Neuschwanstein Castle
The tourist honeypot that is Neuschwanstein Castle (a.k.a. Schloss Neuschwanstein) will both amuse, bemuse and intrigue anyone that visits during winter. Amused due to the funny, over-dressed hordes of tourists taking ridiculous selfies after having sweated their way up to castle. Bemused as you pass (whilst walking!) lazy tourists also coming down the hill crammed in the back of a horse-drawn carriage that they paid for!! Intrigued because it is all a tad intriguing - the architecture, location, value to the local economy, and of course the humourous interplay between the impatient local workers & some of the more challenging foreign tourists at the leberkasse stand!!
Once at Hohenschwangau village (820m altitude) below the castle you can choose to either walk up or pay for a horse-drawn carriage ride up. Walking up to the castle, situated at around 940m altitude, is free, but entry inside its walls costs. Most people are seriously over-dressed for the 120m vertical walk up!
Where is Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle looms above the village of Hohenschwangau in the mountainous part of southern Bavaria, Germany, just 2km from the Austrian border. The city of Munich is just 120km (less than a 2hr drive) by road to the northwest, and Innsbruck Austria is a 2hr drive away (just 105km) to the southeast of the castle.
For anyone wanting to reach the region by public transport, nearby Füssen Bahnhof (train station) is around 2½ to 3hr from Munich central station. The regular route 78 bus will get you from the station to the village of Hohenschwangau in a few minutes, or you can walk the 5km via pleasant foot paths.
Ski Resorts Near Neuschwanstein Castle
For skiers, just 3km away by car, Tegelberg has 900m of skiable vertical for you to rip from its scenic 1,730m summit. It effectively has one 4km+ long ski route from top to bottom (which may or may not be groomed) and a handful of beginner slopes at its base. Winter walking trails & a few mountain restaurants make it worth a visit for a few hours on a sunny winter's day.
The major German ski centres of Oberstdorf & Garmisch Partenkirchen are just over 1hr drive away (to the west & east respectively), and the mighty Zugspitze is even closer. Driving to both Garmisch & Zugspitze is quickest via Austria.
Schloss Neuschwanstein Accommodation
At the castle's base area in Hohenschwangau, beyond the mass of car & bus parks, the bright yellow of the Hohenschwangau Castle stands out far more than the Schloss Neuschwanstein perched in front and above of it. Unless a bright, sunny day, the forest and a backdrop of precipitous peaks effectively camouflage the main attraction. Hohenschwangau can be a pleasant place to spend a night once all the tourists depart for the day.
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The castle is 5km by road from the delightful town of Füssen. Its lively, beautifully preserved medieval centre together with its own looming castle and a fine monastery complex makes it arguably a more interesting place to visit than Neuschwanstein. Füssen is certainly worth adding to any visit in the area and a worthy place to stay overnight.
[AdListings collection="Europe" category="Germany Neuschwanstein" subcategory="Fussen Accommodation"]
Given the proximity of Munich, Oberstdorf, Garmisch & Innsbruck to the castle, it may well suit most visitors to just do a day trip to the region.
When To Go
During winter, Neuschwanstein Castle is best visited when there is a cover of snow on the ground. Unless on a guided tour, weekends should be avoided. During a ski trip, the castle is best visited only if passing by and you have never seen a castle before, are a huge Disney fan, are filling a 'down day' from somewhere nearby like Oberstdorf or Garmisch, or are on a fully guided tour that can give you all the insights required to make it truly special. The relatively low elevation of the castle makes a fairytale snow-clad appearance less likely than otherwise, plus several of the better walking trails & viewpoints are not accessible during winter, so any visit for the 'insta-worthy' photo is likely to be a disappointment. keep your mind open and your expectations in check and you will still love it.