How to Visit Neuschwanstein Castle Without the Crowds

Of all the palaces we’ve visited, Neuschwanstein remains our favorite—and it’s no wonder, as it’s also one of the most visited sites in all of Germany.

This fairytale palace, which was Walt Disney’s inspiration for Cinderella’s castle, is located in Bavaria, Germany. As a family that grew up taking trips to Disney World each year, touring the castle that provided so much inspiration was a truly unique experience.

This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Europe and people from around the world descend on Neuschwanstein during the peak season months of July and August. With the crowds of people come long lines. Nothing spoils a visit to Neuschwanstein more than spending precious hours in line to purchase tickets.

We learned firsthand how crowded Neuschwanstein can get when we toured midday in July, which is why we’ve compiled ways for you to avoid the crowds and make the most of your experience.

It is possible, even during peak season, to visit Neuschwanstein without waiting in long lines. We will let you know how in this guide.

Table of Contents

What Is Neuschwanstein?

Located in southern Germany on the foothills of the Alps, Neuschwanstein is one of the world’s most famous castles.

Neuschwanstein was built as a palace for King Ludwig II as a retreat from his life in Munich. Construction began in 1869, yet Ludwig died before the castle was fully completed. Ironically, the castle, which was built as a private retreat, was then opened to the public shortly after Ludwig’s death and now attracts over a million visitors annually.

At Neuschwanstein, you can take a guided tour of the castle grounds and the palace halls. Outside of your tour, you can also visit Mary’s Bridge for the iconic view of Neuschwanstein, and hike further up the surrounding mountains for additional viewpoints. Near Neuschwanstein, visit Hohenschwangau Castle, the childhood home of King Ludwig II.

Things to Do at Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein Palace

The palace, of course, is the main attraction. Join a guided tour and wander the ornate halls of Neuschwanstein. You’ll have a chance to explore the main courtyard, along with the throne room, bedrooms, and the Singer’s Hall. Each room is adorned with medieval artwork and architecture, reflecting King Ludwig II’s aesthetic preferences.

GETTING HERE: Visitors to Neuschwanstein will arrive in the small town of Hohenschwangau, which sits at the base of the castle. In town you’ll find a collection of hotels, parking lots, as well as the ticket office for Neuschwanstein. To get from the ticket office to the palace you can either walk the 30 minutes uphill on a paved, shaded path, or take the shuttle bus. During the summer months, queues for the bus can be very long!

Tours of Neuschwanstein last approximately 35 minutes. A guide will take your group through the palace where you will learn about the history of the Neuschwanstein and King Ludwig II.

Mary’s Bridge

After your tour, you can explore the area around the palace. Don’t miss Mary’s Bridge! This is the place to take that iconic photo of Neuschwanstein. Just be prepared to wedge yourself in among the masses of people trying to get this same photo, especially midday.

GETTING HERE: Mary’s Bridge is a 10-to-15-minute uphill walk from the palace. A visit to Mary’s Bridge is separate from a tour of Neuschwanstein Castle, meaning you can snap photos from the bridge before or after your tour of the castle.

Note: Mary’s Bridge can close during periods of bad weather (such as snowfall during the winter months). You can see ahead of time if Mary’s Bridge and other viewpoints are open through this site.

Higher Viewpoint of Neuschwanstein

To get another phenomenal view of Neuschwanstein (and to really leave the crowds behind), hike the trails on the other side of Pöllat gorge.

To get here, cross Mary’s Bridge and follow the hiking trails uphill into the woods. The trails are well-marked and well-groomed.

This was our favorite part of visiting Neuschwanstein. As views would open up through the treeline, we felt like explorers discovering the idyllic valley below.

Hohenschwangau Castle

This castle was the childhood residence of King Ludwig II. It is a 20-minute walk from Neuschwanstein, and to get here you’ll walk back down into the town of Hohenschwangau. This castle can only be visited on a tour. Tickets can be purchased in combination with Neuschwanstein.

Hohenschwangau Castle

How to Avoid the Crowds

As one of the most popular tourist attractions in Europe, Neuschwanstein will feature large numbers of crowds throughout the year. However, there are multiple ways that you can plan your trip to minimize dealing with flocks of tourists. After all, a visit to a secluded castle feels all the more magical when you’re not surrounded by thousands of other visitors.

Book a Morning Tour in Advance

This is where staying in Bavaria has its advantages. Arrive one hour before opening time to purchase your tickets for the first tour of the day, or better yet, book your tickets online in advance.

Book a morning tour, ideally the first tour of the day, to get the best experience. During this time, it will be easy to find parking, there will be no queues, and your tour may not be completely booked. The castle will be calm and quiet, just the way it was meant to be seen.

By purchasing tickets online in advance, you can avoid the lines and the long waits. At midday, Neuschwanstein can feel like a zoo, and it’s best to avoid this time as best you can.

It’s also important to know that only so many tickets go on sale per day. If they sell out in advance, you won’t be able to purchase a ticket that day, on site. So, once you know the date you want to visit Neuschwanstein, reserve your ticket on the official website.

Click here to learn more about purchasing your tickets in advance.

Midday is the worst time to arrive at Neuschwanstein. Munich day trippers arrive at this time, along with masses of people from the surrounding areas. Midday in the summer there can be queues of 90 minutes or more just to purchase tickets. Even then, you may be purchasing tickets for a tour two to three hours later in the day!

Note: During the months of July, August, and September, tickets can sell out by noon.

Can’t Arrive Early? Arrive Late

After 3 pm, things begin to quiet down, as day trippers make their way back to Munich and the surrounding towns.

Be aware that this tactic may not work during peak season. In July and August, tours can sell out by early afternoon. Avoid this by advance purchasing your tickets for the last tour of the day and then arrive when most of the crowds are gone.

Visit on a Weekday

Crowds at Neuschwanstein are lower on weekdays than weekends. If you have the flexibility, book a tour during the week. To best avoid the crowds, it’s a good idea to also combine this with another one of our recommendations.

Go During the Off Season

Visit during low season and you may have the castle almost all to yourself. The months from November through April have the lowest crowds (except during the holiday seasons of Christmas and Easter). The weather may not be ideal but during winter months you may be able to see Neuschwanstein covered in snow.

Note: Viewpoints such as Mary’s Bridge are weather dependent. It’s best to check the weather before you book to ensure you get the best experience possible.

Shoulder season (May, June, and October) is another great time to visit Neuschwanstein. Crowds are lower and the weather can be very pleasant.

Visit Mary’s Bridge Before the Castle

By changing the order of sites you see, you can dramatically reduce the number of crowds you deal with. Viewpoints of the castle, such as Mary’s Bridge, are free to visit and independent of a tour of Neuschwanstein Castle. That means you have the flexibility to walk to these viewpoints before your tour of the castle.

Depending on where you’re spending the night beforehand, as well as the time of your tour booking, this can be a little difficult. Parking in Hohenschwangau opens an hour before the first tour of the day. If you’re on the first tour and you aren’t spending the prior night in town, you won’t have enough time to squeeze the bridge in before the tour.

Visiting Mary’s Bridge before the castle gives you the opportunity to enjoy these beautiful vistas with minimal crowds. Most visitors will excitedly visit the castle first, then move upwards to the viewpoints. This is what we did, and we have to admit, it was a crowded mess at times. By walking straight to Mary’s Bridge, especially in the morning, you may find it all to yourself. If staying in Hohenschwangau, you can even catch the sunrise from the bridge.

What NOT To Do

Avoid planning your visit midday. This is the most crowded time to visit Neuschwanstein. Not only will there be long lines into the palace and for the shuttle, but if you arrive without a ticket, there is a chance they could be sold out for the day.

Germany Travel Guide

See all of our articles

For a Unique View of the Castle

Not far from Hohenschwangau is the Tegelberg Cable Car. From this cable car, you can get a unique view of Neuschwanstein. It makes a great add-on to your visit, especially for those who don’t want to hike up a mountain for aerial views of the palace. Learn more on the official website.

How to Get to Neuschwanstein

You can reach Neuschwanstein Castle by car, bus, or train, as well as through a packaged day-trip tour. The ticket office, along with parking for Neuschwanstein, is located in the small town of Hohenschwangau. From town, it’s a 30-minute uphill walk to the castle.

You cannot park directly at Neuschwanstein Castle. You have the option to park in Hohenschwangau and walk uphill to the castle, or wait the roughly 30 minutes for a shuttle bus to drive you.

Neuschwanstein & Füssen

Where to Stay

From small towns located right by Neuschwanstein to major cities a bit further out, you have some flexibility in where to stay. When choosing a place to spend the night, consider how early you’ll be up for your tour of the castle, along with your other potential travel plans throughout Germany.

Hohenschwangau: From this small town, you can walk to the ticket booth and Neuschwanstein Castle. You can’t get any closer than this! Hotel Müller and Villa Ludwig Suite Hotel get excellent reviews.

Füssen: A bit larger than Hohenschwangau, from Füssen it is just a five minute drive to the castle. If you’re planning on getting up early to visit the castle, consider a visit either here or in Hohenschwangau. Check out Lucky Home Ferienwohnung and Hotel Sonne.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen: One hour away from Neuschwanstein, this is a great place to base yourself in Bavaria. Not only will you have access to Neuschwanstein, but it is very easy to get to Zugspitze, Munich, and Innsbruck, Austria. We spent a week in Garmisch, and during that time took the trip out to Neuschwanstein and had a wonderful experience. We recommend Biohotel Garmischer Hof, moun10 urlaubswohnen, and Chalet Alpi.

Munich: One hour and forty minutes away (120 km), it is still possible to get in line early for tickets. Just expect a very early morning if you’re trying to beat the crowds! With being a major transportation hub, Munich is great for those who have little time and are flying in for a few days and want to squeeze in a day trip out to Neuschwanstein.

Tours of Neuschwanstein

If tickets are sold out in advance, you can purchase a combination ticket to both Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles through GetYourGuide. The last we checked, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance and get a full refund.

Another option is to take this tour from Hohenschwangau, which includes a guided tour of Neuschwanstein. This tour is a good option for those who already have transportation to Hohenschwangau and only want to visit Neuschwanstein (it does not include Hohenschwangau Castle).

If you are planning a visit to Neuschwanstein from Munich, this day trip tour is the highest rated tour on GetYourGuide.

Tours of Neuschwanstein

If you have any questions about how to visit Neuschwanstein, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information for Your Trip to Germany