{This post may contain affiliate links. We can’t thank you enough for supporting the EE site at no extra cost to you}
Fairytales do exist.
Well, at least their castles do!
What child hasn’t looked at Disney’s famous castle and wondered where the princess lived? Well, the truth is, the PRINCE (or King, actually) lived in beautiful Bavaria and built the impressive Neuschwanstein Castle. Many believe this is the castle that gave inspiration to the famous Disney castle and is often dubbed, “The Cinderella Castle.”
While in Germany, putting the Neuschwanstein Castle http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/palace/index.htm, along with a few of King Ludwigs other castles at the top of your list isn’t a bad idea. However, most people that head to Bavaria to pretend to be king for the day end up having plenty of questions….
What to See in a Day
Many people see the Neuschwanstein Castle if they are taking their time driving along the Romantic Road. Other’s just make it another stop on their list while in Germany. Either way, here are two other castles that you can easily do in one full day to really get your royalty on:
Hohenschwangau:
Actually at the same location as Neuschwanstein, this castle is more “lived in” than the neighboring Neuschwanstein. Therefore, many people actually prefer the inside of this one over the bigger, more popular castle.
- Insider Tip: If you are short on time, honestly, I would say do the INSIDE of Hohenschwangau and only the OUTSIDE of Neuschwanstein
View of Hohenscwangau Castle from Nuescwanstein
Linderhof:
This schloss (palace) is only about 45 minutes away from Neuschwanstein and is yet another one (of no less than 5!) of Mad King Ludwig’s many castles. What makes this one different is the scenery around the castle! King Ludwig even created his own grotto for personal opera shows here!
While you might be “castled out” by the time your head hits the pillow, you can easily do these three all in the same day.
Tickets
In order to go inside the (Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau) castles, you will need a guided tour/ ticket.
- Insider Tip: You can still walk around all the grounds even without a ticket or paying.
You can buy single or combo tickets. If you have the time, definitely get the “King’s Ticket” which covers both the Neuschanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles.
Here is a list of ticket pricing options
For buying the tickets, this can become quite the heated discussion! You really have two options:
Pre- Purchase: Many people will swear by purchasing your tickets online https://www.hohenschwangau.de/765.0.html prior to heading to the castle. You’ll want to do this well in advance, as they sell out very quickly. If you reserve the tickets online, you will still need to stand in a line (although arguably, much shorter) to pick them up at the actual ticket office.
It also costs an addition € 1.80 per person to reserve online
Wait in Line: Others aren’t sure of their time tables or just don’t want to be tied down to a reservation and therefore will wait in line. This is possibly ok during low season and on a weekday, but I would NOT advise this choice during tourist season (summer) or weekends. People report of having to wait in line for a minimum of an hour (often much, much longer) and the next English tour not starting for an addition 4-5 hours! This is IF you can get a ticket.
Many people show up to find out that the tickets are sold out for the day. So, choose this option at your own risk.
- Military: If you are a military member, many people combine this day trip with a stay at Edelweiss. You can book an excursion with them, which includes transport, tickets, tours and lunch. Obviously, this option is going to be much for expensive than to DIY, but if you don’t mind the cost and want someone else to plan the day for you, it is something to consider.
To read how to stay at Edelweiss on a Budget or Things to do In Garmisch, check out my other posts!
- Insider Tip?: There is a rumor that you can skip the lines, pay three extra Euros and just get your tickets at the museum. I honestly don’t know if this works…someone try it out and let us know!
Another alternative is if you have booked a hotel nearby, see if they can reserve a ticket for you.
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
Planning a Trip That Involves Neuschwanstein?
Don’t forget to research cheap things to do on TripAdvisor and book affordable Hotels at Booking.com
—————————————————————————————————————————————-
If You Were Unable To Get Tickets
Honestly, don’t pout. You can still stroll all the grounds and the Marienbrücke (bridge with AMAZING views!) for free. Many people say that they enjoyed the outside of the castle more than the inside anyway.
Once you have a ticket, plan accordingly for how to get up to the castle, as all your options may take you longer than what you expect. And you DON’T want to miss your tour time, especially after all that hassle. If you miss it, there are no re-dos!
Getting Up To The Castle
Horse Drawn Carriage: What is more romantic and fairy-tale like than riding a horse drawn carriage up to the castle gates?
Sorry to go all buzz-kill on ya’ll, but I tend to steer clear of any work-animal related tourist activity when traveling. Just one look at those poor animals and one glance at the steep hill up to the castle, and you know they are over-worked. Ok, stepping off soapbox now…
You will see signs near the ticket office for the carriage option. Just hop in line (can be about a 30-45 minute wait, pending line) and then pay the carriage driver directly (Last time I was there, it was €6/pp up and €3/pp down)
Even if you take the horses, they can not go all the way up to the top, so there will still be some steep walking necessary to actually get to the gates.
Bus: There is now a handy bus option that takes you not far from the beautiful Marienbrücke . If standing outside the ticket office and looking UP to the castle, follow the street up to the right. You’ll pass many shops and another carriage stop and then see the bus line and ticket stand.
€1.80 Up and €1 down, wait time may vary pending line, but plan on at least 15-30 minutes plus the 5 minutes or so for the ride itself.
Walking: Hmm, maybe I should call this, “Hiking” instead! If you want a great workout, it only takes about 20-30 minutes of a VERY steep hill the entire way up. Since you know I am all about saving money, (yes, even €1.80!) you know we took this route! Just watch out for horse crap as you walk!
At the Castle
Depending on your method to get up to the castle, you might arrive at the viewing platform. Here, if you have purchased a ticket, there will be electronic screens showing the tours and times. As mentioned earlier, pay attention to this! This will let you know what time you can start lining up and again, you don’t want to miss this!
From this platform, it is a perfect place for a photo-op! Depending on the amount of other tourists, you’ll either need to be fast at taking a photo or very, very patient to get a shot of just you and the castle.
From here, you can go through the majestic main gate and into the courtyard (free/ no tickets needed for this).
If you took the bus or walked up, you will be close to the Marienbrücke . Even if you took the other options up, do NOT miss this bridge!!! Here, you will find absolutely stunning views over the gorge and can take in the size and beauty of the castle.
Beautiful views from the Marienbrucke at Neuschwanstein in the summer
Once Inside
Mad King Ludwig ended up mysteriously dying before he had a chance to finish his impressive castle resulting in only FOURTEEN of the total 360 rooms are actually complete! Therefore, that means that all that time and energy you spent getting the tickets will get you into 14 rooms. Some people say “I’m here, why wouldn’t I go in and see it!” Others say, “Meh, the outside is more impressive anyway!”
No pictures are allowed inside as well.
Stroller Friendly?
Not only is getting up to the castle going to be a challenge for kiddos in strollers, but the castle itself is also not kind to strollers. You’ll find tons of stairs, some windy and others just plain long. If you can babywear/carry your little one, that is truly your best option.
Coming Down from the Castle
Most people choose to walk back down, others take the bus or carriage ride. However, if you can take the gorge hike, this is an absolutely stunning walk back down. You can avoid a lot of the people and, of course, the horse crap! You’ll find this walk/hike on the path between the castle and bridge.
I like to live on the wild side. The path down said it was closed, but I may or may not have snuck past and gone down anyway (ok, maybe this isn’t THAT wild, but whatever!)
The path and stairs were completely safe and we were rewarded with some great sites! This will pop you out at the bottom of the castle.
Waterfall only viewable from inside the gorge
Eating and Other Things to Do
Many people wonder what there is to do while they wait for their tour times. There are several souvenir shops and a couple of restaurants around. However, we packed our own lunch to avoid these as they all seemed overpriced and overrun with tourists. Besides the Hohenschwangau castle (which I DO highly recommend), there isn’t a ton to do other than the outsides and grounds of the castles.
If you have a very long time (4 or 5 hours), you can take the bus or drive into the nearby town of Fussen.
Alternatively, if you have a long wait, drive 10 minutes over to the Tegelberg and go Paragliding OVER the castle!!!
When to Go
I have been to Neuschwanstein in the winter, fall and summer. Each season has something different to offer and are all amazingly beautiful in their own rights! Winter is absolutely magical covered in the snow, the fall is ablaze with color and the summer is almost guaranteed good weather. Since the castles are open all year round, there really is no bad time to go!
Have you played Prince or Princess for a day at Neuschwanstein? What tips do you have for fellow travelers to make the most of their day?
LeAnna Brown
Latest posts by LeAnna Brown (see all)
- 18 Tips On How To Budget Travel Ireland Like A Pro - March 11, 2020
- Bangkok Itinerary 5 Days: Making The Most Of Your Time in BKK - January 29, 2020
- Krabi With Kids: Why Krabi Is the PERFECT Thailand Family Holiday Destination - January 22, 2020
Looks awesome. Have met a few Bavarians on my travels and they’re a boisterous lot! The Neuschwanstein reminded us a lot of outdoor museum like St Petersburg in Russia.
I know what you mean about having to wait for other tourists to move or taking photos quickly! You did a lovely job with the pictures of this castle. It really does look like something built in a fairy tale. Thanks for the insider’s tips!
I went to the Neuschwanstein castle with school years back, and I agree with you: the outside of Neuschwanstein is actually better than the inside. the surroundings and the nature around the castle are amazing and breathtaking!
So so so beautiful – both the landscape and the castle. These are the kind of places that I really want to see in Europe. Thank you for all the tips 🙂 I think I would like to go in the fall – just the light would feel special!
Haven’t been to Neuschwanstein but from your description, I need to make it a priority for our 11-year-old daughter. I think she, and we would absolutely love being in that castle.
You are right. Fairy tales do exist and this castle is one of them. I’ve never been there, but I’ve always wanted since the day when I saw it as a kid in a book on architecture. It was my favorite image in the whole book when I was a six year old. It’s been more than twenty years but I still want to visit.
Great blog. Love the photos 🙂
To complete the experience, I will go by horse-drawn carriage. But going down seems like a fun but dangerous thing to do!
Thanks for the trip down memory lane!! I loved my time at Neuschwanstein Castle though we went during winter so my pictures are a little different to yours. Though I would love to get back in summer and have those beautiful green views!! Will have to start putting everything on my bucketlist a few times so that I can experience them in multiple seasons!!
It is absolutely magical during the winter! Unfortunately, I was 14 when we went over Christmas. AKA- mom has all those pictures!
This is a very informative post! I have just been to this place recently and it was a true beauty. But indeed, it was very touristy.
It looks just spectacular – especially in the fall!
Where do you recommend staying? If we are thinking of doing Salzburg too is it better to stay in Garmish and use that as a “base” or stay somewhere near both to drive it?
Salzburg is over 2 hours from Garmisch so unless you are doing a long weekend, I don’t know if I’d combine all three. You can easily make a nice weekend out of Garmisch for a few days and then Neuschwanstein and the other castles for a full day
I remember visiting this place in the nineties with my dad when I was moving to France. It is so beautiful but we were far too tight to pay the entrance fee so I really need to head back