A Day Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle And Its Surroundings

Hello and welcome back to my blog. This week we will embark on an enchanting journey to one of Germany’s most iconic and captivating destinations: Neuschwanstein Castle! If you’ve ever dreamt of visiting fairytale-like castles straight out of a storybook, then this is the place for you. Located in the breathtaking beauty of the Bavarian Alps, visiting Neuschwanstein Castle is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

But Neuschwanstein Castle is not the only place to visit in this area, there are many other locations and activities to explore. There is a second castle to visit, several hiking trails you can follow, an alpine lake, and a charming little town. Sounds interesting? Then let’s get started!

pLAN yOUR ROAD tRIP TO bAVARIA, GERMANY

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Find the best activities to do like this full-day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle.
Don’t forget to pack your hiking boots, a rain jacket, and a power bank.
Read Munich and the Bavarian Alps as a preparation for your trip and Walking in the Bavarian Alps to choose the best hikes.

FOR A MORE DETAILED PLANNING, READ MY POST ABOUT PLANNING A TRIP TO BAVARIA

Is it possible to visit Neuschwanstein castle in one day?

The answer to this question is yes. You can definitely visit Neuschwanstein Castle and its surroundings in one day. If you book your tickets in advance and plan your day ahead of time, you will definitely be able to do everything in this blog in just one day. However, to make it a bit less tiring I recommend that you book a hotel nearby and stay in the area at least one night.

It is also possible to visit Neuschwanstein Castle as a day trip from Munich but then, you will have to add into your itinerary 1 hour and 30 minutes driving each way.

How To Get there?

The easiest way to reach Neuschwanstein Castle is by renting a car and driving there yourself. It is approximately an hour and a half drive from Munich (118 km).

It is also possible to reach Neuschwanstein Castle by public transport but then, it will take much more time to reach it and it will not be possible to visit everything in one day unless you spend 2 nights there.

Another option is to join an organized day trip from Munich to avoid having to worry about transportation.

Day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich

Where to Stay Near Neuschwanstein Castle?

I’m not going to lie, this area is so popular that accommodation here is a bit expensive. However, spending at least a night or two here will give you way more flexibility and comfort when visiting Neuschwanstein Castle.

I recommend that you book your accommodation here as soon as you can to get the best possible deal.

Here are some recommendations you might want to consider. We stayed in the last one and it was a simple but comfortable place to stay at.

MAP with locations near the Castle

To help you plan your visit, I have compiled everything you can do nearby in the following map.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Interesting facts about Neuschwanstein Castle

Before I start with the visit, here are some interesting facts you might not know.

Despite its look, it is not a medieval castle. The castle was only built in 1870.
Construction of the castle took 7 years longer than what was initially planned. Because of this, King Ludwig II never got to see his castle complete since he died before it was finished.
The castle looks medieval on the outside but it was designed so that inside, it had the latest technologies of the time such as electric lighting.
The castle was built in honor of King Ludwig’s favorite composer Richard Wagner.

Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle

Begin your day by visiting this fairytale castle that was King Ludwig II of Bavaria’s dream castle. Being an introverted person, he ordered the construction of a castle where he could hide away from civilization.

To reach the castle, you will have to walk for approximately 30 minutes (depending on your pace) uphill so make sure to get to the parking lot with enough time before your ticket reservations. However, the road that leads there is paved and unless you have any mobility issues, it is a bit steep but not too demanding.

The castle can only be visited by joining a tour of 40 minutes with either an audioguide or a guide. It is not allowed to take photos inside it but I loved it.

Good to know: You will only be able to enter the castle at the exact time indicated on your ticket, so if you get there way in advance you’ll have to wait. However, there are a few lookout points from the castle to make your waiting time a bit more bearable.

Hike to the castle's viewpoints

Once you’re finished visiting the castle don’t go back to the parking lot just yet. It is time to go on a short 6 km hike that will give you amazing views of the castle from different angles.

Marienbrucke

The first viewpoint of the castle is Marienbrucke or Mary’s Bridge. This is a bridge over the Pollat River Gorge and is named after Queen Mary of Bavaria, King Ludwig II’s mother.

The bridge is easily reachable from the castle. All you have to do is follow the signs showing you the way on a paved trail for approximately 10 minutes. From this bridge, you will get fantastic views of the castle so make sure to visit at least this bridge.

Tip: If you can’t see the signs and don’t know which way to go, just follow all the other visitors since everyone will be going to the same place.

Neuschwanstein from above

After the bridge, instead of turning back like most people do, cross it and keep following the trail that will appear on the other side. From this moment on, the trail is not paved anymore and it will become a real hike. This trail will take you to a couple more viewpoints of the castle from different angles.

And the best part is that very few people come here so you might be as lucky as we were and enjoy these views alone!

The Castle and Bridge Viewpoint

Once you’ve reached the last viewpoint, it is time to walk back all the way to the bridge. However, before going back to the parking lot, go left to reach one last viewpoint from where you will be able to see the castle and bridge framed by trees.

Hohenschwangau Castle

Hohenschwangau Castle Interesting Facts

Here are some interesting facts about the castle:

The castle was owned by knights of Schwangau for 4 centuries.
The writings on the walls of the castle tell its history.
This castle was used by King Maximilian of Bavaria as a summer residence.
King Ludwig II of Bavaria grew up in this castle.

Visiting Hohenschwangau Castle

After the hike, it is time to visit Hohenschwangau Castle only a few hundred meters away from Neuschwanstein. To reach the castle you will also have to walk up some stairs (shorter route) or a paved road (longer route). However, this castle is easier to reach and it only takes approximately 10 minutes from the parking lot.

The process to visit Hohenschwangau is exactly the same as Neuschwanstein. You will only be able to see it by joining a tour with either an audioguide or a regular guide. You will also only be allowed to enter at the specific time defined in your ticket.

The visit to Hohenschwangau castle is a bit longer than the other one but it is also a super pretty castle. In addition, from this castle’s windows, you will get to enjoy beautiful views of lake Alpsee.

ALPsee

To finish your day, it is time for another short hike around Alpsee, a beautiful lake at the feet of both castles. The trail around the lake is only 5 km long and it is fairly easy to walk. There are only a few uphills on one point but it is still quite easy.

From the lake, you will be able to enjoy beautiful views of the mountains and the castles from afar. It is the perfect way to end your day.

other things to do nearby

If instead of one day, you have some extra time in the area, there are a few more things to do nearby.

1. Fussen

Explore the small town of Fussen. This small, colorful town is known for its convenient location next to Neuschwanstein Castle and for violin manufacturing.

The old part of the town is small but full of charm with many colorful traditional Bavarian houses. It is the perfect place to spend a couple of hours exploring its streets, local shops, and restaurants.

2. Museum of Bavarian Kings

If you’re into history, then spend some visiting the Museum of Bavarian King, located in Schwangau next to the Alpsee. It recounts the history of the Wittelsbach dynasty from its beginnings to the present day. The exhibition’s main focus is on King Maximilian II who commissioned the conversion of Hohenschwangau Castle into his summer residence.

Opening hours and ticket prices are available here.

3. Take Tegelberg Cable Car

Another option is to take the Tegelberg Cable Car that will bring you all the way up to Tegelberg Mountain from where you will get amazing views of Neuschwanstein Castle and the region around it.

There are also several hiking routes that start from there.

Tips to visit Neuschwanstein castle

To finish this blog, I would like to share some tips with you that will make your visit easier.

This is a very popular destination so make sure to book your tickets to visit the castles in advance to avoid having to wait in line to buy your tickets or until there is an available spot.
Make sure to get to Neuschwanstein almost 45 minutes to 1 hour in advance. To reach the castle there are two options. You will either have to walk uphill for 30 to 45 minutes or to get a shuttle bus that will get you uphill to the castle. The shuttle bus, even though it’s faster than walking, is usually quite full so you will have to wait in line.
The tickets to visit both castles inside are expensive so prepare your wallet. However, both castles are really pretty inside as well. If you want to save some money then you can consider visiting just one of the castles instead of both but honestly, I can’t choose which one was better.
Tickets to enter both castles can’t be bought at the castle. You have to buy them either online (here) or a the ticket office near the parking lot (see map).

And that’s it for my blog about Neuschwanstein Castle. I hope you liked it and found it helpful. Let me know what you think in the comments. I would love to hear from you!