Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle had been on my list for a long time. Not because I am a huge castle fan, but because it is such a famous place and I had already been nearby several times. That white castle between the trees, high on the rocks, with mountains in the background. Yes, it is touristy. And yes, it is often called Germany’s Disney castle. But once you are standing there, you understand why.
We visited Neuschwanstein Castle in July with two friends. We were driving from the Netherlands to Austria and could only check into our apartment in Biberwier at the end of the day. That made this the perfect stop in southern Germany. Stretch our legs, see a beautiful castle, walk to the viewpoint and then continue towards Austria.
And that is exactly what makes Neuschwanstein so convenient. Are you driving through southern Germany towards Austria or Switzerland? Then this castle is very easy to include as a stop along the way. But it is also worth visiting as a day trip from Austria, Switzerland or Bavaria itself. Especially if you do more than just look at the entrance. Because if that is all you do, it is actually quite difficult to appreciate the castle in all its beauty.
Contents
Where is Neuschwanstein Castle?
Neuschwanstein Castle is located in Bavaria, close to Füssen and Hohenschwangau. You are almost right on the Austrian border here. That makes the castle interesting not only during a trip through southern Germany, but also as a stop on the way to Tyrol, the Zugspitze region or Switzerland.
We drove from the Netherlands towards Austria and stayed afterwards in Biberwier, at Zugspitzchalets. That was a great base for our hiking weekend in Austria, but for Neuschwanstein Castle itself I would mainly look at Füssen, Schwangau or Hohenschwangau. More about where to stay later.
When you drive towards the castle, you often pass through Füssen first. It is a pleasant little town where you could easily stop for a walk or dinner. After that you arrive in Hohenschwangau, the village directly next to the castles and car parks.
Why is Neuschwanstein Castle so famous?
Neuschwanstein Castle was built on the orders of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It was not a medieval defensive castle, but more of a romantic dream castle. A castle built for show, you could almost say. And you can see that immediately.
The towers, the location, the white walls, the mountains behind it: everything feels designed to impress. There is a reason it is often called a fairytale castle. Or, of course, the Disney castle. That may sound a little cliché, but when you are there, you understand exactly what people mean. It is especially fun to look up a picture of the Disney castle when you see Neuschwanstein from above. Then you can really see the similarities.
What I also liked is that when you drive towards it, you do not see the castle very clearly at first. It is quite hidden between the trees. Only when you get closer and see the castle higher above you do you get that familiar view. That actually makes arriving even more fun.
Parking at Neuschwanstein Castle
You cannot park directly at the castle itself. Down in Hohenschwangau there are several car parks, marked P1 to P4. From there you continue uphill towards Neuschwanstein Castle on foot, by shuttle bus or by horse-drawn carriage.
We visited the castle in July, right in the middle of high season. Still, parking was easier than we expected. We saw a space, parked the car and did not really see anyone searching for very long. Of course, that will vary from day to day, but for us it went surprisingly smoothly.
If you visit during a busy weekend or later in the day, I would still arrive early. This remains one of Germany’s best-known attractions. Especially if you have tickets for a guided tour, you do not want to start your visit in a rush.
Walking to Neuschwanstein Castle
From the car park, we decided to simply walk uphill. You can also take a shuttle bus or horse-drawn carriage, but after the long drive we actually enjoyed using our legs for a while.
The walk uphill is very manageable, although you do have to put in some effort. You first walk through the forest on a good paved path and later continue on a wider asphalt road. It keeps going uphill, so on a warm day you definitely feel it.
We were lucky to have a sunny day, although fortunately we also walked in the shade quite often. Still, bring a bottle of water and wear shoes you can comfortably walk in. I would not wear flip-flops here, especially if you also want to continue to Marienbrücke or walk further uphill afterwards.
According to the official information, the walk from the Ticket Center to Neuschwanstein Castle takes around 40 minutes. We did not find it extremely long, but you definitely notice that you are walking uphill.
Can you also take the shuttle bus or horse-drawn carriage?
Yes, you can. From Hohenschwangau you can take a shuttle bus towards Marienbrücke, above Neuschwanstein Castle. Keep in mind that the bus does not stop directly at the castle entrance. From the bus stop you still need to walk a little further. You can buy a shuttle pass with castle admission here.
You can also take a horse-drawn carriage uphill. It looks cosy and traditional, but this also does not stop directly in front of the entrance. From the carriage stop, you still have to walk uphill for around 15 minutes to reach the castle.
We thought walking was the nicest option. It is free, simple and you get more of a feel for the place along the way. But if you are travelling with young children, have difficulty walking or are short on time, the bus or carriage can of course be useful.
Tickets for Neuschwanstein Castle: book in advance
We did not buy tickets to visit the inside of the castle. For us, Neuschwanstein was mainly a stop during a travel day to Austria. We therefore did not have a huge amount of time for a guided tour inside.
One of my friends had already been inside before, so this time we were happy to mainly see the castle from the outside and from the viewpoints. But it is good to know that if you do want to go inside, you really need to arrange this in advance.
When we were there, everything was fully booked for that day. You also cannot simply walk inside. Someone checks your ticket at the entrance and without a ticket you cannot go any further.
If you want to see the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle, book your timed ticket in advance. Especially in July, August, at weekends and during holidays, I would not take the risk. The castle can only be visited on a guided tour at a fixed time.
At the castle itself
When you reach the top, you more or less walk straight towards the castle. That may sound beautiful, but this is not yet the view you know from the internet. You are standing close to the walls and towers, which mainly makes the castle feel large and impressive.
Turn left and you reach the entrance for visitors with tickets. This is where the guided tour begins. To the right, you can continue towards the famous viewpoints, including Marienbrücke.
So even without a ticket, walking uphill is definitely worth it. You see the exterior from close up, walk past the castle and can then continue towards the place where you take the real postcard photo.
Marienbrücke: the famous view of Neuschwanstein Castle
Marienbrücke is the famous bridge behind Neuschwanstein Castle. From here you take that well-known photo of the castle between the trees, surrounded by mountains and valleys. There is a good chance this is the photo that once made you think: I want to go there.
But you will not be alone here. When we arrived, there was already a queue to get onto the bridge. Nothing extreme, but it was clearly there. When we returned later, the queue was at least three times as long.
So arriving early really pays off here. Especially if you do not want to wait a long time just for a photo. And to be fair: waiting in line for a photo is probably nobody’s favourite hobby. But this is high season, it is touristy and everyone wants to capture the same view.
The bridge itself is not very wide. That automatically causes delays because people have to walk both ways while also stopping to take photos. Still, I thought it was worth it. The view from Marienbrücke is exactly the image you come to Neuschwanstein for.
Walk further than the bridge
Something many people do not do, but which we really enjoyed: after Marienbrücke, continue walking a little further uphill. A narrower hiking trail starts here and zigzags up through the forest.
It immediately becomes much quieter. Most visitors take their photo on the bridge and then walk back. If you continue hiking, you leave the biggest crowds behind surprisingly quickly.
Along the way, you get several more views of the castle, each time from a little higher up and from a slightly different angle. I am not saying every view is better than the one from the bridge, but you do get rewarded for the extra effort. It suddenly turns into a pleasant forest walk instead of only being a tourist photo stop.
In the end, we walked for around two hours from the car park to the point where we decided to turn around. The trail continues much further, so if you really want to hike, you certainly can. For us, this was just right: enough exercise, beautiful views and still enough time for a relaxed lunch before continuing towards Austria.
Walking back down
On the way back, we passed Marienbrücke again. Fortunately, you do not have to join the same queue again. You can walk past it fairly easily because the queue mainly consists of people waiting to get onto the bridge for the photo.
After that, you walk back towards the castle and continue downhill. The descent is of course much easier than the walk up. You follow the same road back towards Hohenschwangau and the car parks.
Along the way we also saw the horse-drawn carriages passing by. They are of course part of the atmosphere here, although for us walking is still the nicest option if you are fit enough.
Lunch near Neuschwanstein Castle
After a walk like that, you obviously need something to eat and drink. Down near the car parks and in Hohenschwangau you will find several restaurants and terraces. There are also plenty of places along the tourist route where you can get something to eat or drink.
Afterwards, we had a great lunch and a good German beer before continuing our journey to Austria. One thing that surprised me was that the prices were actually quite reasonable. Of course, you are in a touristy place, but it did not feel excessively expensive for such a popular destination.
First go for a walk, enjoy the views, take some photos and then sit down for something to eat and a beer. That sounds much better than quickly getting out of the car, taking one photo and driving on again, right?
How much time do you need?
If you only walk uphill, see the castle from the outside and visit Marienbrücke, I would allow at least 2 to 3 hours. Especially if it is busy at the bridge.
If you also want to go inside on a guided tour, eat something and perhaps continue walking above the bridge, you can easily spend half a day here. Add Hohenschwangau Castle or Füssen and you can easily turn it into a full day.
For us, as a stop on the way to Austria, around half a day was perfect. Not rushed, but also not so long that it took up our entire travel day.
Neuschwanstein Castle as a stop on the way to Austria or Switzerland
In our opinion, Neuschwanstein Castle is ideal as a stop when driving from the Netherlands towards Austria or Switzerland. You are already travelling through southern Germany and the castle is conveniently located on the way towards Tyrol and the Alps.
That evening, we stayed in Austria at Zugspitzchalets in Biberwier. Because we could only check in later in the day, Neuschwanstein was exactly the kind of stop that made the travel day more enjoyable.
You just should not think: we will quickly do this in an hour. The place is too big, too busy and actually too beautiful for that. Really give yourself some time and you will get much more out of the visit.
Where to stay near Neuschwanstein Castle
If you want to visit Neuschwanstein Castle at a relaxed pace, I would stay nearby. Especially if you want to be at Marienbrücke early or have tickets for a morning tour, it saves a lot of hassle.
The most convenient places are Hohenschwangau, Schwangau and Füssen. Hohenschwangau is closest to the castle and car parks. Füssen is a livelier town with more restaurants and accommodation. Schwangau is somewhere in between: still close, but often a little quieter.
A few popular options around the castle are Villa Ludwig Suite Hotel, a lovely boutique option in Hohenschwangau close to Neuschwanstein, Hotel Müller, conveniently located between Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, and AMERON Neuschwanstein Alpsee Resort & Spa, a luxury option near Alpsee with a spa and plenty of comfort. These are not budget places, but the locations are excellent.
Do you mainly want an easy way to compare what is available around Neuschwanstein Castle? Then it is best to search for accommodation around the castle and Hohenschwangau.
Practical tips for Neuschwanstein Castle
- Book tickets in advance if you want to go inside. Everything can be sold out on the day itself, as it was during our visit.
- Arrive early for Marienbrücke. The queue became much longer later in the day.
- Bring water. Especially in July and August, the walk uphill can be warm, even though part of the route is in the shade.
- Wear good shoes. The road uphill is easy enough, but it keeps climbing. And if you continue hiking after the bridge, you walk on narrower forest trails.
- Walk further than the bridge. It becomes quieter and you get several more beautiful views of the castle.
- Allow enough time. Walking, viewpoints and getting something to eat can easily take a few hours.
- Check in advance whether Marienbrücke is open. The bridge can be closed because of bad weather, snow or maintenance.
Is Neuschwanstein Castle worth visiting?
Yes, definitely in our opinion. Neuschwanstein Castle is beautiful, unusual and photogenic, but it is also busy and touristy. That is simply part of the experience.
If you only quickly walk uphill for one photo, it may feel like quite a lot of effort. But if you turn it into a walk, continue to Marienbrücke and then explore some of the forest trail beyond it, the experience becomes much more enjoyable. The same applies if you book a tour to go inside.
For us, it was the perfect stop on the way to Austria. A beautiful castle, a good walk, an iconic view and then a beer on a terrace. You really do not need much more from a travel day.
