Husband and I will be in Munich for one full day in May 2026 before we fly back to US. I would love to see Neuschwanstein.
Anyone have a one day tour OR half day tour OR easy train/bus directions to recommend? This is at the end of long European trip and I want something easy. Thanks!
So about 10 years ago, we did mikes bike tour from Munich. It was an all day tour -bus ride to fussen, a bike ride through the countryside, a swim in an alpine lake, lunch and then a hike up to the castle with castle tour. It was a great day. Not sure you’re looking for something like that, but here is link just in case .. https://www.mikesbiketours.com/tours/neuschwanstein-castle-bus-bike/
Unless you have previously visited Munich, I would highly recommend that you spend the day exploring the terrific things that city has to offer. We found Neuschwanstein to be a huge disappointment and waste of time. It is overpriced, overcrowded with wall to wall tourists & you spend a significant amount of time waiting to get into the "castle" where you are rushed through the tour. From the outside, it is picturesque, but IMO that is about the only positive of the experience.
We did that same Mikes Bike Tour and loved it!
Seconding the Mike's Bikes tour...we did this in 2018, it was great.
Thanks everyone. I should have mentioned we are both upper 60's, and I have 2 bad knees, so sadly, biking is not an option.
Was hoping to find someone who has done a train or bus on their own and could share their experience.
It’s easy to do on your own by train from Munich. Thete is no problem getting the bus from the Fuessen train station, or take one of the taxis that will be waiting for the train. ?be aware that there are 182 steps up and down on the castle tour. My bad knee wife did o.k. Book the castle entrance as soon as you know your date.
If you take an organized tour, book one that includes Linderhof and perhaps Oberammergau
You are aware that whatever tour you might join does not provide the tour guide for N'stein - only N'stein-employed guides lead tours - right? So this would be the same overpriced, overcrowded tour that Travelbug69 mentioned.
Many use public transport - figure 4.5+ hours round trip from Munich.
Bad knees: From the N'stein ticket center you'd have either an uphill hike of 40 minutes in front of you (and back down), or there's the carriage ride (see website for details on that option.) And there are stairs once you are on the interior tour as well... 160+ stairsteps or so is my understanding. See area map below.
"...I want something easy."
I don't see anything easy about this, nor is it an outing I'd recommend.
If you have never been to Munich that I urge you to stay in the city and see the sites. If you really want a castle/palace there are plenty of Bavarian palaces close or in Munich.
I never went there but the people who I talked with said it was overcrowded and not pleasant. The outside of the castle is probably the best part.
If you want something easy IMO I would stay in Munich and see the sites.
As an alternative the Neuschwanstein, what about Nymphenburg Palace? https://www.schloss-nymphenburg.de/englisch/palace/
It is in Munich, has a lot of cool things to see. The Porcelain Part of the museum has some really cool sleds. Like the kind pulled by horses, not the individual kind.
Thanks everyone, sounds like we should consider staying in the city and visiting Nymphenburg Palace. Any other highlights in Munich you would recommend? Is Marienplatz worth a visit?
https://www.residenz-muenchen.de/englisch/tourist/opening.htm
We loved the Residenz right in Munich. This was used as the winter palace.
You have one full day, that's it, right?
What time is your flight out the next day? Nymphenburg is a good palace alternative if you are set on staying in Munich proper. But other options do exist. If it's a morning flight, well, you will have a 40-minute train ride from central Munich to Munich Airport. Much closer to the airport than Munich itself is the handsome town of Freising. Lots of people stay there when using Munich Airport. The world's oldest brewery is there. Zoom out with this map of Freising's parking options to see how closer the airport is to Fresing than to Munich. The train ride to the airport station is 10 minutes.
Tripadvisor info on Freising:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g198549-Freising_Upper_Bavaria_Bavaria-Vacations.html
Is Marienplatz worth a visit? Yes, IMO. It is the hub of the Altstadt. Take the lift up the Rathaus and get a glimpse of the alps or a close up of the Frauenkirche. Visit the Viktualienmarkt and Der Alter Peter church, not to mention Dallmayr Deli - I return just for the Christmas chocolate bars. By sticking close to the center, you can set your own pace, and transportation options are plentiful. The recommendation of Freising sounds good to me, too.
If I found myself in Schwangau, which has happened, I would opt to see Hohenschwangau rather than Neuschwanstein. Much more interesting (to me) with the furnishings and knowing folks actually lived there. Plus, you can take lots of photos of Neuschwanstein. If you do go, there is a nice restaurant on the lake with outdoor eating.
Still, it is a lot of effort at the end of a long trip. Staying in Munich may be more relaxing, less hectic.
Aside from Mike's Bikes, anybody have recommendations for other tours to Neuschwanstein. I will also be there in early May. Not looking for alternatives, self guided trips (which we may do) or reasons not to go, just looking for comments from people with actual experiences with various tours. Thanks.
I've been to Neuschwanstein 3 times since 1988, and I keep going back, but I never took one of those overpriced, third party tours.
The first time (1988) I was coming from four days in Munich to Immenstadt i.A. for the night before heading up to Oberstdorf and Kleinwalsertal. We made a side trip to Füssen. Since we were using a rail pass that day the side trip cost very little extra. Our only expense was the bus from Füssen and the castle admission.
The second time (2002) we were staying near Oberstdorf and came over on a bus. An Oberallgäu pass we got from our Gasthaus covered most of the trip at no additional cost.
The last time (2017) we were already staying for three nights in Pfronten, near Füssen, and used a bus pass from our Gasthaus.
Mike's Bikes charge almost a hundred dollars and doesn't even include the cost of castle admission. Other third party tours are similarly priced. All they really do is babysit you on the trip out to Füssen; you can easily do it on your own. You pay extra for the castle tour, which is given by someone on the castle staff. Having gone to the castle three times myself, without a tour, I would never spend the extra money for what I consider a needless service.
There are a lot of things to do and see in Munich. If this is your first time to Munich, I think it would be a shame to skip all those things for a long day trip. Stay in town.
I'm an engineer and kind of a technology geek. I really enjoyed the Deutsches Museum. I also enjoyed the Münchner Stadtmuseum, but there's no English. All the exhibits are explained in German (of which I understand a little).
Good advice, Lee, whether the asking party appreciates it or not.
