How to Get to Neuschwanstein Castle

The Neuschwanstein Castle is located in Bavaria, southwest Germany, near Füssen.

Address: Neuschwansteinstraße 20, 87645 Schwangau, Germany

The beautiful castle is on a hilltop overlooking the majestic Hohenschwangau valley and the Bavarian Alps.

Visitors need to travel to the base of the hill from their hotels and then journey to the top of the hill to enter the Bavarian Castle.

For instance, after reaching Fussen (the closest stop), you must take a bus or taxi to the ticket center and then a shuttle bus or horse carriage to reach the castle.

This article covers easier ways to reach Neuschwanstein Castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle Map

How to Get to Neuschwanstein Castle by Train

To reach Neuschwanstein Castle, you can take a train to Füssen.

Board lines BRB RB 68 (62706) from München Hauptbahnhof to Füssen.

After reaching the station, you can take a taxi or ride the bus to reach the castle.

You can also take a train from Augsburg to reach Füssen.

The trains from both stations leave every hour, but the timings may change, so check the website before planning your trip.

If you want to take multiple train trips without the extra expense and stress of buying a ticket every time, a Bayern ticket is the best option for you.

This regional train ticket gives you unlimited access to regional trains for up to five people a day.

You can buy the Bayern ticket online here or at the train station.

This way,, you can save a lot of money as you can use it for both rounds during the trip (only if they are completed in a day).

Plus, it is free for kids under five years of age.

Note: You cannot use the ticket before 9 am during the weekdays but you can use it anytime during the weekends.

Also, as it is a regional ticket, you cannot make reservations.

How to Get to Neuschwanstein Castle by Bus

Take the bus route 78 from München Hauptbahnhof to Füssen.

After reaching there, you can either catch a bus or taxi to Hoheschwangau.

Buses run regularly from the Bavarian town, and it takes less than ten minutes to get from Füssen to Hoheschwangau.

The arrival of buses coincides with that of trains for visitors’ convenience.

How to Get to Neuschwanstein Castle by Car

Take the A7 motorway to Ulm-Kempten-Füssen right till the end.

From Füssen, the easiest way to drive to the castle is by taking the B17 road and following the signs to Hohenschwangau.

Another way is by taking the A7 motorway to Kempten and then driving through the B12 road to Marktoberdorf.

Then follow B16 to Roßhaupten, OAL I to Buching, and B17 to Schwangau and Hohenschwangau.

If you are planning on driving from other nearby towns, here’s how much time each driving route will take:

From Munich

Driving from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle takes approximately one to two hours.

From Nuremberg

Driving to the Bavarian Castle from Nuremberg takes approximately two to three hours.

From Augsburg

Reaching Neuschwanstein Castle from Augsburg takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Parking near Neuschwanstein Castle 

Car parking is available at Neuschwanstein Castle, just a few minutes from the entrance.

The car park opens daily, but the spots are limited, filling up early.

So arrive early to ensure your parking spot, especially during the peak season.

Learn more about Neuschwanstein Castle parking, directions, additional spots, and more here.

How to get to Neuschwanstein Castle by Guided tours

If you want to skip the stress of arranging transportation altogether, booking a guided tour is the best option for you.

It is a convenient way to travel, especially if you are visiting with your family, friends, or a large group.

Taking public transport is easy, but if your train is late or crowded, or if you miss one because you didn’t sleep well, it can add more stress to your visit.

But with a guided tour, all you have to worry about is bringing your camera, wearing comfortable shoes, and enjoying your tour.

With a full-day guided tour, you also get the chance to visit other attractions near Neuschwanstein Castle.

Here’s the itinerary for the Neuschwanstein Castle guided tour:

• You must first board an air-conditioned bus from Munich to Linderhof Palace.
  
• A lesser-known but beautiful palace, it was built by King Ludwig and is the only castle he lived to see completed.
  
•  The next stop takes you to the small towns of Oberammergau and Schwangau.
  
• After visiting these two amazing places with scenic views, your last stop is Neuschwanstein Castle.

With all the additional stops, a full-day tour with private transportation is a great way to stop by several more sites than you are likely to do on your own.

A Private tour from Munich

But if you do not prefer detours, you can book a full-day trip from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle.

It is a private tour with a small number of participants and a private van as transport.

This is a great option for people traveling with their family and friends.

How to Reach Neuschwanstein Castle Entrance

By Walking

You can reach the castle on foot, but the conditions might not suit everyone, as it is an uphill walk, which is long, steep, and tiring for many people.

However, for those who want to experience the enigmatic surroundings, the walking trail from Hohenschwangau village to the castle is about 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) long.

It takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes to cover the distance.

Shuttle Bus

• Distance: 500 meters
• Time duration: 10 to 15 minutes
• Bus Station: Bleckenau Straße to Jugend/Marienbrücke

If you do not want to walk, you can take a shuttle bus from the village to Neuschwanstein Castle.

Due to space limitations, the shuttle buses cannot reach the castle directly, but you can go via Bleckenaustraße.

The bus stop near the castle is Jugend, or Mary’s Bridge, about 500 meters away.

You will find a downhill walk to the entrance, which will take 10 to 15 minutes.

The bus tickets cost a few euros for a roundtrip, uphill and downhill, but you can purchase them at the kiosk by the bus line. 

Here are the approximate prices of the bus tickets:

Visitor’s age	Uphill	Downhill	Roundtrip
Adult (13+ years)	€3	€2	€3
Child (7 to 12 years)	€1	€1	€2
Children (under 6 years)	Free	Free	Free

Some points to remember for your shuttle bus journey:

• You can pay directly for the tickets at the cashier or bus driver.
• The buses operate all year round and transfer between Schlosshotel Lisl and Neuschwanstein Castle according to the visitor’s needs.
• The shuttle buses do not have a fixed timetable and run every 20 minutes.
• Reservations are not available.
• Buses refuse to run if ice or snow is on the road.
• Pets are not allowed inside the bus.

Timings for shuttle bus departures:

Type of Departure	Summer	Winter (no ice or snow)
First transfer uphill	8 am	9 am
Last transfer uphill	5.30 pm	3.30 pm
Last transfer downhill	6.45 pm	5 pm

By Horse Carriage

• Departure points: Hotel Müller, Alpseestraße, Hohenschwangau
• Time Duration: 20 minutes

The horse carriage, unfortunately, does not go directly to the castle entrance.

You must walk 10 to 15 minutes uphill from the carriage stop to reach the castle.

The horse carriages are available all year round, although you cannot reserve your seat in advance.

You must pay the driver directly during the ride.

Here are the approximate prices for a horse carriage ride per person:

Type of Rotation	Price
Uphill	€8
Downhill	€4

Note: The carriage rides are operated by independent companies, not by the Bavarian Palace Administration.

FAQs

Featured Image: Nothingfamiliar.com