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Quick Stop at the Must-See Neuschwanstein Castle

Writer's picture: Aryadeep ChakrabortyAryadeep Chakraborty

Updated: Apr 11, 2023

Destination: Neuschwanstein Castle

Time of Year: Summer

Mode of Transportation: Car ~4.25 hrs (can also take train/bus from Münich)


Probably one of the most iconic and also most mispronounced German castles has to be Neuschwanstein (pronounced like noy·shvaan·stine). The stunning Neuschwanstein Castle, was the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle – and it's easy to see why. The castle oozes romanticism sitting high above the Alpine foothills with its intricate red brick facade and stylized turrets. This 19th century castle above the Hohenschwangau village in Bavaria was commissioned as a retreat by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The construction of this castle has never been completed, but it has been fully operational since 1886 after King Ludwig II passed away. Fully-complete or not, we knew that this was an absolute-must stop on our way to Garmisch in Southern Germany (we'll share that destination in another post!).



Hohenschwangau is a little over a 4 hour drive from Frankfurt, but if you are staying in Münich, it's possible to arrange for a day-trip by train and bus. The journey takes about 3h from Münich Central station to Füssen by Deutschbahn or Flixbus, and then take a bus from Füssen to Schwangau castle which takes about 10 mins and costs around 30 eur per person, one-way. We easily found parking in the village and then proceeded to hike uphill towards the castle. The hike is about 20 mins and does require some effort (I mean, it is uphill) but the view is beautiful – so you won't mind stopping to catch your breath. When you do arrive, you'll find the views are completely worth the effort!


The viewing platform at the top gives the stunning view of the sprawling green landscape as well as Neuschwanstein's impressive gatehouse. From the platform, the castle is a short walk away. It is possible to book tours of the castle, but this must be done online and likely at least a couple weeks in advance as the daily ticket allowance fills up quickly. Unfortunately, we did not know this so we had to skip the castle tour and instead explored the surrounding nature. Overlooking the castle lies the beautiful valley of Schwangau that flows into the lake in the region, Forggensee. There are several beautiful viewpoints of the castle, with one of the most beautiful from a bridge, about a 20 min hike up the back of the castle. Our luck was not with us this trip and unfortunately, the bridge was closed, so we couldn’t get this famous view. Instead, we had still-stunning views of the valley below, and took a picture of the bridge through the foliage.


After hiking around the castle, we decided to check out the beautiful village of Hohenschwangau. The small village was tourist-oriented with many small shops for souvenirs. Just a short walk down the main street, Alpseestraße, brings you to the beautiful Alpsee – a clear, still lake among the backdrop of mountains. If the lakeside is crowded, just walk further down the hiking path through the forest, you'll find plenty of serene spots for an afternoon picnic or a dip in the lake. Despite a squishy bottom, the Alpsee was so refreshing and peaceful with incredible 360 degree views. It's definitely worth a quick swim – so don't forget your swimsuit (and a towel)! This was the absolute perfect stop before we got back on the road to Garmisch


Things we’d do again:

  • Walk up to and around Neuschwanstein Castle

  • Swim in Alpsee

  • Picnic next to Alpsee

Things we’d do differently:

  • Book a castle tour at least 2 weeks prior

  • Get photos on the bridge (hopefully it will be open)

  • Bring a towel!

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Hey there! If we are meeting for the first time, we are Carly & Arya, a binational couple living in Germany and traveling the world. Arya is from India, and Carly is from the US and we have been married since 2021. We hold steady 9-5 jobs while traveling the world. We are excited to share our story and unique perspectives with you. Take a look around, and don't forget to subscribe to our updates and follow us on Instagram

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