Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Exclusive Skip-the-Crowds Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
The famous Fairytale Castle NEUSCHWANSTEiN is the 2nd most visited attraction in Germany. It captivates 1.5M visitors with its dreamy beauty, inspired by characters from Wagner's epic operas. Unfortunately this means that up to 8,000 visitors/day crowd the place all year long.
This tour gives you the unique opportunity to avoid these crowds and enjoy the calm magic also at HOHENSCHWANGAU in peace. Immerse yourself in the magnificence of the castles and grounds: Let the fairy tale come to life around you!
Our expert guide will give you space to enjoy numerous other sights as well while being at your disposal and alert to your needs & questions at all times.
WHY WITH US:
• Know that your day is planned and conducted by a friendly & professional tour guide
• Look forward to an unique excursion package
• Enjoy the perfect symbiosis of traveling in relaxed comfort and fully leveraging your precious vacation time
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Are you able to walk uphill from the car park to Neuschwanstein castle on a paved road - approx. 1,5 km/1 mile in an hour's time? If not, we have to calculate additional (waiting-) time for the horse-hybrid carriage or the Shuttle bus, since neither can be reserved (the latter is not operating during snow and ice) – Anyway, an approx. 450 meters/0.28 miles uphill walk (up to 15 % slope) or an approx. 500 meters/0.3 miles downhill walk (up to 19 % gradient) from the respective terminal to the entrance of the castle have to be managed in any case. The costs for the shuttle bus/horse-drawn carriages are not included in the travel price and can only be paid in cash on site (maximum € 12.00 per person for the round trip. As of 2026)
In Neuschwanstein Castle itself, a total of 346 stairs (up and down) have to be mastered. For wheelchair users and people with severe walking disabilities who can show a disability ID --> please inform us IMMEDIATELY after your booking! <-- we can request an exclusive lift service only for you with a maximum of one accompanying person, accompanied by the castle staff. The elevator service is at no extra cost, but (due to fire regulations) the number of tours with this service is very limited and must be reconfirmed by the castle authority.
To Hohenschwangau castle there is a carriage service (not in winter season) almost from door-to-door. In Hohenschwangau Castle, a total of 180 stairs (up and down) have to be mastered (no elevator). The costs for the horse-drawn carriages are not included in the travel price and can only be paid in cash on site. No advance reservation possible.).
In Linderhof castle you have to walk only approx. two times 15 minutes (relatively flat) and in the 30 minutes tour of the castle you have to climb stairs to the first floor.
Each castle can be reached also with strollers, but they are not allowed during the tour of the interiors.
If you want to reach Neuschwanstein castle by the "breathtaking" hike through the spectacular Gorge (approx. 45 to 60 minutes - CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!) on a well-developed path (not suitable for strollers, 1/4 of the distance are stairs), suitable footwear is required (for example hiking boots). In case of unsuitable weather or during maintenance work, the path through the gorge remains closed!
Image credit #2 (Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castle) © Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung (neuschwanstein(dot)de)#3 (Neuschwanstein castle) © Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung (neuschwanstein(dot)de), Photographer: Anton Brandl), #4 (Neuschwanstein throne room) © Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung (neuschwanstein(dot)de) #all others: Sightseeing Bavaria Exclusive
What To Expect
Theresienwiese
We carefully curate our selection of sights for each tour to give you the ultimate tour experience. At the same time, this is YOUR exclusive tour, so we welcome your suggestions and do our best to accommodate your wishes. If you, for example, want to stay longer at a stop, or don't want to visit all the mentioned stops, just let us know; we will adjust your requests accordingly and create a tailor-made tour according to your wishes! ... but now: Look forward to a delightful tour, resting assured that you are in good hands with your friendly & professional tour guide, who will take you on eventful, informative yet relaxing excursions in our luxurious Minivans. We'll pass the place where King Ludwig I (Ludwig II's Grandfather), celebrated his wedding more than 200 years ago, which we know today as the Oktoberfest! (Depending on traffic conditions or your pickup address, we reserve the right to show you a different attraction.)
Starnberger See
20 min later we reach the impressive Lake Starnberg, also known as the “Dukes lake”. Magnificent villas stretch along the lakeshore, including the summer residences of Sissi, the pretty but unfortunate Empress of Austria. See the spot in the lake where King Ludwig II mysteriously died on June 13, 1886. Learn about the strange relationship between Ludwig and Sissi, and why he didn't want to marry Sissis younger sister. The only island of the lake ("Roseninsel") which was in royal possession, too, was the meeting place of Ludwig and Sissi several times...
Options
9.5 Exclusive Private hours!
Duration: 9 hours 30 minutes: 'SKIP-THE-CROWDS' at 7:00am, Skip-the-Line tickets for Neuschwanstein castle are inclusive! Pickup included
XXL-Time credit
Duration: 11 hours: 'SKIP-THE-CROWDS' at 7:00am, inclusive Skip-the-Line tickets for Neuschwanstein! Enjoy this XXL-tour length to see even more! Pickup included
What‘s Included
Drive in new and luxurious Mercedes- or VW Minivan (a/c) - only your group participates!
Skip-the-Line Ticket Neuschwanstein Castle, even for bookings at short notice
Professional English-speaking tour guide
No hidden costs!
Hotel pick-up and drop-off from Munich (outside of Munich additional costs may apply)
Bottled water
if desired: Skip-the-Line ticket Hohenschwangau Castle: Adult € 26.00 / Child (0-6 years): € 2.50
Lunch
Gratuities
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
89 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A magical day!
Ann K,May 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00What an incredible day! First, Stefan meets you with a warm and welcoming smile and spirit. He’s knowledgeable and so friendly, we stopped a few places along the way, including an incredible old church in a small village that was beautiful. The castle is incredible, his recommendation for lunch was a nice spot, and the palace is beautiful with gardens and fountains. Each one is in a unique and beautiful setting. The day was long, but certainly worth it!
Wow! So much to see and do!
Jason W,Oct 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Stefan - our guide was fabulous in his hosting and arranging our trip! We were able to see as much as we could on our day and we arrived safely back to our pick up point. Very knowledgeable guide, good driver, considerate for all in the group. We loved the content of this trip we booked.
First off we had a...
Ann L,Sep 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00First off we had a wonderful full day with Stefan our guide. He smartly starts his tour at 7am to get us into the Bavarian countryside to Neuschwanstein castle before all the big tourist buses. Along the way he pointed out items of interest and explained some Bavarian history. He coached us on how to manage the timing of visiting both Neuschwanstein castle and Hohenschwangau castle as it is very busy, giving us plenty of time to even grab a good meal for lunch. He was kind and patient when trying to answer our hodge podge of questions. His Mercedes van was very comfortable and easy to get in & out of. Stefan was a very safe driver. We rounded out the day with visits to Lindhoff gardens, Plansee, Oberammergau, and Ettal Abbey before heading back to Munich. Stefan could not have been a better fit for us. He left us with many good memories to take home with us.
Helpful ans flexible guide with lots of knowledge
Jonathan M,Jul 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a great tour! Our driver / guide was knowledgeable. He helped us change some of the itinerary around as we weren't familiar with everything. Towards the end didn't rush us or pressure us for anything and when we said we weren't looking to do anymore tours as our 9 year old was at her limit he drove us through some scenic routes and gave some history and facts about the areas.
Best Day of our Trip
B0shes,Jun 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We booked our excurision through Stefan, who was great with communication and helping us put together an itinerary. Our driver and guide was Karl, who was absolutely fantastic. We requested a somewhat last second detour to a friend’s hometown, which Karl happily accommodated. He also helped us coordinate a food/snack stop at a small grocery store to avoid tourist crowds and grab a bag of Sauer Pommes (a new family favorite candy). Transportation was in an extremely comfortable Mercedez Minibus with plenty of room for six of us- it felt like luxury. In one day we managed visit Neuschwanstein and the Marienbrücke, the Sommerrodelbahn Tegelberg, Highline 179, and made a detour to a small brewery and folks festival in Weilheim, all before making it back to Munich by 6:00 for dinner. Although we never felt rushed, I don’t see how so much could be accomplished without the help of a great tour guide. Many thanks to Sightseeing Bavaria and Karl for the best day of our 10 day trip!
Castle in the Sky
Gregory P,Jun 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Thomas was an outstanding guide. The castle is a must see attraction when you’re in Munich. Amazing how much ornate detail there is in the castle. The views are incredible.
Great trip to the castles.
Jeff R,Apr 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great itinerary. Booking process was very easy and Stefan communicated with us from the start. Very busy day but we did everything we requested and Stefan could not have been more kind and willing to provide commentary and answer questions. Overall just a great experience.
Must do!!
Brian C,Apr 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Fantastic opportunity to make the most of one full day! Stephan very knowledgeable and did a tremendous job of providing history!
Overall, it was a great...
Jason M,Mar 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00Overall, it was a great day trip. The town was charming, and the shops were reasonably priced. The only drawback is that I wish the price of the bus tickets were included.
Once in a lifetime castle tour!
Steven G,Nov 30, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Not only were both castles incredibly fascinating our tour guide Maria was fantastic and we learned so much about the history of Ludwig II. Even had time to stop at other spots of interest on the way to and from the castles. This is THE way to do this full day tour and highly recommend Maria as your guide!
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