Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the top destinations in Europe. A fairy tale castle that inspired Cinderella’s Castle in Disneyland. Neuschwanstein was constructed in the 19th century, which means it wasn’t made for defensive purposes. It was design by King Ludwig II as a tribute the the true medieval castles of the past but romanticized with 19th century ideals.
How Did We Get There
Visiting Neuschwanstein in the Winter, we decided the best way to visit it is by simply booking a bus tour from Munich, Germany. We chose a day tour that will take us from Munich, then to Linderhof and finally to Neuschwanstein. Cost of the day tour was around US$ 70.00 per person but you need to pay extra for tickets to enter the palaces. The tour starts conveniently at just across the main train station of Munich. There are a number of good hotels around the Munich Train station and Munich itself is worth spending 2-3 days in.
We intentionally targetted visiting the place in Winter as it is notoriously crowded during the peak season.
What is there to See
Traveling in winter adds a bit “mystery” to the trip as the countryside is covered in snow.
The palace grounds of Linderhof is breathtakingly beautiful during the winter. There is a 10 minute walk from where the bus is parked going to the palace and the scenery while you walk is fantastic.
The palace itself is small but the interiors are impressive.
Next stop is a small village where you can buy souvenirs. It is relatively unimpressive aside from the surrounding countryside.
We arrive in Neuschwanstein around 1pm, had a quick lunch, and started the 30 minute up-hill walk to the castle. Alternatively you can stand in line for a horse carriage ride up the hill. I would advise to take the carriage for older people or those with very young children. Five minutes up the hill and you get an impressive view of the Hohenschwangau Castle. A castle has stood in this hill since the 12th century but the current incarnation was constructed in the 19th century as well.
Your first views of Neuschwanstein going up the hill will be after around 15-20 minutes of walking and is where the carriages stop. From this point on, all visitors will have to walk up the hill.
Take time to appreciate the views of the surrounding country side as you go up the hill…
After around 30 minutes you arrive at the castle gates. Photography is not allowed in the interior of the castle. As King Ludwig never saw his dream castle completed, the interior is not fully furnished but nonetheless quite impressive.
Entry to the castle is done in batches and you have to wait in the courtyard for your turn. the tour takes around 30 minutes and involves climbing quite a lot of stairs.
Heading back down the castle, you take some more photos…
Tips and Tricks
- Visiting Neuschwanstein involves a lot of walking and climbing up stairs and might not be a good idea to do with seniors or very young children. If you don’t like walking, then taking the horse carriage might be a good idea.
- Visiting in winter we weren’t able to visit the Marion Bridge as it was closed due to heavy snow. The Marion Bridge gives you a fantastic vantage point to view the castle. Note however that if you go with a day tour you might have to choose between the Marion Bridge or visiting the castle interior due to lack of time.
- Don’t bother bringing stroller/buggies for your children during this tour as they won’t be allowed in the sites anyway.
- It might be a good idea to bring your own food as restaurant selection in the area is limited.