Schloss Neuschwanstein – Fairytale Castle

Schloss Neuschwanstein is a very popular day-trip destination in Bayern, a southern state of Germany. Out of 100s of castles in Germany, Neuschwanstein gained huge popularity because ‘The Sleeping Beauty Castle’s’ design in Disneyland was inspired by this. This place receives around 1.3 million tourists a year.

Neu stands for ‘New’, Schwan means ‘Swan’ and Stein means ‘Stone’ in English. Neuschwanstein means ”New Swan Stone”. This castle was constructed for King Ludwig II who did not even live to see this structure. And some sources say that he slept only 11 nights in the castle. 

Tickets for Castle tour

The tickets for Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau Castle and Museum of the Bavarian Kings are to be purchased separately. There are many combinations possible to buy the tickets depending on the area of interest.

The tickets are sold at the centre of Hohenschwangau and not near the castle. Which means that you will have to buy the tickets before you start your way uphill. There will be long queues at the counter which might take up to 3 hours to buy the tickets. It’s recommended that you book the tickets before your visit. For reservations, visit the Neuschwanstein website.

Tip: Make sure you carry your student ID, it might fetch you a discount. Ask for discounts.

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Ways to reach the castle  

Buses

There are special buses to reach the top. The prices are 3€ return, 2.5€ uphill and 1.5€ downhill. These buses don’t reach the entrance of the castle but they drop you off a little away which is about 20 mins walk. 

The tickets can be purchased near the bus terminal. The wait time can be a little longer during the peak season (June-September).

By walk

It takes 45 mins to 1 hour to reach the castle. This walk is quite comfortable and the trees form a canopy so that you don’t get drained because of the sun. The starting point is near the parking lot. There are signboards to guide you in the right route.

Horse Carriages

The carriages start from the Alpseestraße. Uphill is 6€ and downhill is 3€. It would take about 30 minutes.

Our experience

We decided to take the bus uphill. We thought there would be too many buses plying as it was peak season. The queue was so long that we had to wait for 50 mins for the bus. Buses are crowded so do not expect a smooth ride. So it is better to walk and enjoy nature.

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Inside the castle

The castle interiors look extremely grand and appealing. From towers, frescoes, and throne hall, Neuschwanstein Castle is a fairy-tale castle for a reason. 35 mins guided tour in German or English is not sufficient to catch the mesmerizing beauty of this castle.

The vibrant colours, the stunning paintings and amazing woodwork will make you go awe. Gosh..! How royal this Castle looks. You will surely enjoy every moment if you are a history person.

Marienbrücke

If you take the shuttle bus services uphill, then the drop off point is the Marienbrücke which is a mandatory visit. It gives a magnificent view of the entire fairy-tale castle. If you hike to the castle, just follow the signboards to the Brücke (Bridge).

It’s a 20 minutes walk from the castle entrance to Marienbrücke. The entrance to the bridge is free but you will have to invest some waiting time. But the view is worth millions. This is the highlight of the trip. 

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Alpsee

Another beautiful lake is the Alpsee. You can spend time swimming, boating, kayaking, or maybe even feed the ducks. We spent about 2 hours enjoying the view and also 30 min boat ride for 10€. More info here.

How to reach Füssen 

The travel is 3 hours from Ulm Hbf to Füssen station. The trains are Regional Express (RE) and Bayerische Regional Bahn (BRB) trains. We purchased the Bayern ticket. (valid entire Bayern region). Read more about the Regional Day Tickets in Germany.

Buses from Füssen station to Castle 

Buses run regularly from Füssen station to Schwangau (Neuschwanstein Castle) almost every 10 mins. You can see the bus stop as you exit the train station. The Bayern ticket covers this bus ride as well; hence no extra cost. Expect a huge crowd on the bus but it takes only 10 mins to reach the castle. 

Neuschwanstein Castle is an amazing destination to spend a day admiring this huge structure. Do consider visiting this castle and let us know your reviews in the comment section below. Overall experience:⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5.

FAQs

When to the best time to visit the castle? The castle is open all round the year. But the peak season is June-September. How to reach the castle? Trains reach Füssen station from all over Germany. There are buses from Füssen station to Neuschwanstein castle. Where to buy the tickets for the castle tour? Tickets can be purchased online or at the centre of Hohengschangau. Do they accept cards? Yes, they are accepted everywhere as a mode of payment. Where is Marienbrücke? Marienbrücke is a 20 mins walk from the castle entrance. Is Marienbrücke entrance free? Yes, it is free. But the waiting time is a little longer. How long can you stay on the Marienbrücke? You can stay on the bridge for as long as you want. But keep in mind the other people waiting to enter. Are there washrooms? Yes, there are paid washrooms. It costs between 0.50-1.00€. Are there restaurants and cafes? Yes, there are many restaurants and beer cafes around. How much do the souvenirs cost? There are many souvenirs shops. A magnet starts from 3€ and a medium-sized postcard starts from 1€. Is Hohenschwangau castle as famous as Neuschwanstein? No, Hohenschwangau castle is not as famous as Neuschwanstein Castle but is worth visiting. Date of visit: August 2018

”Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before” – Anonymous