Schloss Neueschwanstein + Hochenschwansgau
Visiting the castle from which Disney got inspired!
I had been wanting to visit the Schloss Neuschwanstein ever since I heard about its existence, and finally this year I got to do so, and with the great company of my parents! Bucket list item: check!
Quick facts
Closest major cities: Munich, Germany: driving time of 1 hr and 50 minutes approximately via A96 and B17 highways. Innsbruck, Austria: 1 hour and 43 minutes drive.
Zurich, Switzerland: 2 hours 53 minutes drive.
Alternative transportation: DB Train from Munich Central train station to Neuschwanstein Castles, Schwangau, takes 2 hours 34. minutes. The cost is 26 euros per round trip, per person.
Currency: Euros
Immerse yourself in the Bavarian history
Neuschwanstein Castle is a 19th-century palace in southern Germany, near the Austrian border. Neuschwanstein Castle is located in the Swabia region of Bavaria, near the village of Hohenschwangau, with the nearest larger town being Füssen.The castle stands east of the Alpsee and Schwansee lakes. The main residence of the Bavarian Kings at the time was the luxurious Munich Residenz) known to be one of the most extensive palace complexes in the world). Still, King Ludwig II of Bavaria felt the need to "escape" to the countryside and commissioned the creation of the Neuschwanstein Castle very close to the Alps. The Castle served as his as a retreat but also as a monument to honor of composer Richard Wagner, whom he greatly admired.
The construction began in 1869 but was not completed, since the King was found dead in 1886. According to the Bayerisches Staatsministerium der Finanzen 2009 more than 61 million people have visited Neuschwanstein Castle since it was opened to the public, and up until 2008 it was reported that more than 1.3 million people visit annually, with as many as 6,000 per day in the summer...hence the relevance of my tips below!
General suggestions to make the most out of your visit
If you are driving or arriving at the location by yourself meaning not with a tour including transportation:
If you want to see the inside of the castles, make sure to buy your tickets online in advance. I had to purchase them 2 months before the desired date. The chances of you finding available tickets for purchase upon arrival are very low.
Be very mindful of the time, double or triple-check the possible itinerary you would follow to arrive at the location, and the time it takes before you buy your ticket. The tickets are purchased by appointment. Both castles and the museum have a large number of visitors scheduled every day, therefore if you arrive a few minutes late, you will be denied access. No reimbursement is granted either if you arrive late or end up being a no-show.
Both castles require to walk or take a bus. Be very mindful of the time required to go up to Neuschwanstein and to walk back downhill, as well as the time needed to go up to and down from the castle Hochenschawnsgau. Remember those times when purchasing your tickets to go inside the castles.
You will have the option to purchase tickets for each of the castles separately, as a combo, or in combination with the Museum of Bavarian Kings. I only purchased the castles due to the limited time, and I am glad I did since we would have to rush through the Museum or would have likely missed most of it.
When purchasing the tickets you will receive them via email, as well as a map with the available parking lots. Make sure you have that email and the map at hand on the day of your visit.
If you are staying in Munich and would rather have a stress-free ride...
On travel sites such as Expedia, Tripadvisor, and similar, you can purchase day trips to Neuschwanstein Castle. This way for about 78 euros, you will be picked up at a given location, and driven to the Castle with the company of a tour guide. Usually, these tours take from 7 to 10 hours.
For all travelers in general:
Wear comfortable shoes, additionally, if you are visiting in autumn or winter, make sure to pack water/weather-resistant shoes. When I arrived at the location it was raining dogs and cats, and the ground was muddy and slippery. Also, please don't make the same mistake I did when forgetting to bring an umbrella.
Due to the proximity to the Alps, the area tends to be a bit windy and cool, consider that when choosing your outfit.
Please note that it is not allowed to take pictures inside the castles, yes this is a bit, sad, but take as a reason to be super "present" during your visit and make the most out of it. ...Also, you can go bananas and take as many pictures once you are outside.
Pets are not allowed. I was a bit worried about this one myself, given that I had to find someone to look after my Pup, but once I was inside the Castle it made total sense this restriction. During my visit, I saw a few people standing outside of the Castles waiting with their dogs.
Check out these exclusive pictures from the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle provided by the lovely people of the office Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser, Gärten und Seen.
All pictures are subject to Copyright and are not intended for commercial purposes. Please refrain from altering or forwarding these images. Details on the copyright notice and author: 1. Einkleidung Zimmer, Neuschwanstein Castle © Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung(Photo: Rainer Herrmann).2. Arbeitzimer, Neuschwastein Castle © Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung (Photo: www.kreativ-instinkt.de) 3. Bedroom,Neuschwanstein Castle. © Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung(Photo: Ulrich Pfeuffer/ Maria Scherf).4.Throne Hall,Neuschwanstein Castle © Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung(Photo: Rainer Herrmann).5. Singers' Hall,Neuschwanstein Castle © Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung(Photo: Rainer Herrmann). www.neuschwanstein.de
Still yet to visit...
The Museum of the Bavarian Kings in Hohenschwangau, displays the history of the Wittelsbach dynasty from its beginnings to the present day. Due to time limitations, I could not fit on the itinerary a visit to the museum, but it seems to be a great reason to go back a second time! The exhibition focuses on Maximilian II, who commissioned the conversion of the Hohenschwangau Castle into his summer residence, and on of course on his son, King Ludwig II, responsible for the creation of the Neuschwanstein Castle.
City of Füssen. Located in in Bavaria, Germany, and only one kilometre from the Austrian border. The town is a known Winter destination, for its winter hikes and Ski holidays. However, it seems to be quite charming during warmer times thanks to the amazing views from the Forggensee ( Forggen Lake). If that hasn't convinced you, the town is also known for its violin manufacturing, as well as being the closest transportation hub for the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles
Felicidades!! Muy lindo todo , gracias!!!🥰🤗❤️👏
Gracias!!
Muchas gracias!! Que bonito !!!😇🥰
Felicidades!!!!🥳
I was in tears even before playing the video! Recently started watching Bluey and to be honest I am saviouring every episode, making sure not to rush through them. Luce as a kid would have love it too! Without all the sometimes extreme drama cartoons such as "Candy", "Peline" and the anime series called in Spanish "La Ranita Demetan" displayed. I also remember feeling sad and stressed after watching some of them...But Bluey is so not like that. I am sure this is appreciated by kids and parents equally. Cheers to all healthy, innocent and non invasive copying mechanisms! And thanks for sharing this one! 😍