A WELL TRAVELED PAIR
A Magical Day Trip to Neuschwanstein
by Katie McCabe | @awelltraveledpair | September 3rd, 2017
Once we arrived in Munich, Germany, we couldn't wait to make our way out to Neuschwanstein Castle. Neuschwanstein is a 19th century castle, once the home of King Ludwig II, and most famously known for being the inspiration behind Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. The romantic architecture and stunning landscape make Neuschwanstein one of the most beautiful, and visited, places in the world.
How To Get There
The three main ways to get to Neuschwanstein are by car, train, or bus.
We opted for the train and it was hassle free. We purchased a Bayern ticket for the 9:52 departure from Munich Hbf to Füssen. This cost around 31 euros for two people, and that included the return train ride. The trip takes around two hours and we arrived to Füssen around noon. We hopped off the train and followed the crowd around the corner to the bus stop. We climbed aboard Bus 78 (the ticket cost is included in the Bayern ticket) and off we went to Hohenschwangau (the small village below Neushwanstein where the ticket center, restaurants, shops, and horse and carriage rides are located). After a ten minute bus ride, we were dropped off in Hohenschwangau right in front of the ticket center. Tickets for a guided tour of the interior of the Neuschwanstein cost 13 euros / per adult 18 + over. Children under 18 years of age are free. We bypassed the ticket counter because we did not want to do a guided tour, and we headed up to Neuschwanstein.
There are three ways to get up to the castle.
1. A thirty minute uphill walk. This is pretty strenuous and not recommended for those not in shape.
2. Take the shuttle bus for 2 euros / per person.
3. A horse and carriage ride for 6 euros / per person.
We opted for the thirty minute walk, and even though it was quite difficult at times, we enjoyed being able to stop whenever we wanted to take photos. At the top, we arrived to the Marienbruke bridge, and were rewarded with one of the most beautiful sights we've ever seen.
Neuschwanstein is truly spectacular! We wandered around for a couple of hours and even found a hidden trail with no other tourists and amazing views of the castle.
After we made our way back down to Hohenschwangau, we enjoyed a quick lunch at Restaurant Cafe Kainz. The restaurant has a fantastic outdoor patio with delicious German dishes and amazing views of Neuschwanstein from below. Also, be sure not to miss their mouth watering homemade strudel.
After a memorable day in this magical place, we headed back to Munich. I have a feeling that Neuschwanstin is one of those places that stays with you for a lifetime.
Additional Tips
The Bayern ticket is good deal for groups up to five people going to Neuschwanstein for the day. The ticket is valid for unlimited train and bus travel for one day, Monday through Friday, starting at 9:00 and ending at 3:00 the next morning. The ticket includes the round-trip train ride to/from Füssen as well as the round-trip bus ride to/from Hohenschwagau. There is no need to book the tickets in advance, they are very easy to purchase at the train stations. Prices are as follows:
1 person - 25€
2 people - 31€
3 people - 37€
4 people - 43€
5 people - 49€.
If you want to take the guided tour inside of Neuschwanstein, you can reserve you tickets in advance up to two days before your visit and before 15:00 Bavaria local time. Tickets cost 13€ for adults 18 years of age and over, and is free for children under 18 years of age. Check out their website for available times. If you just want to walk around the grounds like we did, then there is no need to purchase a ticket. Your day at Neuschwanstein can be free!
Neuschwanstein is open year-round: April 1st through October 15th from 9:00 until 18:00, and October 16th through March 31st from 10:00 until 16:00. They are closed January 1st and December 24th, 25th, and 31st.