Would you like to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, one of Germany’s most beautiful castles? Then here’s everything you need to know about this magnificent Bavarian castle!
Located in southern Bavaria, Germany, on the border with neighboringAustria, Neuschwanstein Castle stands on a rocky spur over 200 meters high, near the town of Füssen in the historic Allgäu region.
Built in the 19th century at the instigation of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, it is now Germany’s most famous castle. Every year, over a million visitors come to see it! In summer, 6,000 visitors a day flock to discover the castle’s various rooms, originally designed to accommodate just one person.
Would you like to visit Neuschwanstein Castle? Then take a look at our mini tour guide to help you prepare for your visit!
History of Neuschwanstein Castle
Under the beautiful name of Neuschwanstein Castle lies an unreal edifice, built atop the rocks of the Bavarian Alps, under the orders of Ludwig II of Bavaria, a lover of art and culture. It was the inspiration for Walt Disney’ s Sleeping Beauty.
A solitary dreamer, Ludwig II of Bavaria decided to build Neuschwanstein Castle following a series of disappointments and defeats. In particular, Bavaria’s loss of sovereignty to Prussia led to his gradual withdrawal into his imaginary world of marvelous medieval castles.
The idea for the Château came from a visit to France in 1867. He decided to blend the neo-Gothic style, which he had seen during his trip, with the medieval style of castles built on cliffs. To build the castle of his dreams, Louis II had two ancient castles demolished and the mountain dynamited, lowering the base of the old castles by 8 meters!
In 1885, the state of Bavaria was heavily in debt and in dire straits. The king was becoming increasingly reclusive, isolating himself in the mountains. The government decided to remove the King from power, as his mental state had been judged abnormal by a commission of doctors appointed by the government. Arrested and interned in Berg Castle on the shores of Lake Starnberg on June 12, 1886, the king and his physician were found drowned in the lake the following day. Since then, many theories have circulated as to the circumstances of his death: murder or suicide? The truth will surely never be known!
A few weeks after the death of King Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein Castle was opened to the public for the first time.
What to see and do at Neuschwanstein Castle
Visits to Neuschwanstein Castle are only available as guided tours in the language of your choice (German or English) or with an audiophone (French in particular). You are accompanied by a guide throughout the tour, which lasts between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on the season and the number of visitors.
A visit to Neuschwanstein Palace takes in the main rooms of the building: the entrance hall, throne room, dining room, bedroom, chapel, toilet, grand salon, study, singers’ room and kitchens.
The tour will also allow you to admire the elaborate decorations in each of the rooms, and to learn more about the history of the castle and the tragic life of Ludwig II of Bavaria.
- Due to major renovation work, the Marienbrücke bridge is closed until further notice.
How to visit Neuschwanstein Castle
Photo credit: wandering-around
Once you’ve booked your ticket to Hohenschwangau, allow 20-30 minutes to reach the castle on foot. In winter, when it snows, you’ll need good shoes for the climb. Mini buses and horse-drawn carriages are also available for easy access to Neuschwanstein Castle. For people with reduced mobility, the castle can be reached by public transport.
If you’re planning a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, we recommend combining it with a walk around the beautiful Lake Forggen, a visit to the medieval town of Füssen, or a tour of the Bavarian royal family castle of Hohenswchangau (a special ticket is available). You can also visit Linderhof Castle after Neuschwanstein Castle.
Good to know:
- Large backpacks or other luggage, strollers or baby carriers are not permitted in the castle;
- It is forbidden to photograph or film inside the château;
- Pets are not allowed in the castle;
- For a bite to eat, visit the Café & Bistro on the second floor of Neuschwanstein Castle;
- People with reduced mobility are kindly requested to book their guided tour in advance (booking fee: €1.80 per person).
How do I get to Neuschwanstein Castle?
There are several options for visiting Neuschwanstein Castle. To give you a better idea, we’ve listed the different ways of getting to the site from Munich, the most popular meeting point for a trip
:
- By car
If you have your own car or have opted to rent a car in Munich, you’ll need to allow between 1h45 and 2h for the drive.
- By bus
Allow between 2h and 2h30 driving time. You can find bus timetables here.
- By train
Take a train to Füssen, then catch a bus to the « Hohenschwangau Neuschwanstein Castles, Schwangau » station in Hohenschwangau. Information on fares and timetables can be found on the DB website.
Neuschwanstein Castle opening hours and prices
To visit Neuschwanstein Castle, you’ll need to buy your ticket at the Hohenschwangau ticket office below the castle. So be sure to buy your tickets before you go up to the castle. It is possible to book tickets in advance, by reserving them online, which can avoid unpleasant last-minute surprises. Indeed, it is sometimes possible that by midday, all available tickets to visit Neuschwanstein Castle have already been sold. This also saves you from the endless queues, especially between July and September.
Neuschwanstein Castle opening hours
Neuschwanstein Castle is open every day except January 1st and December 24th, 25th and 31st.
Hohenschwangau box office:
- April 1 to October 15: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ;
- October 16 to March 31: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tours of Neuschwanstein Castle :
- April to October 15: 9am to 6pm;
- October 16 to March 31: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Good to know: the last ticket is issued 10 minutes before the ticket office closes, so the last visit takes place at 6 or 4 pm.
Rates for Neuschwanstein Castle
- Full price: €15
- Reduced rate : 14 €
- Free admission for under-18s