Arrive in Hohenschwangau 1.5 to 2 hours before your Neuschwanstein Castle tour, as the official ticket page recommends. The guided tour inside the castle takes about 30 minutes. Your return downhill and any stops extend the visit.
Updated Hours and tickets neuschwanstein.de and the Ticket Center Hohenschwangau, last read ; tour listings read
With an advance ticket, the climb fits within the arrival allowance. For a Neuschwanstein day trip from Munich, keep the whole day free for travel and the visit.
By the clock
open bus going down only at this time
Hours follow the castle's opening hours page and the Ticket Center's opening times page, read on . Both castles, the Ticket Center Hohenschwangau and the Museum of the Bavarian Kings close on 1 January and 24, 25 and 31 December.
Neuschwanstein Castle is 30 to 40 minutes uphill from the Ticket Center, as the castle's directions page explains. The shuttle bus and horse carriage leave a walk at the top.
The steep, paved walk from the Ticket Center to Neuschwanstein Castle takes 30 to 40 minutes. Walking is free. Walking suits visitors who can manage the climb and want no transport queue.
The shuttle bus costs €3.50 uphill or €5 return on the Ticket Center's transport page. The ride from car park P4 takes about 15 minutes. The steep walk from the upper stop to the castle takes another 15 minutes downhill.
The horse carriage costs €8 uphill or €4 downhill. The ride from opposite Hotel Müller takes about 20 minutes. The final walk to the castle takes 10 to 15 minutes uphill.
The shuttle bus and horse carriage have no fixed timetable and take no reservations. The quoted ride times exclude queues. Your entry time stays fixed even when transport is delayed.
The bridge is 5 minutes on foot from the upper shuttle bus stop, as the Marienbrücke page explains. The walk from car park P4 to the bridge takes about 45 minutes. Neither figure includes time on the bridge.
The walk from Marienbrücke down to Neuschwanstein Castle takes about 15 minutes. Visit the bridge after your castle tour if your entry time is close. Your timed castle admission takes priority.
In winter, snow or ice can close the bridge and stop the shuttle bus. Castle tours continue during bridge closures, as the castle's visitor information page explains. The last shuttle bus down is 17:00 in winter.
Count back: allow about 15 minutes from the bridge to the castle, plus time to reach the turnstiles before your ticket time.
The guided tour lasts about 45 minutes, as the Hohenschwangau Castle tours page explains. The walk from the Ticket Center to the castle takes 20 to 30 minutes. Both castles have timed entry. Your bookings must leave time to walk between the castles.
Your ticket: the adult Kings-Ticket costs €43.50 for both castles on the combination tickets page. Buying the Kings-Ticket online adds €5. Both visits must fall on the same day.
The Museum of the Bavarian Kings has no fixed entry slot, as the museum's visit page explains. You can explore at your own pace. Choose the museum if you want another indoor visit without another castle appointment.
Museum admission runs from 9:00 to 16:30 on the Ticket Center's opening times page. The museum closes at 17:00. A museum visit can fill a gap between timed castle tours.
The Museum of the Bavarian Kings is closed from 9 to 11 November 2026 for renovation.
The Local Experience's Neuschwanstein Castle train tour from Munich takes 10 hours. Independent travel depends on train and bus connections. The adult ticket at €21 covers the castle tour, so train and bus fares are extra.
From Munich Hauptbahnhof, take the train to Füssen, then bus 73 or 78 to Hohenschwangau. The bus from the station to the village takes about 15 minutes. The uphill route starts in the village.
For public transport from Munich airport to Hohenschwangau, the Ticket Center's directions page gives about 3 hours. The estimate includes the airport connection. From the central station, your travel time depends on connections.
Count back: reach the village 1.5 to 2 hours before entry; use the Deutsche Bahn timetable and the RVO bus timetable for both directions.
The Neuschwanstein Castle tour lasts about 30 minutes, whether you join a guided or designated audio guide tour. Your ticket is valid for a fixed entry time. Walking from the Ticket Center to the castle takes 30 to 40 minutes. Late arrivals cannot join their tour.
For Neuschwanstein Castle, arrive in Hohenschwangau village at least 1.5 to 2 hours before your entry time. The allowance includes getting up the hill and possible transport queues. You still need to be in the castle courtyard before admission. The tour number appears beside the turnstiles.
Marienbrücke is 5 minutes on foot from the upper shuttle bus stop. The walk down from the bridge to the castle takes about 15 minutes. Your time taking photos is additional. In winter, snow or ice can close the bridge while castle tours continue.
You can visit Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle in one day with tickets for both timed tours. Neuschwanstein Castle takes about 30 minutes inside; Hohenschwangau Castle takes about 45 minutes. Your bookings must leave time for walking between the castles. The Kings-Ticket covers both castle visits on the same date.
A Neuschwanstein Castle day trip from Munich takes 10 hours on The Local Experience's train tour. Independent travellers take a train to Füssen, then bus 73 or 78 to Hohenschwangau. Your village arrival should be 1.5 to 2 hours before the castle tour. Return travel adds time after your visit.
The tours below take 3 hours from Hohenschwangau or 10 to 10.5 hours from Munich. The tours from Munich suit visitors who want transport and their castle ticket in one booking.
The Neuschwanstein Castle ticket is included. The train tour from Munich takes 10 hours with up to 12 people. An adult castle ticket on its own is €21; €149 adds the organised train tour. Lunch is extra.
10 hours up to 12 people ★ 4.9 (69)
Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace tickets are included. The coach trip from Munich takes 10.5 hours with up to 28 people. An adult ticket for the castle alone costs €21; €195 adds admission to the palace and return coach travel. Lunch is extra.
10.5 hours up to 28 people ★ 4.8 (2,977)
Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle tickets are included. The coach tour from Munich fits both castle visits into 10 hours. The adult Kings-Ticket alone costs €43.50; €138 adds coach transport for up to 30 people. Lunch and transport up the hill cost extra.
10 hours up to 30 people ★ 4.9 (119)
The Neuschwanstein Castle ticket is included. The morning tour takes 3 hours once you have reached the village independently. Adult admission to the castle costs €21; €64.19 adds a guide, the shuttle bus up and the horse carriage down when operating. The shuttle bus also requires the bridge to be open.
3 hours Shared tour: up to 30 people. ★ 4.9 (423)
Prices in euro per adult for the named option, as listed on . Tour bookings go through our booking partner.
An adult ticket costs €21 at the Ticket Center Hohenschwangau, plus €2.50 when bought online.
The getting-there page follows the train to Füssen, bus 73 or 78 and the hill.
The 5 minute walk from the upper shuttle bus stop, plus bridge access in winter.