How to Make the Most of Your Visit to Neuschwanstein Castle

If mine is not the first article you’ve come across about Neuschwanstein Castle, you might have read the mixed reviews on whether this experience is worth it. It’s lauded as one of the most impressive castles in the entire world, and is said to be the inspiration behind Walt Disney’s Castle, yet candidly the 25-minute tour leaves a lot to be desired. I was on the fence about whether or not I wanted to go, but in the end I went and walked away pleased with my decision. A number of the five family members I went with were a little less impressed, especially by the quality of the tour, but I think that’s likely due to the fact that I knew what to expect and they didn’t. In this article, I’ll ensure your expectations are set properly, and tell you about other stops in the area that are worth your time so you can make the most of your trip to this enchanting castle.

A QUICK HISTORY OF NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE

Neuschwanstein Castle is a masterpiece built by the “mad” King Ludwig II from 1869-1886. The castle was never completed, as construction was halted abruptly upon his arrest when he was declared “unfit to rule due to insanity”. He mysteriously died two days later, found dead at the bottom of the lake alongside the doctor who diagnosed him as crazy in the first place. His death was never investigated.

HOW TO GET THERE?

There are three main options to get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich: car, train, or guided tour.

I highly recommend renting a car. There are a number of towns nearby that have interesting attractions, but public transportation is limited in the area, making these places hard to reach without a car. Driving is also very efficient and straightforward in Germany, and it only takes 1 hour 45 minutes from Munich.

If you prefer not to drive, however, you can take the train from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Füssen, which takes 2 hours, followed by Bus 73 or 78 from Füssen station to Hohenschwangau, which adds another 15 minutes or so to the journey.

The final option is participating in a guided tour. There are plenty of group or private options that depart from Munich.

DO I NEED A GUIDE?

Neuschwanstein is only available to tour as part of a guided group audio tour run by the German government. Groups are ushered around the castle pretty quickly (in and out in 25 minutes to be exact), and are only shown a handful of rooms (remember, most of the castle was incomplete). They say on their website that you can email for a private tour, but they never responded to my email requesting one!

Neuschwanstein is incredibly popular, and as such I would recommend booking tickets at least 3-4 months in advance. I booked 2 months in advance, and my first choice date was already sold out.

You can find the latest on ticket prices here. They offer discounts when you purchase tickets for multiple tours here.

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO GO?

The castle is magical year-round! However, if you want to check out Mary’s Bridge (also known as Marienbrücke), which has a beautiful view of the castle, I would recommend the spring, summer, or fall, as it closes more often during the winter due to the weather. I will say, though, there was something magical about seeing the castle in the snow in December.

WHERE TO STAY?

Many people take a day trip to Neuschwanstein from Munich, but I would recommend against that, as it’s a two hour journey each way and there are many other things to do in the area. We stayed in two local hotels, as detailed below.

There is a larger town called Garmisch-Partenkirchen about one hour away from Neuschwanstein Castle. We stayed at Hotel Aschenbrenner and enjoyed it.

If you’re in for a deluxe experience, let me recommend Schloss Elmau, a luxury resort with a world-class spa that has had the honor of hosting the G7 Conference multiple times with Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Angela Merkel as guests.

They have multiple outdoor pools with views of the surrounding Alps that are open year-round, as well as a comprehensive spa with a broad menu of massages and treatments, as well as a fitness center. For those of you curious about European nude spa culture, this resort has some pools that are clothing-optional and some that aren’t, making it perfect for any occasion, whether that’s a romantic getaway or a trip with the family, as the clothing-optional pools are secluded.

This resort is 1 hour 20 minutes away from Neuschwanstein.

OUR EXPERIENCE AT NEUSCHWANSTEIN

After a steep 20 minute walk up the hill to the castle, we arrived at the gates about an hour and a half early, as the website suggested. However, the staff outside the gates didn’t let us into the courtyard until an hour before our scheduled tour time.

The courtyard is small, so there will be plenty of time to snap some photos of the exterior and use the restroom.

At exactly the scheduled time, we were called to line up at the entrance to the castle. We got audio guides and were ushered around the castle for 25 minutes. I was blown away with the ornate decorations in some of the rooms we saw, but it went by so quickly.

After the tour ended, we checked out the balcony with the view of the village and Hohenschwangau below. It was stunning - don’t skip this!

Unfortunately, the Marienbrücke bridge was closed due to weather the day we visited (which is very common in the winter), so we were unable to walk to the bridge for the viewpoint.

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA

The tour of Neuschwanstein alone is not going to fill up an entire day, but thankfully there are other underrated activities in the area. Below I’ve detailed some options I’d recommend.

Wieskirche

Wieskirche is a stunning church built between 1745 and 1754 in the Rococo style. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site as well as a common pilgrimage site, due to the claim that a farmer’s wife saw the statue of the Scourged Savior, housed within the church, shedding a tear. I’m not typically impressed by old, famous churches, but this one really took my breath away. My family and I spent 45 minutes inside the church, snapping photos and admiring the art. This is my top recommendation for a second stop in the area.

Since there are active services held in this church, visiting hours are limited to specific times, which you can find on this website. It’s a 25-minute drive away from the castles.

Hohenschwangau

Right across the street from Neuschwanstein Castle is another castle, Hohenschwangau, where King Ludwig II grew up. Hohenschwangau is significantly older than Neuschwanstein, and was first mentioned in history records as early as the 12th century. I thought it to be much less impressive than Neuschwanstein, but the tour was definitely better, guided by a person instead of an audio device, and with much more information than the tour across the street. If you’re a history buff and want to learn more fun facts about the life of Ludwig II (which you’ll get very few details of in the tour of Neuschwanstein) then I would recommend it. I wouldn’t describe this as a must-do, however.

Oberammergau

Oberammergau is a small, picturesque village famous for hosting the Passion Play once every decade. It’s also famous for its excellent wood carving and houses with murals depicting scenes from famous German fairytales, such as Little Red Riding Hood or Hansel and Gretel. I would recommend stopping here for lunch, driving by the famous houses, and peeking into a wood carving shop before heading on your way.

Ettal Abbey

Right next to Oberammergau is the village of Ettal, where Ettal Abbey, the Benedictine monastery, stands. In addition to stunning architecture, they offer a gift shop where they sell beer (the monks have brewed in house since the early 17th century). While impressive, it felt quite similar to Wieskirche, and we would recommend Wieskirche over Ettal Abbey.

Other Options

Other options in the area (that we did not end up choosing) include the Zugspitze Cable Car, skiing at Garmisch Classic, and sampling local cheeses at Schaukäserei Ettal.

IS IT WORTH IT?

If you go in with the expectations that the tour will not be as informative as you might hope, and the event will not take all day, then yes, I think it’s worth it. The rooms inside the castle were gorgeous; it’s hard to believe this was a private residence! That being said, to make the most of your time, I highly recommend checking out some other activities in the area, instead of taking the 2 hour journey twice in one day to do the tour from Munich. You’ll spend significantly more time en route than you will at the castle otherwise!

FAQS