Information for visitors
Ticket availability
We recommend purchasing tickets in advance in our online ticket shop, as tickets are expected to sell out quickly. If no tickets are available for the desired date, please check whether another date is suitable for you. You do not have an alternative? Subject to availability, smaller additional ticket allotments may be released for sale on a daily basis in the morning from 8.00 am.
Current information
FAQ
You can find the answers to frequently asked questions here.
Questions about tickets:
Tickets for both royal castles are available on our official online ticket store or on site directly at the Ticket Center in Hohenschwangau.
You can purchase tickets for the Museum of the Bavarian Kings directly at the museum counters as well as on our official online ticket store.
There is a limited amount of tickets available on site at the Ticket Center every day. During our summer opening hours, we open at 8.00 a.m. and during winter at 08:30 a.m. Due to the very high demand, it is essential to be at the Ticket Center as early as possible in order to maximize your chances of getting tickets for the day. Most days, we are sold out in the late morning hours. These tickets are meant for sale on site only and cannot be reserved in advance (first come first serve).
Tickets can neither be blocked nor reserved. Tickets sold in advance are available online only, subject to availability.
Unfortunately, that is not possible. Tickets sold on site are only available for the same day. Tickets sold in advance are available online only, subject to availability.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to reserve tickets by phone or email. Tickets can only be bought in advance using our online shop or on site at the Ticket Center Hohenschwangau, subject to availability.
If no tickets are available anymore (indicated with a red "X"), tickets are completely sold out at that time. We would still recommend that you check our online shop regularly, as additional tickets may be made available at shorter notice.
Occasionally, the amount of tickets available online may be increased at short notice. Please check the online shop again 1-4 days before you intend to visit us.
Unfortunately, we are unable to put you on a waiting list due to the high demand.
Unfortunately, we cannot say with certainty when that will be the case. The decision to make tickets for later months available is made by a superior institution and often comes at shorter notice. We would kindly ask that you check our online shop regularly for any updates.
The tour you are trying to book only has one single ticket left. The maximum capacity per guided tour is currently 35 people (Neuschwanstein) and 34 of those tickets have already been purchased. The maximum capacity cannot be exceeded under any circumstances. In order to see tours available for the amount of tickets you need in total, please select the total amount of people in the first step (after selecting the castle/museum).
Due to safety reasons e.g. in the event of an evacuation, it is necessary to buy tickets for small children and toddlers.
After selecting a date on the online shop, you will find a drop-down menu for selecting the number of adults. The one for children is right below that one.
Children must be added to your purchase immediately. We will not be able to add tickets to your purchase in retrospect as the maximum capacity per guided tour cannot be exceeded under any circumstances. You will find an extra drop-down menu under the one where you select the number of adults.
The free tickets that we refer to on our website mean any ticket for adults that do not require payment for entrance, e.g. people who have purchased a 14-day "Mehrtagesticket", annual pass or combination pass "Königsschlösser". Other examples would be members of the press or journalists (press ID necessary) or the accompanying people of disabled visitors (has to be indicated on the disability ID). Please contact us by email (info@ticket-center-hohenschwangau.de) for more detailed information.
Online tickets are excluded from the right of exchange (e.g. for a different date, admission time or language) or return and you are required to accept these terms prior to placing your oder.
Online tickets are excluded from the right of exchange or return. You are required to accept these terms prior to placing your order.
The operators’ contract terms strictly advise that tickets may not be re-sold commercially and that the non-commercial transfer of tickets is subject to certain limitations. If there is reason to believe that you may have violated such contract terms, we expressly reserve the right to (a) exclude you from further access to the online shop, (b) reject or cancel ticket purchases and (c) notify the respective operator.
We are currently only able to offer payment by credit card or PayPal on our online shop.
Since October 16th 2022, we don't offer combination tickets. All sights must be booked individually. If you would like to visit both castles (Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein) on the same day, we would recommend that you leave at least 2,5 hours in between the start of either tour. This time will allow you to get from one to the other castle in time.
Even if you have a combination pass issued by the Bavarian Palace Administration, you need to organize tickets for a guided tour at a specific time on a specific date for the visit of Neuschwanstein Castle. If you purchase tickets in advance on our online ticket shop, you are able to select the tickets "Free Adult Annual Ticket Holder", "Free Adult Multi-Day Ticket Holder" or "Free Adult BSV Card Holder" for which you only pay the online service fee of 2,50 € per person.
When you get to the entrance of Neuschwanstein Castle, you will have show your combination pass to the castle staff.
Please note that the visit of Hohenschwangau Castle is not included in any of the above-mentioned passes, as that castle is owned privately.
You don’t necessarily have to print out your tickets. You are welcome to scan the QR code from your smartphone/tablet, provided your device is charged, the code is clearly visible and your screen is not damaged.
You can only visit Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castle as part of a guided tour.
Currently, you can walk right up to the main gate of Neuschwanstein Castle and wander the exterior grounds.
You do not need a ticket to enter the castle courtyard of Hohenschwangau Castle.
As of now, we do not have a newsletter to keep visitors up to date. Please check our website to inquire about the latest changes to ticketing, tours, restrictions and more.
Questions about transportation:
Hohenschwangau Castle can be reached on foot within 15-20 minutes or by horse carriage (depend. on season).
Neuschwanstein Castle can be reached on foot within 30-40 minutes, by shuttle bus or horse carriage (depend. on season)
Shuttle bus (Neuschwanstein):
Adults: € 3.00 uphill, € 2.00 downhill, € 3.50 round-trip
Children: age 0-6: free/ 7-12: € 1.50 uphill, € 1.00 downhill, € 2.00 round-trip
Bus tickets can be bought at the bus stop or from the bus driver (cash only).
Horse carriage Neuschwanstein castle:
Adults: € 8.00 uphill, € 4.00 downhill
Horse carriage Hohenschwangau castle:
Adults: € 5.50 uphill, € 3.00 downhill
For horse carriage transport you pay the driver of the carriage directly.
Please note that there is no bus transfer to Hohenschwangau Castle.
The bus goes every 20 minutes, the carriages approximately every 30 minutes.
They do not run on a fixed schedule since their intervals often depend on the numbers of visitors we receive.
Shuttle bus:
Summer:
first trip uphill 8.00 a.m.
last trip uphill 5:30 p.m.
last trip downhill 6.45 p.m.
Winter:
first trip uphill 9.00 a.m.
last trip uphill 3:30 p.m.
last trip downhill 5:00 p.m.
Attention: During winter time limited service only depending on the weather. The shuttle bus only operates in suitable weather conditions (no snow or ice).
No. You simply buy a bus ticket or pay the horse carriage driver and then take the next available transport to your destination.
The carriage to Hohenschwangau Castle takes you to the back entrance of the courtyard.
The carriage to Neuschwanstein Castle takes you to a carriage stop about 400 meters below the castle (5-10 minutes uphill to castle).
The shuttle bus to Neuschwanstein Castle takes you close to the viewpoint "Jugend" / Marienbrücke, about 600 meters above the castle (5-10 minutes downhill to castle).
Please note that the way to Neuschwanstein Castle from either drop-off point is quite steep.
No. Animals of any kind are not allowed in any means of transport.
No. You will have to leave your car on one of the 4 large parking lots in our village. The castles can then be reached on foot, by horse carriage or shuttle bus.
For all train connections between Munich and Füssen, please visit the website of the German rail services: http://www.bahn.de
For information on regional public transport, please visit the website of RVO: https://www.rvo-bus.de/oberbayernbus/view/freizeittipps/ausflugsbusse/koenigsschloesser.shtml
Questions about your visit:
In the village of Hohenschwangau you will find 4 large parking lots.
The parking fees are as follows:
Parking lots P1, P2, P3 and P4:
Car (P1, P2, P3 and P4): from € 10,00
Bus (P1 + P4): € 30,00 per day
Mobile homes/ Caravans (P2): € 13,00 up to 8 hours. For each additional hour: € 1,00 (max. per day € 15,00).
Motorbike (P2 + P3): € 3,00 per day
Please note that mobile homes/ campers are only allowed to park in parking lot P2.
- Summer time: 01.04.2023 until 15.10.2023
Monday to Sunday 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
- Winter time: 16.10.2022 until 31.03.2024
Monday to Sunday 8.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.
► Closing days: December 24, December 25, Dezember 31 and January 1.
Our castles close after the last tour of the day has been finished.
Summer season (April - 15th October):
Hohenschwangau Castle 5.00 p.m
Neuschwanstein Castle 6.00 p.m.
Winter season (16th October - March):
Hohenschwangau Castle 4.00 p.m.
Neuschwanstein Castle 4.00 p.m.
One option we would like to recommend it visiting the Museum of Bavarian Kings.
Since Schwangau, Füssen and the Allgäu region are a popular hiking- and holiday destination, you can find an extensive catalogue of activities within reach. For additional information simply visit
In Hohenschwangau Castle you will be touring the entire castle for about 45 minutes. In Neuschwanstein Castle you will have a guided tour through the completed rooms of the castle for about 35 minutes. Afterwards, you will have an opportunity to visit the rest of the exhibition area by yourself. The Museum of Bavarian Kings can be visited without a tour anytime from 09:00 to 17:00. At the reception, you can even get a free audio guide in the language of your choice.
No. In order to manage the large numbers of visitors we receive, it is obligatory to visit the castles in guided tours.
We offer live-guided tours in English and German for both castles. These take place approximately twice per hour.
Additionally, we offer audio-guided tours. The necessary devices are included in the ticket price and can be offered in the following languages:
Neuschwanstein castle:
German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Hungarian, Dutch, Greek, Polish, Czech, Slovenian, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Korean, Thai, Hebrew, Arabic
Hohenschwangau castle:
German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Hungarian, Dutch, Polish, Czech, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Korean
Museum of the Bavarian Kings:
German, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese and Polish.
You will receive your audio guide directly inside the castle before your tour begins. In the museum, you will receive them at the reception counter. The audio guide devices are always free of charge.
Please be in the castle courtyard of the castle you are visiting on time.
You will find the tour number printed on your ticket on the monitor next to the turnstiles.
Through these turnstiles you will enter the castle. Inside, you will be met by your tour guide.
In both castles, visitors will have to climb stairs during the tour. In Hohenschwangau Castle, there are approximately 90 steps, in Neuschwanstein Castle, approximately 350 steps.
Unfortunately, in Hohenschwangau, there is no way to avoid these stairs and therefore persons with limited mobility or guests who depend on a wheelchair cannot visit Hohenschwangau Castle.
In Neuschwanstein Castle, there is an elevator and therefore it is definitely possible for persons with limited mobility or guests who depend on a wheelchair to visit. However, we urgently recommend to reserve this elevator in advance. For further information, please klick here...
In order to reach the castles, there are several possibilities:
The hiking trail to Hohenschwangau Castle is not steep and has no stairs at all.
The hiking trail to Neuschwanstein Castle is a lot steeper and we would instead recommend to use the horse carriage transport. Any regular-sized, foldable wheelchair can be stowed in the trunk at the back of the carriages. Please note, however, that the carriages do not have a ramp. So it is necessary that the person who needs to be transported is able to somehow get into the carriage by themselves or with the help of their companions.
Due to the very steep descent from the bus stop near the view point "Jugend" to Neuschwanstein Castle, we do not recommend to use the bus transfer in this case.
There is no rental service for wheelchairs or rollators. The required wheelchair/ walking aids must be brought along.
Neuschwanstein Castle: Currently, you can walk right up to the main gate of Neuschwanstein Castle and wander the exterior grounds. Access to the courtyard of Neuschwanstein Castle is only possible with a valid ticket.
Hohenschwangau Castle: You can visit the courtyard and the gardens of Hohenschwangau Castle without a ticket.
For information on renovation works, please visit the website of the Bavarian Palace Department, http://www.neuschwanstein.de
Information on attractions belonging to the Wittelsbach equalizing fund, please visit our website https://www.waf-bayern.de/kunst-und-tradition/
Hohenschwangau Castle can be seen and photographed very well from many points in our village.
In order to take a picture from a larger distance, we recommend the viewpoint "Jugend" which you can find on our local map.
For Neuschwanstein Castle, we mainly recommend Mary's Bridge which you will find on our local map. Furthermore, you will find a viewing platform extending over Pöllat gorge below the castle and additionally, Mount Tegelberg offers many locations from where you can take nice pictures of Neuschwanstein Castle.
Please note that in case of snow and ice, Mary's Bridge is closed in order to guarantee the safety of our visitors.

You can find an ATM at the following locations:
1. Next to the P1 parking lot, opposite the tourist information and bus stop.
2. Near parking lot P3, next to the “Königshütte” snack bar.
3. At the Hotel Müller next to the bistro.
No. It is strictly forbidden to take animals inside the sights. Even if the animals are brought in carrier bags or transport cages, they are not allowed in the castles, museum as well as means of transport.
Yes. While it is not possible to take strollers into the rooms of the castles with you, due to limited space and the large size of the groups, you can take your childrens' strollers/buggy into the castle courtyards.
At Neuschwanstein Castle, you can even find a designated room to store your stroller for the duration of your visit.
Regular-size backpacks and handbags can be taken into the tours. Large luggage, hiking backpacks or military backpacks are not allowed inside the castles and the museum.
Please note that luggage inspection on a sample basis can occur at the entrance to Neuschwanstein Castle. This serves to ensure the security of all our visitors.
Baggage cannot be stored in the Ticket-Center Hohenschwangau.
No. It is strictly forbidden to take photographs or movies inside all sights.
Currently, it is possible to visit the Marienbrücke. However, in winter, due to ice and snow, it is sometimes not possible to enter and visit the Mary's bridge ("Marienbrücke"). On the start page of our homepage under "Current information" you will find daily whether access to the Mary's bridge ("Marienbrücke") is open. Access to Neuschwanstein castle and the guided tours inside are, however, not restricted.
No. For safety reasons, the hiking trail through the Pöllat Gorge is unfortunately closed. An opening time is not yet known.