Day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle

Train with a Bayern ticket should be easy. How many people?

It's very easy to do by train, and probably a lot less expensive than by renting a car or using a 3rd party tour. Trains leave hourly from Munich Hbf. It takes about two hours to the Füssen Bahnhof and then 8 minutes by bus to the stop close to the ticket kiosk in Hohenschwangau. If you go using a Bayern-Ticket, the train and the bus are included for 25€ (single) or 31€ (two people).

Just be aware that when you arrive via train at the Fussen station you must change to a bus. Yes, your Bayren Pass still works on the bus. The problem is the HORDES of tourists who are flocking to the bus and clamoring to get on. It was disorganized CHAOS when we were last there. Be aware and you'll be fine. You could also jump in a taxi for the short jaunt up to the ticket booth of the castles.

As for the hordes of tourists - as soon as the train stopped there were several big groups that piled out of the trains and climbed down the walls onto the neighboring train track and across/through a hedge of bushes so they could get to the buses first. It was absolutely astonishing to see them. BTW - there is a nice wide walkway to follow to get to the buses. No one should EVER jump down the walls onto the train tracks to cross on foot...ever!

We visited two weeks ago, took 6:51 AM train from Munich Hauptbahnhof, arrived in Fuessen just before 9, took taxi from station to ticket office (i think it was 9-10 Euros) short line at ticket center, no more than 10 people in front of us, and we were touring at 10:45. Will be busier in summer of course, but we chose to buy tickets on the day of visit instead of pre-reserving, because big factor for us was how nice the weather would be, and weather isn't predictable more than a day in advance. The tours of each castle are only half hour, a lot of the fun is the outside view.

I'm not sure when you are going but there is a direct bus from Munich to a few minutes away from the Castle ticket office. You get to skip having to take the bus at Fussen Station to the office.

I hear you about the 1.5hour pick up thing. Sucks to have to plan your day around that. I'm going this month on a Friday so I didn't want to risk not buying in advance and there's no way in Hell I'm waiting in a long line.

To use a Bayern Ticket with a 6 am departure, you'll need to go on a weekend or German holiday. Cost would be 31 EUR for the whole group. The line to pick up tickets already booked is not long, probably nonexistent. Just show ID.

I agree with the others that this is very easy and less expensive to do by train I'll put in my plug to recommend a car here. Yes, you can get there by train but the drive is nice and a car gives you the option to stop along the way at places like Starnberg, Wieskirche, or even venture into the mountains a little. I've done both and honestly I prefer to little breaks we can take in the countryside on the drive up and down.

DJ

Ugh!!! There are no more reservations for the castle for the dates we need :( Has anyone purchased tickets the day of, without reservations?? If we were to get to the ticket office by 9am, any idea how long we might have to wait in line??

There are some tours through viator that availability and claim skip the line access. Has anyone had any experience with this company? One of tours includes castle tickets, the you that day so does that mean this company has the tickets reserved? For the one where you purchase the entrance ticket on site, is it guaranteed that you will get in or can these sell out?

https://www.viator.com/tours/Munich/Neuschwanstein-Castle-Small-Group-Day-Tour-from-Munich/d487-2666CASTLE
https://www.viator.com/tours/Fuessen/Half-Day-Express-and-Skip-The-Line-Tour-From-Fussen/d23184-13788P5

We didn't use this company in particular, but the idea is the same. We used Historical Walks, which does not seem be around -- at least the link from my planning notes goes to a blank page. Anyhow, we met our guide at the train station, and the tour included the train tickets to Fussen, walking tour to Hohenschwangau Castle and Swan Lake, the walking ascent up the hill to Neuschwanstein Castle, a lunch break at Bavarian restaurant/beer garden (not included in price), hike to unfinished parts of the castle and Marienbrucke, and a descent walk down the mountain using the waterfall gorge path (Pollat Gorge and Waterfall). Our guide had the tickets to the castle, but as a guide, she was not permitted in as a tour guide. We met her back out front. My guess would be these tours are similar.