Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle (Schloss Neuschwanstein) is the fairytale castle that King Ludwig II of Bavaria began building in 1869 on a rocky ridge above the Pöllat Gorge near Füssen, in southern Bavaria, Germany. Its name means “New Swan Stone”, a nod to the Swan Knight of Wagner’s operas, which the king adored. The castle was never finished: Ludwig spent only a few months there, and it opened to visitors in 1886, just weeks after his death. Neuschwanstein inspired Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, and since 2025 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Ludwig’s other palaces: Linderhof, Herrenchiemsee and the King’s House on Schachen.

The castle is one of Germany’s most popular sights, with around 1.4 million visitors a year and up to 6,000 a day in summer. It can only be visited on a guided tour, so it is highly recommended to buy tickets in advance.

How to Get There

• From Munich by train: The regional train to Füssen takes about 2 hours. From Füssen station, buses 73 and 78 run to the “Hohenschwangau, Neuschwanstein Castles” stop in about 10 minutes. A Bayern-Ticket or a Deutschlandticket covers both the train and the bus.
• By car: Hohenschwangau is about 120 km from Munich (around 1.5–2 hours). There are several paid car parks in the village; private cars are not allowed up to the castle.
• Up the mountain: Walk 30–40 minutes (1.5 km) up a steep paved road, take the shuttle bus (€3.50 one way, €5 return), which stops near the Marienbrücke, a 10–15-minute walk above the castle, or ride a horse-drawn carriage (€8 uphill, €4 downhill), which stops about 450 m below the castle.

Visiting the Castle

• Tickets: Admission is €21 (€20 reduced); under-18s enter free. Tickets are sold online in advance (plus a €2.50 booking fee per ticket, including free children’s tickets) or, subject to availability, at the Ticket Center in Hohenschwangau, not at the castle itself. Each ticket is for a fixed tour time; the guided tour of 14 rooms lasts about 30 minutes, with audio guides in 16 other languages. The castle is open daily (9:00–18:00 from late March to mid-October, 10:00–16:00 in winter) except 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. Photography is not allowed inside.
• External sights: The castle is stunning from the outside. The classic photo viewpoint is the Marienbrücke (Queen Mary’s Bridge), a suspension bridge over the Pöllat Gorge; it may be closed in winter because of ice and snow. Forest paths around the castle offer further views of the Alpsee and Schwansee lakes, Hohenschwangau Castle and the town of Füssen.
• Amenities: There is a small souvenir shop and café near the castle, with more restaurants and shops at the foot of the mountain. Toilets near the castle are free.

Tips

• Allow plenty of time to get up to the castle: tours start punctually, and latecomers cannot join.
• Backpacks, pushchairs and bulky bags are not allowed inside the castle, so leave them in the car.
• Even without entering, the castle’s exterior and surrounding scenery are breathtaking.
• Wear comfortable shoes for walking uphill or exploring the forest paths.

Neuschwanstein Castle is a quintessential example of romantic architecture and a must-see for travelers seeking fairytale landscapes, historic charm, and panoramic views of the Bavarian Alps.