Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany - Castle that Inspired Disney - A Complete Guide

Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most iconic structures in whole of Germany. A very famous attraction, located in south of Germany at the edge of Alps was built in mid 19th century. The castle is definitely a fairytale castle, which is said to have inspired Walt Disney to design the very famous Disney Castle. Walt had visited the castle with his wife, and was in awe with its beauty. This beautiful castle attracted more than a million people in the past year.

Neuschwanstein Castle

About Neuschwanstein Castle:

Neuschwanstein was built for the Bavarian king Ludwig II also popularly known as 'Mad King Ludwig'. The castle was begun in 1868 but never fully completed. Ludwig from the childhood was enchanted by poetry, folklore and legends. Though built according to the medieval style and architecture, the castle was fitted with new modern fittings. In 1886, king Ludwig drowned in a near by lake in mysterious circumstances, even though he was a very accomplished swimmer. Post this, the construction of the castle came to a halt.

Neuschwanstein is equipped with running water throughout, including flush toilets and hot water in the kitchen and baths, and has a forced-air central heating system. The castle even had an elevator and telephone, which was rare in those times.

View from Marienbrücke (bridge)

How to reach the castle?

We had visited the castle from Munich - which is the closest major city. Visiting the castle is a complete day affair, as there are number of legs to this trip. DO NOT MISS THE DETAILS, as you might miss entering the castle even after having the tickets.

Part 1 - Train from Munich to Füssen:

Füssen is the town, closest to the castle and well connected with Munich. We took a direct train from Munich to reach Füssen. There are multiple trains from Munich throughout the day, but try to get the early morning trains so that you reach the castle as early as possible to avoid the crowds.

'DB Navigator' is your friend here. There are very few trains where there is no need to change trains. Try to catch the one with no connections (we took the one that was at 08:07 AM from Munich station). If not, there are multiple connections available through Buchloe station. This journey will take you around 2-2:30 minutes, based on the kind of train you take.

TIP - Buy Bavarian pass for discounted tickets.

Part 2 - Bus from Füssen to the castle:

Füssen is a very small town, but still has public buses. Just outside the station, you will find a bus stand on your right. As the town is famous for the castle, you will always find a lot of other tourists, all rushing towards the bus stand. There are 2 buses - bus number 73 and 78, which will take you to the foothill of the castle. Hop on one of the buses, which will take around 30-40 minutes.

Part 3 - Trek from foothill to the castle:

The real game starts here. There is a ticket office here, where you can show your tickets - who will suggest you if you should walk or take a horse cart to reach the castle, based on how much time is left for your booked slot. BE VERY CAREFUL! Your tickets are valid for only 15 minutes from the time slot that you book. You will not be allowed inside the castle if you miss your slot.

If you have less time, do take the horse cart (not sure how much it costs). If you have time, you can trek up - the road is good. But do carry water, as it would take around 30 minutes to reach the castle.

Horse cart

Inside the castle:

One can visit the castle interiors only through the guided tour - arranged by the castle only. At the entry, you will be allowed to enter the castle only at the time slot you booked your slot for. If you reach later than 15 minutes, to your slot - you will not be allowed to enter the castle. The tour will take around 30 minutes, where the guide will take you to different rooms and halls, explaining all the history of the castle and the interiors. Sadly, photography is prohibited inside the castle except the balcony area.

TIP - Keep sufficient time between your train reaching Füssen and the start of your tour (2 hours preferably).

Other nearby attractions:

Marienbrücke Bridge, Hohenschwangau Castle

Useful Apps and Links: Watch our full video to find out.

Official website for tickets: https://shop.ticket-center-hohenschwangau.de