Neuschwanstein Castle

They mean 1 hr before the tour time at the ticket office. For most people, it will take the better part of an hour to walk up the hill to the castle.

"Reserved tickets have to be collected at least one hour before your confirmed entrance time at the counter "reserved tickets" in the Ticket Center Hohenschwangau."

https://www.hohenschwangau.de/543.html

I wanted to add that while you can take the horse drawn carriages up to the castle (and it is very enjoyable to do so), do it well in advance of when you think you need to. We got in one and waited there for probably 20 minutes while the driver tried to fill it up. One of the other passengers complained and the driver basically said 'we'll go when we go'. It doesn't take you to the VERY top, and we ended up running (and I mean at a full sprint) uphill for the last several hundred yards yelling that we were coming so we didn't miss the tour. It was VERY close and hard to enjoy the beauty when you're dizzy and gasping for air.
You'll also want to take some pictures outside the castle before the tour starts, so, get there early.

Thank you both for all your help! I will breathe easier now!

Hi,

There's also a shuttle bus up to Marienbrucke, which is above the castle. It's a pretty steep, maybe 10 minute walk, on a paved walkway, down to the castle.

I would allow yourself a good hour to get up the hill to the castle.........even if you are super fit, take time on the walk to enjoy the scenery. I think the bridge may be closed now for renovation but just in case it's open, it's a nice way to view the castle to get that "iconic" picture you see everywhere. If not, there are still plenty of opportunities to get good pictures of it....the bridge is further past the walk to the castle.

I don't consider myself out of shape but I will say that walk was fairly tiring! The horse drawn carriages often have quite the line and you could miss your admission time to the castle if you wait for a carriage....which is an additional cost, I believe?

If you don't want to wait for the horse drawn carriage to go up to the castle but still want to take a ride in one, they only charge half price for the trip down.

Just to be redundant......MAKE SURE you get tickets before you go......The lines are LONG.

To go against the grain...in four years living in Germany, one of the places visitors to my house wanted to visit most often was Neuschwanstein. All the visits were usually between the months of October and May, and not ONCE was it ever necessary to reserve ahead of time. We usually showed up, bought tickets and the tours of either castle began within the hour. Only once didy guests have to wait a little longer...it was probably because Bayern Munchen had a home Champions League match the following day.

So, during certain months, you don't need to reserve tickets and I wouldn't even recommend it during those times. That way, you'll never feel rushed, you can walk around at your own pace and even take the time to visit the new Wittelsbach museum.

"not ONCE was it ever necessary to reserve ahead of time. We usually showed up, bought tickets and the tours of either castle began within the hour."

That had been my experience, too. The first three times I went to Füssen I was able to get tickets immediately and do the tour soon afterward. In 2009 I was passing through on the way to Munich, and I stopped to take pictures of the route from the bus stop to the ticket kiosk, and I took a picture of a half empty serpentine at the kiosk. So when I went there in 2013, even though it was during Oktoberfest, I expected everyone to be in Munich. Wrong! I got there at noon, and the line for tickets was so long, there were more people outside the kiosk than inside, I don't think anyone at the end got in that day. So sometimes it is good to make reservations - or get there really early.