Neuschwanstein/Hohenschwangau questions

Posted by ptlovesot on 08/25/22 02:36 AM

We will be visiting the castles on Sept 23. The website seems to only allow me to reserve Hohenschwangau AND THEN Neuschwanstein... if I purchase them together. I am able to purchase separately, but would pay about 4 Euro extra per person. Does it matter which I go to first? I was trying for early times and the earliest is 9 AM at NSchw. The earliest at HSchw is 9:50. I just don't want the day to get away from us. Now that Marienbrucke is open, we plan to go there before the castle tours.

I want to spend the afternoon at nearby attractions, perhaps: luge, Tegelbergbahn, Fussen...depends on what the group decides.

The day before, we are at Dachau in the morning, drive down to Ehrenberg ruins (my husband HAS to walk on the Highline 179), then spend the night at Schwangau.

The day after may be spent locally or over in G-P/Mittenwald.

Advice on the castle tours would be helpful!

Posted by jules m

Twin Cities of MN

08/25/22 02:50 AM

6487 posts

We went to both "castles". Ideally, one would do Hohenschwangau first because they provide a fair amount of history on the family that provides context for Neuschwanstein. We did it in that order. We actually enjoyed Hohenschwangau more because its furnished and the information about the family.

Seems like you are trying to fit in a lot for one day. I would say it takes about 30 minutes to get from one castle to the other, but we did it in slippery, wet snow.

Posted by ptlovesot OP

08/25/22 03:01 AM

76 posts

Our afternoon plans are not fixed which is why I used the word "perhaps". As much as I want to go to Dachau (and plans are fixed at this point), it is taking a whole day away from all the other things I wanted to do in the area!

Posted by awrzesinski

08/25/22 04:20 AM

1038 posts

I would book the combined ticket. It’s been a few years, but my main memory of the castle tours was the efficiency. I also booked the earliest entry for H before N, I think this is just how it works. H castle is great, and I think more enjoyable. Much more intimate and real, small tour groups. It certainly seems that all the big bus tour groups and crowds just go to Neuschwanstein. That was where there was still a bit of a wait, but it’s a wild scene. They line everyone up in big gated queues, and the tour groups are large. They really move the groups through fast. I don’t know what the actual tour length is, but recall it feeling quite brief. Guess what I’m trying to say is the entire experience (if you book ahead) is efficient and over within just a couple hours. I had the whole day after - biked over to the luge, then to Ehrenburg (which is a whole other story.) I don’t think you’ll feel pressed for time in regards to other sights.

Getting there early for Marienbruck should help avoid crowds (it will generally be mobbed.) Fussen is a fine enough town for a meal or brief stay, but it’s not especially worth stopping for.

Posted by Nigel

Northamptonshire, England

08/25/22 12:23 PM

33859 posts

I don’t know what the actual tour length is,

about half an hour - no dawdling

it is a pretty big investment in time and money and dealing with crowds for what you get. I believe that I remember from when I did it many years ago that no interior photography is permitted either.