Neuschwanstein Castle Guide
Germany’s fairytale castle, Neuschwanstein is as pretty as a picture. So much so, Walt Disney allegedly based Cinderella’s fairytale castle on its architecture.
With the towers and turrets, set high up on a steep hillside, Neuschwanstein Castle looks like it belongs on the pages of a storybook.
But with more than 1.5 million visitors each year, visiting Neuschwanstein Castle is far from a quiet day out.
It really is a beautiful sight to see! Use this guide to help you plan your visit.
A brief history
Ludwig II reigned as king of Bavaria for only two years at the middle of the nineteenth century. The Prussians essentially removed poor old Ludwig’s authority and influence by forcing Bavaria to form an alliance with them.
Ludwig’s idea for a new castle near his childhood home of Hohenschwangau Castle came around this time.
As far as historians can tell, Neuschwanstein Castle served as the epicentre of Ludwig II’s made-up country, where he could act the part of king without the Prussians getting in the way.
Due to rising construction expenses, work on Neuschwanstein Castle was abandoned in the 1870s. The majority of the rooms still feature exposed brick.
Before his mysterious death at age 40 in 1886, Ludwig spent only 11 nights in the castle.
Facts
- A finalist for the new 7 wonders of the world, Neuschwanstein is the most visited castle in Europe. No photography is allowed inside the castle yet it’s still the most photographed building in Germany.
- Marienbruck (Queen Mary’s Bridge) spans the Pollat Gorge, suspended some 300ft high. Ludwig rebuilt the bridge at the same altitude as his Neuschwanstein Castle to allow him to admire it from a distance. Lovers use the bridge today to declare their undying love for each other.
- Despite Ludwig II building the castle to escape public life, less than less than 2 months after his death, Neuschwanstein Castle was opened to the public. Now around 6000 people walk through the rooms every day.
How to get to Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is less than 2 hours away on the autobahn from Munich and only a few minutes from Füssen in the Allgäu region.
We stayed at Reutte – Austria, which was an easy 20-25 minute drive. With Europe having open borders, it is easy to get around.
Although it’s possible to visit Neuschwanstein Castle as a day trip from Munich, it’s a pretty long 11 hour trip.
Far better to take your time and go under your own steam.
To get to Neuschwanstein Castle, drive to a small village called Hohenschwangau. You can park here but prepare for a long queue for parking because it can be busy. Arrive early to beat the queues.
You have a couple of options to get up to the castle from Hohenschwangau. You can take a horse-drawn carriage most of the way up to the castle, walk or take a castle bus.
We walked up to the viewing platform, which is about a 1hr round trip. Only walk if you are physically fit, it is steep! If you choose to take the bus after you’ve collected your tickets, you’ll arrive at the top of the hill about 20 minutes later.
Visiting without a tour
You can only visit the interior of the castle as part of a guided tour; our advice is don’t bother. The whistle stop tour is simply not worth it. Photography isn’t allowed inside either.
Entrance tickets for Neuschwanstein Castle can only be bought at the Ticketcenter in the village of Hohenschwangau below the castle.
The line to get tickets will be long. You even need to queue if you bought your tickets in advance, albeit there is a separate queue.
The best part of visiting Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau is seeing the exterior, particularly from Marienbrucke.
Don’t miss this bridge for the single best view of the castle.
Book Tours and Purchase Tickets
How to avoid the crowds
There’s little chance of getting Neuschwanstein Castle to yourself but follow these few tips and beat the worst of the crowds. Try some or all of these if you can:
- Arrive very early or very late but definitely avoid the middle of the day.
- Buy your tickets in advance.
- Try to visit on a week day during school term time if possible.
- Visit during the low season from October to April, avoiding the Christmas holidays.
Pictures
If you want to see the most beautiful castle then this is the trip for you! Make sure its on your list!
