Neuschwanstein – Visit Germany’s Fairytale Castle
February 6, 2021
Want to feel like a disney princess? Throw on a dress and run about the forest surrounding the beautiful Neuschwanstein Castle. That’s what I did! 😉
Neuswhanstein Castle – which translates to “the swan castle” – was created in the late 1800s. It’s designer, King Ludwig II, often referred to as “the swan king” or “der Märchenkönig” which translates to “the fairytale king.”
Ludwig experienced a terrible childhood and had spent most of his youth fantasizing about fairytale worlds. So it is no wonder that when he became King, he decided to create his own escape into fairytale life. During his short reign, he built three castles and a couple palaces, drawing his enthusiasm and creativity from his love for the whimsical operas of composer Richard Wagner. Neuschwanstein is the most famous. It is actually this striking cliff-top refuge that was Walt Disney’s inspiration for both the Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty Castles!
How To Visit
Someday I would love to spend months exploring Germany. As I was touring 13 other European countries in 2019, though, I simply didn’t have time. I was only able to fit in a few day trips into Germany (including the German side of Saxon Switzerland National Park and Eagles Nest).
But then, on my way to Switzerland, I saw how close I was to Neuschwanstein and simply could not pass the opportunity up. I immediately cancelled my bus route, booked a couple nights at a hostel in Munich, and was lucky to select a remaining ticket from Get Your Guide tours.
For about $60, everyone on the tour got:
- The 1 hr and 37 min drive to the castle (in a large, comfortable bus).
- Our tickets to the castle.
- A fantastic tour guide who taught us the history of Neuschwanstein and Ludwig II – with interesting stories, not just boring dates. He even broke his story of Ludwig‘s “madness” and mysterious death into small sections. Each time leaving us with a cliff hanger. As he would begin walking up the hill to the castle, he’d declare “if you want to know what happened next, follow me up the hill!” This made the hot trek up to the castle much more enjoyable.
- The ride back to Munich.
- And complementary drinks on the bus! I do like a good beer 😉
This tour was one of the best I have been on and for a great price. So I would definitely recommend booking with Get Your Guide.
Oh, and I was serious when I said I ran around the forest.
The pictures of me looking down at the castle were not taken from the tourist lookout. Nope, that view would be on the bridge.
Surrounded by a million shoving tourists and cameras, it’s not the most relaxing experience (I only have this photo alone because another tourist actually made people stand back when she took it <3 ). So when I saw a little hiking trail, I decided to go enjoy the view on my own. But the trail didn’t lead to where I wanted. It was away from the tourist crowd, sure, but only took me to a view slightly higher up.
Far up the cliff to my right was another lookout. This was reached by a hiking trail coming from the other side of the mountain, not from my side at all. I could see some hikers enjoying the view from way up above me, though, and was determined I was going to have that view. So I threw off my sandals and climbed up the rocks and mud.
And let me tell ya – scaling a cliff barefoot + wearing a long dress is not the easiest thing. But boy was the view worth it! And so were the laughs from the guys up there – all of whom were decked out with hiking boots and walking sticks.
After enjoying myself for a bit, I had to hurriedly climb down the cliff again, cross the bridge, and quite literally run down the mountain to my bus or I would have been hitchhiking back to Munich. I made it just as they were gathering at the bus.
My day at Neuschwanstein was dream worthy. I’m so glad I made time to visit and created my own path! 😉
Have you ever been to Germany? What is one of your favorite places you have traveled to? Let me know in the comments!
Xo, Mikéla
Neuschwanstein – Visit Germany’s Fairytale Castle
February 6, 2021
Want to feel like a disney princess? Throw on a dress and run about the forest surrounding the beautiful Neuschwanstein Castle. That’s what I did! 😉
Neuswhanstein Castle – which translates to “the swan castle” – was created in the late 1800s. It’s designer, King Ludwig II, often referred to as “the swan king” or “der Märchenkönig” which translates to “the fairytale king.”
Ludwig experienced a terrible childhood and had spent most of his youth fantasizing about fairytale worlds. So it is no wonder that when he became King, he decided to create his own escape into fairytale life. During his short reign, he built three castles and a couple palaces, drawing his enthusiasm and creativity from his love for the whimsical operas of composer Richard Wagner. Neuschwanstein is the most famous. It is actually this striking cliff-top refuge that was Walt Disney’s inspiration for both the Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty Castles!
How To Visit
Someday I would love to spend months exploring Germany. As I was touring 13 other European countries in 2019, though, I simply didn’t have time. I was only able to fit in a few day trips into Germany (including the German side of Saxon Switzerland National Park and Eagles Nest).
But then, on my way to Switzerland, I saw how close I was to Neuschwanstein and simply could not pass the opportunity up. I immediately cancelled my bus route, booked a couple nights at a hostel in Munich, and was lucky to select a remaining ticket from Get Your Guide tours.
For about $60, everyone on the tour got:
- The 1 hr and 37 min drive to the castle (in a large, comfortable bus).
- Our tickets to the castle.
- A fantastic tour guide who taught us the history of Neuschwanstein and Ludwig II – with interesting stories, not just boring dates. He even broke his story of Ludwig‘s “madness” and mysterious death into small sections. Each time leaving us with a cliff hanger. As he would begin walking up the hill to the castle, he’d declare “if you want to know what happened next, follow me up the hill!” This made the hot trek up to the castle much more enjoyable.
- The ride back to Munich.
- And complementary drinks on the bus! I do like a good beer 😉
This tour was one of the best I have been on and for a great price. So I would definitely recommend booking with Get Your Guide.
Oh, and I was serious when I said I ran around the forest.
The pictures of me looking down at the castle were not taken from the tourist lookout. Nope, that view would be on the bridge.
Surrounded by a million shoving tourists and cameras, it’s not the most relaxing experience (I only have this photo alone because another tourist actually made people stand back when she took it <3 ). So when I saw a little hiking trail, I decided to go enjoy the view on my own. But the trail didn’t lead to where I wanted. It was away from the tourist crowd, sure, but only took me to a view slightly higher up.
Far up the cliff to my right was another lookout. This was reached by a hiking trail coming from the other side of the mountain, not from my side at all. I could see some hikers enjoying the view from way up above me, though, and was determined I was going to have that view. So I threw off my sandals and climbed up the rocks and mud.
And let me tell ya – scaling a cliff barefoot + wearing a long dress is not the easiest thing. But boy was the view worth it! And so were the laughs from the guys up there – all of whom were decked out with hiking boots and walking sticks.
After enjoying myself for a bit, I had to hurriedly climb down the cliff again, cross the bridge, and quite literally run down the mountain to my bus or I would have been hitchhiking back to Munich. I made it just as they were gathering at the bus.
My day at Neuschwanstein was dream worthy. I’m so glad I made time to visit and created my own path! 😉