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My thanks to Shawn Ritchie of the USA for this beautiful photo
Where is it? - Neuschwanstein lies near the beautiful alpine town of Füssen, about 120 kms south-west of Munich, Germany. (or München).
How to get there? - The best way is by car. Driving in Germany is a breeze! Although they seem to drive very fast, German drivers are very courteous, (compared to other countries) and driving on the Autobahns is a pleasant experience.
To reach Neuschwanstein by car, head south-west from Munich, firstly towards Starnberg. From Starnberg, continue towards Weilheim then towards Schongau - but before reaching Schongau, at Peiting, turn south towards Füssen. At about this point you should see signs to the Königsschlösser, (or Royal Castles). Follow these signs, or any sign you see, to Hohenschwangau. (This is the small village where Neuschwanstein is.) The trip from Munich only takes about 90 mins. On the way, you should stop at the Wieskirche. This is a beautiful Rococo church, so amazing that it is a World Heritage site.
If you won't have a car, then a day tour from Munich is an excellent option. As you can only visit Neuschwanstein on a 30 minute guided tour, you won't be missing anything if you go on a bus tour. If you do go by car, try to get there as early as you can. Hohenschwangau is PACKED around mid-day, particularly in summer, and it's a horrible way of seeing this wonderful place.
You cannot get to Neuschwanstein by train; however, a regular bus service goes there. I have never travelled here by bus, so I don't know anything about it. (If anyone has travelled to any of the castles by bus, please e-mail the details. I will add it here, with credit to you!)
Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau -
- 1st April to 30th September - 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
- 1st October to 31st March - 10 am to 4:00 pm.
Closed - 1st November; 24th, 25th and 31st December; 1st January; Carnival Tuesday (Easter).
Admission charges -
- Adults - DM 10.00
- Children 15 years and under if accompanied by adult - Free
- 'Pupils' - DM 7.00
What is there to see? - Neuschwanstein stands on a rocky outcrop about 1 km above Hohenschwangau village. The walk up to the castle is a very steep climb, that takes about 30 - 45 minutes, depending on how fit you are. There are horse-drawn carriages that take you about 75% of the way up, but the last section is walked by your tired feet! But, rest assured it is definitely worth the effort. The sight of the castle close-up, and from a variety of angles, makes you forget how tired you are.
After your tour of the castle, walk around to the Marienbrücke, (or Queen Mary's Bridge) located on the south side of the castle. This was an engineering wonder in it's day, built in 1866 and named in honour of Ludwig's mother. It spans the Pöllat Gorge at a height of over 100 metres (300 feet), and below is the spectacular Pöllat Falls, an alpine stream that plunges 50 metres (149 feet) into the valley. The view from this bridge is the most spectacular photo the average tourist can get.
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View from the Marienbrücke
By the way, in case you're wondering, the 'typical' photo of Neuschwanstein that you see everywhere, is reached after a full day mountain climb and a night's camp in the mountains. (I was informed of this by the owner of a hotel in Hohenschwangau.) So no matter how much you search around the castle, you can't take one of those photos!
Apart from Neuschwanstein, one of the most magnificent creations in human history, you can also visit nearby Hohenschwangau on a guided tour. Hohenschwangau is the castle where Ludwig lived for most of his life when not staying at Linderhof. A tour of this castle is very interesting to get an idea of Ludwig as a person, since it is the place that 'moulded' his mind.
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Hohenschwangau from the village.
Before leaving this glorious area, try and squeeze in a stroll around the Alpsee, the alpine lake below Neuschwanstein. On a sunny afternoon, this is a magical spot to sit and contemplate Ludwig and his creation above you. Wild swans can be seen on the lake, and you can escape the packs of tourists at the lake's edge. People seem to not think of walking down there!
For those travellers that are staying in the area, an excursion to the top of the Tegelberg is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. The cablecar station is close to Neuschwanstein, off the road that leads to Hohenschwangau village. The view from the top of this mountain is unforgettable - the vast expanse of plain below on one side, and the snow-covered mountains of Austria's Tyrol on the other.
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Füssen is also a lovely town for strolling around, with rococo churches and a medieval castle above the town.
Can I walk around Neuschwanstein by myself? - Unfortunately for the traveller, you must visit Neuschwanstein on a guided tour. This tour lasts 35 minutes, but in peak times, when hordes of tourists invade the little village, a tour could be about 30 (or even 25) minutes. (One tour I took was 25 minutes. I timed it!) This tends to leave a nasty taste in one's mouth, but I can understand this. There are literally millions of visitors each year, and as this is one of Germany's national treasures, the best way of protecting it from vandals is to carefully watch everyone that goes inside. And in peak season (summer), the only way of getting through the crowds is to rush everyone through. But the tour is definitely worthwhile. Seeing the castle for 30 mins is better than not seeing it at all!
Waiting for your language's tour to appear can take some time too. I once waited about 40 minutes for an English tour to come up. However, there are plenty of seats in the corridor where you wait, so this isn't a problem. Besides, you could do with a rest after the climb to the front gate!
Be warned that during the tour of Neuschwanstein, you ascend a total of 165 steps and descend a total of 181 steps. While going up the spiral staircase, pause for a moment and look up when you reach the top - you will see a huge carved Palm Tree supporting the roof of the staircase. This is a little 'hidden' item that the guide doesn't point out! The guide also doesn't point out that Ludwig was arrested halfway up the main spiral staircase. (Sorry, I don't know the exact step!)
Can I take photos inside the Castles? - The last time I visited Neuschwanstein, you could not take photos inside the castle. I have been informed that you now cannot take photos inside Hohenschwangau, either.
Where to stay? - The village of Hohenschwangau has many hotels, but these tend to be towards the expensive side. There are also hotels in nearby Schwangau, and Füssen. Most visitors to the region stay in Füssen, which is only 5 kms from the Castles. There are even camp grounds nearby, one I stayed in beside the Forgensee gave views of the Castle lit up at night and was very inexpensive.
Who owns Neuschwanstein? Neuschwanstein is owned by the Bavarian people, ie. the Bavarian State Government, who also owns Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee.
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