It had always been a dream of mine for many years to visit Neuschwanstein Castle (Schloss Neuschwanstein in German) located high above the village of Hohenschwangau in Bavaria in Germany close to the border with Austria. It is one of the most famous and popular sights in Germany and the fairytale castle was said to have been Walt Disney’s inspiration for Sleeping Beauty Castle.

We had planned to visit Munich many times in previous years and to do a day trip whilst we were there to Neuschwanstein Castle (I had read so many travel guides and even done all the research of how to get there) but our plans had never worked out. However last summer, it finally seemed the perfect time to go. Despite the many travel restrictions around the world at that time, we were able to travel within Europe and Neuschwanstein Castle was the first stop on our European road trip after leaving Munich Airport. Our trip happened when we least expected it but it turned out to be the perfect visit.

I have included photos as well as information, tips and directions on how to visit Neuschwanstein Castle in this travel blog so I hope it will help anyone else who is planning to visit in the future.

The Best Time to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle

As Neuschwanstein Castle can get very busy and overcrowded during the summer months, the best times to visit are usually in Spring or Autumn when there are fewer crowds, okay weather and everything is open. It is also a good idea to visit on a weekday instead of a weekend and try to visit either early or late in the day before or after the majority of daytrippers have visited. Whilst the winter months have the lowest crowds, there is a risk of bad weather (even though the castle looks beautiful in the snow) and the Marienbrücke (Mary’s Bridge) where you get an incredible view of the castle is usually closed at this time.

We visited Neuschwanstein Castle in September 2020 when there would usually be long lines and huge crowds however due to the Coronavirus travel restrictions around the world and Oktoberfest in Munich being cancelled, it was very quiet during our trip.

How To Get From Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle by Train

If visiting Neuschwanstein Castle on a day trip from Munich, one of the easiest ways to travel is by train. The journey from Munich Hauptbahnhof (München Hbf) to Füssen takes approximately two hours and you can check train timetables either on the brilliant DB Navigator app or on the DB Bahn website. After arriving in Füssen, you will need to take a ten minute bus ride from outside the station to Hohenschwangau. It will not be difficult to figure out where to go as everyone on the train will be heading in the same direction. You can take either Bus 73 or Bus 78 in the direction of “Castles”.

The best ticket to buy is the Bayern Ticket which you can purchase either online or from the ticket machines at the station which offers unlimited travel within Bavaria for one day. The ticket costs €25 for one person and €8 extra for each additional passenger (up to a total of five people) meaning two people can travel for €33 in total. The Bayern Ticket is only valid after 9:00am on Monday to Friday and from midnight at weekends and can only be used on regional trains and not the express trains such as the ICE. The Bayern Ticket also covers the bus journey between Füssen Station and Hohenschwangau.

It is worth noting that if on a day trip from Munich on a weekday and taking the earliest train you can using the Bayern Ticket, you will be arriving at Neuschwanstein Castle at lunchtime during the busiest and most crowded time of the day and at the same time as everyone else. Also remember to take note of the time that the last direct train leaves Füssen back to Munich – it usually departs about 6:00pm.

Once the bus arrives in the village of Hohenschwangau, everywhere is clearly signposted so you cannot get lost.

How to Get to Neuschwanstein Castle by Car

As easy as it is to take the train, I believe the best option to get from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle is to drive which is what we did. We rented our car from Avis at Munich Airport after arriving in Germany to start our road trip but there are also several car rental companies located at Munich Hauptbahnhof (the main train station) in the city centre. The drive from Munich to Hohenschwangau is very straightforward and takes two hours and we used Google Maps for directions – and the view of Neuschwanstein Castle as you approach Hohenschwangau is beautiful.

There are four main parking lots in Hohenschwangau with P4 being the closest to the bus stop for the shuttle up the hill to the castle. The parking fees are listed on the Hohenschwangau website.

Driving will give you the flexibility to arrive at Neuschwanstein Castle as early as you wish and give you a head start before everyone else using public transportation arrives – this option could be very useful during the busy summer months.

Booking a Hotel at Neuschwanstein Castle

As we were visiting Neuschwanstein Castle as part of a road trip around Europe, we decided to stay in the village of Hohenschwangau for one night. Whilst this is not the cheapest option (there are however cheaper hotels nearby in Füssen), I could not imagine my visit any other way now. We stayed at the Hotel Villa Ludwig which we booked in advance and even though I knew we were close to the castle itself, I had no idea until I walked onto the balcony that my boyfriend had booked a room with a view of the castle – it was amazing! We also had car parking included in our booking so we could leave our car at the hotel whilst we explored the area.

During our stay we were able to walk up the hill to the Castle and Marienbrücke in the afternoon as soon as we arrived before enjoying dinner at one of the restaurants in the village. And the following morning, we were able to take the first bus back up to take more photos before breakfast and it was a wonderful feeling to be amongst only a handful of people walking through Hohenschwangau during both of those times of day.

Whilst a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle is completely doable, staying in Hohenschwangau or Füssen will allow you to visit both the Castle, Marienbrücke and the surrounding areas early as well as late in the day when they are very quiet which will make your trip even more enjoyable and less stressful.

Booking Tickets for Neuschwanstein Castle

If you want to see the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle itself, then the only way to do so is by a guided tour. As there are limited spaces each day, make sure to book your tickets online in advance on the official Neuschwanstein website to ensure you get both the time and the date that you want to avoid disappointment – you can also buy tickets which include a tour of Hohenschwangau Castle as well. I had read that you previously needed to go to the ticket office in Hohenschwangau on the day to collect your tickets however you now simply show and scan the QR code on your booking confirmation to gain entrance to the castle.

If you need to access mobile data whilst visiting Germany, you can purchase a travel E-Sim through Airalo. If you would like to use my referral code NIKKI8866 when signing up, you will receive £2.50 / US$3 off your first purchase.

If you cannot book a tour online, there are a limited number of tickets available from the ticket office each morning. These tickets are popular so you need to be there early to have a chance of purchasing one – when we were there, a long line had already formed even before the office opened at 8:00am. When booking a tour, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get from Hohenschwangau up to the castle especially during busy times. If you are late for your time slot, you will not be able to join the next tour. Tickets are only available online or from the ticket office in Hohenschwangau – it is not possible to buy tickets in person once at the castle.

If you cannot get tickets, do not worry as not seeing the inside of the castle will not ruin your day. We had seen photos online and due to mixed reviews, we knew that we would not be missing out by not doing the tour so we decided not to book. The outside of the castle and the view from Marienbrücke is far more impressive and the reason why we wanted to visit – no tickets are needed to walk around the outside of the castle or to visit the viewing spots such as Marienbrücke or the Skywalk Neuschwanstein so you can visit these areas free of charge.

There are three different ways to get from the village of Hohenschwangau up to Neuschwanstein Castle – either by walking, taking the bus or riding a horse drawn carriage. No matter what option you choose, you will still need to be able to walk a certain distance and it is not possible to drive up there yourself.

How to Get the Bus up to Neuschwanstein Castle

The shuttle buses are the most popular and easiest option to get from Hohenschwangau up to Neuschwanstein Castle. The buses run regularly throughout the day from the bus stop next to the P4 parking lot to Marienbrücke. However you will still have to walk 500 metres downhill along a paved path to get to the castle entrance.

The bus does not run in winter when there is snow and ice on the roads and during the summer months there will be long lines so aim to get the first bus up in the morning to avoid the crowds. You can buy tickets on the bus itself and the fare is €2.50 uphill, €1.50 downhill or €3 roundtrip. The Bayern Ticket is not valid on the shuttle bus.

How to Get the Horse and Carriage up to Neuschwanstein Castle

You can also take a horse and carriage from opposite the Hotel Müller to the Schlossrestaurant Neuschwanstein. However from the drop off point you will still need to walk 450 metres uphill to get to the entrance of the castle and then another 500 metres after that to reach Marienbrücke. You can buy tickets from the carriage driver and the fare is €7 uphill and €3.50 downhill. I would not recommend using the horse and carriage as not only it is the most expensive option, it also seems incredibly cruel for the horses.

How to Walk up to Neuschwanstein Castle

The walk uphill from Hohenschwangau up to Neuschwanstein Castle is 1.5km and takes approximately twenty five minutes – the start of the path is opposite the Hotel Müller. The path is paved the whole way up and there are plenty of signs to point you in the right direction. Remember to wear comfortable shoes otherwise your feet will hurt and also to take a bottle of water with you especially when the weather is warm as you will need it though it is also very shaded making the walk more comfortable. I did not find the walk difficult at all as I have seen mentioned elsewhere and best of all, it’s completely free of charge to do.

Once you get to the castle, it takes about another ten minutes to walk to Marienbrücke. There is however a gravel trail from the bottom of the hill straight to Marienbrücke but it is a lot steeper than the paved path.

Marienbrücke: The Best View of Neuschwanstein Castle

The famous and iconic picture postcard view of Neuschwanstein Castle is taken from Marienbrücke (Mary’s Bridge) and it was the place I was most excited about seeing in person. Marienbrücke is located ten minutes walk uphill from the castle but the shuttle bus drops you off right by the bridge itself.

I had seen photos as well as videos on YouTube of hundreds of people queuing to get onto the already overcrowded bridge and I knew that I did not want my visit to be like that. Even though we visited during a quieter time we still got there early in the morning before most people arrived and we had the bridge to ourselves for about ten minutes. The view from Marienbrücke is the reason to visit Neuschwanstein and it will take your breath away – waking up early to get there when it was quiet was completely worth it and I would not have wanted it any other way. During the busy summer months I would even recommend walking up to Marienbrücke before the first bus arrives to beat the crowds.

However if you are afraid of heights, beware that the bridge is very high up and so do not look down – it also bounces a little when you and others walk on it so this might also be a reason to visit early in the day when it is quieter. If it is busy and crowded, carry on walking across the bridge and along an uphill trail for five minutes and you will come to another viewpoint with less crowds and another unobstructed view of the castle.

Visit Füssen

If you have time after visiting Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau, make sure to visit Füssen which is located less than ten minutes away and walk around the beautiful and colourful old town. As already mentioned, it would be a great place to stay for the night before visiting Neuschwanstein or as we did, stop for lunch and explore for an hour before driving to our next destination on our road trip.

After many years of wanting to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, it was the perfect start to our European road trip. Being able to see the castle so quiet and with so few crowds was incredible and after the roller coaster year of 2020, it really felt like our trip was meant to be.

Since this blog post was written back in 2021, some of the information may no longer be accurate or up to date. Be sure to do your own research and check official websites for the latest details before making any of your own travel plans.

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