Sara AmiraAre you a big Disney fan? Then you should know that Neuschwanstein Castle inspired the design of the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland. When viewed side-by-side, the similarity is spellbinding!
Image credit: Helmut H. Kroiss (left), janeb13 (right)
This nineteenth-century Romanesque Revival castle is located in Bavaria, Germany. The castle’s name, which means ‘New Swan Stone’, is derived from the Swan Knight, a character from one of Richard Wagner’s operas. The Neuschwanstein Castle was built for King Ludwig II, who was a fan of – you guessed it – Wagner’s operas.
Image credit: Jae Choi
Although the castle was built solely for the king, the castle was opened to the public as a museum just a few weeks after his death. Receiving up to 6,000 visitors daily, the Neuschwanstein Castle is now the most visited castle in Europe. It is also one of the most photographed buildings in the world.
Feeling a tinge of FOMO? Fear not! Here’s how you can get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich:
1. Take a train from Munich to Füssen
Image credit: Deutsche Bahn
To get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich, hop on a train from Munich Hauptbahnhof station to Füssen station. The journey takes approximately 2.5 hours. The regional train leaves every hour throughout the day. Do note that not all train journeys are direct; you might need to make a transfer. Don’t start to panic, making transfers are easy. Platform numbers, transfer times and destinations are clearly indicated on the electronic signages in English. You can check the train timings and connection information on the Deutsche Bahn website here.
Standard ticket prices start at about €54 (~S$82.50) for a round-trip. If you’re travelling on weekends or taking the trains after 9 am on weekdays, save on tickets by buying the Bayern-Ticket (regional day ticket for Bavaria) which costs only €25 (~$38)! The ticket can also be shared with four additional passengers if you top-up €7 (~S$10.70) per extra passenger.
Besides the price savings, you get unlimited travel on all local trains, regional trains and a majority of buses (including the one in the following step) in Bavaria. The ticket is valid from 9 am till 3 am the following day. You can travel with a peace of mind while exploring the Bavarian area!
Tickets can be bought from the ticketing machines at the train station or on the Deutsche Bahn website. When purchasing the Bayern-Ticket online, you will be asked to enter the full names of the passengers. If you purchase the Bayern-Ticket from the ticketing machine, don’t forget to write down your travel party’s names on the lined space provided on the ticket.
2. Hop on the bus from Füssen to Hohenschwangau
Image credit: Antonio Vera
After the scenic train ride, hop on either Bus 73 or 78 to Hohenschwangau. The bus stand is located just outside the train entrance. Buses often arrive at the same time as the trains, so you won’t have to wait too long. The journey takes approximately 10 minutes. If you’re unsure where to alight, just follow the crowd of people on the bus with you. Bus drivers will also usually announce the stop as “Neuschwanstein Castle” so tourists won’t get lost.
You can purchase a return ticket from the bus driver for a few euros. If you have bought the Bayern-Ticket, simply show the ticket to the driver. You don’t have to dig your wallets for foreign coins!
3. Up up and away to Neuschwanstein Castle
Image credit: saraamira (left), Isriya Paireepairit (right)
Neuschwanstein Castle is perched on top of a hill. You can get there by one of the following three ways; on foot, by bus or by horse carriage.
It takes about 40 to 60 minutes to hike up the hill on foot. The roads are well paved, but some sections of the climb can be quite steep. Although the hike might sound arduous, the scenic views and lush forests refresh you and make the hike seem less tiring.
The next option is to take a private bus. Since its not part of Germany’s public transport system, your Bayern-Ticket cannot be used. A roundtrip ticket costs €3 (~S$4.60) for adults and €1.50 (~S$2.30) for children (aged 7 to 12). Children below 6 years old can ride free of charge. Do note that the bus will not directly bring you to Neuschwanstein castle. After alighting, you have to continue with a 15-minute steep hike from the bus stop to the entrance of Neuschwanstein castle. The entire duration of the journey is approximately 25 minutes.
Image credit: Dave Risney (left), Erik Drost (right)
If you want to feel like royalty, opt for the horse carriage. The uphill ticket costs €7 (~S$10.70) and the downhill ticket costs €3.50 (~S$5.35). You can make the payment directly to the horse carriage driver. You get to enjoy your Disney moment for about 20 minutes. Like the bus, the horse carriage will not directly bring you to Neuschwanstein castle. You will also need to do a 15-minute steep hike from the carriage stop to the entrance of Neuschwanstein castle.
If you’re visiting during winter (November to February), the bus and horse carriages might not be in operation due to ice and snow. For persons with mobility issues, you can check the FAQ section of the official website or contact them directly here.
Purchasing Neuschwanstein Castle tickets
Image credit: Isriya Paireepairit
You can purchase your Neuschwanstein Castle tickets at the ticketing counter at the foot of the hill. However, it is highly recommended that you book your tickets online as there are always long queues and same-day tickets sell out fast.
Image credit: ian kelsall
You have to book your tickets at least two days in advance. However, you should book your tickets way earlier than that to ensure you get the date and time frame you want. When booking, you can select the approximate time you want your tour to be. The exact timing will be confirmed in the confirmation email sent to you after completing your booking. Do note that you have to collect your tickets at least 90 minutes prior to your tour time.
Other tips
Image credit: Nico Benedickt, David Mark, Mathias Konrath, Tomáš Gaál (clockwise from top left)
- Neuschwanstein Castle is spellbinding no matter when you visit this majestic castle. However, some hiking trails and bridges might be closed during winter or when there’s bad weather.
- Summer (July to August) is Neuschwanstein Castle’s peak season. With about 6,000 visitors streaming in and out the castle daily, you may want to avoid the summer crowds.
Image credit: Robert Böck (left), Nick Randle (right)
- For the best views of the castle, head to Marienbrücke bridge. It is only a 15-minutes walk from the castle entrance. Again if you visit during the busy summer months, the bridge can get super crowded.
- Although most people come to Neuschwanstein Castle as a day trip from Munich, you can opt to spend a few days in Schwangau village. The picturesque village offers a relaxed and rustic countryside feel which is different from German cities.
Now that you know how to get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich, what are you waiting for? Stop wishing upon a star! Pack your ballgowns and glass slippers – your fairytale fantasies awaits!
