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Post by librarylady on Jul 16, 2025 19:42:53 GMT
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Post by Bridget in MD on Jul 16, 2025 20:02:09 GMT
DH and I were just there 2 yrwonder how s ago. It is magical! I am in awe how they got all those materials up there to build it!!!!
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wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,203
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Jul 16, 2025 20:09:59 GMT
It began to snow when I visited, it just added to the experience.
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cjinmo
Junior Member
Posts: 89 
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Post by cjinmo on Jul 16, 2025 20:36:18 GMT
I was fortunate to visit in October 2024.
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,664
Location: In the leaves and rain.
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Post by stittsygirl on Jul 16, 2025 21:56:15 GMT
I remember taking German in junior high, and on the front of our text book was a picture of Neuschwanstein. I always hoped I’d be able to visit it one day.
About 20 years later we were stationed in southern Germany and we were able to visit twice - once in the winter and once in the summer. It was such a amazing experience each time.
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Post by aj2hall on Jul 16, 2025 22:42:06 GMT
We visited 6 years ago. It was beautiful! I didn't know the Nazis used it to store stolen art snd considered blowing it up.
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Post by Basket1lady on Jul 17, 2025 3:22:54 GMT
I’ve been 2 or 3 times. It’s really pretty. If you visit, be sure to go to Hoenschwangeau too. It’s in the same town and Ludwig used to watch the construction of Neuschwanstein from there through a telescope. That castle is more fully furnished and is more interesting IMO. It’s not as pretty, as it’s older and doesn’t have that fairy tale like architecture, but it was actually lived in by generations.
Since the article is from 2009, I just wanted to mention that you now need to reserve your tickets well ahead of your visit. Especially during the summer months. Sometimes tickets become available at the last minute, but they are generally for the last tour and are extremely limited. Tickets are timed entry tickets to the courtyard and then you wait for your tour time in there. Tourists from non-European countries still weren’t being admitted without one of the “western” vaccines in the summer of 2022, so the crowds are likely to pre-pandemic levels now. Which was stifflingly crowded in February of 2020 and the upper viewing platform was full of influencers doing full on photo shoots and hogging the best vantage points. There’s a walking bridge behind the castle that’s a good viewpoint, but it can be closed if there isn’t staffing there.
As of 2022, the only way to get from the town is by walking up a pretty steep climb or by horse drawn carriages. That gets you to the base of the castle and there’s a TON of climbing up stairs after that. If you have a hard time with stairs, ask if there’s a tour that goes at a slower pace or doesn’t go as high.
In town, there’s a hotel on the lake that serves great food and is a charming location for a meal. There was plenty of parking, but again I haven’t been there since 2022
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 4,209
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jul 17, 2025 11:41:51 GMT
We were there in 2016. It was beautiful. We also did Lindlehoff which was sooo ornate and over the top. The gardens there were stunning. I loved the little town where the castle is.
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MZF
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,517
Location: No. CA
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Post by MZF on Jul 17, 2025 12:31:25 GMT
This is on my bucket list. I just finished a jigsaw puzzle of this castle-again--I have two different ones. And just saw a tour that included the castle come across my Yahoo feed. Hhmmm....maybe it's a sign....
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,672
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Jul 17, 2025 14:45:08 GMT
We will be in Germany next month and I keep meaning to buy tickets. I just checked and a lot of dates are already sold out. I dropped the ball on this one!
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Post by birukitty on Jul 17, 2025 16:33:30 GMT
I’ve been lucky enough to visit 3 times, but I barely remember the first because I was a young child of 4 years of age when I went with my parents.
I went again during my first solo trip to Germany in 2017 at the age of 57 and took the train from Munich following the advice from a Rick Steves guide book vs taking a tour to get there. That turned out to be the best idea because it gave me lots of time to explore and enjoy everything at my own pace. I even had time for a wonderful lunch at the base of the mountain.
Last May DH and I travelled again to Germany (his first time) and I took him to this castle. We took the bus up ( the bus drops you up near the bridge where you can take great photos of the castle) and you then walk down a bit to the castle. If you take the horse cart up you have to walk up to the bridge.
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Post by birukitty on Jul 17, 2025 16:38:44 GMT
We will be in Germany next month and I keep meaning to buy tickets. I just checked and a lot of dates are already sold out. I dropped the ball on this one! You might want to check out some tours like Get Your Guide that offer tours to the castle. They buy tickets in bulk and might still have tickets available. Also, although it’s not the same there are two other King Ludwig palaces in Germany to see: Linderhoff and one that he built on an island in a lake but I can’t remember how to spell it here. It starts with an H. |
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Post by birukitty on Jul 17, 2025 20:00:25 GMT
We will be in Germany next month and I keep meaning to buy tickets. I just checked and a lot of dates are already sold out. I dropped the ball on this one! You might want to check out some tours like Get Your Guide that offer tours to the castle. They buy tickets in bulk and might still have tickets available. Also, although it’s not the same there are two other King Ludwig palaces in Germany to see: Linderhoff and one that he built on an island in a lake but I can’t remember how to spell it here. It starts with an H. It’s called Herrenchiemsee. It is an amazing palace that even includes a hall of mirrors. I haven’t been to this palace yet, but have wanted to go for years. All three plus one other have just been added to the UNSCEO world heritage list. Linderhof is also a nice, smaller castle (I did see this one on 2017) with beautiful grounds. |
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,672
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Jul 17, 2025 21:16:47 GMT
You might want to check out some tours like Get Your Guide that offer tours to the castle. They buy tickets in bulk and might still have tickets available. Also, although it’s not the same there are two other King Ludwig palaces in Germany to see: Linderhoff and one that he built on an island in a lake but I can’t remember how to spell it here. It starts with an H. It’s called Herrenchiemsee. It is an amazing palace that even includes a hall of mirrors. I haven’t been to this palace yet, but have wanted to go for years. All three plus one other have just been added to the UNSCEO world heritage list. Linderhof is also a nice, smaller castle (I did see this one on 2017) with beautiful grounds. Thank you! And I do see that tours are still available! it's just individual tickets that are sold out. |
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Post by AussieMeg on Jul 17, 2025 23:08:44 GMT
It's definitely on my bucket list
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Post by jenb72 on Jul 19, 2025 1:01:15 GMT
I'm soaking up all of this info. We're planning a trip to Europe in late 2026 and both Munich and Neuschwanstein Castle are part of our plans. Thanks so much for sharing!!
Jen
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,672
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Jul 19, 2025 16:05:10 GMT
I got my tickets! I was planning on us doing the walk up rather than waiting on the long bus line. I need to find videos of how steep that walk is though.
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Post by librarylady on Jul 19, 2025 16:57:25 GMT
I got my tickets! I was planning on us doing the walk up rather than waiting on the long bus line. I need to find videos of how steep that walk is though. It is steep! We took a carriage up and walked down. I think we had a horse drawn carriage to takes us up. |
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Post by birukitty on Jul 19, 2025 17:03:28 GMT
I got my tickets! I was planning on us doing the walk up rather than waiting on the long bus line. I need to find videos of how steep that walk is though. So happy you were able to get tickets! Walking up? It is very steep and very long. If you are young and athletic, yeah go for it. If not I’d advise caution. The bus takes you very close to the Marian bridge which has amazing views of the castle and then you walk down on a cement walkway to the castle. The horse drawn carts drop you off below the bridge and you have to walk up the paved paths for about 15 to 20 minutes to get to the bridge. I took the horse drawn carts up in 2017 because the line was shorter and took the bus up last year. The bus was much better. |
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Post by pinkgreen on Jul 19, 2025 17:18:43 GMT
We went in June and I *thought* it would be great to walk, lol! I was a hot, sweaty mess by the time we reached the top. In addition to the castle itself were the views of the surroundings area. I remember thinking how so much of the scenery seemed too amazing to be real. Such a beautiful area!
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,086
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Jul 19, 2025 18:39:59 GMT
IT is very steep and there really isn't a place to rest/sit until your entrance time is announced. I took the bus up and then the horse carriage back to the parking area. It was a cold & rainy day this past April when I was there.
AND you walk up to the very tippy top of the castle, about 4-5 stories. Be prepared and bring bottled water as it is expensive at the shops.
I made a couple of sandwiches at breakfast (cold cuts & cheese) for my lunch. Ziploc bags are a must when travelling.
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Post by snowsilver on Jul 19, 2025 18:49:33 GMT
I walked it and can testify it was steep. I would not have done it--wasn't planning to do it at all. But we had this adorable little tour guide on the bus coming and while I really liked her otherwise, she irritated me by a comment she made. She was explaining all the ways you could get to the castle from where the bus ended the tour. She recommended the carriages, but said that there was another way. You could walk up a trail. She warned that the trail was very steep. "Really," she said, "I would only advise it for Europeans. Even then it is difficult. Most Americans would not be able to do it." Oh, that made me mad! And I determined to do it right then! And I did it. Yes, I was almost crawling by the end, but I did it. And I was in my 60s at the time. Dear, adorable little tour guide: Don't insult Americans! We can do more than you think  |
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,672
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Jul 19, 2025 19:02:28 GMT
We are all in good shape. Young is subjective.  Dh and I are in our mid 50s and our sons are in their early and mid 20s. If it were just the walk, I would do it. But combined will all the flights of stairs and it will certainly be hot in August, I think we will just wait for the bus. I appreciate the feedback! |
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Post by birukitty on Jul 19, 2025 23:11:59 GMT
We went in June and I *thought* it would be great to walk, lol! I was a hot, sweaty mess by the time we reached the top. In addition to the castle itself were the views of the surroundings area. I remember thinking how so much of the scenery seemed too amazing to be real. Such a beautiful area! It is a beautiful area! I added 5 days for myself in Berchtesgaden after DH had to return home for his job and was so happy I did. That is also a beautiful nature area. There is a beautiful well known lake called Koningsee and another lesser known lake called Hintersee. When I got to Hintersee the natural beauty was so intense I actually got tears in my eyes. I told DH next time we visit Germany we are starting our visit in Berchtesgaden. |
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Dh and I are in our mid 50s and our sons are in their early and mid 20s. If it were just the walk, I would do it. But combined will all the flights of stairs and it will certainly be hot in August, I think we will just wait for the bus. I appreciate the feedback!