2024: Buy Tickets for Schloss Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau

Buy tickets or tours for the romantic, Disney-like Schloss Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castle near Füssen in Germany online in advance. Opening hours are fortunately long as the fantasy castle of King Ludwig is one of the top sights to see in Bavaria and a very popular day-trip destination from Munich.

The Disney-like Schloss Neuschwanstein Castle opened for visitors shortly after the death of Mad King Ludwig II in 1886. Schloss Neuschwanstein and nearby Hohenschwangau Castle are amongst the most popular tourist attractions in Bavaria, Germany. Although opening hours are long, tickets with specific admission times are best bought online well in advance of visits. Day trip tours from Munich are popular ways to get tickets to see the castles and the beautiful Schwangau area too.

Buying Tickets for Schloss Neuschwanstein Castle in 2024

Tickets for individuals to both Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Hohenschwangau are best bought online or as part of day trips tours, mostly from Munich. It is highly advisable to buy timeslot reservation tickets well in advance if not booking a day-trip.

The Schloss Neuschwanstein Ticket Center, on the main road in Hohenschwangau near the bus stop for buses from Füssen, sells a small number of tickets for use on the same day. They often sell out within minutes — the doors usually open at 8:00. It is not possible to buy tickets for use on a different day at the center or to queue up hoping for a cancellation. Day-trip tours may have tickets at short notice and are also able to guarantee tickets longer in advance.

In 2024, admission ticket prices for Schloss Neuschwanstein are €20.50 plus €2.50 advance reservation fee, and for Hohenschwangau Castle a pricier €23.50 plus €2.50 for advance reservations. (Combination tickets for both castles are not currently sold.) Admission is free for children under 18 if traveling with adults but they still need a separate ticket, so do include them when buying tickets (plus a €2.50 fee).

Tickets are for specific timeslots and all visits are on guided tours only — either live in German or English, or by audioguide in various languages. (Audioguides are usually not available during live tours.)

In contrast to previous practice, it is mostly no longer necessary to pick up a paper ticket at the Ticket Center itself. Follow the instructions on the ticket but usually, a QR code on the phone may simply be scanned at the castle entrance itself.

Buy Tickets Online for Schloss Neuschwanstein

Tickets, especially for Schloss Neuschwanstein, often sell out early in the day — in the high season within minutes. A small number of tickets, plus any not sold online, are available from the Ticket Center at 8:00 am (8:30 in winter) every day (and only for use on the same day). It is much more sensible to buy timeslot tickets for Schloss Neuschwanstein online as long as possible in advance.

At times, tickets are only sold around two weeks in advance — guided tours from Munich usually ensure admission on a specific day much longer in advance, or on short notice if regular tickets are sold out. (Currently, tickets are again available several months in advance.)

Telephone and email reservations for individuals are no longer accepted.

Combination tickets for both castles are not currently available. Buy tickets separately and allow at least 2.5 hours between visits if buying tickets for both castles.

Tips When Buying Tickets for Schloss Neuschwanstein Castle

Buying tickets online in advance is the most sensible way to see the fantasy castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. A day-trip excursion tour from Munich may still get visitors into the castle if traveling without a reservation (and simplify transportation).

The demand for tickets to see Schloss Neuschwanstein is generally higher in the afternoon than early morning. Arriving earlier than the mass of day-trippers from especially Munich is a good idea to ensure a pleasurable visit.

The most popular months to visit Neuschwanstein Castle are July to September. Other school holidays and long weekends are also busy.

School groups are charged for Schloss Hohenschwangau but not for the far more popular Schloss Neuschwanstein.

Children under 18 are admitted free to both Schloss Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castle when accompanied by a paying adult but need a physical ticket so remember to include the young ones when making reservations!

Tickets for the Schlosskonzerte (Castle Concerts) are not sold at the Hohenschwangau Ticket Center.

A superb savings deal for Schloss Neuschwanstein (but not Hohenschwangau or the museum) is the Bavarian Palaces and Gardens season ticket, which pays for itself very fast when sightseeing in Bavaria and Munich. An advance timeslot reservation (only possible online!) for Schloss Neuschwanstein is essential — still great value at €2.50. (Set adult to 0 and then select the relevant Free Adult BSV / Annual / Multi-Day ticket holder — this reservation is possible before actually buying the season ticket.)

Transportation to Schloss Neuschwanstein is easy on public transportation from Munich with the Bayern Ticket a great deal on the railways and buses.

Transportation from Hohenschwangau town to Schloss Neuschwanstein

The castle ticket center, parking, and bus stops are in the heart of Hohenschwangau village. It is not allowed to drive by private car to either of the castles.

From the town center, several walking routes lead up the hill to the Disney-like Schloss Neuschwanstein. The shortest and most direct route takes around 30 minutes but more interesting routes are available.

Most visitors walk up the hill from Schwangau town but alternatives are available to Schloss Neuschwanstein as long as the roads remain free of ice:

A bus service runs from Schlosshotel Lisl near the Ticket Center in Schwangau to near the panorama viewing points “Jugend” and “Marienbrücke”. From here, it is still 600 m (2,000 ft) or a 10-minute walk to the castle entrance.
Horse-drawn wagons go from Hotel Müller in Schwangau to near the Schloss Neuschwanstein Castle – from here, it is still 300 m (1,000 ft) or a 5-minute walk to the castle entrance.

In both cases, pay the drivers directly in cash. The price of the down ride is generally half the price of the up ride, while returns are significantly cheaper than two singles.

Note: the beautiful Pöllat Gorge was still closed in early 2024 due to rock slides without an indication of when it may reopen but the Marienbrucke (best views) is again accessible. The wagons and buses do not always operate — check the website for details if that is an issue.

Transportation from the Ticket Center to Schloss Hohenschwangau

The most direct route from the Ticket Center to Schloss Hohenschwangau is a ten-minute hike with some stairs over a slight hill. A level route is also available taking around 20 minutes.

A horse-drawn wagon goes from just below the Ticket Center to Schloss Hohenschwangau in around 20 minutes.

Opening Hours for Schloss Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles

Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Hohenschwangau are open daily, including Mondays and most public holidays. Opening hours from mid-March to mid-October are from 9 am to 6 pm and from mid-October to mid-March from 10 am to 4 pm. The Ticket-Center in Schwangau opens and closes an hour earlier than the castles.

Schloss Neuschwanstein Castle is closed on December 24, 25, and 31, January 1, and Faschingsdienstag (Mardi Gras). Schloss Hohenschwangau is usually only closed on December 24 and January 1.

Both Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Hohenschwangau may only be seen on guided tours. These tours take 30 to 45 minutes each. These guided tours of Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Hohenschwangau are available in English or German while audio guides are available in Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), Italian, Spanish, French, Russian, Polish, Slovenian, and Czech.

Due to ongoing restoration work, some rooms may be closed. The restoration of the interior of Schloss Neuschwanstein will continue until mid-2024. Work on the Throne Room and Singers’ Hall has been completed but the bedroom, dressing room, living room, and grotto are likely to be inaccessible during the first months of 2024.

Visiting Schloss Neuschwanstein is physically somewhat demanding. It is a steep walk up the hill to Schloss Neuschwanstein Castle where a further 165 stairs are ascended and 181 descended on the tour. Visiting Schloss Hohenschwangau is more relaxing as only around 90 stairs are involved.

The Disney-like Schloss Neuschwanstein is for many a highlight of a visit to Bavaria and indeed Germany. Hohenschwangau Castle is less popular but played a major role in inspiring Mad King Ludwig to build Schloss Neuschwanstein. Transportation to Schloss Neuschwanstein is easy on public transportation from Munich while drivers and some tours make it possible to see Schloss Linderhof on the same day. Similarly, day-trip tours offer excursions that include both Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Linderhof or other sights on the same day, such as stops en route at the magnificent UNESCO World Cultural Heritage listed Rococo Wieskirche, Ettal, and Oberammergau.

More on King Ludwig’s Castles and Palaces

The three fantasy castles of King Ludwig are all near Munich and are popular day trips whether on bus tours, driving, or using public transportation. Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Linderhof are to the southwest and may be seen on the same day when driving or on tours. Schloss Herrencheimsee is to the southeast and also a good stopover en route to Salzburg.

Savings Deals in Bavaria:

Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Hohenschwangau:

Schloss Linderhof:

Schloss Herrenchiemsee: