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Neuschwanstein Castle rises from a rocky ridge in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, near the small town of Füssen in southern Germany. It was commissioned by King Ludwig II in the nineteenth century as a romantic retreat inspired by medieval legend and the operas of Richard Wagner, and it was never fully completed. The surrounding landscape of lakes, forest and mountains is as much a part of its appeal as the building itself.
Visits to the castle interior are by timed guided tour, and many people walk up to the Marienbrücke, a footbridge spanning a gorge with a famous view of the facade. Down in the village of Hohenschwangau, the yellow Hohenschwangau Castle was Ludwig's childhood home, and the Museum of the Bavarian Kings tells the family's story beside the clear Alpsee. The Tegelberg cable car climbs for mountain views and paragliding. Füssen itself is worth time: its old town lanes along Reichenstraße, the Hohes Schloss with its painted courtyard, and St. Mang Abbey, which houses the Museum of Füssen. The broad Forggensee reservoir lies just north.
Day trips from Munich are common, but staying in Füssen allows an early start before the crowds. Summer is busiest, and booking castle tickets ahead is wise.
WiserMap travel guideNeuschwanstein and Füssen Germany Fairytale Castle ViewsPlan a trip to Neuschwanstein and Füssen: castle tickets, Marienbrücke views, Alpsee walks, St. Mang Abbey, Lechfall, Tegelberg and Allgäu food.Read the guide
The fairy-tale castle built by King Ludwig II from 1869 on a rocky hill above Hohenschwangau. Guided tours visit its lavish rooms, inspired by Wagner's operas, including the Throne Hall and the Singers' Hall. Tip: tickets are sold for timed tours only, so book online well ahead.
The yellow castle where Ludwig II spent his childhood, rebuilt by his father King Maximilian II. Guided tours show rooms decorated with murals of German legends and the piano Wagner played. Tip: it is less crowded than Neuschwanstein, and a combined ticket for both castles is available.
A late Gothic castle above the old town of Fussen, once the summer residence of the prince-bishops of Augsburg. Its courtyard walls have painted illusion windows, and it houses art galleries. Tip: climb the clock tower for views over the town and the Alps.
An iron footbridge across the Pollat Gorge, offering the most famous view of Neuschwanstein Castle, with the plain and lakes behind. It is a 10-minute walk uphill from the castle. Tip: the bridge gets very crowded and is closed in icy weather, so go early in the day.
A mountain near Schwangau reached by cable car, with views over Neuschwanstein, the Forggensee and the Alps. Paragliders and hang gliders launch from the top, and in summer there is a summer toboggan run at the base. Tip: hiking trails lead from the summit back down past the castles.
The Kalvarienberg is a hill above Fussen with a Way of the Cross and a lookout with views of the town and castles. A trail continues to the Alatsee, a quiet forest lake near the Austrian border with a beer garden. Tip: the climb to Kalvarienberg is steep but short.
A museum on the shore of the Alpsee in Hohenschwangau, in a former hotel, telling the story of the Wittelsbach family, the rulers of Bavaria for over 700 years. It shows royal objects including the gold robe of Ludwig II. Tip: its windows give great views over the lake.
A former Benedictine monastery in the old town, now home to the town museum, with Baroque halls, a library and a famous collection of lutes and violins, since Fussen was a center of instrument making. The painted Dance of Death is a highlight. Tip: it is right next to the High Castle.
A clear mountain lake right below Hohenschwangau Castle, with a flat trail of about 5 km around its shore. Rowboats can be rented in summer, and there is a small swimming area. Tip: the trail gives lovely views back to both castles, and it is quieter than the castle paths.
A large reservoir north of Fussen with views of the Alps and Neuschwanstein. It is filled in summer, when tour boats run and people swim, bike and sail, but it is drained in winter. Tip: a bike path around the lake is about 32 km long, with cafes along the way.
The Reichenstrasse is the main street of Fussen's old town, part of the old Roman road Via Claudia Augusta, with painted houses, shops and cafes. Lanes branch off to the Holy Spirit Hospital Church and the town walls. Tip: walk the old town in the evening when it is quiet.
A waterfall and weir on the Lech river just south of Fussen, where the river drops into a narrow gorge with turquoise water. A footbridge crosses above the falls, and walking paths follow the river. Tip: it is a short walk from the old town and can be combined with the Kalvarienberg.
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