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Neuschwanstein Castle | The Inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Palace
Once upon a time… a King lived in a pearl white, fairy-tale castle, nestled among harsh mountains and dense pine forests.
Enveloped by the spectacular scenery of Bavaria, Germany, the majestic and monumental fortress is world famous. Supposedly it inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle!
Constructed in 1862 and completed in 1892, the Castle is relatively new considering its medieval appearance.
Not only is this one of Germanys most famous attractions, it’s also an unforgettable experience and something everyone should see with their own eyes.
The popular attraction is truly enchanting and astonishingly beautiful. It’s no wonder it attracts around 1.4 million visitors each year.
Would you wish upon a star to visit this magical place?
The inspiration behind Disney’s fairy-tale castle
Before they created the magical world we know and love today as Disneyland, the Disney’s took a trip to Europe. Whilst there, they visited Germany, where not too far south of Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle can be found.
The delicate architecture and stunningly beautiful castle inspired the couple to create Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Immortalising the fortress for generations to come in the childhood favourite and iconic opening to every Disney film.
Visitors can experience the same magic as Walt and Lillian Disney did when they first saw the enchanting castle.
Fun Fact: Disney were not the only ones to be inspired by Neuschwanstein castle. It’s featured in movies such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Great Escape and The Monuments Men.
Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle: FAQ's
Where is Neuschwanstein Castle?
Neuschwanstein Castle is located around 120km south of Munich, in the Allgäu region of southern Germany.
The castle can be found nestled among the mountains in the quaint village of Hohenschwangau. The nearby villages of Schwangau and Füssen are great places to stay if you need nearby accommodation.
How to get to Neuschwanstein Castle?
To get to Neuschwanstein Castle the easiest method of transport is driving. It’s also possible to get there by public transport too, although this takes a lot more effort and time.
By Car
Located only 1 hour 45 minute drive south of Munich, it’s easily accessible for a day trip or a great addition to incorporate onto a multiday adventure through the Bavarian Alps.
If you are flying into Munich you can pick up a hire car at the airport very easily. We’d recommend Europcar as it was budget friendly and they had a quick collection and drop off process, other popular companies at the airport had crazy long queues for collection.
From Munich Airport it’s a fairly easy drive, following the A-roads from the airport until you join the A96 then the B17 towards Füssen.
We parked in Hohenschwangau all day for €10.00, which was less than a 5 minute walk to the ticket office and start of the walking route up to the castle.
Top Tip: If you’re driving, get there early! Surprisingly, although there are an abundance of large carparks in the village, spaces go fast, especially those only a short walk from the ticket office.
Public Transport
If taking public transport to Neuschwanstein Castle, we would recommend staying a night in one of the nearby towns of Füssen or Schwangau, to break up the journey.
There are hourly trains from Munich to Füssen and the journey takes around 2 hours 30 minutes. Then it’s a short 10 minute bus journey from there to the touristy Hohenschwangau. The buses are quite well scheduled so you usually don’t have to wait long between the train and bus.
The buses you’re looking out for are Bus 73 (towards Steingaden / Garmisch-Partenkirchen) and Bus 78 (towards Schwangau).
Top Tip: You can save money on your train and bus tickets if you travel after 9am Weekdays or anytime on Weekends using the BayernKarte ticket. This ticket allows travellers unlimited trips via most trains and public transports within Bavaria for 1 day, for only €27.
How do you visit Neuschwanstein Castle?
There are three ways to get to the castle from the village:
- Walking – takes around 30-40 minutes uphill, well surfaced and easy route.
- Bus – a return trip costs approx. €3.
- Horse and Carriage – tickets cost €8 uphill and €4 downhill and are purchased from the driver.
To visit the castle itself you can either book onto a tour of the inside (this is the only way to see the inside), and/or walk the trails and visit the viewpoints to see the exterior. Tour tickets cost approximately €17.50.
Top Tip: Make sure you book in advance as tour tickets for the inside sell out fast! There are few available on the day but we arrived 30minutes before opening time on a weekday and by the time we got to the front they had already sold out of day tour tickets. We didn’t think it was the end of the world as we were there to see the stunning picturesque castle, the inside would have just been a bonus for us.
Is it Worth Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle?
It is definitely worth visiting Neuschwanstein Castle, even if only for a few hours.
It’s such a magical place to explore and is really unlike anything else!
We made a detour on our way back from the Bavarian Alps to Munich to stop by the Castle. It was a fairly last minute decision and ended up being one of our favourite parts of the trip!
Can You Go Inside Neuschwanstein Castle Without A Guide?
You can’t go inside Neuschwanstein Castle without a guide. You can only go inside if you are on one of the guided tours.
The tours last around 30 minutes and weaves through 14 of the Castles elaborate and detailed rooms. You can book these tours in advance or on the day. Tickets can be booked here.
Top Tip: If you want to tour the inside of Neuschwanstein Castle, book your tour in advance online! As our visit was a last minute decision, we weren’t able to book online. We arrived 30 minutes before the Ticket Booth opened in the morning and there was already a queue and morning tours had sold out by the time we got to the front.
Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle: 1 Day Itinerary
Below we’ve detailed some spots we would recommend visiting when you stop by this magical place.
If you have booked a tour of the inside, make sure to factor that into your day. As we didn’t take a tour of the inside due to availability, we are only listing below where we visited ourselves.
Top Tip: Start early and walk up to avoid the crowds. By mid morning it gets extremely busy as day trippers from Munich arrive.
Marienbrücke - "Mary's Bridge"
Top Tip: Make this your first stop of the day, not only to get the morning light but also to avoid packing into the mass of people like sardines. Later in the day it will be hard to get a spot on the railings.
Instagram’s famous photo spot for Neuschwanstein, in fact it’s so busy there is now a digital counter, gate and queuing system to get on it.
Famous for it’s picturesque view of the fairy castle, it actually pre-dates it! The 200 ft high bridge was first built in wood in 1845 and was later replaced with the steel version we see today in 1866.
Top Tip: During some winter months the bridge can be closed, so make sure to check before you visit.
Escape the crowds!
From Marys Bridge, cross over to the other side following the footpath as it winds up through the forest. Most people stay on the bridge, so this is a chance to escape the busy crowds.
After a few minutes your reach a small viewing area with a railing, make sure to get some photos but don’t stop here. Most people turn around here as they think it’s the end of the trail. Follow the dirt path as it continues up above the first track, panoramic views await you!
If you hike for another 10-15 minutes, the trail opens up and you can see Neuschwanstein Castle clearly amongst the trees. This was our favourite spot and we only saw a handful of people on the trail.
Top Tip: The trail actually keeps going all the way over to the other side of the castle. We didn’t have time to go to the end, so if you plan to do this just make sure you can get back to your car.
Get up close and personal
Even if you aren’t booking onto a tour of the inside, be sure to wander up the front. There’s a path leading right to the front of the castle so you can still see all the incredible details.
Top Tip: There are also free toilets here and a gift shop.
If you have more time...
If one castle isn’t enough for you, how about two!
Hohenschwangau Castle was King Ludwig II childhood home, and where he lived before moving into Neuschwanstein Castle. The bright yellow mansion is just across the road from the Disney wonder and can also be toured.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle?
Excluding parking, you can visit Neuschwanstein Castle for free!
We paid €10 for parking on site but then explored the castle grounds and trails for FREE.
If you want to take a tour of the inside it’s €17.50 per adult, but make sure to book in advance.
When is the Best Time to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle?
There isn’t really a bad time to visit Neuschwanstein, it’s magical all year round!
Winter
From around November through to March the crowds disappear (except Christmas) and temperatures average around -2C. If you’re lucky enough to visit in the winter months you might get the chance to see the enchanting castle covered in a blanket of crisp white snow.
The only downside to winter is that some places can be closed due to snow and ice, this includes the shuttle bus and often Marienbrücke.
Spring
From late March to May, it’s still fairly peaceful and you can avoid the heaving summer crowds. The weather tends to be nicer, with Spring temperatures peaking in May at around 16C.
Summer
With highs of around 20C, amazing weather and school holidays, it’s no wondere the Disney Palace is at it’s busiest during the summer months. It’s hard to avoid crowds during these months, but if you want to, try and get there early or stay late.
Autumn
Most people say this is an optimum time to visit, crowds are dispersing and temperatures are still reaching highs of around 18C. The highlight being the leaves are turning on the trees and the Disney wonder is surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful autumnal colours.
Weather at Neuschwanstein Castle
Current Weather Forecast
Hopefully our guide answered all your questions about visiting Neuschwanstein Castle. If you found this post useful please share and like it below! If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or leave a comment below. And for more inspiration why not check out some of our other destinations.
Thanks for reading,
Eve and Nick