Have you dreamed of going to what they call the “Fairy Tale Castle” in Germany? I did for many years and we finally got to go! We made a few mistakes at the Neuschwanstein Castle and we made a few great decisions. Here is a quick synopsis of how to have your best full day experience at the Neuschwanstein Fairy Tale Castle in Schwangau, Germany!

The History of

Neuschwanstein Castle

In 1869 King Ludwig II commissioned the castle to be built. The purpose of the castle being built was partially political. After losing his rights as a sovereign ruler in 1866, he chose to build the castle as a way to continue to be a king and ruler. Many paths in this area had already been built due to the Hohenschwangau Castle that was already built nearby. The king officially moved into the castle in 1884. He was a dreamer and often a recluse. He loved the arts and preferred a theatrical life. For this reason, he stopped being active in his king duties. in 1886, he was declared insane. Within a day, he mysteriously died at Lake Starnberg. Due to his passing, the castle was not finished on the inside. King Ludwig II had multiple other castles throughout Germany.

Take a Tour

Inside the Castle

If you are planning to take the tour, plan ahead and get your tickets early! By the time we decided to go, it was too late to buy tickets. The tour takes you through the portion of the castle that is finished. They started restoration in 2017 and hope to be finished by 2024. At this time, they do not allow photography or filming of the inside of the castle. There are also rules against flying drones in this area. Want to take a tour? There is a link further down to get tickets!

The Best Location for Viewing

(with a secret tip!)

There are many beautiful locations for photos within the area. Everyone talks about going to the Marienbrucke (Queen Mary’s) bridge. This is a beautiful spot for photos though it is not for the faint of heart if heights are uncomfortable for you. The issue with going on the bridge is there is a long line and so many people that it is often hard to get a spot for a photo where you won’t be getting bumped into. Most people just go to the bridge and turn back around.

The secret tip is to keep going beyond the bridge. There is a hike beyond it that can be very steep depending on if you are taking the fastest route. Now if you really want the best view with no one around, keep going up. It was so worth it! That is where the photo above is from and we were completely alone!

Other Castles in the Area

If you are taking the transportation from a city center all the way out to the area, might as well check out the other castles in the area too! Here are a few options of other castles and activities in the areas:

• Hohenschwangau Castle (Crown Prince Maximilian II, Ludwigg II’s father’s castle)
• Hohes Schloss
• Take the horse carriage up to the castles (this is a great option if you want to save your walking energy as it is a steep hike to the castle)
• Get lunch and explore the town area

Recommendations

1. Check you train/bus times ahead of time and get an early start. After starting later than planned, we ended up missing a bus and got stuck wandering a random town for an hour. Yes it was pretty and yes it took us a lot longer to get to the castle which meant less exploration time.
2. Get your entry tickets for the tour ahead of time. Click here for a ticket — Entry Ticket with Audio Guide
3. Wear good shoes. I know it’s a castle and you want to look cute but the walk up there and hiking beyond the bridge was no joke. I wore chacos and a long skirt. The chacos were great but the skirt was a struggle on the hike.
4. Explore the rest of the town. The entire area is beautiful and there is so much more to do there. So make an entire day out of it!

Planning a trip to Germany? We would love to hear about it! Going somewhere else in Europe? Click here for some other info —

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