Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria: ticket prices and how to get there

It is impossible to hide an expression of wonder at the sight of Neuschwanstein Castle, the fairytale castle built by Ludwig II (the same one portrayed in the movie directed by Luchino Visconti) in his southern Bavaria, near the village of Schwangau and the town of Füssen and almost next to the Austrian border. It is a majestic and superb building, about 965 meters high, that dominates the surrounding landscape, characterized by numerous lakes and mountains with perennially snow-capped peaks.

The beauty and most of all the originality of the Neuschwanstein Castle, built following the style of the old German feudal residences, did not escape the eye of Walt Disney: he was so impressed with its charm that he used it as model for some of his most famous movies, such as The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Snow White. More than 1.4 million people who visit the castle every year also share his opinion; considered as symbol of the Bavaria region and perhaps of Germany itself, it counts an average of 6,000 visitors per day during summer.

The castle is magnificent on the outside but just as beautiful on the inside, where the style and décor of most of the 200 rooms are inspired by the German legends of chivalry and also by the ideal world of Richard Wagner, the brilliant composer who found a generous patron in Ludwig II. Among the most impressive things is the Throne Room, that is 15 meters high and stands on two floors; it is made of blue and gold and it reproduces a Byzantine basilica. There is also the Singers' Hall, made as an imitation of the hall of the Wartburg in Eisenach and decorated with scenes from the poem of Parsifal and the saga of the Grail. Also worth seeing is the luxurious bedroom in late Gothic style, embellished with fine woodcarvings in oak.

To get to the Neuschwanstein Castle from Italy by car, you shall take the highway to the Brenner Pass, enter in Austria, continue on the A13 highway to Innsbruck and then take the A12 to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. You shall get off when you encounter the 189 highway and then take the 179 highway up to Fussen; from here, you shall take the B17 road towards Schwangau and, after passing through the village, you shall turn right in the direction of Hohenschwangau, where you will find paid parking and most of all the only available box office.
You can get from Hohenschwangau to Neuschwanstein Castle on foot (it is a 30-40 minute walk with considerable slope), with horse-drawn carriages or by shuttle bus.

The castle is open daily, except on January 1st and December 24th, 25th and 31st. From 28 March to 15 October, the opening time is 9 am-6 pm, while from 16 October to 27 March, it’s 10 am-4 pm. The box office opens and closes one hour before the entrance. The price of each ticket is of 12 €, while the reduced one is of 11 €. The administration provides free admittance for children and young people under the age of 18, discounts for groups and also guided tours.

For more information: Tel. +49 (0) 83 62-9 39 88-0, E-mail svneuschwanstein@bsv.bayern.de.