Hohenschwangau Castle

Just a short 30-minute walk from the world-famous Neuschwanstein lies Schloss Hohenschwangau, and we can genuinely recommend adding it to your visit. While Neuschwanstein often gets most of the attention, Hohenschwangau has a charm and authenticity all of its own. Set against rolling hills, peaceful forests, and a beautiful lake, the castle feels more intimate and lived-in, offering a fascinating contrast to King Ludwig II’s fairytale creation. Tickets can be bought in advance—something we recommend, especially during busier months—and guided tours are offered in several languages. The tour provides wonderful insight into the history of the Bavarian royal family and the important role this castle played in Ludwig’s childhood. Many rooms remain furnished just as they were, which makes the visit feel historically rich and surprisingly personal. Even if you decide not to join a tour, the area around Schloss Hohenschwangau is perfect for a leisurely stroll. The paths are easy to navigate, and the views of the lake and surrounding mountains are incredibly beautiful. It’s a calm and charming place to unwind, especially after the more intense and crowded experience of Neuschwanstein. Overall, we found Schloss Hohenschwangau to be a beautiful and worthwhile addition to the day—less crowded, full of history, and surrounded by stunning scenery. If you’re already in the area, it’s absolutely worth visiting both castles to get the full experience of this remarkable region.

Highly recommended. It’s the better choice if you want actual history rather than just a photo op. Honestly, I found this way more interesting than the "big" Neuschwanstein castle. There is so much more to see inside, and the rooms actually have real history rather than just a cold fake museum of made up history. You get a much better sense of the history here. The visit is very well-organized. Tours start on time. The audio guides are high quality, clear, and easy to use. The tour requires focus and silence.

Hohenschwangau Castle is truly beautiful, with breathtaking views that feel straight out of a fairytale. The setting itself is already worth the visit, but the interior tour adds a whole new layer of appreciation. Do note that photography is strictly not allowed during the palace tour, which actually helps you stay present and focus on the details and stories shared by the guide. Inside, you’ll discover fascinating historical elements, including what is said to be one of the very first pool tables in a palace, a wheelchair made for the king, and even a lift designed for His Majesty — impressive innovations for that era. These details give you a deeper understanding of royal life beyond just aesthetics. Inside, you’ll discover fascinating historical elements, including what is said to be one of the very first pool tables in a palace, a wheelchair made for the king, and even a lift designed for His Majesty — impressive innovations for that era. These details give you a deeper understanding of royal life beyond just aesthetics. Photography is only permitted at one specific window viewpoint, and only when the guide explicitly allows it and says, “Yes, you can take a photo from here.” That moment feels special, as the view framed by the window is stunning and carefully curated. Visiting in December was cool and chill, making the experience even more pleasant without heavy crowds. Overall, this is a place best experienced in person — calm, elegant, and full of aesthetic charm. Come and see it for yourself.

I visited a lot of Ludwig’s castles and this one isn’t the most spectacular per se but it is a must see specially if you’re interested in his history. This is where he grew up and where his parents lived. The castle has a lot of history that you can learn during your visit. The visit is made with a guide but you have an audio guide in your own language during the tour. It is activated in each room by the guide and lasts a few minutes. Our tour guide was young lady with dark hair. I don’t remember her name but she was one of the best guides I’ve encountered in a museum. She was lovely, smiling, added additional informations during our visit and was gentle. We had a great time visiting the castle thanks to her. You can also visit the gardens for free if you want but you have to book a ticket to see the inside. Also up here you get a nice view over the Neuschwanstein.

We visited Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle on a joint ticket, both with a guided English speaking tour. Our Hothenschwangau Castle tour guide was Valentina who was very friendly and welcoming. I found her captivating to listen to as she told the history of the castle, King Ludwig and his family before King Kudwig built Neuschwanstein Castle. Her English is excellent and was happy to answer any questions. I loved how she got any children on the tour to be the ones to open the doors to the next rooms on the tour. The castle was beautiful and the artwork inside was wonderful. The views of the mountains are great. Access to the castle from street level is a 220m zig zag inclined path.

Overall, visiting Hohenschwangau Castle is one of the must do things for any tourist in the area. Personally my visit was both meaningful and enjoyable. The scenery was beautiful, the history fascinating and the atmosphere peaceful. It offered a valuable look into the roots of Ludwig II’s life and imagination, making it a visit worth remembering. On a side note, it’s recommended to book in advance, park your car in parking number 4 and keep in mind that only guided tours are offered inside as well as that picture and videos aren’t allowed.

Definitely a must see castle. The grounds and the views are amazing. Unfortunately you cannot take photos of the interior. But nonetheless the interior doesn't disappoint either. I recommend that you get your ticket and tour time set up online. It definitely makes things easier. There are a few restaurants around the castle that have great food. Plus souvenir shoppes too.

This is by far a much better castle than Neuschwanstein. Much more to see and not as many people. It is hard to find any souvenirs for it though. You can't take pictures inside either castle. We walked up at a leisurely pace and arrived 40 minutes before our tour began. But the was lots to see on the grounds. You need to buy tickets either online or at the bottom ticket booth. Tickets aren't sold at the top

This was our second favorite castle of our stay. Again, ticket times are precisely as stamped. You need to scan before 5min is up or you'll be denied. The tour was full & it was rushed again. You listened via a remote device. Our guide was good about making sure everyone was getting the info via their equipment but nothing more. It was kind of odd having someone silently tag along and avoid eye contact called a guide. You can't take pictures inside & it really isn't what I'd call kid friendly. I would do this tour again if I were with someone who wanted to,

I actually enjoyed the tour of this castle more. We had a guided tour in English that was super informative. Also it was less crowded.

Very inconvenient to get to and if you're not prepared for major delays along the way, you will not get in. We arrived 15 minutes late due to traffic and no way up the hill quickly with elderly people. We were denied entry, even with being willing to go with a different language group. They are happy to take our money and leave us with nothing to see. Skip this place, it's overpriced and overrated anyway. Tourist trap and money grab.

The castle is located near Neuschwanstein Castle and is the childhood residence of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It is built on a hill above Lake Alpsee- nice views. We didn't tour the interior, but we walked around the castle garden. It was a quick side trip.

Located across from the Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau is a beautiful castle of its own. There is a restaurant you can sit at with a view of both castles. I highly recommend touring this castle if you're already going to see Neuschwanstein. It's really a 2-for-1. The architecture is beautiful.

Since you came all the way here, why not visit this castle too, right? Separate times ticket is required for this visit and staff at ticket counter will help you space out for both castle visits to ensure you have plenty of time in between. We took a horse carriage here and it was a nice ride out there. It's not too far but I just wanted to ride for experience. They have small gardens nearby to visit while waiting but not much to do. Tour guide was knowledgeable and I thought the time allocated for the tour was just adequate. I learned so much history here during my visit.

Pretty neat place. And a bit of a surprise because we came to this area expecting to tour Neuschwanstein, and I had no idea about this place. (My knowledge of German history is shamefully bad.) Worth visiting. Pretty rooms. Nice tour. Good information from the guides. But probably the nicest part are the views down on the little town from the patio. It's a pretty cool place. Make sure to visit!

You can purchase tickets online to do a guided tour of the Hohenschwangau Castle. We purchased our tickets a few months in advance so that we could better plan out our day. When you purchase a ticket you are given a time and a number. You wait in a large courtyard for your time and number to signal the right to go through the turnstiles and start your tour. The courtyard has a gift shop and a few benches to sit on. The castle is located in a small quaint German town close to the border of Austria. It was built by King Maximilian ll of Bavaria and used as a summer home for his family. His children Ludwig ll and Otto spent many years here. The tour is informative and moves quickly. You are allowed to take photos and questions are welcomed. The tour goes through about six rooms and lasts around thirty to forty minutes depending on time spent asking questions. The rooms are beautifully maintained and offer an excellent opportunity to expand your knowledge of the past.

This castle is located in the same vicinity as the Neuschwanstein Castle. We were disappointed that online tickets were all sold out, but we decided to tour the grounds anyway- and it was worth the trip. We took a horse carriage up and walked down ( easy 10 minute walk). Touring the grounds was absolutely free and fun! This castle doesn't have the Fairy Tale style architecture that The Neuschwanstein Castle does- probably due to the fact that original construction in the 12th Century. The castle was reconstructed in 1863 after the original structure was decayed and war damaged. This castle was the summer residence of the royal family. We took a train from Munich for only $15 each - and this even included the bus shuttle from Fussen to Hohenschwangau. There are lots of dining and shopping options, as well as many many hotel options if you want to stay the night.

I LOVED this castle tour. I was really the most excited about Neuschwanstein (of course) because it is more famous. But if you are already here it would be silly not to tour both castles so that is exactly what my mother and I did on our day trip to Schwangu. Honestly, I think I may have loved the inside of this castle more than the inside of the famous Neuschwanstein. Granted - the other can't be beat for it's appeal from the outside but the inside of this castle is simply stunning. The ceilings of the rooms, especially the main dining room - inlaid with silver and stars and detail work, are gorgeous. The original furniture and details are beautiful and the views. There are so many priceless artifacts in here that I can't even begin to name them and I can't remember them even if I tried. But many of them were gifts to the royal family from nobles at various times to celebrate special events in the lives of the monarchy and they are gorgeous. Many have the sigils of the knights and the houses of those who made the gifts and are inlaid with jewels and made of gold. Really pretty. It's neat to see how the royalty lived as this place has been lovingly preserved. I'm so glad I was able to see it.

If you're touring both castles you will have to do this one first. While the smaller of the two, this is a beautiful castle with rooms that feel cozy by royal standards. The views from the castle are beautiful if you have blue skies so start your hike up to the castle early. I recommend taking the paved road up (instead of the stairs) as that gives you a beautiful look of the lake and a quiet walk through what feels like a forest.

You've probably spent $1000s and traveled 1000s of miles/kilometers to get here...so you might as well see this awesome castle before seeing the even more awesome Neuschwanstein Castle, so you might as well spend an extra €11 for €23 combo ticket. You won't be disappointed. King Ludwig, born into the right family and a spoiled trust fund kid, grew up in this lovely castle. Words can't describe, just see the pictures. I'll just say MAKE A RESERVATION! Its so worth the extra € 1,80. Otherwise you can be line for over an hour, or even longer during the summer. We here in September and saw people standing in the rain for 30+ minutes. Go straight to the special much shorter reservation line. As for your appointment time...DON'T BE LATE! (Are you reading this Dad?). €23 to see both Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein castles. Reserve! https://www.hohenschwangau.de/1307.0.html

Although not as impressive from the outside as Neuschwanstein, it's still totally worth seeing the inside. The paintings are so beautiful and the views of the Alpsee (Lake) are inspiring. As with Neuschwanstein, be prepared to walk/climb a good bit. If you're here, come see both the castles!

So did this serve as inspiration to Ludwig in his design of Neuschwanstein? It is Daddy's house. Cool place to grow-up. This is a well maintained view into royal living from the past. The rooms open to the public are beautiful with so much detail and artifacts from a bygone era. The childhood pictures and family heirlooms are a mind-blowing glimpse of the lives led in a time before modern conveniences and technology. I wish I could have taken pics... verboten! I especially loved seeing items presented as gifts from other countries and the people within their rule. Our tour guide was wonderful providing the access at a pace allowing us to enjot each room and listen to the audio guide in the language of our choosing. We actually stayed a few extra minutes to talk to her. She was only in her 3rd day on the job but we would have never known this if we didn't ask. This tour is worth the price and hike. Make your way to Schwangau... you won't be disappointed.

Beautiful castle in its own right, but of course overshadowed by the more impressive Neuschwanstein. Like Neuschwanstein, be prepared to walk and climb stairs. At the top of the stairs, before you enter, are toilets, so use them before going on the tour. My friend from Munich booked this castle and a few hours later booked Neuschwanstein, so it is possible to do both. Between the 2 castles tour time, we had enough time to get a bite to eat, and took the bus to Neuschwanstein... but if I had to do it again, I'd pay a little more and take the horse carriage, as the bus ran late, and we were late to the Neuschwanstein tour. No photos allowed inside at this castle, as well as the other. Worth a trip, even though the castles are not as old as many in Europe.

If you've made the trip to see Neuschwanstein, don't screw yourself by passing over Hohenschwangau. We visited many of the palaces and castles throughout Bavaria, and this was probably my favorite. While Neuschwanstein is a bit disappointing considering how much of it is incomplete, and how many people are crammed into each tour, Hohenschwangau is smaller, less visited, and absolutely beautiful. The guide was also wonderful. Here you'll see where King Ludwig II grew up, dreaming of Neuschwanstein, and you'll also see the beautiful quarters lived in by his mother (who had great taste). Tip - if you want to escape the castles and the crowds for an hour or so, head towards the lake and enjoy a quiet walk. Starting from the bottom, near town, just head clockwise and go as far as you want. It's worth it!

Although its younger cousin across the valley may get more press, and probably more visitors, Schloss Hohenschwangau is worth more serious attention from the castle enthusiast. Or, to say it another way, Neuschwanstein is a better story, but Hohenschwangau is a better castle. The modern edifice was built on the ruins of a 12th-century fortress maintained until the 16th century by the Knights of the Swan. In the 1830s, Crown Prince Maximilian fell in love with the locale and constructed a modern neo-Gothic castle on the site. It was the primary summer residence of Maximilan's family for the next several decades, and the ill-fated Prince Ludwig and Prince Otto spent much time there during their formative years. The exterior is stunningly handsome; in particular, the burnt-yellow color is very striking. I had the wonderful good fortune to see the castle and the surrounding areas after a substantial late-November snowfall, which of course added immensely to the aesthetic. The interior is surprisingly modern, with gas and electricity that was installed in the Wittelsbachs' time, but as lavish as one would expect from a 19th-century royal residence. The banquet hall or Hall of Heroes is a phenomenal highlight. All guests must purchase a guided tour (self-guided visits are not permitted), but the information imparted by the guide is well worth it. Many of the rooms have an interesting feature such as a secret door or unexpected technological trick that you might never spot on your own. For example, Ludwig II had an electric moon and stars installed in his bedroom--fascinating! If you are making the trip to see Neuschwanstein, there is absolutely no excuse for missing Schloss Hohenschwangau. While both incredibly attractive in their own unique ways, Hohenschwangau gives you the opportunity to see a castle that happens to have been an actual home, whereas Neuschwanstein is more like a partially realized fantastic ideal. Or, the difference between a real castle and a dream castle.

One of the CROWN JEWELS of the many Castles in Germany, it is a MUST SEE. It is HIGHLY advised to make reservations well ahead of time. It is roughly € 35 per person for the Castle and museum package (2 castle's and the museum). Be prepared to strenously walk up and down very steep mountain roads to reach either Castle. There are horse drawn carraiges which will take you to either Castle for €6 up and €3 back down. There are also buses to get you there as well. You must be on time for your reservation. This is a once in a lifetime bucket list experience.

While looking up information about the Neuschwanstein Castle, I found out this castle was in the same town and not too far either. While the exterior of this castle is not as impressive or pretty as Neuschwanstein, the interior is really beautiful. Unlike other castles where rooms are huge and extravagantly decorated and all the expensive baubles are put on display, the rooms of Hohenschwangau are small and cozy feeling. Walls are filled with beautiful paintings, and it's a place you feel like you want to live in. I had gotten the King's ticket to view both castles online in advance, but I think if you're at the ticket center early enough, like around 9 in the morning, it's not a long wait. With the combined ticket, you see this castle first, which includes a half hour guided tour. You don't get to see the whole castle, but what you do get to see is worth it.

Obviously not as famous or popular as the Nueschwanstein but still lovely and beautiful on its own. If you are interested in more of the history of the area and castles, do not skip the Hohenschwangau.

NO KIDS!!! Unless your children can stand like soldiers and listen for the entirety of the 35 minute tour then don't even both. Don't worry it's not that worth it anyhow. We got an old man as a guide on our English tour. Clearly he has worked here a long time and loves the castle and his job. They pack you into each tour and leave about 5 minutes between each, so when you don't start on time, like ours, I think the guides are a little stressed. They will shuffle you through various rooms. It's interesting to see a castle that was lived in for so long. But seeing as how this is like our 8th castle my 6 year old was pointing out similarities and differences (which we do every time as part of learning about and remembering them). This was done quietly. We also had a 22 month old that at one point had had it with the carrier she was in. We removed her which stopped her protestations, but she spent the rest of the tour occasionally pointing out things she knew and saying them "Horse" "chair" "cookie" (for the old bread). Mind you this tour relies solely no the guide speaking loudly, unlike the other one where each person has their own speaker. So yep, my kids talked a little, as did other adults on the tour, but by no means were unruly. So this guide has the audacity at the end of the tour to say "Thank you all for coming and I hope you all enjoyed your tour in spite of the children". We had the only kids on the tour and now I see why. We travel a LOT and we have never encountered such outright rude treatment by any other place we have gone. This man then went on to state that children do not pay and everyone else on the tour did. Well that is not my fault that the policy here is to not charge for children. That's their policy not mine... I would have paid, but thank goodness we didn't after this treatment. I saw other's post about then not liking children here but never in my wildest dreams imagined we would be treated this way in front of the entire tour and our kids. My 6 year old kept asking me why people didn't like them around when he went to learn about their castle. What a shame. We even asked to leave at one point since it was clear he didn't like children (it was actually clear from the second he walked in). But he refused to show us the way out. If you have kids under like 12 you have been warned.... this place doesn't want to see them there.

Beautiful castle left exactly how the Wittlesbach's lived in it. Our second visit did not disappoint - except I wished the tour guide spoke a little louder on the 2nd tour. Would recommend.

Beautiful castle for the Bavarian kings, mostly used as a Summer residence or for hunting trips. Built on the remains of the grounds from a fortress from the 12th century, fairly small, but with a lot of atmosphere and ambiance. Truly beautiful views! Highly recommended!

I was surprised to know this castle was actually OLDER than Neuschwanstein because it looks a lot newer! This castle is located on a smaller hill and has excellent views! You have a nice view of the alps, the lake and Neuschwanstein. I would recommend getting a combination tour for this castle and Neuschwanstein and you definitely have enough time to do them both in one day. Make sure to book in advance! The walk from the ticket center here was less than 15 minutes (if you take the shortcut) but well worth it. The tour was about 30 minutes as well and the tour guide was very knowledgeable. The rooms were neatly decorated and you find out a lot about how the royal family lived (eventhough this was only the summer house) As far as the tour, I wish they went into more detail regarding the royal family, maybe 30 minutes is not enought time for a tour!

Beautiful in photos, even better upon closer inspection. Would love to see what the gardens and courtyards look like during spring

Have fun for crying out loud you paid a lot of money to get here. It rained pretty hard when we toured the castle didn't matter to us. The tour guide was informative and fun. The castle is beautiful and the view is astonishing

A lovely castle atop a hill overlooking the valleys below. This castle could be thought of as a companion castle to Neuschwanstein. It's actually older but not by much. It was built by King Maximillian II of Bavaria and used by his son, King Ludwig II, as his childhood residence. The castle was built on the ruins of the Schwanstein fortress which dates to the 12th century. It was used as the official summer residence by King Maximillian and his wife, Marie of Prussia. The castle was rebuilt in the early 19th century.The panoramic views of the valleys below are very beautiful. It's a short walk from the parking area in Schwangau up a series of stairs to the castle. There is a tour of the castle you can take that I think is worth taking.

We had a really awesome tour guide who wasn't shy about cracking jokes or having a flare for the dramatic. Enjoyed the wall paintings and the historical background of the royal family. Also enjoyed the view of the lake from the castle.

If you hike up the pathway leading up to this castle you can get some great shots of Neuschwanstein as well as the surrounding area. I didn't go inside Hohenschwangau but the views from outside the castle were unbeatable, especially on a sunny day!

So very beautiful and interesting. Tours in Englisch, our guide was fabulous and very helpful. The castle was gorgeous- cool to see and hear the history of this lived-in castle.

Definitely a must-see! During my first trip to Munich we booked a tour to see Neuschwanstein because I randomly came upon it online. I knew nothing about Ludwig II or the Wittlesbachs. When I saw Neuschwanstein, my heart skipped. I learned about Ludwig II and realized the small castle near Neuschwanstein is where it all started... Our tour did not include Hohenschwangau, so returned to the site a year later to see it - this time without a tour. Seriously, don't take any bus tours to Neuschwanstein or Hohenschwangau. They don' t allow you enough time to enjoy the beauty and magic of this village. Just book a hotel here in Schwangau for one night, allow yourself one day to see Neuschwanstein and the following day to see Hohenschwangau, and enjoy the scenery and the lake while you're here. We stayed at hotel alpenstuben, which was just great. I loved seeing Hohenschwangau, because i've read so much about it and how it inspired Ludwig II to build Neuschwanstein and pretty much embedded in the king all the things he became obsessed about - legends, knights, forbidden love, Wagner and his works, etc. Especially for Ludwig II fans, this castle is a MUST see. We also went to the Museum of Bavarian Kings, located nearby. I'm not a big museum fan but this one I really liked because it taught me about the Wittlesbach dynasty and offered a closer look at Ludwig and his legacy than other museums. I highly recommend it.