Neuschwanstein Castle: How to Get There & Where to Stay

Updated: March 27, 2026

Who wouldn’t want to visit the castle that inspired Walt Disney? Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany seems plucked right out of a fairytale. It’s one of the most visited castles in the world and remains on many people’s bucket lists.

I’m sharing everything I learned about Neuschwanstein Castle, including how to get there and where to stay to have a more relaxing experience and avoid the crowds. My trip there was probably the most straightforward route you can take. I’m sharing all the details below.

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Neuschwanstein Castle: How to Get There & Where to Stay

As I mentioned in my previous post, we skipped the big cities and focused on small towns during our trip through Germany. This choice helped me have that storybook experience that I was hoping for.

My ultimate recommendation is to spend the night in Füssen and visit Neuschwanstein Castle. Save yourself a long day of train/bus travel from Munich and explore a charming town at your own pace. You’ll feel less rushed and more relaxed than making a day trip to the castle from Munich with a crowd of people.

It is so easy to drive in Germany that, in my opinion, renting a car and staying in Fussen is the best choice. You’d only be a 5-10 minute drive to the castle. Plus, your hotel stay will be much cheaper than in Munich. See some of those prices below.

You can use this link to search over 1,000 car rental brands for the best price.

Check out my last post here to learn more about driving in Germany.

Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle by Train 

I know that not everyone has enough days to stay in Fussen during their Germany trip. If you have limited time and can only make Neuschwanstein Castle a day trip, you can still do so by booking a tour or planning your own route. Here are some of the best-rated tours:

If you’d like to visit Neuschwanstein sans tour, the shortest train ride is 2+ hours, and several direct trains are offered daily.

You will take the train from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Füssen. Check the schedule and tickets on the main Deutsche Bahn website HERE.

I’d recommend booking the earliest direct train available since it’ll be a long day. You can buy train tickets at the station, but I always prefer to book ahead to guarantee the time slot I want.

However, check out the Bayern ticket if you plan to leave after 9 am. The Bayern ticket is valid until 3 am the next day, so it’ll cover your ride to the town of Fussen, the bus from Fussen to the castle, then the trip back to Munich, currently at 32 euros for one person in 2nd class.

The advantage of this ticket is that it covers up to five travelers, which is great if you’re traveling with friends or family.

So to break it down, if it’s just you and one other person, it’ll cost 42 euros in total. If there are five travelers in your group, the ticket will cost 72 euros, or 14.40 euros per person. The more who travel (up to 5), the cheaper it gets. Learn more about the Bayern ticket and current pricing HERE.

Munich to Füssen By Car

We visited the glorious castle by car, and it was a great experience. After picking up our rental car from the Europcar MUNICH CITY TILL 12PM location, we chose THIS ROUTE and headed straight to Fussen.

If you’re leaving from Munich’s city center, you’ll see these options on Apple or Google maps. We chose route A96 to B17. As you will see, the drive is only 1.5 hours long.

I’m sharing the specifics on this because the drive was stunning. I felt like we were driving through a Disney movie. We saw beautiful green landscapes and grazing animals, and even ran into this impressive view below. Spot the castle? I loved driving on our own because it allowed us to make stops whenever we wanted.

How to Get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Füssen

If you’re doing a day trip and arrive at the Füssen station, you will follow the crowd —most likely heading to the castle — and jump on either Bus 73 or 78 toward Hohenschwangau, where Neuschwanstein Castle is located. Hohenschwangau is only a 10-minute drive away from Füssen.

The bus from Fussen doesn’t drop you off at the castle’s door. Since the castle sits upon a hill, you need to choose one of 3 things:

1. Take another bus designated to take tourists up to the castle. It’s only a few euros per person round-trip. Your Bayern ticket does not cover this private bus. You buy the bus ticket from the driver, so make sure you have cash on hand. This bus makes two stops. The first stop is at Mary’s Bridge, where you can get a photo of the idyllic castle. Note: Mary’s Bridge may be closed due to weather or repairs; always check the site HERE beforehand. The second stop is the castle entrance to purchase tickets. *Tip: Tickets to enter the castle can sell out quickly, especially during peak season, so I’d book those ahead if you know you want to go inside.

2. You can choose the 40+ minute hike up to the castle. The roads are well-paved but can be steep, but you’ll get the advantage of all the remarkable views along the way. If you choose to hike, ensure you’re dressed for it.

3. Take a horse and carriage up to the castle. This can be a lovely experience, but I prefer not to put horses through that. If you’re like me, opt for one of the options above.

To get back to Munich, reverse the route!

IF YOU’RE STAYING OVERNIGHT IN FUSSEN AND ARRIVE BY CAR, you can plan to visit the castle that evening (close to sunset) or the following day (right when it opens) to avoid the peak crowds. This is the ideal scenario, and this is why we chose this route.

For parking, you can enter Hohenschwangau or Alpseestrasse into your GPS or, as Jorge did, find “P4” on the maps, drop a pin there and follow those directions. Parking Lot 4 (P4) is right by the bus stop that’ll take you up to the castle, or you can start your hike from there. Parking costs a few euros per car.

Where to Stay near Fussen

Our stay was in an Airbnb. But the communication was horrible, so I cannot recommend that apartment. To be honest, I’ve been distancing myself from Airbnb because bad experiences have been happening more often than I’d like. 

Since I can’t recommend that apartment, I found other great places to consider if you’re staying in or around Fussen. All of these are stays I would’ve booked if they were available for my dates. They are well-reviewed, in terrific areas, and affordable. 

Hotel Sonne is a modern, beautifully designed hotel located in the heart of Füssen. The castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau are a 5-minute drive away. Big breakfast buffets are served in the mornings. Plus, they have a gorgeous oriental spa! I’d stay here a few nights if I were you. Click here to see the latest prices.

photo source: hotel-fuessen.de

HOTEL HIRSCH is located near Füssen’s old town. I love the idea of the themed rooms with a terrace! A full breakfast buffet is available every morning at the Hirsch. And you can even relax in their beer garden. You can find the latest prices here.

View from the terrace:

photo source: hotelfuessen.de

GÄSTEHAUS FORGGENSEE is a clean, well-reviewed hotel that serves an excellent breakfast and offers stunning views! Guests can relax on the sun terrace or balcony, with views of the lake, garden, or mountains. Click here to see the latest prices.

photo source: gästehaus-forggensee.de