Disney fans and non-fans alike are captivated by that iconic castle’s design and charm that graces every Disney movie’s opening.

There are numerous palaces present in the various fairytales aired by Disney. Still, if we ask the audience which Castle is stuck with everyone, it will mostly be the Castle shown in Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty, as you remember it.

“What if we told you that the castle you’re so enthralled by actually exists?”—and it’s named Neuschwanstein Castle?

1. King Ludwig II and His Masterpiece Architecture

Diving back into its history, King Ludwig II decided to construct the incredible masterpiece. A good reason has been provided by various sources for which he might have built it.

Since his life was troublesome from a young age, he wanted to build the perfect fairytale palace that would take him away from reality—where he would still feel like a king, unpressured by the odds.

He also constructed it to work on his childhood home, the Hohenschwangau Castle. Although perfect from the outside, the Neuschwanstein Castle was still incomplete from the inside.

Why was the construction left incomplete? King Ludwig II used much more than his available financial sources, due to which he was arrested and later died mysteriously at the age of 40.

Although some refer to him as a “madman” or an “insane king” for his overly obsessed self with dramatics, opera and fairytales, the framework of his behavior and mentality has remained vague and unclear.

2. The Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria

Disney Castle, formerly known as Neuschwanstein Castle, is situated in Germany in the small village of Hohenschwangau. Despite being a bijou-sized village, it has earned the title of the most visited city in Bavaria due to the famous Castle. 

2.1. Even Walt Disney Got The Inspiration From Here!

The visuals of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle inspired Walt Disney, who then replicated the Disney Castle we see today.

Some people know it as Cinderella’s Castle, and some remember it as the Castle of Sleeping Beauty.

3. How to Get to the Neuschwanstein Castle?

We will try to give you the best bet to travel to the Castle without any hindrances.

3.1. Book a Guided Tour to Neuschwanstein Castle

Since Munich is the most well-known and best for accessibility, we suggest you get to this city first once you’ve made yourself comfortable in the city of Munich.

The best hassle-free travel option would be booking a tour from Munich. While these are typically expensive, you need to know that you will be directed to your destination without having to plan your trip, which is a tedious process.

3.2. Get a Rental Car and Take a Bus Later

The second option is to rent a car. This can be done in two ways. Once you land at the Munich International Airport, you can rent a car directly to Neuschwanstein Castle.

However, getting a direct entry to the Castle is impossible. You will be left by car in Hohenschwangau. Due to the long queue, parking will not be near the ticket centre.

You must walk to the ticket counter and purchase a ticket for yourself. After purchasing your ticket, you can walk to the Castle, which will take less than an hour, or book a bus using the shuttle.

The bus cannot drop you off at the castle as it is situated on the Bavarian Alps, making it a rugged terrain in which to park. So the Bus will drop you at Mary’s Bridge, and you will have to walk a bit to the Castle.

3.3. From Munich, Go To Fussen

Another accessible option is taking a train from Munich to Fussen, a town in Bavaria very close to Hohenschwangau. It would be best to take a direct train from Munich to Fussen.

Once you’ve landed in Fussen, it will take an hour to reach Hohenschwangau. The best part about this route is that buses are available at the Fussen Train Station. Select the right one to take you to Hohenschwangau.

Once in Hohenschwangau, you can go to the ticket counter and collect your tickets. Then, as mentioned before, take a bus ride from the shuttle, which will drop you off at Mary’s Bridge.

Finally, you will get to walk up to the Castle.

3.3.1. Mary’s Bridge or Marienbrücke in German

This Bridge was supposedly known after Queen Marie. The Bridge did not have a significant reason to be built at that time (as per various sources), yet it is one great facilitator when watching the Neuschwanstein Castle.

The history of its inception is a little vague. From what is known, King Maximilian II ordered the construction of this wooden Bridge. Later, King Ludwig II made some changes, which led to repercussions.

4. Tips for Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle

4.1. Plan Your Vacation During the Right Month

Neuschwanstein Castle is a famous attraction and one of the best attractions in Europe, so it’s evident that the Castle will be packed with visitors most of the time.

So, for that purpose, you will have to travel to your destination during the off-tourist seasons.

We will discuss later in the article which month we think is the best to go to Neuschwanstein Castle.

4.2. The Trip Should Be Planned Well In Advance

As mentioned, this tourist attraction is usually bustling, so you must plan your trip well in advance. We suggest making and booking the respective trip to Neuschwanstein Castle three months prior.

4.3. Wear the Right Kind of Clothing and Footwear

As mentioned, the Castle is located in the Bavarian Alps, which does not provide the best trailing conditions.

Besides this, Germany has colder temperatures, and if you come from a tropical climate zone, you will need warmer clothes to soothe yourself.

Hence, it is incredibly crucial to carry the right kind of outfit for your trip.

4.4. Cross-Check Before Purchasing Tours

Since the Neuschwanstein castle is majestic and will indeed have multiple visitors, there will be scams about tours.

Make sure to book tours with known or official sites. Cross-check whether the organization offering the tour is legitimate.

Don’t worry; most tours are available on legitimate online sites and even in Munich. This is to keep you aware of possible off-trails.

5. What Can You See Inside Neuschwanstein Castle?

Before going into the Neuschwanstein Castle, I would like to say that the palace was not completed during King Ludwig II’s reign.

Secondly, you will be seeing the palace in reality. Therefore, you need to keep your expectations in check. The palace inspired Disney and not the other way around.

5.1. The Insides of the Palace Will Have

• The Throne Room, the designs carved so meticulously, the minute details, the paintings on the wall, the space, the detailed thought behind its architecture and everything about the chamber will impress you.
• The Byzantine Room, the very vibe of this room, will enchant you. There are highly exquisite paintings on the ceiling of the room. Other than this, a golden chandelier hangs itself right in the midst. It gives a sense of luxury that is missing in many modern buildings.
• The Grotto suggests that King Ludwig II was a nature enthusiast. His devout love for romanticism and fairytales can be seen in the cave, which resembles ” an underground cave from where a turquoise river flows by.”
• Even though it is sculpted like any other chapel you’d see in Europe, the Chapel still has a different caliber in its presence. It symbolizes the King’s pious nature and faith in Catholicism.
• The Museum is for history enthusiasts. This area provides much information about King Ludwig II’s life, including his photographs, letters, and rough sketches when he contemplated building the Neuschwanstein Castle.

6. Which Season is the Best to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle?

Most of you will agree that the Neuschwanstein Castle looks unreal on the exterior during the winter season.

But you have to consider other facts. It is Germany, so during winter, it will be cold and might even snow, making transportation to the Castle impossible.

During the summer months or the Christmas vacation period, the Castle is most likely flooded with tourists going in and out of the immaculate structure.

Besides the crowded spaces, finding accommodation will be difficult, as most hotels are booked during these months. Prices will surge as well.

Therefore, choosing these two seasons wouldn’t be ethical based on these facts.

6.1. The Best Time To Visit

In our opinion, the best season to visit the Castle would be The Fall or Autumn as you’d like to call it. The vibrant colours of fall foliage will surround the Alps, making the Castle look right out of an animated movie.

Moreover, you might not face a crowd as huge as during the other vacation months, and the weather is not too harsh. Booking accommodation, finding restaurants, and finding reasonable prices will all be feasible.

In Conclusion, autumn is the season you should visit The Neuschwanstein Castle.

7. How Much Time Do You Need to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle?

The time allotted for exploring the Castle is 30 minutes. It is important to note that we are talking about sightseeing inside the Castle.

If you’re taking public transport, like the bus or train, aggregated to this, consider the time spent in the queue at the ticket counter. If you choose to walk by taking a flight of stairs, it will take around 4-5 hours.

It’s up to you, your commute, or whether you purchase a package that will influence your time at the Castle.

8. Where to Stay During This Visit?

There are a good number of options available for lodging. But it will all depend on where you want to stay if you opt to stay in Munich, Fussen or the vicinity of the Neuschwanstein Castle.

8.1. Munich City

Munich City is a reputed tourist attraction among the many cities in Germany, so it is evident that it has a good deal of accommodations to offer its visitors. 

Two well-known hotels are Hotel Kreis Residenz München and Lizz Hotel Munich.

We have recommended these hotels as their prices and ratings seem convenient per our standards. More options are available if you plan to lodge in a luxurious hotel.

It all comes down to your discretion.

8.2. Staying Near to the Castle

We suggest the high-rated and popular hotels if you plan to stay near the Castle.

Hotel Ludwigs, Hotel Garni Schlossblick , Landgasth of Hanselewirt and House LA Neuschwanstein Blick and Best Western Plus Hotel, Fussen.

Again, these accommodations are budget-friendly and well-rated, so booking one shouldn’t be difficult.

9. Where Should I Eat Near Neuschwanstein Castle?

You’re probably very familiar with this name: Neuschwanstein Castle Restaurant. It is situated on Neuschwanstein Street and offers many food items.

While this menu may seem a bit pricey, it offers good quality food and a great ambience. There is no way you should miss out on having great German dining at this restaurant.

Another restaurant in the same street is Cafe-Bistro at Neuschwanstein Castle, an ancient architecture. If you want to extend your visit to watch the exquisite Neuschwanstein Castle, visit this café.

It’s all about the experience, even if it’s expensive. Think about it: You’ll get to brag to your friends that you had your meal at Disney Castle.

10. What Else Can You See Or Do in the Vicinity of the Castle?

You can do so if you still want to spend another day or two in the same place. However, just staring at the beautiful Castle might eventually become tedious.

Hence, we’ve listed a few other things you can do while living there.

10.1. Museum of the Bavarian Kings

The Museum provides a great insight into the Wittelsbach Dynasty. Again, the focal point is King Maximilian II, the father of King Ludwig II. The father’s and son’s information occupies most of the Museum’s space.

The vast exhibition gives information regarding the other castles in the area (which we will discuss below), as well as interactive stagings and tours.

10.2. Tegelberg

This pretty cold mountain is often used by individuals seeking adventure. For some people, it is also part of the tour.

You can directly start climbing the mountain from the Neuschwanstein Castle, and this will be an excellent workout for many people who yearn for it. The best part? Even if you’re tired at the end, a restaurant is waiting for you at the summit.

Therefore, you need not worry about running out of fuel (Food is fuel to the body).

If you only plan on taking in the view from the top and do not want to walk up the mountain, you can always take your car up there.

10.3. Hohenschwangau Castle

The Hohenschwangau Castle is very famous for being the home of a young King Ludwig II. The medieval Castle is magnificent.

The royal family also used it to hunt. It is not as well known as Neuschwanstein Castle, but it is fascinating.

10.4. Castle of Fussen

This is probably the most popular destination in Fussen. It towers high over the town and houses many unusual paintings from the past.

This destination is about an hour from the Neuschwanstein Castle but is a fantastic way to explore history. If you have plenty of time on your hands, visit this palace.

10.5. Linderhof Palace

It is said that Linderhof Palace was one of those palaces that King Ludwig II built and the only one wholly furnished. According to many sources, he spent most of his time at this palace.

The outdoors is immaculate and feels surreal, and if you look at it, you might find it hard to believe that it was built somewhere in the 1860s-1870s.

11. Is Neuschwanstein Castle Worth Visiting?

We have already had a very detailed look at Neuschwanstein Castle and what you can do around it. We have provided rational information after collecting information from various sources and sites.

We have also kept you in, which will cost you a lot of money. A detailed guide on how to get from one place to another is also specified.

Considering all the things you can do here, from visiting the Neuschwanstein Castle, the other beamedievaldiaeval palaces, the museums, the mountains, the cities and towns and enjoying all that the area has to offer, do we still ask the question if it’s worth the visit?

Yet, for those who ask, The answer is a YES!

12. Conclusion

In Conclusion, tour Neuschwanstein itstle and en. When you want more about history, visit. Look at the Museum in the Castle and the Museum more about history.

Book your tour wisely and choose whichever medium of reaching your destination suits you best. Manage your finances well, plan, follow what we prescribe, and take notes of surreal architecture.

Climb the mountain and go on trails in the region sent in the will well. This trip will combine adventure, learning, fun, and catharsis.

Experience the natural beauty of the Bavarian Alps. Whatever chooses to visit the Castle, the surroundings look nonetheless. When you look at it, you will notice precisely why Walt Disney based the Sleeping Beauty Castle on Neuschwanstein Castle.

Have a Wonderful Trip!

Last Updated on July 11, 2024 by Sathi Chakraborty