One of the most recognisable places in Germany, Europe is Neuschwanstein Castle. A visit to 19th-century Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps is a dream for many travellers to Europe. I know it was for me. From the time I saw the miniature one at Disneyland in Los Angeles as a kid I knew I wanted to see the real deal. And when I was travelling through Europe visiting many castles, I ensured a visit to this most well known castle in Europe was on my itinerary.

In this post I am taking you with me on a trip to Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany. Where it is, how to get there and what to see and do in and around the castle will be revealed. Are you ready to visit the most well known castle in Europe, Neuschwanstein Castle, with me? 

Top Tips for Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle

• Book your ticket early online as they sell out very fast. Or go on a tour which includes your entry ticket.
• Wear good walking shoes as you need to walk up a steep hill to get to the castle.
• Stay close to Neuschwanstein Castle in the nearest town to explore the area more

About Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle began being built in 1869 by King Ludwig II. The king grew up at Hohenschwangau Castle nearby, but wanted his own castle when he became king. And he wanted a magnificent castle, bigger and more beautiful which is why it has fairytale-like turrets, bridges and towers. Sadly, the King died after just 172 nights in the castle, under strange circumstances they say. And the castle sits there in all its grandeur.

Walt Disney visited the Neuschwanstein Castle on a family holiday to Europe and after seeing the castle, it is said it inspired Disney when creating the Sleeping Beauty Castle – a focal point of Disneyland.

Where is Neuschwanstein Castle

If planning your own visit to Neuschwanstein Castle then you will need to know where it is. Neuschwanstein Castle can be found in the Bavaria region in southeastern Germany, very close to the Austrian border. The nearest village is Schwangau where you could stay, however, most visit Neuschwanstein Castle on a day trip from Munich which is some 120km away. Or from Innsbruck, Austria some 110km away.

The castle really is in the middle of nowhere, just look at some of the pictures of the castle. It is situated on top of a steep hill and to get to this fairytale wonder, you will need to walk up this steep hill – more on this later.

Best Time to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle

If you are wondering when is the best time to visit Neuschwnstein Castle, well, anytime is a great time to visit the castle as it is magical pretty much all year round!

The summer months of July and August is the peak tourist time to visit Neuschwanstein Castle. If you are okay with bigger crowds and long entry lines, then this is the perfect weather to take in the castle’s beauty.

The shoulder season of May and June and October are excellent times for visiting Neuschwanstein Castle as few people are around, and you will have a more pleasant visit with less crowds. However, towards the end of October Oktoberfest is happening in Munich, and many people take a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle.

The winter months of November to April is when there is the least number of people visiting. The weather will be cool, and there may even be snow on the ground. What a wonderful way to see the castle!

Neuschwanstein Castle’s hours of operation?

If you’re you’re looking to explore Neuschwanstein Castle, here is their daily schedule:

April – October 15 (Peak Season): 9 am to 6 pm
October 16 – March: 10 am to 4 pm
Closed: December 24, December 25, December 31, and January 1

What to See and Do at Neuschwanstein Castle

getting up close and personal to the castle while in the courtyard

• From the outside you will get fabulous views of this magical Castle, particularly if you take a short walk to to Marienbrücke (Queen Mary’s Bridge), a suspension pedestrian bridge offering stunning views of the castle and breathtaking panoramic views of the Bavarian landscape. And the views won’t disappoint. You can do this either before or after a tour of the inside of the castle.
• Closer to the castle enjoy and walk around it and spend time in the courtyard. Also stroll around the beautiful gardens and the ramparts offering breathtaking views of the surrounding villages and hills.
• If you go on a tour of the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle you will be treated to lots of colour, particularly gold, many statues and floor to ceiling murals and paintings. There are a number of rooms to visit including the Singer’s Hall, King Ludwig’s Bedroom, the Grotto and my favourite, the Throne Room. So was the spiral staircase in a castle turret. The entire inside of the castle is stunningly over the top lavishness – what else would you expect! I won’t tell you too much more as you will discover it for yourself when you visit.

What to See and Do Nearby the Castle

If you have time, other things to do while visiting Neuschwanstein Castle include:

• visit Hohenschwangau Castle some 15 minutes away. You can even buy combined tickets for both of them. In order to make sure you can enter at the desired time, book your spot in advance, as it’s one of the most visited spots in Germany. This was King Ludwig II’s childhood home and offers stunning views of the Neuschwanstein Castle.
• Check out the Museum of Bavarian Kings. The museum has many artifacts and documents related to the history of the Bavarian royal family.
• Take a cable car ride to Tegelberg Peak.
• Visit Lake Alpsee next to Hohenschwangau is a great place to walk around.
• Hike the 4km (2.5 mile) trail around the castle. 

How to Get to Neushswanstein Castle

There are a number of was to reach Neuschwanstein Castle including driving yourself, taking public transport and by going on a tour.

Driving to Neuschswanstein Castle

If you are driving, vanning or car camping your way through Europe, you will probably want to drive yourself to Neuschswanstein Castle. It will depend on where you are as to how you will drive there, as there are many roads in Europe you could take. But basically, you will want to drive to the nearest town of Schwangau and then follow the signs to the castle. If you don’t have a car, but want to drive yourself, check out options for the best car for your trip at DiscoverCars. 

Parking at Neuschwanstein Castle

If driving yourself to the castle you will need to park your vehicle. I am not going to lie to you, but this can be chaotic with all the other people needing parking when visiting the castle too. There are four parking areas in the village to park, but parking lot #4 is the one where you catch the bus up the hill to the castle, if you aren’t walking or riding in one of the horse carriages to the castle.

A parking ticket costs about 10 Euro for the first 6 hours then 1 Euro each hour after that. Six hours should give you plenty of time to tour the castle, but keep it in mind, if you do things around the castle. 

Taking Public Transport to Neuschswanstein Castle

Public transport in Germany is efficient and easy to use and is a good way  to get to Neuschwanstein Castle. Most take public transport from Munich to the castle, so hop on the train to Füssen. From there, you can take either bus 73 or 78 from Füssen to Hohenschwangau, where Neuschwanstein Castle is located. All up, the journey takes around 2 hours from Munich to Füssen by train and then another 15 minutes or so on the bus. So keep that in mind if you are doing a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle as it may influence when you book your tour of the inside of the castle. 

Go on an organised tour to Neuschswanstein Castle

This is how I went to Neuschswanstein Castle, on an organised tour. The first time was when I was on a 1 month European tour and it was included. The second time I organised a day trip from Munich as I was at the Oktoberfest and needed a day away from drinking beer!

If you decide to go on an organised tour, ensure it includes your transport and entry and tour of the castle. Check out this one.

How to Get Up to Neuschwanstein Castle

ride in a horse-drawn carriage up to the castle – a little on the expensive side but a fun experience

Neuschwanstein Castle is on the top of a high hill. There is no option for being dropped at the front door of the castle. There are three options to help you get up to the castle – walk, bus or horse drawn carriage.

Many walk up to the castle which will take anywhere from 20-40 minutes or so depending on how fast you walk. Get ready for some puffing, this is why I suggest you be fit for your travels. This is how I got to the castle after being dropped in the car park by our bus. It was quite steep but I enjoyed the views and the anticipation of getting closer to the castle.

The next way is to go on one of the horse drawn carriages. This is a fun way to get up the hill, however the most expensive. Plus, the horses don’t go all the way to the top, so you still have a bit of the steep hill to walk up.

The other options to get up to Neuschwanstein Castle is to take the bus from parking lot #4. It will take about 10 minutes and like the horse carriage, doesn’t go all the way up. There is a cost for the bus to go up and down.

The bus conveniently drops you off near the turn off for the walk to the Marienbrücke (Mary’s Bridge). As mentioned, you can walk to this bridge for great views of the castle. You might want to do this before your tour of the castle, as after walking around the castle, you may not want to walk to the bridge. 

My Top Tips for a Successful Visit to Neuschwanstein Castle

• Book your tickets early as they will sell out. There are a select number of tickets available in person on the day. However you need to arrive really early in order to get them. And it’s a long way to go on a day trip if you don’t get a ticket. I was lucky as booking on to a tour, my entrance ticket was included.
• Choose the best way to get there by what suits you. Driving to the castle is easy to do, though parking can be chaotic. 
• Follow ticket instructions like arriving 1.5-2 hours before your time slot. No joke, it can take a while to get up the hill to the castle. Then you need to get through two entry barriers. The first into the courtyard where you wait for your timed entry ticket to be announced. Don’t be late – they won’t wait.
• The second barrier is in the courtyard. A display board will show which group is currently being called and how long until your group will be. When your number is called, scan your ticket’s QR code on the reader and the automatic barrier will let you pass. It’s for this reason you may not be allowed entry after your time has passed – again, don’t be late!
• Your tour will only last around 30 minutes itself, then you are free to explore around the castle. You are not allowed to take photos inside the castle and your guide will give you a stern talking to if you are seen taking any photos.
• Wear comfortable shoes – your feet will thank me later.

1 Day Neuschwanstein Castle Itinerary

This is how you could spend a day at Neuschwanstein Castle and surrounds.

• Arrive early in the morning, walk up the steep hill and detour to Bridge for great views of the castle.
• Go on the tour of the castle.
• Have lunch at the castle
• Visit other castle
• Walk around the Lake
• Head back to where you came from.

Where to Stay near Neuschwanstein Castle?

If you’re looking for a place to stay while you’re exploring Neuschwanstein Castle and the area around it, then there are some towns nearby. Check out accommodation options for these towns Schwangau, Füssen and Hohenschwangau. But many stay in Munich and do a day trip – check out these accommodation options for Munich.

Are You Ready to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle

Even though tickets are hard to come by, the castle gets an enormous amount of visitors and you need to walk up a huge hill to get to it, a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle is well worth the effort. Whether you are staying in Munich or somewhere else in Germany or nearby Austria, definitely try to include a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle in your European itinerary. 

For me, visiting this magical place was an unforgettable experience, and I am so glad I was able to visit.

Have you ever been to Neuschwanstein Castle? I’d love to hear?