Neuschwanstein Castle: The Dos, Don’ts & Tips

The Dos

Do book your ticket well in advance

If you want to visit the castle interior, you will need to purchase tickets well in the future online. Tickets are booked out weeks in advance during the peak season.

You might get leftover tickets at the ticket information center during the off-season or shoulder season, but there is no guarantee. The ticket center opens at 8 am and closes at 4 pm, and the lines can be long.

Do research on ticket combo options

You can purchase the base ticket to just visit the Neuschwanstein castle, or you can get a combo ticket to visit the nearby Hohenschwangau castle or the Bavarian Kings Museum.

Combo tickets are cheaper by $1-2 instead of purchasing each separately.

Do consider seasons

Most people visit the castle during the hot summer months, and that's the most crowded season of the year. That said, summer comes with some perks, such as area accessibility (Marien bridge) and longer daylight hours.

Nonetheless, we have visited the castle in summer, autumn, and winter so far, and every season is delightful.

Spring comes with blooming trees, summer with green forests, and autumn with colorful foliage, and winter at Neuschwanstein is magical anyway!

Do check visiting hours

Neuschwanstein Castle opens its gates daily all year round. In the summer, April to September, at exactly at 9 am, and they close at 6 pm. In the winter, October to March, it's 10 am to 4 pm.

The castle is closed only on the 24th and 25th of December, as well as on the 31st of December and 1st of January.

Every ticket comes with a time slot, and only those that purchased the ticket time slot get to enter the castle.

Do get there by car or regional bus

You can either get to the castle area by car and park in one of the large car parks (P3 is the closest to the castle), or you can take a regional public bus from Füssen and get off at the Neuschwanstein bus stop.

Buses leave frequently from the Füssen train station and back during the day.

Do consider booking a room near the castle

Consider booking a room at the base of the castle (aka Hohenschwangau) if you want to visit the surrounding area outside crowded hours of the day or if you want to be at the castle early mornings.

The official car park opens at 8 am and closes at 8 pm, and in the summer months you can go to the deserted Marien Bridge at 9 pm for a sunset castle picture. Hotels offer limited parking with a supplemental daily parking fee (ask the front desk).

Besides, the Hohenschwangau castle is in the vicinity, including the museum of Bavarian kings, and you might be able to visit two of the three in one day if you don't hurry.

Hikers will enjoy hiking the national park woods behind the castle, or you can walk to the Alpsee or the St. Coloman chapel in the fields. The town of Füssen and the village of Schwangau are charming as well, and you will find a top-class thermal spa with a German sauna there.

Do arrive early

You will have all the view points to yourself if you get there early mornings.

If you booked a ticket entry slot at 9 am, plan at least 1 to 1 ½ hours to get to the castle. Don't be late because the tour will start without you.

You can avoid crowds by visiting the area late, after the castle closing time.

Do hike up or use the horse carriage or the shuttle bus

You can either hike up to the castle or pay for a seat on a shared horse-drawn carriage ride.

The hike up can be done from the forest at the P3 parking lot (not recommended in winter) or from the main street where the horse carriages wait.

The hike takes about 30-45 minutes if you don't waste time. It's not all that exhausting, but if you want to avoid perspiring, then take the coach.

A carriage ride costs about $8 upwards and $5 downwards, and you may have to wait for a ride to fill up.

The third option is a shuttlebus, which takes off at the Alpsee lake (next to the P4 parking) and takes you near the Marien bridge platform. From there you will need to walk down to the castle, which takes 10 to 15 minutes. Tickets can be bought on the bus at $3.50 for a one-way ticket.

Do respect the interior rules

Stick to your group and don't wander off. Keep your kids with you. Photos are not permitted indoors.

Do wear comfortable shoes

The castle is located on a rocky, upward-climbing hill. No matter if you take the horse carriage, the shuttle bus or if you hike up, you will have to walk up (or down) a small stretch to the castle area, and you will be glad to wear comfortable shoes.

Do explore the viewpoints

The viewpoints are free to access. The lower one near the lockers is the most accessible and most popular point. It gives you a view of the castle from below.

The other viewpoints are only reachable in the summer months; the area behind the castle is completely closed off for visitors in the winter months. That's the Marien bridge (aka Marienbrücke) viewpoint and the steep forest hill view points after the bridge. Plan another 30-60 minutes to hike there.

Only explore the forest area viewpoints with proper hiking shoes; accidents and deaths occasionally happen.

Do bring snacks or picnic foods

We always brought some sandwiches or something like a pink meatloaf sandwich (Leberkäse Semmel) or a Schnitzel bread and bottled drinks.

You can also get your lunch at the Neuschwanstein Restaurant (located on the way and just below the castle).

The Dont's

Don't treat Neuschwanstein castle as a theme park

Don't show up without tickets at the castle gates — Check if you need to collect your tickets at the ticketing center before hiking all the way up to the castle.

You can't drive up to the castle gates — Except if you book a room at the Schlossrestaurant Neuschwanstein (check with the front office).

Don't attempt to feed the carriage horses

Don't leave trash — You will find plenty of trash cans everywhere.

Don't underestimate the hike up — especially if you never walk or hike up mountains or if your health is poor.

Don't leave the hiking trails

Don't bring large bags and luggage — The lockers are not that big (except the 7 stroller lockers), and you would rather not carry your luggage up the mountain.

Don't hike beyond the Marien bridge without hiking gear — The area is very steep and can be dangerous if you have never hiked in your life.

Don't expect to visit without crowds – Crowds visit the castle all year round, including November and February.

Don't block popular photo spots — Don't block the castle gate or the popular viewpoint angles for a 5-minute shoot; that's very inconsiderate.

Don't touch artifacts in the castle

Don't take photos inside the castle — Photography and videos are prohibited indoors.

Don't fly drones at the castle — The area around the castle is off-limits. Check the German Droniq app for permitted flying zones. Germany is rather strict in this regard.

You can't take your dog into the castle — You can walk your dog on the leash around the castle and on the hiking trails. Dogs are not allowed into the castle. You also can't lock your dog in a locker; you will be booked for animal cruelty.

Don't use the forest pathways in winter — The pathways up to the forest are slippery in winter and not suitable for winter hikes.

Tips

I recommend purchasing tickets from the official Bavarian castle website only and not from third-party websites such as GetYour Guide or Viator because these are overpriced resellers.

Tickets cannot be exchanged or returned once purchased. Children and babies require a separate ticket. If you purchased a discounted ticket (senior, student, or disabled), you will have to prove your eligibility at the castle gate entrance with an ID or documents.

You can lock your valuables and bags in the lockers near the castle (at the lower viewpoint). The lockers are locked with €1 or €2 coins, and they come in all sizes. Seven stroller lockers exist as well.

You can join a German or English tour group or get an Audioguide ticket. The English tours sell out faster.

You can park your car or rental in one of the large car parks at the starting base. The parking lots get filled up fast during the day, but you should be able to find a spot nonetheless. Parking tickets are only sold as day tickets, which cost about $12 and they only take cash.