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When staying in the Bavarian Alps, you’re bound to visit at least one castle. After all, Ludwig II of Bavaria left his mark on the history of his region with his castles.
An enthusiast of Wagner and, in particular, the Ring of the Nibelungen, a monarch with a highly creative mind and, above all, a bit in his own world, a great fan of royalty and, in particular, of Louis XIV, he created or renovated the country’s main castles (Linderhof, Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee, Hohenschwangau…) and couldn’t do everything he wanted to because it put a big hole in the state coffers.
A Byzantine palace, for example, was also on the program. In short, all this to tell you that these castles are one of Bavaria’s must-sees, and if you haven’t already visited them, then hop hop hop! After that, for each castle, I’ll give you all the info you need: should you really visit it, how, where to book your tickets, when to go…
The good thing is that Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau are located in the same village of Schwangau. They face each other, each on its own hill.
So it’s super convenient to visit them on the same day. And you can also visit the Museum of the Kings of Bavaria, although, let’s face it, it’s not that crazy.
5 reasons to visit Bavaria’s castles
- Neuschwanstein is incredible
- You’ll be immersed in the slightly hillbilly spirit of Bavarian King Ludwig II.
- There’s a lovely lake next to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau
- They’re easy to visit from Munich, without the need for a car
- The setting is top-notch, surrounded by mountains!
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is what you might call a fairytale castle. Straight out of the (very prolific) imagination of Ludwig II of Bavaria, he didn’t really have time to enjoy it.
The setting is quite incredible, let’s be clear. On its hilltop, a white castle that can be seen for miles around, surrounded by mountains and forests. Truly magical. I’ve seen a lot of beautiful castles, and frankly, this one really knocked my socks off too.
And even then, I couldn’t visit the inside because it’s complicated! Indeed, if you want to visit the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle, you’ll need to book several days or even weeks in advance if it’s summer.
When I went there, in the 2nd week of August, there were no more places available until early September, so 3 weeks, no less. I’ll tell you just below how to book your tickets, visits from Munich, etc.
Then, is it compulsory to visit the interiors of Neuschwanstein Castle? here’s what I’ve read as an opinion :
- it’s very beautiful, very well decorated
- the visit is not cheap, €20
- it’s very quick, between 20 and 30 minutes
- and the groups follow one another
So it’s really up to you. I’d say yes, at worst you’re wasting 20€ and 30 minutes, at best you’re making the most of it! But as we’ll see, the surrounding area is magnificent, so even if you don’t have tickets, you should still come and see the castle from the outside, really.
- Online ticketing
- Tour from Munich
- Recommended nearby accommodation
Climbing to Neuschwanstein Castle
Already, getting from the parking lot to the castle takes quite a while:
- 40 minutes on foot (and it’s uphill)
- 5 minutes by bus (€3 fare) then 10 minutes walking
- so in any case, you’ll need to get there well in advance.
The bus leaves you at a great spot, because from there you can reach the most beautiful viewpoint of the castle: Marienbrücke, a bridge 5 minutes’ walk from the bus stop. The view of the castle is incredible. Yes, it’s a bit crowded on the bridge, but it’s great.
Go on for another 5 minutes, and you’ll still have a beautiful view with absolutely no one around. On the way from the bus stop to the castle, you’ll have a superb view of Hohenschwangau castle with the mountains behind. Honestly, it’s top-notch!
For the return journey, we still have the same two options:
- get off by bus, 3€, fast, many rotations
- walk down, in 20 minutes you’re at the parking lot, and frankly, it’s great! the walk is through the woods, in the shade.
Book your ticket for Neuschwanstein Castle
If you’d like to book tickets for Neuschwanstein Palace, here are all the options:
- book online at the official ticket office, but make sure you book in advance
- buy tickets on site: some early-morning tickets are available for the same day. You need to go to the official ticket office below Hohenschwangau Castle. You’ll need to arrive early, but there are no guarantees.
- buy your tickets from a reseller. Some agencies sell tickets on platforms such as Getyourguide or Viator. Tickets are more expensive, but lead times are shorter, so it can be super convenient if there are no tickets available soon.
Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich
If you’re in Munich and want to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, it’s possible, it’s convenient and it’s not particularly expensive for the whole day. Agencies take care of everything
- it’s €70 + €20 entrance fee (including guided tour)
- it lasts a full day, around 10 hours
- you’ll have plenty of time to visit the castle, the surrounding area and Schwangau.
- info and booking
If you already have your tickets, but would like to come by bus, then it’s easy: Flixbus makes daily trips between Munich and Neuschwanstein, for around 15 euros.
There’s a nice combination too: visit Neuschwanstein and Linderhof from Munich in the same day. It’s a bit sporty, but it can be done:
- visit Linderhof castle
- visit to the village of Oberammergau
- time to visit Schwangau
- and a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle
- all for €75
- info and booking
Visit Hohenschwangau Castle
Hohenschwangau Castle lies directly opposite Neuschwanstein. This castle was not created from scratch by Ludwig II, but has been completely renovated several times.
Originally, as its architecture suggests, it was a 14th-century fortified castle that gradually fell into ruin. During a siege by Napoleonic troops, it was used to house soldiers before being sold for a pittance to be destroyed. And then… nothing!
It finally fell into the hands of King Maximilian II, who completely renovated it.
In the end, with all its renovations and the fact that it was inhabited until late (early 20th century), the castle’s interiors are more modern, less “royal” than its others.
But the exterior is surprising! I really liked its yellow/ochre color and its shape, somewhere between medieval and neo-gothic.
Should we visit Hohenschwangau castle? So like many people, we visited this castle because we couldn’t get tickets for Neuschwanstein (it’s crazy, now I can write it in one go without making mistakes). We thought we’d find the same thing, or thereabouts. Except that, as I mentioned, the interiors aren’t quite as regal, but you get the same kind of tour:
- it’s pretty quick
- it’s not terribly interesting (quite honestly), but that’s okay
- the interiors are a little too modern for a real sense of history
- it’s expensive
So all that to say, don’t expect anything as wow-factor as Neuschwanstein, it can be interesting, but the exteriors are nice, you can still do the tour there. As for the guided tour, more or less. I’d say it’s better than nothing, not a waste of time.
How to buy tickets for Hohenschwangau Castle ? Here are the tour details
- it lasts 30/40 minutes
- the price is €23.50
- groups queue up
- tickets can be purchased at the official ticket office
There’s no need to book far in advance, just the day before or the day before. There’s always room, sometimes even at the château box office, for same-day tickets.
4 recommended accommodations in the area
CHALET ST ANTON
- Located in Grainau, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- A large chalet in the forest next to Lake Eibsee
- From 119€!
SCHICKSTER SKY LODGE
- At the foot of the mountains in Leutasch, Austria
- 9.1/10 on Booking
- From 144€!
AMERON NEUSCHWANSTEIN
- Opposite Neuschwanstein Castle!
- Couldn’t be better placed
- 9.0/10 on Booking
Visit Linderhof Castle
The superb Linderhof castle is not located in Schwangau like its two companions, but in a secluded corner, which gives the estate its charm.
Linderhof is a different kind of castle. Created by Ludwig II of Bavaria, again, it’s a tribute to Louis XIV (while Herrenchiemsee will be his version of Versailles), with magnificent architecture and, above all, grandiose interiors. Bling bling, gold, shine – and superb gardens!
Around the castle, you’ll have two elevated viewpoints, with fountains, large pools, water fountains and sculptures everywhere.
Is it really necessary to visit Linderhof Palace?
Frankly, yes! Well, you can visit the gardens, which cost nothing (€3 parking fee), and that’s good enough, because they’re really pretty. But the interior is just as beautiful and regal as you’d expect. What’s more, it’s not particularly expensive – you get what you pay for, I think.
What’s more, there aren’t many people visiting – far fewer than at Neuschwanstein.
It’s best to book a few days in advance for the tour during the high tourist season (i.e. August). And if you don’t want to visit the inside, then the outside is free – it’ll only cost you the price of parking, i.e. €3.
- Online ticketing
- Tour from Munich: Linderhof and Neuschwanstein
- Recommended nearby accommodation
In conclusion
I’ve tried to tell you in an honest way what I think of each château, and what is good or essential to visit. After all, they’re all part of Bavarian history, and some are even more surprising than others. But one thing’s for sure: it’s not a waste of time. It’s touristy, yes, but it’s unique!
⭐️ You can discover the most beautiful places in the Bavarian Alps ⭐️
