Schloss Neuschwanstein
King Ludwig II's fairy-tale castle above Schwangau in the Allgäu region – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that can only be visited on a guided tour with a timed-entry ticket.
About the museum
King Ludwig II of Bavaria laid the foundation stone of Neuschwanstein in September 1869 on a rocky ridge above the Pöllat Gorge, facing Schloss Hohenschwangau, the castle of his childhood. Inspired by visits to the rebuilt Wartburg and the French Château de Pierrefonds, as well as by the operas of Richard Wagner, the king set out to create an idealized knight's castle. The first designs came from the stage painter Christian Jank; construction was overseen in turn by Eduard Riedel, Georg von Dollmann, and Julius Hofmann.
Behind the medieval-looking facade lay the most modern technology of the day, including a hot-air heating system, running water, and electric bells. Ludwig II moved into the still unfinished castle in 1884 but spent only a few months there before his death in June 1886. Only about 15 rooms were ever completed and furnished, among them the Byzantine-inspired Throne Hall, the Singers' Hall with motifs from the Parzival legend, and an artificial stalactite grotto. Planned elements such as a tall keep and a chapel were never built.
Just a few weeks after the king's death, on August 1, 1886, the castle opened to paying visitors. Today it is managed by the Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung (Bavarian Palace Administration); with more than one million visitors a year, it is the most visited castle in Germany. Following a multi-year interior restoration, Neuschwanstein was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025 together with Linderhof, Herrenchiemsee, and the Königshaus am Schachen as "The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria."
Highlights
- Byzantine-style Throne Hall (without a throne)
- Singers' Hall with murals depicting the Parzival legend
- Artificial stalactite grotto between the living room and the study
- View from the Marienbrücke over the Pöllat Gorge
- Multimedia show about King Ludwig II and his palaces
- UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2025
Permanent exhibitions
- Multivisionsschau: König Ludwig II. und seine Schlösser – Multimedia presentation opposite the castle café introducing the life and building projects of the "Fairy-Tale King."
- Founded
- 1886
- Operated by
- Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser, Gärten und Seen
- Visitors per year
- approx. 1,100,000
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €21 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €20Seniors aged 65 and over, students, people with severe disabilities, and other groups as set out in the Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung's fee schedule (e.g., people doing voluntary service) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and teens under 18 free; online, however, a ticket with booking fee (€2.50) is still required. Children under 14 only when accompanied by a supervising adult. |
| Seniors | €20Reduced admission from age 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €20companion free · Reduced admission for people with severe disabilities; companion free if noted on the ID. Wheelchair spaces by advance registration only. |
| Students & apprentices | €20Reduced for students; pupils over 18 at general-education schools and students of art/art history free. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €20 per personFrom 15 paying participants; school classes free; booking fee €1.50 per ticket. |
| Families | –No family ticket for a single visit; family/partner annual pass of the Schlösserverwaltung €100. |
Online booking fee €2.50 per ticket. Combination tickets via the Ticket-Center: Königsticket (with Hohenschwangau) €43.50/€38.50, Prinzenticket (with the Museum der bayerischen Könige) €33.50/€31.50, Schwanenticket (all three) €56/€50 – each valid for one day only. Annual pass of the Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung €55 (family/partner €100), 14-day multi-day ticket €40 (family/partner €80); holders must still pick up an entry ticket at the Ticket-Center.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: not available
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
One wheelchair user per hour can join a regular guided tour – only with advance registration through the Ticket-Center. Elevator (door width 0.85 m, depth 1.30 m); no loaner wheelchairs or rollators. Accessible restroom on the 2nd floor by the café and kiosk. Three accessible parking spaces at P2 (approx. 1.5 km from the castle). Getting there: low-floor bus to the "Jugend" stop, then a 500 m downhill path (12–19% gradient); special shuttle service only Tue and Thu 10:00–12:00; horse-drawn carriage possible, but not for electric wheelchairs. No tactile guidance system, no induction loop; a guided tour in sign language with subtitles is available. Dogs and other animals are not allowed in the castle.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kids
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops: not available
- Stroller-friendly: not available
Strollers and child carrier backpacks are not allowed inside the castle; they can be left in a designated room in the castle courtyard. The tour involves more than 160 steps, so small children may need to be carried. Family tours are offered only at neighboring Schloss Hohenschwangau; in the winter half-year there is a special tour for kindergarten groups (ages 5–7). Craft and activity sheets are available online.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Hohenschwangau Neuschwanstein Castles, Schwangau
Train to Füssen, then regional bus (RVO) to the Hohenschwangau stop.
By car
Paid parking
Only paid private parking lots P1–P4 in Hohenschwangau (cars €12 for 6 hours, €1 for each additional hour, max. €16); RVs and motorcycles only at P2, buses at P1 and P4. The shuttle bus departs from P4 (Alpsee).
- Accessible parking
From the Ticket-Center to the castle is approx. 1.5 km on a steep uphill path (30–40 min. on foot). Alternatively, take the shuttle bus to the Marienbrücke (then approx. 500 m or 10–15 min. downhill; does not run in snow and ice) or a horse-drawn carriage from Hotel Müller (then approx. 450 m or 10–15 min. uphill). Arrive about one hour before your entry time.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant: not available
Café & bistro on the 2nd floor of the castle (at the end of the tour) and a kiosk. The Schlossrestaurant Neuschwanstein is separate, below the castle (Neuschwansteinstraße 17). Luggage and backpacks are not allowed inside the castle.
Events & venue rental
As far as we know, the museum does not rent out spaces for external events.
Neuschwanstein is not listed among the Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung's rentable event venues. Exclusive tours can be arranged with the castle administration on request.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 30 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (JA, FR, ES, IT, CS, SL, RU, PL, ZH, PT, HU, EL, NL, KO, TH, AR, HE) |
| Photography | No photography or filming inside the castle; permitted outside for private purposes; drones prohibited |
