Neuschwanstein Castle is a popular day trip destination from Munich and one of my personal favorites! Lots of people visit this fairytale castle as part of a big bus tour, but you can save money by using the regional train network instead. Here’s how to get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich by train, with lots of tips for booking tickets and timing your visit.
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You likely know Neuschwanstein as the “fairytale castle” of Germany. It’s the castle that’s plastered all over the country’s tourism materials, and it was the inspiration behind Cinderella’s castle.
Most people visit Neuschwanstein Castle as a day trip from Munich, and everyone in my personal circle has made the journey as part of a big bus tour. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to pay out the nose for one of those guided bus tours to visit the castle!
Getting from Munich to Neuschwanstein by train is actually a very easy route to follow, BUT you’ll need to look up the exact train times beforehand to ensure you make all the right connections.
Here’s a detailed overview of the route you should take if you want to ride the train from Munich to Neuschwanstein, plus suggested travel times and tips for your visit.
Enjoy your day trip! ~Claire
PS. This is NOT a full day trip guide to visiting Neuschwanstein Castle with lots of historical information. I’ll only be focusing on how to get there by train.
Guided Bus Tour vs Taking the Train: Which Is Better?
Here’s the thing: the bus tours from Munich to Neuschwanstein are actually very good. I’ve taken the train to Neuschwanstein Castle before, and I’ve also done a bus tour. It really just depends on the experience you want and what your budget is.
Pros and Cons of a Big Bus Tour
- Pros: You’ll see lots more of the region (most day tours have stops at Obergammerau, Linderhof Palace, and Neuschwanstein Castle), you won’t have to worry about train times or navigating, and you’ll have a tour guide traveling with you who can answer all of your questions.
- Cons: It’s more expensive (prices start around 75 Euros and a guided tour of Neuschwanstein Castle costs extra, so you’re looking at roughly 100 Euros per person), each stop is strictly timed so you may feel rushed, and you’ll constantly be traveling in a large crowd.
Pros and Cons of Planning Your Own Train Journey
- Pros: It’s a lot cheaper (roughly half the price when you factor in the train tickets + admission to the castle), you get to explore at your own pace, and you can time your visit to avoid the worst of the crowds.
- Cons: There’s a lot more legwork upfront (you have to research time tables and book all of your tickets in advance) and you’ll have to navigate the German train network solo.
Although I enjoyed the bus tour to Neuschwanstein Castle, I much preferred having the flexibility to explore the town of Schwangau at my own pace and also visit Hohenschwaganu Castle on the other side of town. So personally, I’m Team Train!
How to Get From Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle By Train
Step 1: Book Your Train Tickets In Advance
- Open up the Deutsche Bahn website or app.
- Set your search parameters. Add “Munich Central (München Hbf)” as the starting point and “Bahnhof Füssen” as the destination. (Füssen is the closest train station to Neuschwanstein Castle, FYI). Set the departure time to 7am because you want to take an early train, and make sure “show fastest connections” is togged on.
- Review the results of your search. Ideally you’d select a train that has a direct connection (i.e. no transfer) and that gets you to Füssen no later than 10:30am.
- Book your tickets to and from Füssen. The earlier train is the one you should be most concerned about! When you depart Füssen is totally up to you and will depend on whether you plan on visiting just Neuschwanstein or if you also want to squeeze in a visit to Hohenschwangau Castle too.
- Either print your tickets or save them to your phone for easy access.
Claire’s Tip: I can’t provide you with exact travel times because construction on the line, seasonal route adjustments, and the like mean that the timetables change frequently!
Step 2: Ride the Train to Füssen
- Aim to get to Munich’s central station 15 to 20 minutes in advance so you have plenty of time to find your train.
- Disembark at the stop “Füssen Bahnhof.”
Step 3: Transfer to the Bus
- Busses #73 and #78 will take you the remaining 10 minutes to Schwangau, which is the town where Neuschwanstein is located.
- Purchase your bus tickets from the ticket machine at the bus stop or directly from the bus driver (have cash on hand in case the card reader is broken).
- A one-way bus ticket costs 3 Euros.
- Disembark at the bus stop called “Neuschwanstein Castles, Schwangau.”
Step 4: Walk or Ride Up to Neuschwanstein Castle
- On foot: The walk from the bus stop to Neuschwanstein Castle takes 30 minutes. It’s on a paved road and is clearly marked, but it’s quite steep and you’ll definitely be huffing and puffing by the time you get to the top.
- Shuttle bus: Departs from parking lot P4 (address: Alpseestraße 27), costs 3.50 Euros one-way, and the ride takes 15 minutes. There’s a bus every 20 minutes but has no fixed timetable. You’ll be dropped just above the castle, at Mary’s Bridge, and will have to walk downhill about 15 minutes to reach the entrance.
- Horse-drawn carriage: Carriages depart from Hotel Müller (address: Alpseestraße 16). An uphill ride costs 8 Euros and a downhill ride costs 4 Euros, and you’ll have to pay the driver in cash. The ride lasts 20 minutes, but you’ll be dropped off about a 10- to 15-minute walk from the castle and will have to go the rest of the way yourself. NOTE: There’s no fixed timetable for the carriages!
Timing Your Journey to Neuschwanstein Castle
- 6 – 7am: Wakey wakey! You’re in for a long (but fun!) day. Get dressed, eat breakfast, and head out the door.
- 8 – 10am: Ride the train to Füssen (exact timing will vary since Deutsche Bahn is constantly changing its timetables)
- 10 – 11am: Ride the bus, then walk or ride up to the castle. 1 hour is more than enough time for this, but give yourself longer than you really need to ensure you arrive in time for your tour.
- 11 – 11:30am: Explore the area immediately around the castle.
- 12 – 12:30pm: Tour Neuschwanstein Castle (book your tickets as far in advance as possible). Tours are offered in German, English, and via audio guide, depending on the time slot.
- 12:40 – 1:30pm: Take the paths around the castle and be sure to walk up to Mary’s Bridge (Marienbrücke) for THE view of Neuschwanstein.
- 1:35 – 3pm: Walk or ride back down to Schwangau, then eat a late lunch in town.
- 3 – 3:50pm: Walk the 10 to 15 minutes up to Hohenschwangau Castle (if visiting) and explore the grounds.
- 4pm: Take the last tour of the day of Hohenschwangau Castle (book your tickets in advance). Tours last 45 minutes; double check that this time slot has a tour in your preferred language!
- 6 / 6:30pm: Take the train back to Munich. Give yourself enough time to walk back to the bus stop and ride the bus to Füssen station!
What You Need to Book in Advance vs Day Of
To Book in Advance
- Your train tickets to and from Füssen (if your train departs before 9am on a weekday, you can NOT use a Bavaria Day Ticket for this journey)
- Your Neuschwanstein Castle ticket (you must choose an exact tour time!)
- Your Hohenschwangau Castle ticket (if visiting — I personally would recommend it!)
Claire’s Tip: If visiting both Hohenschwangau Castle and Neuschwanstein Castle, you’ll save a little money by booking a “King’s Combo Ticket.”
To Book Day Of
- Your bus tickets to and from Füssen
- The carriage ride or shuttle bus from Schwangau to Neuschwanstein Castle
Enjoy Your Trip to Neuschwanstein!
This was more of a nuts and bolts guide to reaching Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich by train. If you’d like to see more photos of the castle, learn a bit about its history, and get more recommendations for planning a day trip, check out my full Neuschwanstein Castle Day Trip Guide.
Otherwise, let me know if you have any questions!
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