Best Neuschwanstein Castle Travel Tips: 15 Things You Really Need To Know

You don’t need physical tickets anymore!

When planning my trip to Neuschwanstein Castle, I had read many travel guides that told me to collect my physical ticket from the box office in Hohenschwangau village once I had booked the tickets online.

However, you don’t have to do that anymore. You can enter the castle using the PDF version of your ticket.

The PDF ticket has a barcode to scan at the turnstile to access the castle.

Remember to download a copy of the PDF file on your phone or get a printout so that you are not scanning your email last minute for the tickets. Also, the internet can be patchy in the mountains, so it is best to download the ticket earlier.

Book a tour time that suits you

While booking the castle tickets, you can select a specific time slot for your tour to help you plan your day effectively.

If you’re visiting Neuschwanstein Castle on a day trip from Munich, then select a tour time that’s later in the day. If you’re staying near the castle, pick an early tour time.

Plan to arrive at the castle 10-15 minutes before your scheduled tour time. If you’re late, you will not be allowed inside.

📖 Read Next: How to plan an epic day trip from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle?

Be prepared for a No-Photography Tour of the Interiors

Photography and videography are not allowed inside Neuschwanstein Castle.

Be prepared to be wowed by the beauty of the Throne Room, the Singers’ Hall, and the Salon, but control your urge to click pictures here.

You can click many pictures in the castle courtyard and from the balcony behind Cafe Kainz, a gorgeous viewpoint of the Alpsee Lake and the Bavarian Alps.

✦ Pro Tip: However, you can take hundreds of pictures of the castle from outside. Even better, book a private photoshoot with a renowned photographer to capture your magical moments at Neuschwanstein Castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle is easily visited on a day trip from Munich

You can easily visit Neuschwanstein Castle on a day trip from Munich.

The castle is located about 80 miles (130 km) southwest of Munich City, making it easily accessible by train or car.

The journey typically takes around two hours by train, and the scenic route allows you to enjoy the beauty of the Bavarian countryside.

Upon arrival at the nearest train station, Füssen, you can take a short bus ride or hike up to the castle.

Get a Bayern Ticket or Deutschland Ticket to save on $$

If you’re traveling by train to Neuschwanstein Castle and plan to use public transport in and around Munich, I recommend buying a Bayern Ticket, which will help you save $$.

Bayern Ticket or the Bavarian Regional Day Pass allows you to travel unlimited anywhere in Bavaria for one day.

If you have grander plans for Germany, such as traveling all around Germany for more days, you can get a Deutschland Ticket for only €49 per month. You can use it for a month and cancel your subscription (remember to do that before the 10th of the preceding month). We found the Deutschland Ticket to be extremely budget-friendly and a hassle-free way to travel around Germany.

Both Bayern Ticket and Deutschland Ticket cover train tickets from Munich to Fussen, bus tickets from Fussen to Hohenschwangau, and other public transportation within Munich.

The shuttle bus ride from Hohenschwangau Village to Neuschwanstein Castle is not covered by either.

Arrive at Neuschwanstein Castle early or stay late

Plan to arrive early to avoid the crowds that start peaking around midday.

Tour groups from Munich start arriving around 11:00 am and leave around 3:00 pm. Arriving before 11:00 am or staying after 3:00 pm allows you to experience the beauty of Neuschwanstein Castle without the rush of other visitors.

It also allows you to take advantage of the golden hour to capture the best pictures of Neuschwanstein Castle.

Be sure to check out Marienbrucke

Don’t miss the views from Marienbrucke when visiting Neuschwanstein Castle.

You have probably heard a hundred times that Marienbrucke or Mary’s Bridge is super crowded! There’s no place to stand; everyone is constantly jostling for space.

But there’s a reason for Marienbrucke’s popularity. THE VIEWS ARE STUNNING! There. I said it.

This bridge has absolutely the best views of Neuschwanstein Castle! And nothing can beat that.

And trust me, you don’t want to go back home without getting a picture of the castle from Marienbrucke.

So get ready and get in line. Your turn will come soon. Only 200 people are allowed on the bridge at any time, but the line moves fast.

When you step on the bridge, stay to the left to get uninterrupted views of the castle.

But don’t worry if you don’t find space on the left. Walk ahead and secure a space for yourself at the farthest end of the bridge. This side is less crowded (no jostling), and you can take a moment or two to appreciate the beauty of the magnificent Neuschwanstein Castle.

You can also climb a small hill from the farthest end and get to the Neuschwanstein View Point (Google Maps) on top of it for more beautiful views.

✦ Pro Tip: Check out our guide on the 5 Best Neuschwanstein Castle Photo Spots to click the best pictures on your trip.

Winter is beautiful, but Marienbrucke is closed

Winter is a beautiful time to visit Neuschwanstein Castle. The entire landscape is covered with snow, and it looks absolutely divine. Pictures of Neuschwanstein Castle in winter are simply enchanting.

It is great if you’re planning a winter trip to Neuschwanstein. But remember that Marienbrucke is usually closed at this time of the year for safety reasons. So, you will not get to see the castle from the bridge (one of the best photo spots) in winter.

Do check the bridge status on the official website here before visiting.

Ride the shuttle bus from Hohenschwangau to Neuschwanstein Castle

Sure, you can hike to Neuschwanstein Castle from Hohenschwangau Village. But if you want to save time and energy, ride the shuttle bus from Hohenschwangau Village to Neuschwanstein Castle.

The bus ride takes approximately 10-15 minutes and takes you to Marienbrucke, where you can take some cool pictures of the castle.

From Marienbrucke, Neuschwanstein Castle is a 10-minute downhill walk.

Give the horse carriage a miss

Riding a horse carriage to the Fairytale Castle of Neuschwanstein in Germany sounds romantic. But trust me, this horse carriage did not look like fun!

About 8-10 people are shoved into each carriage (they run on demand).

Additionally, they do not take you all the way up to the castle entrance. They will drop you at a point from where you need to walk 15 minutes uphill to get to the castle.

Take a guided tour if you want to see more than one castle

Take a guided tour if you want to see more than one German castle on your Munich day trip. This way, you won’t have to worry about the logistics, which are hard to plan when multiple castles are involved.

This excellent, full-day tour from Munich covers both Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace, the best of the lot.

✦ Pro Tip: Love German castles? Click here for a collection of the 18 prettiest castles in Germany.

Don’t mind the weather

Don’t worry too much about the weather when planning a Neuschwanstein trip.

Neuschwanstein Castle looks beautiful in every season.

In summer, the lush greenery surrounding the castle provides a luscious green backdrop, making it appear as if it’s straight out of a fairy tale.

Fall brings a cascade of colors as the leaves change, framing the castle in rich orange and yellow.

Winter covers the castle and everything around it with a blanket of snow.

So, you’ll be fine unless it is raining cats and dogs. A slight rain is good. It brings along a layer of mist that envelopes the castle, creating a fairytale aura.

Wear comfortable shoes

Wear comfortable shoes because you’ll be doing a fair amount of walking, both uphill and downhill.

The journey from Marienbrucke to the castle involves a 10-minute downhill walk. If you decide to take the horse carriage, you must do a steep 15-minute uphill trek from where the carriage drops you.

Don’t forget to check out other beautiful things near Neuschwanstein Castle

Lastly, remember to check out the other beautiful attractions near Neuschwanstein Castle.

The aura of Neuschwanstein Castle is so great that people often overlook other beautiful things, such as the Hohenschwangau Castle, a hike around Alpsee Lake, Luftlmalerei paintings on house facades in Hohenschwangau, and a visit to the hidden town of Fussen.

Be sure to see some of them, and you will not be disappointed.