If you’ve looked up castles in Germany, one of the first results you’ve seen is probably Neuschwanstein. With its white stone exterior and many turrets, it’s pretty much the epitome of a fairytale castle. A must-see if you’re visiting the Bavarian capital, here’s my guide on how to visit Neuschwanstein from Munich!
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If you think Neuschwanstein Castle looks incredible on photos, it only looks better in real life. This is the ultimate day trip from Munich and probably one of the best day trips in Germany!
Visiting Neuschwanstein from Munich: An EPIC day trip
All about Neuschwanstein
Schloss Neuschwanstein, or New Swan Rock Castle, was one of the castles commissioned by the infamous ‘mad’ King Ludwig II. Construction began in 1869, but the King never saw it fully completed and only spent 172 days there before he died in 1886.
In today’s money, building Neuschwanstein would have cost nearly €50 million, leaving King Ludwig deeply in debt. This financial strain led to his arrest, and just days later, he died under mysterious circumstances.
Six weeks after his death the castle was opened to the public in an attempt to level the debt that Ludwig had incurred. Neuschwanstein Castle has remained an incredibly popular tourist destination ever since.
How to get from Munich to Neuschwanstein castle
There are a couple of different options for travelling to Neuschwanstein from Munich. It’s an easy drive if you have a car, public transport is doable but can take a bit longer, however, there are lots of organised tours which depart from Munich. Here are your options:
By car
If you have a car available, getting to Neuschwanstein from Munich is pretty simple. It takes around an hour and forty minutes in good conditions but obviously traffic can affect this.
Also, note that you’re not able to drive directly up to the castle. You have to park at the bottom of the hill where car parks are available and then walk up. The walk to the castle is around 30-40 minutes.
By public transport
Getting to Neuschwanstein from Munich by public transport isn’t impossible, but it does take a bit longer. You’d need to get to Füssen by regional trains and then take a bus to the castle.
There is sometimes a direct train but you’ll probably have to transfer, this takes around 2 hours. Once in Füssen, there are signposts directing you where to go outside of the station to find the bus stop to Neuschwanstein. The bus ride then takes around 15 minutes (Bus stop Hohenschwangau Neuschwanstein Castles)
With a tour company
Personally, I think the best way to visit Neuschwanstein from Munich is with a tour company. This is how I did it and I really enjoyed it!
I took this tour which also included a stop at Linderhof Palace with a guided tour of the inside and time to explore the grounds. The tour also went through Oberammergau, a beautiful town in the Alps. Guides provided lots of great commentary on the ride there which kept the drive entertaining. Once at Neuschwanstein, you’re free to explore on your own.
This is a great option if you want to cut out the hassle of public transport but driving isn’t an option for you. There are plenty of tours which leave from Munich to choose from!
Making your way up to the castle
No matter which way you choose to reach Neuschwanstein, none of the options will take you all the way up to the castle itself. Neuschwanstein is perched pretty perfectly on top of a hill, it requires a bit of a trek to reach. Here are the different ways you can get up there:
Walking
It takes 30-40 minutes to walk up to the castle on a direct path which is around 1.5km long. It can get pretty steep in places but if you’re able to, it is a nice walk. You’re treated to great views of the surrounding Alps along the way as well as some good shots of the castle before you get there.
Shuttle bus
If you’re not able to make the walk there is a shuttle bus. It departs from the P4 car park and drops you off just above the castle, leaving you with a 10-minute downhill walk to reach the entrance. A round trip on the shuttle bus costs 5 euros for an adult and 3 euros for a child.
Horse-drawn carriage
If you’re looking to arrive in style there are also horse-drawn carriages to take you up the hill! While the carriages can’t take you all the way to the top, they’ll bring you close, leaving just a final 15-minute walk. The ride costs €8 to go up and €4 for the trip back down.
What to do at Neuschwanstein
Aside from Neuschwanstein Castle itself, there are a few more things to see and do in the area. Another castle, Hohenschwangau, sits just opposite, there’s a pretty epic bridge to pass over as well as a museum and an incredibly scenic lake to see. Here are all the best things to see if you’re visiting Neuschwanstein from Munich:
Neuschwanstein Castle
If you’re visiting Neuschwanstein from Munich, the main attraction has to be the castle itself. You can only get inside the castle as part of a guided tour. Tickets can be booked online and at the Hohenschwangau ticket center on the day of the visit. Keep in mind that tickets sold on the day are only what’s leftover from online sales, so you might not get your ideal time slot for visiting.
Once inside you’ll be taken through quite a few of the rooms including the throne hall and Ludwig’s bedroom. The guides are incredibly knowledgeable about the castle and its history and are more than happy to answer any questions.
Everywhere is decorated just as you’d expect, lavishly and ornately. The intricate details and opulent interiors really do take your breath away, the tour is definitely well worth the price!
Marienbrücke (Mary’s Bridge)
The other main site to see when visiting Neuschwanstein from Munich has to be Marienbrücke. Sat 90m above the Pöllat gorge, Marienbrücke offers the ultimate photo spot for shots of the castle. This isn’t one for people afraid of heights, I took about 5 steps onto the bridge and immediately turned around to get off, but if you’re brave enough the views are incredible!
Marienbrücke is about a 10-minute walk from the castle entrance on a direct path
Schloss Hohenschwangau – Hohenschwangau Castle
Sat on a hill opposite Neuschwanstein is Hohenschwangau. Dating back to the 12th century, Hohenschwangau is steeped in royal history having served as home to knights. It suffered damage in the Napoleonic Wars and was bought and rebuilt by King Maximilian II, Ludwig’s father. The family went on to use it as a summer retreat, spending a large amount of time there.
Guided tours are available of Hohenschwangau with combination tickets available if you want to visit both castles. If you’re visiting Neuschwanstein from Munich Hohenschwangau is also well worth a visit if you have time!
Museum of the Bavarian Kings
Down by the car parks, you’ll find the Museum of Bavarian Kings. It offers a deep dive into the history of House Wittelsbach, the former Bavarian dynasty, focusing particularly on King Maximilian II and his son King Ludwig II. Across 16 exhibition rooms, visitors can explore family treasures and artefacts that tell the story of this storied house.
Alpsee
Backdropped perfectly by the tree-covered Alps are the deep blue waters of the Alpsee. This is probably the most beautiful lake I’ve ever seen, while I was waiting to start boarding the coach I just sat staring out across the water. The lake is a perfect companion to these beautiful castles and I’d definitely recommend heading down for a short walk around!
Summary
I really can’t recommend visiting Neuschwanstein from Munich enough. There’s a reason it’s on nearly everybody’s bucket list of things to see in Germany! It’s a fairytale fortress of epic proportions and you won’t be disappointed with a trip out here!
