The walk up to Neuschwanstein Castle takes about 30 minutes. There are other, more scenic routes that take up to 60 minutes.
This was the option we went for. It’s the most budget-friendly, and it’ll take you to the famous photo spot. Just be prepared, because it was a lot steeper and more tiring than I expected.
2. By Shuttle Bus
The shuttle bus costs 3,50€ for a return trip. It drops you off about 10-15 minutes away from the entrance of the castle, at the Marienbrücke (photo spot), so you’ll still have to walk.
3. By Horse-Drawn Carriage
Once you get to the base of the hill, you’ll see lots of carriages drawn by horses. They’ll take you up to the front of the castle, but you’ll still need to walk for about 10 minutes.
Most of the carriages cost 7€ uphill and 3,50€ back down.
Our tour guide mentioned that he thinks the horse-drawn carriages are a tourist trap (which I agree with), because they’re expensive and usually partially fuel-powered. But I also think that you should take a horse-drawn carriage if it’s on your bucket list.
If you want to go to the Marienbrücke (the photo spot), I’d recommend either taking the shuttle bus or walking up, as the carriages drop you on the other side of the castle.
The Iconic Photo Spot
If you’ve ever seen anything about Neuschwanstein Castle on social media, you’ll have seen it from the Marienbrücke (Mary’s bridge).
It is by far the best spot to get photos of the castle. Of course, there’s always a bit of a queue. And you might have trouble getting any good pictures because it’s essentially a narrow bridge where there are constantly masses of people moving around.
BUT if you’re a bit patient and persistent, you’ll get those perfect shots!
Also, if you have a fear of heights, it’s not for you.
After taking your photos, it’s a 5-minute walk around the hill to the castle. You’ll also pass a beautiful viewpoint overlooking three lakes and the gorgeous Bavarian Alps.
Booking Tickets to the Castle
My #1 tip for buying tickets to Neuschwanstein Castle is BOOK EARLY!
As I mentioned already, the castle is the most visited tourist destination in all of Germany. So it should come as no surprise that tickets are usually sold out months in advance.
Book as soon as you know when you’ll be visiting to avoid them being sold out. You can buy tickets on the official website.
Your ticket will be for a specific slot, so make sure you leave enough time to get there on time. Once your timeslot is over, your ticket will immediately be invalid.
Adult tickets cost 23,50€, including a 2,50€ booking fee. For children (under 18), you only need to pay the booking fee.
Visiting the Inside of the Castle
Here’s a fun fact about Neuschwanstein Castle: It was a pure vanity project of King Ludwig II. He spent millions of Euros to built the castle and it was not even nearly complete when he died.
Once you’re inside, you can see just how detailed and expensive the design was.
The only unfortunate part is that only about 15 of 200 rooms were complete, and these are the only ones you get to see on your visit.
These rooms include the stunning throne room, the ballroom, King Ludwig II’s bedroom, and the kitchens.
Unfortunately, besides in the kitchens and on the balcony, photography is prohibited inside the castle. But trust me, seeing the interior is well worth the visit.
Only the kitchen and balcony are explored independently. For the rest of the visit, you’ll have a live tour guide. Upon entering the castle, you will receive an audio guide through which you will be able to hear the live guide’s voice transmitted during the whole tour.
What Can You Do Nearby?
Neuschwanstein Castle isn’t the only interesting thing in the Hohenschwangau region. If you combine it with one or two other things, it makes for a great full-day trip from Munich.
Here are some things I’d suggest you check out:
1. Visit Hohenschwangau Castle
Built by Ludwig II’s father, Hohenschwangau Castle is only a few minutes away from Neuschwanstein. It’s actually the castle where Ludwig II grew up, so it has a more lived-in atmosphere.
Unlike Neuschwanstein, which was purely built for aesthetic purposes, Hohenschwangau is historically more important and interesting.
The castle is not as busy as Neuschwanstein, but it costs about the same to visit. However, if you plan to visit both castles, I’d recommend buying the ‘Königsticket’, which is the combination ticket that will save you a bit of money.
2. Explore the Lakes
In my opinion, the best thing to do near Neuschwanstein is to explore the stunning Bavarian nature it lies in. Nearby, you’ll find the Alpsee (Alp Lake) and the Schwanensee (Swan Lake), where you can go swimming, rent a rowboat, or even just eat some ice cream.
If you’re visiting during summer, this is a must for your visit.
3. Explore Füssen
If you’re traveling via public transport, Füssen is the perfect spot for you, because you’ll be traveling through it anyway.
Explore Füssen’s Old Town, admire its medieval charm, and learn about the town’s historic role as a violin- and lute-making centre at the Füssen Heritage Museum.
4. Grab Lunch at the Schlossbrauhaus in Schwangau
Before you drive up the hill (or after, depending on your timeslot), have lunch at the Schlossbrauhaus in Schwangau.
Here, you can try local beers from the region and eat traditional Bavarian food, including Käsespätzle (cheese noodles), Kaiserschmarrn (a sort of cut-up pancake), and Knödel (dumplings in brown butter).
If the weather is good, it’s a really lovely place to enjoy good food while taking in the beautiful scenery.
The Tour I Took
We booked a tour through Mike’s Bike Tours in Munich. They’re situated near Marienplatz (near the city centre), so it’s really convenient for most people to get there.
The tour we chose cost 79€ – and I personally think it was worth it, because it included transport, biking, and a wonderful tour by two of the (I believe) best tour guides in Munich.
The day started with a bus ride to the Schwangau area, on which the tour guides gave us a bit of backstory to the castle – things I never would’ve known if we had visited independently.
We then took a bike ride to Swan Lake, stopping for a few photos along the way. At the lake, we went for a dip and drank delicious iced coffees.
From there, we biked back for a wonderful Bavarian lunch at the Schlossbrauhaus. And then, it was off to Neuschwanstein!
Even though it’s a bit pricier, I’d highly recommend taking a tour to Neuschwanstein. I just always feel more excited about the attraction I’m visiting if I have a tour guide who can explain the history behind it – I always end up finding details that I never would’ve noticed otherwise.
Also, it’s much less stressful!
