Neuschwanstein Castle Tour from Munich to Fussen + Bavarian Villages

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One of the major highlights of our Germany trip was visiting the beautiful Neuschwanstein Castle and the Bavarian Villages. The Neuschwanstein Castle is a beautiful castle, located on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. We booked a guided Neuschwanstein Castle tour from Munich to Fussen.

The Bavarian countryside was a pleasant surprise. We didn’t know what to expect and with the castle on our minds – we didn’t think much of the Romantic Road or the picturesque towns and farms. But at the end of the trip (and as I am writing this post), the beautiful countryside and the pouring rain is what I miss.

Visit Neuschwanstein Castle Tour from Munich to Fussen (+Bavarian Villages)

Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the MOST visited castles in the world. Due to its close proximity to Munich, it makes for a perfect day trip option. As you start your journey from Munich to Fussen to reach the Neuschwanstein Castle you will witness some of the picturesque landscape and villages in Bavaria.

Neuschwanstein Castle is a newer castle as compared to many of the castles and palaces that you will see in Europe. It does live up to its expectations of – medieval charm and style. The location of the castle, with the beautiful Bavarian Alps is a scenery to behold and remember. Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle is inspired by the Neuschwanstein Castle. Many refer to the Neuschwanstein Castle as the Cinderella Castle, Bavaria Castle or the Munich Castle or Disney Castle.

How to get to Neuschwanstein Castle? Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich Germany

There are various ways to reach the Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich. We took a guided tour to the Neuschwanstein Castle and we absolutely loved it.

Here is why you should consider taking tours and who it is BEST suited for –

• Best for people visiting for a day trip. Don’t worry about learning directions, signing car rental agreement or insurance – nada!
• Cost: Guided day tours to the Neuschwanstein Castle will cost you the SAME or less in comparison to taking trains and changing buses to reach the Fussen/Neuschwanstein Castle. Definitely cheaper then car rental.
• Convenience: Trust the local experts, sit back and won’t worry about changing buses, trains or finding parking.
• Remember, if you wish to tour the inside of the castle, you need a guided your
• Enjoy the View – As you reach the Neuschwanstein Castle, you will be surrounded by stunning mountains and landscapes, absorb it and enjoy. Don’t worry about the driving and parking!

Full day Tours – Neuschwanstein Castle Tour from Munich

• We took a day tour to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich to Fussen. Here is the guided tour we recommend
• Pick up point was our hotel in Munich
• The day trip can be done in 8-9 hours. (with the guided tour in the Castle.)
• Entrance fee (13 euros) for the Castle was not included in the tour. Most tours will not include this fee, so always confirm
• Entry to the Neuschwanstein Castle is only through the castle’s guided tours.
• In this day tour, we explored various Bavarian villages as well.
• If you are looking to visit the Neuschwanstein castle only, then consider booking this tour

Here are some more tour options

Neuschwanstein Castle Tours from Munich	Book Here
Neuschwanstein Castle + Bavaria	Book Here
Neuschwanstein Castle Tour only (via train)	Book Here
Neuschwanstein Castle with Linderhof	Book Here
Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Castle (Winter)	Book Here

Most day tours are conducted in a mini van, bus or train to take you to Fussen and then Neuschwanstein Castle. At the castle, the staff will take you to the interiors (which is a guided tour, fee paid separately).

Drive

You can rent a car and drive to the Neuschwanstein Castle. It takes about 2 hours one way to arrive at the Castle. To explore the castle interiors, a guided tour is mandatory.

Train

One way train journey to the Neuschwanstein Castle takes about 2.75- 3 hours. The journey will include some walk to the various stations and changing a bus to get to Fussen. You will easily find trains at the Munich Central Station to go to Fussen. The train station in Fussen is located about 5 kilometres away. If you are short on time or only have a day in Fussen, then either drive or take a day tour.

Trains run every hour from Munich Hauptbahnhof and costs about 56-60 euros return trip. You can easily find a day tour for this price or less. 

Visit Neuschwanstein Castle & Bavarian Villages

Drive through the Romantic Road towards Fussen and the Bavarian Alps

We started our day at 7:00 am in the morning. After breakfast in our Munich central hotel, we hopped on to the van and embarked on to the Romantic Road of Germany to reach Fussen in the afternoon.

Fussen is a stunning German town, located in the state of Bavaria. What makes Fussen so unique is its location. It is located just north of the Austrian border, at an elevation of 808 metres and is characterised by greenery, hills, stunning castles and quaint neighborhoods. It is worth spending some time in Fussen to explore the medieval old town centre, which is sprinkled with Bavarian cafes and restaurants.

Fussen also lies in the beautiful Romantic Road (on the southern tip) and it is lined with UNESCO heritage sites like the Pilgrimage Church of Wies. Entry to the church is completely free and the interiors of the church are filled with stunning frescoes that are worth visiting.

The Romantic Road is a stretch of highway between Würzburg and Füssen (which is about 350 kms) in southern Germany. Along the route, the highway is lined with a number of picturesque towns and castles. This route was used for trade purposes in medieval times. If you are driving along the Romantic Road and wish to explore more this medieval stretch, consider visiting Rothenburg as well.

It rained all day when we ventured on this day tour. Bavarian countryside was very serene and beautiful. It definitely didn’t disappoint us.

Church of Virgin Mary- Pfarrkirche Maria Geburt

Our first stop on the Romantic Road was Rottenbuch. We explored the church of Virgin Mary- Pfarrkirche Maria Geburt. It is the former monastery church of the Rottenbuch monastery. The interior of the church was beautiful with stunning frescoes.

After the church visit, we continued towards Fussen and the Bavarian Alps. Tiny Bavarian houses and farms looked gorgeous in the beautiful rain.

Each of the tiny village that we crossed had a beautiful Cross at the village entrance, marking their belief in the Lord and His blessings – protecting their houses and crops. Many of these houses shared their space with farm animals. Farm animals occupied the ground floor and the humans the top floor. You can actually smell cheese if you take a walk around those stunning villages!

During the spring-summer seasons, these houses and lanes are decorated with beautiful flowers.

As we made it closer to the castle, we could see the beautiful clouds and the stunning Bavarian Alps.

You can view the  beautiful castle from a distance. This spot (image below) is perfect for pictures, with the alps and the castle in the backdrop.

Guide to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle 

The fairy tale castle of Mad King Ludwig – Neuschwanstein castle is what draws a lot of tourists to Fussen. The Neuschwanstein Castle had inspired Disney’s castles and so much so that people dream of weddings and fairy tale stories here.

Neuschwanstein Castle literally means “new swanstone castle” and most of the castle interiors have stunning depictions of swans on the walls and ceilings. The castle was built in the 19th century and was left incomplete after the King Ludwig’s death. The king built the castle to be his prime residence. He was inspired by medieval romanticism and was in a way an attempt to re-model and revive some of the forgotten Middle Ages castles in this ambitious architectural project.

The Castle has its critics, but its popularity and magnificence outshines the criticism. It brings in about 1.4 million visitors annually and quite popular with travelers of all ages.

Neuschwanstein Castle Parking 

Neuschwanstein Castle grounds has parking areas, souvenir shops and horse-carriage rides to help you reach the hill-top. To reach the hilltop and view the castle, you can either walk/hike (20-25 minutes and free!), opt for bus rides (3 euros) or take horse-carriage rides (7 euros)

Neuschwanstein Castle Hike

My husband and I decided to do the short hike to the hill-top. It took us about 20 minutes to reach the castle entrance. The short hike is completely worth it. Hiking or walking up the rugged hill towards Neuschwanstein Castle will give you stunning views of Fussen and the surrounding areas. We witnessed waterfalls, bridges, horse-carriages, green fields and tons of scenery as we made our way to the castle.

There are amazing view-points for photos and selfies as well. The picturesque Bavarian Alps – all around will melt your heart.

Note: If you do not wish to hike, you can take a shuttle or horse-drawn carriage from the parking area to the castle entrance. Rates for bus rides were around 3 euros and horse-carriage rides around 7 euros.

There are more hiking trails in and around the castle grounds. Pöllatschlucht is a popular hiking trail, located at the end of the Mary’s bridge. Always use the recommended hiking path and wear sturdy shoes.

Neuschwanstein Castle Bridge – Marien Burke or Mary’s Bridge

Near the Neuschwanstein Castle and on your hike, you will see a bridge. It is called the Marien Burke or Mary’s Bridge. It is a pedestrian bridge built over a cliff, which gives amazing views of the Neuschwanstein Castle and the Alps. Accessing the bridge is completely free.

This bridge was opened in the mid 19th century and today due to safety reasons, the number of people on the bridge is actually regulated. When we were there we had to line up to get to the bridge. BUT it is worth it. If you missed the Castle on your drive to Fussen, then here is your opportunity to get some amazing shots – these views won’t disappoint you.

Hohenschwangau Castle

As you reach the castle, you will see another castle – smaller in size and yellow in color – that’s the Hohenschwangau Castle. 

Hohenschwangau Castle was built by King Maximilian II of Bavaria who was Ludwig II’s father.It was his childhood residence. King Ludwig II enjoyed living in Hohenschwangau, and in some ways this childhood castle paved the way to building his own castle, Neuschwanstein, on the site of the old Schwangau fortress, high above his parent’s castle.

The Royal family still reserves the right to reside in the Hohenschwangau Castle. Guided tours are available to this castle as well.

Neuschwanstein Castle Tickets

We had booked a guided tour of the castle. Photography is strictly prohibited inside. And guided tours are managed by the Bavarian Palace Department. There are guided tours available every half hour. The guided tour inside the castle was okay. You will have to take a guided tour to access the castle, so there is no way out.

• Adult Entry : 13 euros
• Children under the age of 18 years: Free (reservations are still required)

There are restoration work going on when we visited the castle. Based on the Neuschwanstein Castle official website, some of the castle rooms are still being restored, and will be completed by April 2019.

Neuschwanstein Castle History

Here is the stunning Neuschwanstein Castle

The castle is indeed, very beautiful, inside and out. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat from public life. He ascended the Bavarian throne at the early age of 18 years and was inexperienced in matters of war and administration. He paid for this palace out of his personal fortune and by means of extensive borrowing. The castle was left incomplete after Ludwig II’s untimely death.

Neuschwanstein Castle is the most visited castle in the world and the Bavarian state receives a lot of revenue from the 3 castles that King Ludwig II built. Not to mention Neuschwanstein tops that list in incurring revenue for the state.

The castle construction work began in 1869 and by 1886, King Ludwig was living there. Despite its sheer size – 14 finished rooms – the kings court or office was not a part of the castle.

The Castle is built out of bricks, limestone and wood and its architecture is Romanesque revival style. The Mary’s bridge was originally made out of wood and was later replaced by steel.

An enormous amount of money was spent in building this castle and Ludwig only slept here for 11 nights, when he passed away unexpectedly (death due to drowning). When King Ludwig II died the Neuschwanstein Castle was far from completion. A lot of the castle wings were still in scaffolding. Due to the mounting debt, the Castle was opened for public viewing shortly after the king’s death.

Many of the near completed structures were either left as is or simplified to avoid further expenses.

Guide to the Neuschwanstein Castle Interiors

The guided tour of the Neuschwanstein Castle takes you through the 3rd and 4th floors of the building. This is where the kings room and apartments are. The tour ends on the 2nd floor where cafes and souvenirs stores are located. The second floor was incomplete when the King Ludwig II died.

In the third floor, you will see the stunning Throne Hall, king’s bedroom and the dressing room, study room and the lower hall. On the fourth floor, there is another Throne Hall (equal size like the one on the third floor), Upper Hall and a Singer’s Hall.

The ground floor has a royal kitchen and it is open for visitors. Washrooms are also located here.

Photography is not allowed inside, but we can tell you the Throne Hall and the Singer’s Hall were stunning.

Neuschwanstein Castle Tips

Here are some important things to keep in mind while preparing for your day trip to the Neuschwanstein Castle

Best Time to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle

• Best time to visit Neuschwanstein Castle – November through April are considered as slow season and you will find ample photography opportunities. We visited in March and didn’t see any huge line-ups outside or inside of the castle
• During winters, hiking trail and the Mary’s Bridge might be closed due to safety reasons (slippery surface, snow or rock fall). Please check the advisory before embarking on the trails.

Do you need to take a guided tour of the Neuschwanstein Castle?

• Let me repeat, guided tours are mandatory for touring the inside of the Neuschwanstein Castle. Tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket counter.
• During summer or busy months, it is recommended that tickets and reservations be made in advance. If you are booking a day tour to Neuschwanstein Castle, the tour company will reserve the spots for you and you pay them later.

Is photography allowed at the Neuschwanstein Castle?

• Photographing the Neuschwanstein Castle from outside is allowed.
• Photography is prohibited inside. Drones are also NOT allowed.
• If you wish to photograph the interiors, prior approval from the Bavaria State Department is required. Apply for approval here.

What is NOT allowed at the Neuschwanstein Castle?

• If traveling with children, strollers or prams are NOT allowed inside.
• Animals are NOT allowed inside as well.
• Food and drink is not allowed inside. Including luggage and other bulky items.

Can you get married at Neuschwanstein Castle?

Wedding or ceremony of any kind is NOT permitted inside the Neuschwanstein Castle. You can however, get married at the castle entrance or on your hiking path towards the castle – that offers the Neuschwanstein Castle as a back drop.

Same thing for proposals. Let me tell you, it is SO romantic though!

Can you stay at the Neuschwanstein Castle?

• No you cannot. You can however stay in Fussen or nearby areas to access the Neuschwanstein Castle easily.

Where to stay near Neuschwanstein Castle?

Here are a few options for you.

• Hotel Villa Ludwig – The TOP rated hotel in Schwangau, for amazing castle views, hospitality and beautiful rooms. This is not a luxury hotel by price, but offers great value. Check out this hotel and book your stay Hotel Villa Ludwig
• Hotel Das Rübezahl – Located less then 5 kilometre from the Neuschwanstein Castle, this hotel has an outdoor pool and spa with amazing mountain views. Book your stay at the Hotel Das Rübezahl
• Hotel und Gasthof Hanselewirt – Located less then 5 kilometres (or 2.6 miles) from the Neuschwanstein Castle. Bavarian style hotel with a roof top beer garden. Book your stay at the Hotel und Gasthof Hanselewirt 
   

Exploring more of Fussen, with a cheese platter

After exploring the Neuschwanstein Castle, we returned to the Romantic Road again, and this time for lunch. We visited a cheese farm and their owners presented us with delicious cheese and sausage platters.

This platter of cheese was more than enough for the two of us. You can request to create any kind of platters and all within reasonable budget (8 euros to 20 euros, depending on size of platter)

Here is a view of the Cheese farm and their restaurant – KaseHaus.

Pilgrimage Church of Wies

Couple of hours in to our road journey and it finally stopped raining. Our last stop for the day was the Pilgrimage Church of Wies.

The Pilgrimage Church of Wies is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an rococo style church, designed in the 18th century by brothers John Baptiste and Dominikus Zimmermann. It is located in the foothills of the Alps, in the municipality of Steingaden in the Weilheim-Schongau district.

The interior of the Pilgrimage Church of Wies is gorgeous with its frescoes and the golden intricate details.

As its a UNESCO site, this place is frequented by visitors, unlike the baroque style church we visited in the morning. There are restaurants and gardens within the church grounds, for visitors to access.

Neuschwanstein Castle Tours from Munich	Book Here
Neuschwanstein Castle + Bavaria	Book Here
Neuschwanstein Castle Tour only (via train)	Book Here
Neuschwanstein Castle with Linderhof	Book Here
Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Castle (Winter)	Book Here

Hope you found this guide helpful. You should definitely include one day of your Munich- Bavaria Itinerary to visit Fussen and the beautiful Neuschwanstein Castle.

More Germany Travel Resources for your trip

• Exploring Munich in one day 
• Day trip to Nuremberg from Munich 
• Dachau Day trip from Munich 

Last Update: January 24 2019

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