Bavaria is one of the most picturesque regions of Germany, famous for its stunning landscapes, traditional architecture, and rich cultural heritage. Among the most popular destinations in Bavaria is the Neuschwanstein Castle, a 19th-century palace that inspired the design of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Knowing exactly how to get from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle will make your dreams of visiting Neuschwanstein easy and stress-free.
Neuschwanstein graces countless travel advertisements and its image is splattered in most publications, and rightly so. Perched high in the rugged Alps is it a sight that has to be seen to be believed.
Where is Neuschwanstein Castle?
Located about 120 kilometres from Munich, a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle is a must-do day trip from Munich for anyone travelling to Bavaria’s capital city.
In this article, we’ll explore the best ways to get from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle, how to book Neuschwanstein Castle tickets and tips to make the most of your visit to this fairy tale castle.
So buckle up and get ready to experience the magic of Neuschwanstein Castle!
A bit of history for your Neuschwanstein day trip
Neuschwanstein Castle is new by European standards. It was completed in the 1880s making it only 140 odd years old.
While the cliffside castle was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1868 the foundation stone for Neuschwanstein Castle wasn’t laid until the 5th of September 1869.
- The castle is located in the village of Schwangau
- Hohenschwangau Castle sits opposite Neuschwanstein. It was the childhood home of King Ludwig II
- The gateway building or the castle entrance you pass through today was the first building completed at the castle
- The interior of Neuschwanstein Castle was to have over 200 rooms, but only 15 were completed.
- The castle was not called Neuschwanstein until after King Ludwig II’s death
- Anywhere between 200-300 workers per day constructed the castle 24 hours a day
- Neuschwanstein’s highest tower reaches a height of 213 feet
- Ludwig slept only 11 nights in the interior of Neuschwanstein Castle
- A meteorite that reached Earth on April 6, 2002, near Hohenschwangau was named Neuschwanstein after the palace
Just 6 weeks after his death the palace was opened to the public and today over 1.5 million people a year visit the castle making it one of the most popular castles in the world.
In the summer months peak season up to 6000 people a day tour Neuschwanstein Castle. A reservation is your best option or you can line up to pay the entrance fee.
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How to get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich
There are so many different ways you can enjoy your day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle. Here we have all the options available to you to make your trip visiting Neuschwanstein Castle as easy and enjoyable as possible.
Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle by car
Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle by car can add another element to your trip. The element of exploring, only when travelling from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle by car can you choose to stop at will.
The Bavarian countryside a packed with amazing villages and breathtaking views. The journey to the villages of Schwangau and Neuschwanstein will take you nearly 2 hours by car and have you travelling 121 kilometres from Munich.
Where can I hire a car from in Munich for a day trip?
There are so many options for car hire in Munich. What you choose to hire really depends on your driving abilities, the size of your group and how confident you are.
Other things you will need to consider are an international driver’s licence and travel insurance that protects you in an accident.
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How do I get from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle by car?
From Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle, you will need to head out of the city. For many driving on the German Autobarn is a bucket list travel experience and this will definitely help you achieve this!
Option 1 on how to get from Munich to Neuschwanstein by car
- Take the A7 motorway (direction Ulm-Kempten-Füssen) until you reach Fussen
- From Füssen first follow the road B17 to Schwangau
- Once at Schwangau follow the signs to Hohenschwangau
Option 2 for a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle by car from Munich
- Take the A7 motorway until the exit of Kempten
- Then take the road B12 to Marktoberdorf
- Follow the road B16 to Roßhaupten – OAL I to Buching
- Then take the road B17 to Schwangau and Hohenschwangau
Is there parking at Neuschwanstein Castle?
I will tell you that parking is pretty hard to come by in the village. There was one parking lot you needed to share with tour buses and so many tour buses. You may need to park on the outskirts of town and walk in.
The cost of car parking is approximately 8 Euros. The real bonus of driving is that you can explore other sights in the area on your way back to Munich from Neuschwanstein.
What are some places we can visit on the way to Neuschwanstein?
When we drove to Schloss Neuschwanstein, we also visited Linderhof Palace and the Pilgrimage Church of Wies.
Linderhof is another King Ludwig II Castle, while the Wies is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Add these sites together, and you have one of the best day trips from Munich.
Can I take a Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle Day Tour?
You sure can and for some, this will be the best and easiest way to visit Neuschwanstein. If you don’t want the stress of driving option, an organised Neuschwanstein Castle tour from Munich is your best bet.
Many Neuschwanstein group tours are running from Munich daily. Some of the positives of going on an organised tour can be:
- You can usually organise a pickup and drop off at your Munich accommodation for your Neuschwanstein Castle day trip with the tour company
- You will have a guide that will keep you informed on the journey out to the Neuschwanstein Castle Tour
- Entry tickets to the sights are usually included, no purchases are required on Neuschwanstein Castle tours
- One price for everything when touring Neuschwanstein Castle
- An organised tour of the interior of Neuschwanstein Castle, Inside the Neuschwanstein Castle, visitors can explore the opulent Hall of Singers, mesmerised by its intricately painted walls and ceiling.
- If you have children, you may be able to take some extras for them and then have somewhere to keep the extra bags, so you don’t have to carry them around
The Neuschwanstein Castle tours usually have many options and can include extras like a trip to nearby towns. Below, we preview some of the available tours from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle and more.
Taking a guided full-day tour from Munich is a fairytale adventure not to be missed.
Departing from Munich, some Neuschwanstein Castle day trips will take you via bus, and some others will take you via train. Train travel in Germany is safe and very clean.
Are there other castles to visit around Neuschwanstein?
You are in luck. There are! You can visit Hohenshwangau, located only minutes from Neuschwanstein, and it is King Ludwig’s childhood home.
Linderhof Castle is another of Ludwig’s glorious castles. If you have time, you may be able to discover some of the beautiful towns that surround the castles, too.
Here are some organised tours from Munich to Neuschwanstein that include some other destinations:
- VIP tour to Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof
- Luxury Bus tour to Neuschwanstein with an Alpine Bike Ride or Hohenschwangau
- Private Neuschwanstein, Ettal Abbey and Oberammergau tour
Day Trip to Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Castles
These day trips take you to the amazing castle near Munich of Ludwig II, King of Bavaria. Visit Neuschwanstein Castle and intimate Linderhof, lunch in the village Schwangau and take a small detour through the little town of Oberammergau.
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Can I take public transport from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle
Getting to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich by public transport is a convenient and affordable way to visit this stunning castle. You can purchase a ticket from Munich that includes transportation to the castle and back and admission to the castle itself.
The journey takes about two hours and includes a train ride through the beautiful Bavarian countryside and a short bus ride to visit Neuschwanstein Castle.
Once you arrive, you can take a leisurely stroll up the hill to the castle or opt for a horse carriage ride for a more romantic and scenic approach before seeing the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle.
Regardless of how you get there, the sight of Neuschwanstein Castle perched atop the hill is sure to take your breath away. So sit back, relax, and let public transport take you on a memorable journey to one of Germany’s most iconic landmarks.
Munich to Fussen Train
The closest train station to Neuschwanstein Castle in Fussen. Fussen Germany is a small town just north of the Austrian border with a population of 14,000 people.
It would be best if you made your way to
- München Hbf, Munich’s central station for regional trains departures to Fussen. (München Hbf is located close to Munich’s city centre in north Munich)
- U-Bahn lines U1, U2, U4, U5, U7, U8 will get you to Munich’s central station.
The main entrance to the station’s east is via the Prielmayerstraße or Bayerstraße to Karlsplatz (Stachus). 450,000 people a day travel through this station so arrive early, buy your train ticket and make your way to your platform for the Neuschwanstein castle train. There are 32 platforms at München Hbf so ensure you get the right one.
Top tips for train travel to Fussen train station
- The Munich To Fussen Regional Train takes a little over 2 hours
- Neuschwanstein Castle train runs roughly every hour to Fussen Train Station
- On the weekend, the first Munich to Fussen train departs at 5.30 am. The last train departs at 10.30 pm
- All times are correct as of the date of publishing. Please check DB for up-to-date times here
- During the week, the first Munich to Fussen train ride departs at 4.48 am. The last train departs at 9.19 pm
Weekday travel from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle
During the week, train travel from Munich Central Station to Füssen Train Station can be quite expensive. Trains start departing Munich at 4.30 am on some days, with return fares starting at around 80 euros return.
You can reserve tickets on the Trainline website or purchase tickets at Munich Hauptbahnhof for your day trip to Neuschwanstein. Sometimes, you can be lucky and get a direct train with a regional day ticket.
Weekend travel to Neuschwanstein
On a weekend, you can buy a Bayern Munich ticket to Fussen, which allows heavily discounted train travel. We priced a train to Neuschwanstein on a weekend for as little as 25 euros.
If you have a family, it can be even cheaper with the Bayern Ticket because the first member of your family will pay 25 Euros, and every member after that pays just 8 Euros. How good is Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich for as little as 8 euros?
As the train approached the mountain region, the scenery became what I would call classic Alpine. Fields with cows, stereotypical German Alpine Chalet-style houses and the mountains greet you. The houses look much like the gingerbread houses you get at Christmas time.
Being a trip of over 2 hours, we recommend you bring some things to keep the kids occupied on the journey. Card games such as the UNO travel version or maybe the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel colouring book will make time fly as you head from Munich to Neuschwanstein.
How to get from Fussen to Neuschwanstein Castle
When the Munich to Fussen train arrives, walk to the adjacent bus stop where buses will be waiting. The bus from Fussen will ferry the visitors up to Schwangau tourist Village to complete the trip to Neuschwanstein castle.
Ride line RVA/OVG 73 and RVA/OVG 78 in the direction of Schwangau. Both buses stop at Hohenschwangau/Alpseestraße stop. When you are ready to go from Fussen to Munich, just hop back on the bus.
The ride takes 8 minutes and costs 2.30 euros each way. Once you reach the village of Schwangau, head to the visitor’s centre to buy your Neuschwanstein castle tour tickets. It’s about a 30-minute walk to Neuschwanstein Castle but a beautiful walk with views of the Bavarian Alps.
A shuttle bus will then take you from Schwangau and drop you near the Marienbrücke bridge above the castle. The view from the Marienbrucke Bridge is fantastic. The castle is a downhill walk of 500 meters from here.
Horse Drawn Carriage ride is a real thrill and experience. The horse carriage ride will drop you about 400 meters short of the castle.
The horse-drawn carriage ride to Schloss Neuschwanstein is quite the experience as you make your way up the castle through the forest. Have the camera ready for horse carriage rides.
Ticket (Shuttle Bus) | Price |
Uphill | 1.80 Euro |
Downhill | 1.00 Euro |
Return trip | 2.60 Euro |
Ticket (Horse-drawn carriage) | Price |
Uphill | 6.00 Euro |
Downhill | 3.00 Euro |
You can also catch a taxi to Neuschwanstein Castle if you like. You can expect to pay between 14 and 17 Euros one way. Walking from Fussen to Neuschwanstein Castle will take you between 60 and 90 minutes.
Bus from Munich, Munich central bus to Schwangau Neuschwanstein
Flixbus runs a daily bus service seven days a week from Munich to Neuschwanstein. The bus leaves daily at 8.30 am or 9 am, taking a little over 2 hours to arrive at Schwangau.
The same bus does a returning trio from Schloss Neuschwanstein to Munich in the evening, at times varying from 4.50 pm to 5.35 pm. You can check the schedule and book tickets at Flixbus.
Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle by bike via Fussen
If cycling is your thing, this is a great option to see Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich via bike. Firstly, you can book a train ticket to take your bike on the Munich Fussen train.
Secondly, you can hire a bike in Fussen after getting off the Munich to Fussen train.
The towns of Fussen and Neuschwanstein Castle are connected as part of the Königssee bicycle track network. You can bike the 5.2 kilometres from Fussen to Neuschwanstein in around 30 minutes. Bike hire is available at several places in Fussen, Germany.
The track out to Neuschwanstein is primarily flat until you get to the edge of the village. Riding a bike is a great way to do Munich Castle Neuschwanstein and take in the countryside of Bavaria.
Castle entrance tickets from the ticket office
If you go from Munich to Neuschwanstein independently on a day trip, you must line up for castle entrance tickets. Schloss Neuschwanstein tickets for the interior tour must be purchased.
A Neuschwanstein Castle ticket will cost EUR 17,50 for adults at the ticket office. Your Neuschwanstein Castle tickets will have time allocated for your tour. You can reach Neuschwanstein Castle on foot, by horse and carriage, or by the Neuschwanstein Castle bus.
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Can I stay at Neuschwanstein Castle?
Many tourists often travel from Munich Airport to Neuschwanstein Castle, thinking they can stay there.
Unfortunately, you cannot stay the night in Neuschwanstein Castle, although wouldn’t it be unforgettable?
For many, the easiest way to stay near Neuschwanstein Castle is a night in Schwangau. This is the best place to stay near the castle.
For others, a night in Fussen is just as impressive. It will depend on the size of your group and your needs for your accommodation.
Where to eat at Neuschwanstein Castle
Just below Neuschwanstein Castle on the hill is a gift shop/restaurant that sells food and drink. We had lunch at the tavern Schlossbräustüberl in the centre of town.
This establishment had a limited menu of Bavarian foods in the beer garden. Chicken, Bratwurst, salads, and the usual Bavarian Beers were available.
It’s an amazing location for lunch with both Castle Hohenschwangau and Castle Neuschwanstein on view from your outdoor table (we visited in summer and then again in winter where the seating was mainly closed).
The place fills up fast as you can imagine. It is a fantastic setting where you can sit, eat, drink, relax and enjoy the amazing setting you are experiencing.
You will find plenty of upscale restaurants if your budget accommodates fine dining.
While at Hohenschwangau Village, you can visit Schloss Hohenschwangau and Museum der Bayerischen Könige on the same day.
*Neuschwanstein is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many. We will warn you that the crowds during the summer months of June through September may make your experience less than perfect. If possible, visit in the offseason when crowds are low.
Weather at Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle lies in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. This makes it cool in summer and even cooler in winter. As expected the warmest months are July, August with an average temperature of only 17 degrees in the middle of summer.
The coldest months are December and January, with an average temperature of -1. Having been to Neuschwanstein twice, I know it always pays to bring some warm clothes no matter what time of the year.
Klook.comFrequently asked questions about Castle Neuschwanstein
Below we hope to answer some more popular questions that are asked before any visit to Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany.
Can you go inside Neuschwanstein Castle?
Yes you can go inside, but you must have a ticket and you are allocated a time for your tour inside Neuschwanstein Castle
Can you take pictures inside Neuschwanstein Castle?
The short answer is no, you can not take pictures inside Neuschwanstein Castle. Many of the castles in Germany do not allow photography inside the castles.
What are other things to do near Neuschwanstein Castle?
The nearby town of Fussen has an impressive castle in its own right, You can walk around the Alpsee Lake and admire the castles from a distance, and you can visit the Museum of Bavarian Kings.
Why is Neuschwanstein Castle famous?
Neuschwanstein Castle is famous as the inspiration for Walt Disney’s castle
Can you walk around Neuschwanstein Castle without a ticket?
Yes, you can view the most famous castle in Germany from the outside, you can even go into the courtyard without a ticket. You cannot enter the castle without a ticket.
Can you stay at Neuschwanstein Castle?
No, there are no overnight accommodation packages for staying inside Neuschwanstein Castle
Getting to Munich
- Munich is the second biggest city in Germany
- Flughafen München Franz Josef Strauß is 28.5 kilometres from the Munich City Centre
- Munich is serviced by many international airlines and budget carriers. For cheap flights from Europe check Vueling, EasyJet and Eurowings. You can check the prices of international flights to Germany with Cheap O’Air. Domestic flights can be booked with Kiwi Flights
- By February 2017 Flughafen München, Franz Josef Strauß features flights to 248 destinations, making it the airport with the fifth-most destinations worldwide
- The S1 and S8 S-Bahn lines connect the airport with the centre of Munich, with departures every 10 minutes. The airport is also easy and convenient to reach by bus from the Munich city centre
- Many international and domestic trains and bus service in Munich terminate at Munich’s Central Station (Hauptbahnhof)
- You can book an airport transfer with Kiwi Taxi which we have personally used on many occasions.
- You can book a rental car and have it waiting for you at Munich Airport.
Getting around Munich
- Munich has an extensive public transportation system. It consists of a network of underground (U-Bahn), suburban trains (S-Bahn), trams and buses. Tickets can be purchased at the blue vending machines found at U- and S-Bahn stations, at many tram and bus stops and at newspaper kiosks
- There are different types of tickets: Single Tickets (called Einzelfahrkarte), Stripe Tickets (called Streifenkarte) and Day Tickets (called Tageskarte)
- Before first embarking, the ticket must be validated – insert the ticket into the small stamping machines posted at the entrances to U- and S-Bahn tracks or on trams and buses. It’s a € 60 fine if you are caught riding without a valid ticket
- The Munich City Tour Card allows free use of public transport, plus discounts and free admission to some of the best Munich sights. For more information and booking click here
- Another alternative for tourists is to buy a pass for the Munich Hop on hop off bus, which takes you to all the sites in the city. Click here for further information and prices.
Where to stay in Munich
- Munich has accommodation options for every budget, from Hostels, to apartments and hotel rooms
- Hostels in Munich can start from as little as 20 euros a night for a shared dorm room.
- Hotels in Munich generally start from around $100 a night for a double room and increase incrementally as the luxury rating rises towards 5 stars. Google states that 3-star averages $144, and 5-star averages $469 for a night stay.
- You can compare and book your stay on Hotellook and Trivago
Preserving all the features of Neuschwanstein Castle is a never-ending job funded by tourism. What was completed is amazing and worth a visit if you have the time, energy and patience.
We hope this article from Wyld Family Travel has encouraged you to visit Neuschwanstein and make Munich your base for exploring. We are sure you will enjoy your time and find many things to do in Bavaria.
For more amazing ideas on where to holiday in Germany, click our Germany Destination Guide page for more brilliant inspiration.
More travel inspiration for your trip to Germany
Author bio:
Father, husband, traveller, and chief destination manager here at Wyld Family Travel. When Mark is not discussing travel or planning travel, you will find him working in disability support. Mark is a family travel advocate, having travelled to over 45 countries with his kids from 10 months to their teenage years. You will find his work here and on other popular websites.
Mark Wyld
Content Creator
Such a helpful guide! Bookmarking this for my next Europe trip as I’ve been wanting to visit this castle for awhile now!
Thanks Haylee appreciated
Great post guys, so thorough! Definitely bookmarking this one for future Europe travel
Neuschwanstein Castle looks straight out of a fairy tale. No wonder elements of the architecture of this castle have been borrowed by Disney. Looking at the pictures I was wondering where I had seen it and then realized the Disney connection.
I wish I’d had this guide before the last time I went to Munich. I did go with a guided tour from Munich to Neuschwanstein, and the guide was very good. But it would have been nice to know how to get there by myself, and I like the idea of taking the horse drawn carriage. And you’re not kidding when you say to be careful to get on the right train! I found Munich Hbf a little overwhelming…
Its a huge train station that’s for sure.
This is super useful! When I was in Germany, I went to Neuschwanstein, but I was on a tour, so I didn’t think about how to get to and from this gorgeous castle. This is such an awesome tool for people traveling through Germany. I had no idea that a train took you so close! I’d love to take the bike tour in Neuschwanstein sometime.
Great post! Lots of details for getting there and getting around, and the tip on taking the horse-drawn carriage to the top (or back down) seems like the perfect way to experience the castle. What a shame King Ludwig didn’t live to see what became of his dream castle!
It’s amazing we have been twice and both times have taken the carriage amazing experience
It is a beautiful castle no doubt, didn’t realize this was the inspiration for the Disney castle but I see why! I can’t believe they only waited 6 weeks after his death to open it to the public, that was pretty quick!
Lovely, helpful post offering lots of options for visiting Neuschwanstein! Just one option was not mentioned – us! The Ticket and Travel Center directly at Fussen Train Station. We have last minute tickets available daily for travelers coming by train or staying in a Fussen hotel – even in the busy summer months.
We’ve lots of international guests – and many Australian guests – who would rather discover the castle themselves but don’t fancy joining the long lines up at the castle.
Also, the Bavarian Ticket for the train is only valid from 9am on weekdays and there are hefty fines if used before this time.
Kids under 15 travel for free with this ticket, so only buy for older kids and adults!
Shuttle to the castle only available April to Oktober (as the roads used by the bus are very sheltered and once temperatures drop they remain slippy all winter).