Please sign in to post.

Neuschwanstein Castle Tours

I am looking into booking a castle tour for our trip to Munich in the middle of June and was looking for recommendations on what company to go with. We had friends who used Mikes Bike Tours and they had very good feedback, but on Mike's, you don't get to see Linderhof as well. I was reading some reviews on other tours and some of the reviews said they were too rushed, so I am wondering if it is worth it to go with a company that gets Linderhof in as well if you are rushed to get through everything.

Our group is 2 families, so 7 of us. The 3 kids are 18, 11 and 5. I explored renting a car ourselves, but needing 2 cars and just for the day, it seemed like a tour would just be easier most likely.

Also, one more question, is there a day of the week that would be better than others, that might be less busy? We could do it any day Mon-Thurs at this point.

Posted by
334 posts

We did the Mike's Bikes tour in 2018 and it was great. Bus there and back, short and easy bike ride around the lake, walk up to and around the castle, lunch was good, tour guide was good (weather was also good, this was in July). The castle tour was not all that great, if I recall, but that has nothing to do with Mike's Bikes, they don't conduct the castle tour. It was summer, and a Sunday - so it was crowded, and that may have had an effect.

Posted by
6664 posts

My first suggestion would be to skip Neuschwanstein if you don't appreciate being rushed through places. Whether you go there with a tour group from Munich or on your own, your time inside amounts to 25 minutes.

But since I anticipate this advice will be tossed aside, as it usually is, I'll suggest an alternative plan which includes it and which you can do on your own using the public transport system.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g641956-d190838-Reviews-Pilgrimage_Church_of_Wies-Steingaden_Upper_Bavaria_Bavaria.html

If there's a more stunning church in Germany, I'm not aware of it.

  • Have lunch at a Gasthof nearby.

  • Lv the Wieskirche 13:56 for Neuschwanstein (ar 14:46.)

  • Lv Neuschwanstein 16:31 or 17:40. Arrive Munich 19:19 or 20:19

You can do this entire trip for €72 (covers everyone) without a car. Buy a "Regioticket Werdenfelser Land" for 2 adults (€36) at Munich Hbf train station and a second one for 3 adults (€46.) The 2 youngest children travel for free.

https://www.bahn.de/angebot/regio/bayern/regio-ticket-werdenfels

Posted by
27 posts

Thank you both.

And Russ, I am still considering not doing this castle visit, but not sure how the group will feel about that yet. I've seen multiple reviews saying it is overrated, but also feel like if I give the group an itinerary and it doesn't include this, I am going to be told to change it! I will have more of a discussion with our group on it, but assume we will end up going anyways, so just preparing. Putting together plans now for the group and get feedback.

Posted by
6664 posts

It's tough to yank something unless you replace it with something compelling. I'm guessing that Nymphenburg Palace, King Ludwig II's childhood home (and a fine alternative on many levels) might not have caught your group's attention yet. A leisurely 2-3 hours there would probably provide something for everyone. There's a lot to see. And it's only 15-20 minutes from Munich station.

https://www.theworldisabook.com/16991/munich-with-kids-nymphenburg-palace/

https://schloss-nymphenburg.de/englisch/palace/

Not sure what ELSE you have planned during your Munich time. But IMO the best and easiest outing into the Alps from Munich is Mittenwald, 1 hr 50 minutes each way by direct train from Munich Hbf:

https://www.butterandfly.net/wp-content/uploads/Mittenwald-Germany-14.jpg

Day trip guide to Mittenwald

Posted by
27 posts

Thanks Russ, Nymphenburg is on my list of possibilities as well. We are also headed to Wengen after Munich so we will have some days in the Alps in Switzerland as well.