Visiting Two of the Best Bavarian Castles: Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau

Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau are considered to be two of the top Bavarian castles in the region, with the former actually regarded as one of the top castles in the world. Almost all itineraries to Bavaria include these castles, but is it all just popular hype or do they deserve your time?

In this guide, I’ll detail what a visit to each castle is like while providing important tips to help you plan your trip. By the time you’re done reading, you should know whether or not visiting these two magnificent Bavarian castles are worth your time!

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History of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castle

Hohenschwangau Castle

The history of these two castles starts with Hohenschwangau Castle. It was originally built in the 12th century as a fortress for the Knights of the Schwangau (or Swan District) and was initially called Schwanstein. Between its construction and the Napoleonic Wars, ownership of the castle changed hands several times.

Eventually, it fell into disuse, and then was ruined by the French army during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1832, the future King Maximillian II fell in love with the area during a tour, purchased the building, and had it rebuilt. What we see today is largely from this reconstruction.

Once rebuilt, the royal family, the Wittelsbachs, used it as a summer and hunting lodge until 1912 when it began offering tours to visitors. It is still owned by the Wittelsbach family today.

Hohenschwangau refers to the small village around the castles and Hohenschwangau Castle refers to the castle. For simplicity’s sake, throughout this article, most of the times when I mention Hohenschwangau, I am referring to the castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle looks like the ultimate medieval Gothic castle. It’s the type of castle that little boys and girls conjure up when they imagine fairy tales from ages past. This castle even served as the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle.

And yet, it wasn’t even built till 1886, with a veneer of classical looking stone over modern iron and brick construction.

As a child, King Ludwig II, the so-called Mad King Ludwig because of his eccentric tendencies, spent his summers in Hohenschwangau Castle, where he was no doubt regaled with tales of knights in shining armor and grand, romantic castles. When he assumed the throne in 1864, he decided to have a castle built on the hill across from Hohenschwangau that would embody the fairy tales of his youth, his favorite Wagnerian operas and the Romantic ideals of the day.

The end result was Neuschwanstein Castle, an elaborate and beautiful yet totally unrealistic castle. In the process of making this idealistic castle, Ludwig II bankrupted Bavaria. He moved into his dream castle once it was habitable, but he only lived in it for 172 days before he was declared unfit to rule and placed into custody. It is believed that Bavaria’s ministers conspired to have him removed in order to end his spending.

To this day, Neuschwanstein Castle remains unfinished, and poor Ludwig II died of mysterious causes two days after being taken into custody.

Visiting Hohenschwangau Castle

Before your scheduled tour starts, leave yourself at least 10 minutes to walk around the grounds. They’re not very extensive, but you’ll still see some pretty views of the lake and Neuschwanstein sitting atop its hill in the distance.

Make sure you’re back at the entrance at the time on your ticket. Tours start promptly at that time. A guide will take your small group around, but the tour itself is mostly given by an audio guide. The guide is there to keep everyone moving along and to answer questions.

The audio guide provides details on each room and the different objects contained within them. It also provides biographical information on Ludwig II and his family, something the Neuschwanstein tour doesn’t discuss.

The tour takes you through several rooms in Hohenschwangau over the span of about 45 minutes. There are many highlights ranging from large, ornate rooms to smaller details like the absolutely exquisite silver fountain or the telescope Ludwig II used to watch his Neuschwanstein Castle being built.

The tour itself was great. In a way, I enjoyed this tour more than the one at Neuschwanstein. Groups are smaller and the nature of the castle itself provides a more intimate and evocative experience.

Photos and videos are not permitted inside either Hohenschwangau or Neuschwanstein, which is why I don’t have pictures of any of the interior details of these castles.

Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle

Like with Hohenschwangau, be sure to get up to Neuschwanstein early to leave yourself plenty of time to admire it’s exterior and to take photos. Unlike Hohenschwangau, you’ll want a bit more time here because of how much more impressive it is and because there will likely be bigger crowds.

Whether you walk up the hill towards Neuschwanstein or take a carriage, you’ll eventually come to a stop below the castle. Here, you can rest for a bit before you make the last little walk up to the castle’s gate while you take in one of the better views of Ludwig II’s home. People will be standing in line for a photo op, but if you just take a few steps back and hold your camera overhead, you’ll get basically the same photo. This stop also has some nice views of the valley below if you turn your back to the castle for a bit.

Be careful not to spend too much time here, though. You’ll still want a few minutes around the castle’s courtyard before your tour starts, which will begin promptly at the time on your ticket.

The tour is either given by a live guide or audio guide depending on what you selected when you purchased your ticket. We had a live guide for ours. Our guide’s presentation was somehow less personable than the recorded audio guide in Hohenschwangau. It could have been because of the larger group on this tour. It wasn’t bad by any means, but it definitely felt like he was going through the motions.

The tour of Neuschwanstein also differs from Hohenschwangau in that it focuses much more on the architecture and design rather than Ludwig II’s life. It makes sense when you consider the castle’s opulence. Everything is impossibly grand and ornate, and the tour does a good job at explaining all of its detail.

After the guided tour is over, Neuschwanstein still has a bit more to offer visitors who are eager for more. The one absolute must-see before you leave is the terrace overlooking Alpsee Lake and Hohenschwangau. This view is bound to be one of your favorites while visiting these two Bavarian castles.

If you’re still up for a bit more, check out the small theater showing a somewhat dated movie featuring Ludwig II’s never-started castle, Falkenstein. Even though the graphics look like they’re from the 2000s, it’s still interesting to see what Ludwig’s ultimate castle would have looked like.

Mary’s Bridge

For one of the most iconic views of Neuschwanstein, take the short hike up to Mary’s Bridge. The bridge spans Pöllat Gorge and is a popular spot for visitors. From here, you can see all of Neuschwanstein Castle and the surrounding landscape.

It’s possible to visit Mary’s Bridge without a ticket to the castle if you’re only interested in seeing the exterior facade.

Regrettably, we weren’t able to see Mary’s Bridge as the bridge is closed during winter for safety reasons.

Planning Your Day at Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau

You should plan for at least four hours to visit the two castles, but you could easily spend close to a whole day here if you take your time.

Four hours includes 30 minutes to pick up your tickets, walking time between castles, time to admire and photograph the castles, and the time to tour each castle. When we visited, Mary’s Bridge was closed. If that’s open, you should allow for at least another half hour if you move quickly.

Reserving entry times ahead of time isn’t required but is highly recommended. This is one of Germany’s most popular tourist destinations, so tickets tend to sell out in advance. They do set aside some tickets each day, but these will likely sell out quickly, as well.

When you reserve your times, make sure you have at minimum two hours between entry times. Their website recommends 2.5 hours, but I think this is overly cautious. Two hours should give you just enough time if you’re in a rush.

On the other hand, you could plan for a leisurely day that gives you more time to relax in between sights, see the Museum of the Bavarian Kings, see Mary’s Bridge, hike through Pöllat Gorge, have a meal at one of the area’s restaurants, and rent a boat to take out on the lake. Keep in mind, though, that some of these activities, like Mary’s Bridge and boat rentals, are not open in winter.

Getting Around the Hohenschwangau Area

Hohenschwangau has two modes of transportation for getting around: a shuttle bus and a horse carriage. Shuttles and carriages both pick you up near the ticket center. Besides these options, you can also walk to each castle fairly easily if you are physically able and weather permits.

From the ticket center, it’s about a 10-to-15-minute walk up steps to Hohenschwangau and a 20-to-30-minute walk up a fairly steep hill to Neuschwanstein. Alternatively, you could take a more scenic, 30-minute walk along the lake to get to Hohenschwangau.

Horse carriages run throughout the year and will take you to either Neuschwanstein or Hohenschwangau. The trip to Neuschwanstein spares your legs most of the uphill climb and will also save you a bit of time. Carriages drop you off below the castle, leaving you with another 5-to-10-minute walk from the drop-off point. Prices vary depending on the castle and whether you’re going up or downhill.

There is also a shuttle that will take you to Mary’s Bridge. Once you reach the bridge, you still will have to walk 10 to 15 minutes downhill to get to the castle. Prices vary depending on whether you are going uphill, downhill or roundtrip.

During winter months, the carriage to Hohenschwangau doesn’t run at all, and the shuttle to Mary’s Bridge only runs in good weather.

Getting to These Bavarian Castles

The easiest way to get to the Bavarian castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau is by car from one of the nearby towns. There is ample parking at the castles, and the cost to park a standard car for a day is €10.

A popular stopover, and the one I recommend, is Füssen as it’s only a quick 10-minute drive from there to the castles. Because of how close Füssen is, if the weather is nice, you could even rent a bike or walk to the castles. It’s about 3 miles for either of those options.

Taking a bus from Füssen is another convenient option for visiting. Either take bus #78 or #73 to Neuschwanstein Castle. The trip will take about 10 minutes.

If you’re staying farther out than Füssen and you don’t have a car, another option is to take a train to Füssen. From there, catch one of the buses listed above. Train times from Munich are about two hours.

Before going to Füssen, we spent a night farther north on the Romantic Road. Neuschwanstein might be the perfect fairy tale castle, but Rothenburg is the ultimate fairy tale town. Find out more about it here!

Other Things to do Near These Bavarian Castles

With a couple days in the region, these are some other attractions you can consider adding to your itinerary. It should also be possible to do one or two of these in the afternoon if you visit the Bavarian castles first thing in the morning.

The Museum of the Bavarian Kings

The Museum of the Bavarian Kings is located in Hohenschwangau next to Alpsee Lake. Within this museum are paintings and objects from the Wittelsbach family that tell the story of their reign in Bavaria.

This museum also offers a free audio guide to provide further information on the objects on display. Tickets for the museum are €14 and can be purchased online to reserve the date of your visit.

Linderhof Palace

The third of King Ludwig II’s palatial residences is Linderhof Palace. Unlike the fortress-like Hohenschwangau and fantastical Neuschwanstein, Linderhof was designed in the spirit of an opulent French chateau. Specifically, Ludwig was heavily inspired by the Palace of Versailles in France when he had Linderhof built.

Many visitors actually prefer Linderhof’s smaller size and intimacy over Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. Unlike Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, Linderhof also has a manicured park and grounds to explore as part of your visit.

This palace is located about an hour east from Neuschwanstein near the small towns of Oberramergau and Ettal. Admission for both the park and palace is €10.

We skipped Linderhof because we expected – correctly – that we’d be all castled out after touring Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. With an extra half day in the region, check out Linderhof. Otherwise, you may want to skip it.

Wieskirche

Just a short drive north from the castles is Wieskirche, also known as the Church in the Meadow. The church itself is small but the inside is designed in an incredibly elaborate Rococo style that takes advantage of every inch of space available. Wieskirche is bound to be one of the most visually stunning church interiors you’ll ever see.

Visiting is free, but donations are requested. Don’t miss some pretty views of the Alps from behind the church.

Skiing

Besides its castles and picturesque landscapes, the Bavarian Alps are perhaps best known for its skiing. Within 30 minutes of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, you can find several different ski slopes that range in difficulty depending on your skill level.

In fact, one of these slopes is right in Schwangau, the small village just adjacent to the castles. Tegelberg offers skiing and a cable car to the top of the mountain for commanding views of the area. It also has a luge track open during the summer months.

Where to Stay When Visiting These Bavarian Castles

Füssen is the closest decently sized city with enough to do to make it worth staying in on your way to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau.

We stayed in Hotel Ludwigs, a chic yet reasonably priced hotel on Hintere Gasse in Füssen’s downtown. The room was adorned with princely plush red fabrics, a chandelier and wooden floors. Given the price for one night, it was a delightful stay. They also offer breakfast for an additional cost, but we decided to skip this for a small pastry to get our day with the castles started quickly.

Things to do in Füssen

We arrived in Füssen pretty late in the day after driving along the Romantic Road, but we still had time to go for a short walk to see some of the town’s lovely views and the Cemetery of St Sebastian. With more time, you could visit the Füssen Heritage Museum, St Magnus Basilica or High Castle.

After our walk through town was over, we stopped in Markthalle, a large food court style building with several counters including a seafood stand, a bakery, a deli, a bar and a couple other odds and ends. Unfortunately, most of the food stands were closing up, but we were able to enjoy some drinks at the bar with a few local regulars.

It turned out to be a good thing that the food counters were closed because we ended up eating at Madame Plüsch instead. This restaurant was the fanciest place we had eaten on the trip to this point. The service was very professional, and the interior was done in all red to give it a very elegant atmosphere. I had their spätzle while Michelle had pumpkin soup with salmon. All the food was excellent, but the highlight was easily the Belgian hot chocolate with amaretto. Yum!

Other common places to stay besides Füssen are Oberammergau or Reutte. For a more peaceful and uncrowded night, you could also consider Hotel Blaue Gams in Ettal. We stayed here on our way to Munich after seeing the castles and we both loved it. Hotel Blaue Gams overlooks the Benedictine abbey and offers in-house spa services and an excellent restaurant.

Frequently Asked Questions About These Bavarian Castles

Can you do a self-guided tour of the castles?

No. In order to visit either Neuschwanstein or Hohenschwangau, you need to do a guided tour.

I only have time for one: Neuschwanstein or Hohenschwangau. Which should I choose?

I would try hard to see both as they’re each so unique from one another. That said, you should choose whichever satisfies whatever experience you’re looking for.

If you want more history on the lives of the Wittelsbachs, you should visit Hohenschwangau. If you’re looking for something that will take your breath away at every turn, visit Neuschwanstein.

When is the best time of the year to visit these Bavarian castles?

To avoid crowds, the best time of the year to visit is from the end of autumn through winter. In addition to having smaller crowds, you’ll also have the chance to see the castles and surrounding countryside covered in snow. However, you won’t be able to climb to Mary’s Bridge for one of the best views of Neuschwanstein.

The shoulder months of spring and autumn are good alternatives if you’re able to travel during that time. Crowds won’t be too bad, and the weather won’t be too cold.

Summer brings the warmest weather and the largest crowds. On the other hand, you will get to see the castles surrounded by lush greenery if you are looking for the perfect warm-weather photo.

We visited just before Christmas to take advantage of the Christmas markets throughout Bavaria. While Hohenschwangau didn’t have any markets, there are many great ones throughout the region!

What dining options are available in the area?

The small village around the castles contains a number of different restaurants and snack stands. We didn’t eat at any of these places, choosing instead to bring our own sandwiches, but a quick look at online reviews shows that they’re mostly of middling quality. There is also a cafe within Neuschwanstein where you can stop after your guided tour is over.

Are there any combo tickets available to visit these Bavarian castles?

Bavaria offers two different combination tickets that include Neuschwanstein: a14-day ticket and the Königsschlösser. The €35 14-day ticket gives you access to a number of historical sites and museums including Neuschwanstein, Linderhof Palace, the Munich Residenz, Nymphenburg Palace and many more over a continuous span of 14 days.

The €31 Königsschlösser ticket only gives you access to Neuschwanstein, Linderhof Palace and Herrenchiemsee, but this ticket is good for a span of six months (not particularly helpful for tourists, though).

If you purchase one of these combination tickets, it is still encouraged that you reserve a time online before your visit to Neuschwanstein to guarantee entry.

No combination ticket currently exists that includes Hohenschwangau Castle.

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Resources to Book Your Trip to Hohenschwangau

Whether you’re looking for tours, hotels or flights, here are some tools to help get you started planning your trip to Hohenschwangau!

Look for activities and tours offered through GetYourGuide or Viator!

Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Check out my travel essentials for more of my recommendations.

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