What You Need to Know Before Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle

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One of the best parts of traveling is finally seeing those places you’ve only read about or seen in dreamy Instagram posts. So when Steve and I, our two daughters, and two longtime friends visited Munich in May 2025, Neuschwanstein Castle – Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle – shot straight to the top of all our must-see lists.

We booked our tour tickets in advance, which I highly recommend. The day we picked turned out to be cool, cloudy, and drizzly. But even with the gloom, Neuschwanstein still managed to charm us.

The castle is about 109 km (68 miles) southeast of Munich, and since we were relying on public transportation, the outing took a full day. In return for our efforts, we snapped plenty of photos of the fairy-tale exterior, admired the stunning alpine scenery, and took a brief tour of the interior.

Now, one month later, I’m not sure if it was worth a whole day.

If you’re thinking about visiting Neuschwanstein Castle when you’re in Munich, keep reading. I’ll share why you might want to go, why you might want to skip it, and how to navigate the transportation maze if you decide to make the journey.

Castle Facts

Neuschwanstein Castle was the passion project of Bavaria’s King Ludwig II (1845–1886), blending his obsession with Wagnerian operas and his love for medieval castles.

Construction came to a halt after Ludwig’s mysterious death—though a bit of tinkering continued until 1892—and the castle remains unfinished to this day.

Just seven weeks after the king’s passing, the castle was opened to the public, and now it draws around 1.5 million visitors each year.

It’s located in the municipality of Schwangau. Like Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle is in Bavaria.

Despite Ludwig’s passion for the medieval, he spared no expense when incorporating modern conveniences into the castle, including central heating, automatic flushing toilets, an electronic bell system, telephones, and running water (including hot water for the kitchen).

He also embraced cutting-edge technology during construction. Workers used steam engines to power cranes, and steel was used to reinforce the throne room.

The name Neuschwanstein might look like a mouthful, but it’s not so bad once you break it down: Neu = new, Schwan = swan, Stein = stone. See? Totally pronounceable.

Neuschwanstein is widely believed to have inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland. So if you’ve ever felt like the place looks familiar, you’re not dreaming—you’re just thinking of Disneyland.

A Little About Ludwig

Ludwig became king when he was 18 years old, and he began the construction of Neuschwanstein Castle when he was 24. But his lavish spending and increasingly bizarre behavior eventually raised eyebrows.

In 1886, he was declared mentally unfit to rule and dethroned. This dramatic twist earned him the nickname “The Mad King.”

He was confined to Berg Castle. The next day, both Ludwig and his psychiatrist were found dead in Lake Starnberg. He was only 40 years old.

You can read more about him here.

Reasons to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle

It’s famous

Disney fans and globetrotters alike will instantly recognize Neuschwanstein Castle. It’s the kind of place that graces calendars, puzzles, and travel posters. More than a few people asked my daughters if they were planning a pilgrimage to the fairy-tale fortress. That kind of hype might be reason enough to go.

It’s in a scenic location

The castle sits 925 meters (3,035 feet) above sea level above the Pöllat Gorge with views of Alpsee and Schwansee Lakes. The climb (or ride) up offers plenty of scenic eye candy.

A valley with a small church and a lake
One of the beautiful views
What You Need to Know Before Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle 1
More beautiful (and misty) scenery

There’s a viewing platform just below the main gate, but if you want the postcard shot (the one at the top of this post), head to the Marienbrücke (the Bridge of Our Lady, or Mary’s Bridge if she’s feeling casual). As you near the top of the hill (where the shuttle bus drops you off), the path to the bridge is on your right, while the path to the castle is to the left.

People looking up at a castle
This viewing platform gives you a good view of the front of the castle
A bridge over a deep gorge
The Bridge of Our Lady aka Mary’s Bridge

The interior is to die for

The interior décor is over-the-top gorgeous, with murals based on the medieval legends that inspired Wagner’s operas, along with intricately carved furniture and woodwork. Marble, gold, and ceramics add even more splendor.

My favorite room was the throne room, which is by far the largest in the castle. One of the highlights is a gilded wall where a throne was supposed to be placed. But after Ludwig’s death, construction mostly came to a halt, and the throne was never installed.

The throne room also features a 4-meter (13-foot) tall chandelier that’s just as dramatic as it sounds. But as a nature lover, what caught my eye was the mosaic floor, which is decorated with images of plants and animals.

Photos aren’t allowed during the tour, but you can get a good sense of the castle’s opulence from this article: Neuschwanstein Interior Tour.

Reasons to skip Neuschwanstein Castle

It’s small

As lovely as it is, Neuschwanstein Castle is small. It clocks in at just 6,000 square meters (65,000 square feet). For comparison, the Palace of Versailles is nearly 63,000 square meters (680,000 square feet).

And if that feels a bit cramped, it gets even cozier. Although the original plans included over 200 rooms, only 14 were ever finished. Those are what you’ll see on the tour.

The tour is short

Visitors can only go inside the castle as part of a guided tour, which lasts just 30 minutes. And as I mentioned earlier, no photos are allowed inside.

But even though it’s short, it’s well organized. Groups are capped at 35 people, and everyone gets a hand-held receiver, so hearing the guide isn’t an issue. Ours even stuck around afterward to answer questions.

Getting there isn’t easy (unless you take a tour)

If you want to leave the planning and driving to someone else, a tour from Munich might be just the ticket. Find the perfect tour here.

If you’re driving to the castle, you’re looking at about 1 hour and 40 minutes on the road. Parking costs €10 per car.

Public transportation is more of an adventure. We took a Deutsche Bahn train from Munich Central Station to Füssen. The train ride is two hours long. Depending on your train route, you might need to change trains once along the way.

From there, we hopped on a bus (take either number 73 or 78) that took us to the Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein parking area.

Beware that neither option gets you to the castle. Once you arrive at the parking area or bus drop-off point, there are three ways to get to the castle:

1.     Walk it – It’s about 1.5 km up a steep road.

2.     Take a horse-drawn carriage You can pay the driver directly. It costs €8 going up and €4 coming down. You will still have a 10–15 minute uphill walk.

3.     Take the shuttle bus Buy your ticket from the driver for €5 round trip. The bus drops you near the scenic Mary’s Bridge (don’t skip it—the view is stunning), and from there, it’s a 10–15 minute walk to the castle.

Get more details about getting to Neuschwanstein Castle.

Important Transportation Information

The train from Munich Central Station to Füssen isn’t exactly a bargain. A regular ticket can get pricey, but there are smarter options.

The Bayern Ticket is a solid choice—it’s good for unlimited regional travel in Bavaria for one day and costs €32 for one person (plus a few euros more for each additional person). Great if you’re only traveling for the day.

If you’re spending more time in Germany, your best bet is the Deutschland Ticket. It costs €58 for the entire month and gives you unlimited travel on regional trains and public transport across the country. It’s a steal if you’re doing more than a quick castle run.

Do not buy the Deutschland Ticket through the Deutsche Bahn website unless you enjoy paperwork and frustration. Their system is confusing, and if you don’t cancel it by the 10th of the month, you’ll get charged again for the next month whether you’re still in Germany or not.

Instead, follow the steps listed under “Special region tickets > Deutschland Ticket” on this page from The Man in Seat 61. Scroll down to Options 1 and 2, and be sure to select “immediate termination” when purchasing. That way, your pass won’t auto-renew.

Thank me later when you’re riding through Bavaria with cash left for strudel.

A toy hedgehog with apple strudel, whipped cream, and cappuccino
The strudel was delicious, but I had to share it with Mojo

Things to do Near Neuschwanstein Castle

We made our visit in one day since most of our crew had limited time in Munich. But after making the journey, I wish we had stayed at least one night. There’s so much more to explore in the area, and one day barely scratches the surface. If you’ve got more time, here are some gems you won’t want to miss:

Hohenschwangau Castle – This was Ludwig’s childhood home, and it’s got its own fairytale vibes. Like Neuschwanstein, you’ll need to join a guided tour to see the inside. This one is 45 minutes long. Also like Neuschwanstein, no photos are allowed inside.

Here’s the breakdown of the castle’s name: Hohen = high, Schwan = swan, Gau = refers to a region. It’s a medieval term that doesn’t have a direct modern equivalent.

Museum of the Bavarian Kings – If royal family trees and dramatic historical tidbits are your thing, this museum is a must. It dives into the legacy of the Wittelsbach family, especially King Maximilian II (aka Ludwig’s dad) and King Ludwig II himself.

Alpsee Lake – Want more nature with your castles? Take an easy 1.5 to 2-hour hike around this beautiful lake. The views are stunning and the trail is peaceful—perfect for walking off that giant Bavarian pretzel. See the trail details here.

Königliche Kristall Therme – If you love thermal baths as much as Steve and I do, check out this spa. It has thermal pools, saunas, and saltwater pools that are a crowd favorite. You might never want to leave.

The town of Füssen – Just a short drive or bus ride from Schwangau, Füssen is full of charm, cobblestones, and classic Bavarian magic. It’s the perfect way to round out your castle day.

Conclusion

If you’re the kind of traveler who just can’t resist ticking off a world-famous landmark, then a day trip to Neuschwanstein might be totally worth it. But if your schedule is tight, you might get more bang for your buck (and less time on a bus or train) by checking out some palaces closer to Munich.

Neuschwanstein Castle may be the star of the show in this corner of Germany, but it’s definitely not a solo act. There’s a whole supporting cast of sights and experiences that deserve the spotlight too. If you have some wiggle room in your itinerary, spending a few days here could turn a good trip into a great one.

A group of four people in front of a castle turret
My family; time together, no matter the place or the weather, is time well spent

Happy traveling,
Linda

Featured image by Luis Fernando Felipe Alves on Unsplash

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