Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle in The Winter

Traveling to an iconic location in the offseason is a great way to avoid the large tourist crowds. And when it comes to international tourist destinations like Neuschwanstein, this is no exception.

It is still just as beautiful, maybe even more so if you visit after a fresh snowfall, but there are a few differences you’ll want to be aware of.

This article provides helpful tips if you are planning to visit in the winter months.

We were heading back today from our Christmas vacation skiing in Austria and decided to stop by Neuschwanstein since it was on the way.

Walt Disney modeled the Cinderella castle after Neuschwanstein and with good reason, it’s very beautiful and the setting is both dramatic and magical. Even in the winter it’s just as pretty to visit, not only for the castle but also for the views overlooking the valley below and beyond.

How to get there in the winter

The roads are well maintained during Germany’s mild winters. As you can see from my photos, there was no snow when we went in the middle of winter. There is a large parking lot (parkplatz) at the bottom and is marked with signs. There is a short walk to get to the ticket line, then it’s about a 20 minute walk up to the castle.

Neuschwanstein is located in Füssen which sits at the foothills of the Alps, so it is always possible to get caught in a random snowstorm.

If you are coming from Munich, you could save yourself the hassle and instead book a day trip to Neuschwanstein. This one is the top-rated. If I don’t want to rent a car and do all the planning, I’ll opt for a tour instead. For under $70, it’s a good deal.

When Should you Visit?

While winter months are less crowded, lines can still get long if you want to do a guided tour of the castle.

Note: If you do not care for the guided tour, you can simply walk up to the castle. You can still walk to the courtyard and get to the famous bridge. There are panoramic views of the valley and smaller Hohenshwangau castle below.

In December (at around 11am) there was a small queue for tickets with a guided tour. By the time we walked up and I got all my shots of Neuschwanstein, the ticket line grew so much that it was down the street on the sidewalk. It would have taken about two hours just to get through the line, and that was at around 12:30pm.

I’ve heard and read online from many people that the inside isn’t as grand as the outside of the castle. So, we personally didn’t do the tour which saved us the wait.

Tip: If you want to do the tour, be sure to plan ahead and check the start times on their website.

My Advice?

Try going early if you go in the winter, or better yet, purchase your tickets ahead by going online to their website. Be sure to book at least two days prior to your visit. You’ll still need to pick them up once you arrive, but you might be able to skip the really long line! Tickets need to be purchased at the bottom of the hill before you go up.

Can you drive up to the castle?

No you cannot. We walked fifteen minutes up the windy road to Neuschwanstein. There are horse carriage rides available for a fee but they do fill quickly. They do not ride right up to the castle so there is some walking involved. If you have reduced mobility please visit their website for more information on accommodations.

There is also a shuttle bus that starts at parking P4 and stops above the bridge at the Jugend lookout point. From there it’s about a 10-15 minute walk downhill to the castle. The shuttle does not run if there is snow or ice.

Is the Famous Mary’s Bridge Open? Do you need a separate ticket? (Marienbrücke)

Above: viewpoint walking to Marienbrücke bridge. Below you can see Hohenschwangau castle. On the bottom left of the image you can see the icy railings that came in very handy!

If you want to see Marienbrücke bridge (Mary’s bridge), which provides stunning views of the castle and the entire area surrounding it as well, you do not need a ticket. There is a separate trail around the side of the castle that takes you to the bridge.

In winter months, they may close the bridge if there’s bad weather. Even though the walkway was blocked off, we just bypassed it (along with everyone else) and made our way to the bridge.

When we went it was really icy but since it’s a short walk (maybe 10-15 minutes) to get to the actual bridge it was worth it for us. We lucked out in that there wasn’t anyone else on the bridge when we went, which is quite unusual.

Below is another view of the valley and Hohenschwangau

The bridge is really high up and I’ve read from many people that in summer months that little bridge gets crowded and quite scary, as the wooden planks don’t seem too sturdy. It’s so high up that I started getting a bit dizzy from the height.

There is a waterfall on one side of the bridge and has colorful pools of water that form below the bridge. The shining gem is of course the castle and when we walked to it the bridge only had four other people on it so we lucked out! I think I would’ve been nervous if there was a tour group crowding the walkway.

What photography equipment should I bring?

The marienbrücke Bridge is where you will get the beautiful shot of the castle. An iPhone is really all you need these days to get a good photo.

I will say the time of day that you go will impact your image. As you’ll see below, I went midday but the mountains were blocking the sun. So keep in mind where the sun might be located when planning your trip.

These images were taken with my Canon 6D. I’ve since upgraded to the Canon R6, but any higher end camera will work fine.

Also, you don’t need a long lens at all. My 50mm worked great. I also used my 17-40 to get some wider shots, but you could easily create a panorama with a 50mm.

It’s really a sight to take in and I think is the absolute best part of the trip!

This view shows the castle a bit further away using my Canon 17-40mm f/4 at midday. The sun was to the left of the shot, so you can get an idea of when the castle will be in the sun. You can see the rocks and the foothills of the mountains. In Germany, the grass stays green even when there’s snow on the ground (coming from Alaska that was never the case).

A Little Bit of History…

Kind Ludwig was an interesting man and built many castles in his lifetime. The Hohenschwangau is another castle that sits at the bottom of the path leading up to Neuschwanstein. This was where King Ludwig was raised as a child. He also had a palace that was built on the Herrenchiemsee lake which mimics Versailles. It is actually nicknamed the Bavarian Versailles. Interestingly, Ludwig never let people into his castles, but since his death over 50 million people have visited them!

My Tips and Advice

• Whether visiting in summer or winter, go up earlier in the day, especially if you want a good shot of the castle! Even better, stay overnight in the nearby town of Füssen and go up later to get a sunset shot.
• Wear sturdy boots in the winter that have decent traction. That ice is no joke.
• If you enjoy hiking check out some of the many great hiking/biking trails.
• If you don’t want to drive to Neuschwanstein and happen to be in Munich, there are many tours that run daily to the castle.

Where to Stay

Hohenschwangau is the town at the base of the castle and a close option. Füssen is a few minutes further away and is a bit larger with an Altstadt (Old Town pedestrian area) that makes for a nice afternoon stroll.

Here are my recommendations for hotels in the area:

• Top Pick: Altstadt-Hotel Zum Hechten
• Budget: Maurushaus
• Best for Families: Haus am See (Apartment with a lake view!)

Since Neuschwanstein can be done as a day trip, you may want to look at staying at other locations nearby. Munich is the closest city and is about 1hr 45min away.

For an adventure, I recommend heading to Zugspitze and taking the record-breaking cable car up the highest mountain in Germany. You can stay the night in the nearby towns of Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Eibsee. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a cute mountain Alpine town with plenty of restaurants and things to do.

Eibsee is a beautiful lake (see = lake in German) at the base of Zugspitze. For a touch of luxury, stay at the Eibsee Hotel, located directly on the lake.

A little further away from Neuschwanstein (1hr 45min) is Innsbruck, a cute college town in the Austrian Alps. It’s one of my favorite places to visit. Prices are reasonable and there’s a lot to do. It also helps that Innsbruck is in a beautiful setting.

My favorite place to stay in Innsbruck is at the Kasperhof Apartments. They’re about 10 minutes outside of downtown at the base of the mountains. There are horse stables and also miles of hiking trails from your door. If you like the outdoors, I highly recommend staying here. It’s also a great price at around $120/night for a 1-bedroom apartment. There is a bus line within walking distance that takes you to the Altstadt (City Center Old Town) so you can park your go and go explore on foot.

Book Your Next Trip!

I have been traveling Europe and the US for 9 years and have been to over 20 countries. I have tried many different companies over the years and these are the ones I highly recommend.

• To Book A Hotel (or apartment): Booking.com
• To Book A Tour: Viator or GetYourGuide
• Book Locally: Try Ferien Haus Miete or Nature House for unique home rentals in Germany.
• Eating Europe Tours