So, my family and I were looking forward to seeing Neuschwanstein as a day trip from Munich but Rick makes it sound pretty brutal to get there by train + bus is 4 hours or more, then you have to be there an hour early, then hike up a steep hill to the castle. BTW - how steep is this hike actually? Is it going to be hard for someone with a bad back?
What other castles are extraordinary and worth a full day's trip from Munich?
Thanks everyone :)
If you're in decent physical condition and have no mobility problems, the hike to the castle is nothing. If you do have problems, you can take the bus or horse carriage.
Other castles...
Burg Trausnitz in Landshut. Landshut is probably a quicker train ride from Munich, but getting to the castle involves either walking up a steep hill, or figuring out the bus route from the Hauptbahnhof. I thought it was in interesting visit, but the interior of the castle was mostly reconstructed after a fire in the 1960s. Ironic, because it survived into modern times undamaged and well maintained. Landshut also has a particularly large and colorful Alstadt.
It would be a VERY long daytrip from Munich, but I think Veste Coburg in Coburg is Germany's best castle. However, if you have trouble walking up to Neuschwanstein, forget about Veste Coburg.
Burg zu Burghausen, in Burghausen. Advertised as the "longest castle in the world", I guess it depends on how you define "castle". But the actual castle keep remains preserved and undamaged. And it's a flat walk from the Hauptbahnhof (although the beautiful Altstadt, below the castle, requires a long walk down either stairs or a hill to reach).
I did the hour hike up to Berg Eltz but it wasnt steep at all. Im young (39) and mobile most of the time but there is a chance after several days of travel and walking that my back (ruptured disc) will not be happy. I can probably push thru it because I'm otherwise fit.
Thank you for your feedback - I will take it into consideration :)
Hi Amy,
Why not see Neuschwanstein if that's what you really want to do? Two hours travel each way. Take the shuttle bus up to Mary's Bridge above the castle or the carriage to just below the castle. Include a visit to Hohenschwangau castle, "next door", where King Ludwig grew up. Interesting tour. Maybe head over to the Tegelbergbahn cable car trip and/or Tegelberg luge ride (Sommerrodelbahn), which are a mile or so from the castles. Fuessen, maybe 10 minutes away, is a pretty, old town and worth walking around. Simply make a day of it all.
Paul
How much time should be allowed for Neuschwanstein- including the required hour early arrival?
4 hour trip + 1 hour wait + 30 minute walk + tour + what else? Will we have time to see Hohenschwangau? How long does it take?
Then 4 hours back to Munich makes for a long day. Am I figuring this wrong?
Also, I heard Mary's bridge is closed until August... We'll be there in about 3 weeks. Does that change anything?
Not sure what you mean by 4 hours there and 4 hours back.
It's 2 hours there and then 2 hours back to Munich. 4 hours TOTAL travel time.
Train to Fuessen, which is just a few minutes bus ride from the castles. Take the shuttle or carriage up to Neuschwanstein. No 30 minute walk this way. Maybe 10 minutes at best.
Mary's Bridge being closed wouldn't change anything for me. It's just a nice view of the castle from there.
Book the tours in advance. You will tour Hohenschwangau first. They then give you enough time to get to Neuschwanstein after touring Hohenschwangau castle. EACH castle tour is only 30 minutes long.
Paul
You can purchase a tickets for both Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, and your tickets are timed to allow entry to both, with enough wiggle room to linger between the two.
Relax about fitting both in, this is a very common day trip from Munich, and millions have managed it.
Thanks Tom :) I do tend to get a little hyper about these things.... I appreciate your help!
While I would go see Neuschwanstein if that is what you want. Burg Trausnitz in Landshut that Tom mention is not a bad climb if you walk through town approach it from the back side. It is mostly done with stairs. My sister-in-law did it with tendon issues in her heel. I was less impressed with the castle than with the views of the town.
https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Other-2/April-2014-Landshut/i-dsgBh4m
For the most part, castle were built on the high ground, to command the area, so you will usually have to walk up a hill to see one.
I'm not sure about the walk from Burghausen Hbf to the front of the castle, but there is a bus. I took the bus from the Bahnhof to the Altstadt where I spent the night, then walked up the path to the castle. It wasn't a strenuous climb.
Nürnberg castle is up a hill, but not as far up as some castles.
Harburg, between Donauwörth and Nördlingen is on a hill, but not as long a climb as Neuschwanstein.
Hohensalzburg is high above Salzburg, but there is a funicular from town to the castle.
In Baden-Württemburg, the castles are a bit too far for a day trip. Burg Hollenzollern is on a high hill, but there was a shuttle bus from the base to the castle. The castle at Sigmaringen is on a bluff above the Danube, but the town of the other side is not much lower. But it is a bit of a walk uphill from the Bahnhof to the town.
Neuschwanstein is not really a castle but a palace. If you are interested in palaces as well, then check out another one of King Ludwig's places: Herrenchiemsee. The location is also quite beautiful on an island in a lake. It's not as touristy as Neuschwanstein and it's a bit closer to Munich (just over an hour).
This website gives you information about quite a number of castles and palaces in Bavaria, the direct link goes to Herrenchiemsee:
http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/objects/hch_ns.htm
Ludwig's Linderhof is also worth seeing.
Neuschwanstein is not really a castle but a palace.
I think that is a pretty subjective determination. I would definitely call places like Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof, and Nymphenburg palaces, but Neuschwanstein and Hohenzollernburg, in Hechingen, have so much in common. They were both built in the 19th century on sites of previous castles to look like castles, but were really apartments for a king. Neither one is really equipped to withstand an attack.
It's an awfully fine line. Hohensalzburg, Burghausen, and Harburg were certainly castles, because they were built for the purpose of defense. So was the Marksburg, but Reichenburg, in Cochem, is called a castle, but it was really a chateau built in the 19th century over the ruins of a castle as the vacation home for a rich Berlin merchant.
Neuschwanstein is not really a castle but a palace.
I think that is a pretty subjective determination. I would definitely call places like Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof, and Nymphenburg palaces, but Neuschwanstein and Hohenzollernburg, in Hechingen, have so much in common. They were both built in the 19th century on sites of previous castles to look like castles, but were really apartments for a king. Neither one is really equipped to withstand an attack.
There's an awfully fine line between what is called a Burg and what is called a Schloss. Hohensalzburg, Burghausen, and Harburg were certainly castles, because they were built for the purpose of defense. So was the Marksburg, but the Reichenburg, in Cochem, is called a castle, but it was really a chateau built in the 19th century over the ruins of a castle as the vacation home for a rich Berlin merchant.
it[Herrenchiemsee]'s a bit closer to Munich (just over an hour).
It's just under an hour by regional train from Munich to Prien Bhf, but by the time you get to the harbor, take the boat to the landing, and walk across the island to the palace, it's over two 2 hours.
Thanks for the help!!
Hi Amy in IN from another Amy in IN. We did the Neuschwanstein trip from Munich a few weeks ago and would recommend it. We ordered tickets ahead, left Munich around noon, had a beer on the terrace, lounged by the lake, walked in the woods and toured both castles. We got back to Munich about 10 pm. Yes, it was a long day but was one of our favorite days and I'm so glad we went. The train and bus segment is more simple than it sounds and inexpensive with the Bayern ticket. The walk up to the castle is steep but it's paved with many benches along the way to rest, or as others have mentioned, you can use the transportation there.
Happy Travels!
Amy from Indiana - Thank you so much!! That's just what I wanted to hear. Thanks to all others who answered - this matter is now closed! :)
Amy
