YANA'S WANDERLUST

These two gorgeous castles are a perfect combo to visit in one day. They are located close to each other, and there are shuttle buses that will help you experience Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles faster and easier if you have some extra euros in cash. Or you can take your time, walk around and enjoy the beauty of the nature surrounding these architectural marvels.

Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles are jewels of Schwangau municipality, Bavaria, Germany. Be aware that roads leading to castles are closed to public traffic, and you’ll have to leave your car in one of four designated parking lots. After parking, you can walk or take one of the bus shuttles.

To get inside the castles and see the rooms, you’ll have to take a tour, and taking photos or videos inside is prohibited. For these two reasons, we decided to enjoy Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles from the outside, admiring stunning architecture and beautiful nature. 

I’ll share my favourite viewpoints a bit later in this post, after a few words about each one of these Bavarian treasures.

Neuschwanstein Castle

This fairytale castle erected atop the Bavarian hill remains a timeless icon of history and architectural splendour. Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most recognizable German attractions and the face of most postcards. 

Built by King Ludwig II, this 19th-century beauty never fails to inspire. One such inspiration was Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle, which has a lot in common with the stunning architecture of Neuschwanstein. Visiting this gorgeous castle feels like stepping into a storybook world from long ago.

Hohenschwangau Castle

This is another Bavarian gem. Built atop a lush hillside, it offers stunning views of the surrounding landscapes. This castle served as the childhood residence of King Ludwig II and is known for its charming, picturesque appearance.

I would recommend seeing Hohenschwangau Castle after your Neuschwanstein visit. It’s a short but a bit challenging walk (stairs climbing, to be exact) from the shuttle bus stop. It leads right to the courtyard of Hohenschwangau, which you can enter for free. But you’ll need to buy a tour to go inside the castle. After walking through the courtyard, we took another path down. It had no steps, was a bit longer and led us to the gorgeous lake.

Best viewpoints on Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles

These architectural marvels are worth enjoying from each angle. There are so many places in the area where from you can enjoy this beauty. Here are my favourite viewpoints on Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles:

• Marienbrücke,
• Panoramic view Schwangau, on the way to Neuschwanstein,
• Viewpoint by the Neuschwanstein Castle,
• Alpseestraße

These are the places we were able to visit in one day. I wish we could also go on the trail through the Marienbrücke. I believe there are stunning views from there as well. Now, let me share more details about each of my favourite photo spots of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles.

Marienbrücke

It’s a hanging bridge with a perfect view of Neuschwanstein Castle. Marienbrücke (Maria Bridge) is my absolute favourite viewpoint. The lush greenery, stunning mountains and lovely waterfalls enhance the beauty of this Bavarian treasure. It’s a magical place that truly feels like a fairy tale.

Be aware, though, that a lot of people love Marienbrücke viewpoint. It’s crowded, and a limited number of people can enter the bridge. So you might need to stand in a line for a while (it was just a couple of minutes for us), and it could be hard to take a photo. By the way, it’s a hanging bridge, so it’s shaking. Keep this in mind if you are afraid of heights.

Nevertheless, I loved Marienbrücke viewpoint a lot, and it was one of my favourite places throughout the whole German journey. So, definitely add this viewpoint to your Neuschwanstein bucket list!

Panoramic view Schwangau, on the way to Neuschwanstein

The path to Neuschwanstein after the bus shuttle stop is easy and has a beautiful reward even before you reach the main destination. Panoramic view Schwangau is a spectacular spot to enjoy the Hohenschwangau castle’s beauty and surrounding nature.

It is such a joy to experience the spectacle of light and breathtaking landscapes unveiling before your eyes from this viewpoint. From high up, you can see miles of beautiful scenery. The stunning Hohenschwangau castle is surrounded by clear lakes, towering mountains, and rolling hills covered in lush greenery. This amazing Panoramic view Schwangau photo spot is such a sight!

Viewpoint by the Neuschwanstein Castle

After reaching this architectural masterpiece and enjoying its beauty up close, it’s a great idea to take a short path down. There, you’ll find a perfect viewpoint to enjoy the brilliance of Neuschwanstein Castle from the other side.

There are fewer people, different angle of view of the castle and also a view to the other side of the valley and municipality.

Alpseestraße

It’s a street by the Alpsee Lake. It is charming and cozy. From here, you can enjoy stunning lake views and views of both castles. It is a lovely place for a walk and for admiring Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles from different perspectives.

It was a breathtaking day at Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles in Schwangau municipality, Germany, and I hope you’ll also love it. Please let me know your thoughts on this stunning German icon in the comments, and check out my Instagram reel from this location.