A Complete Guide to Hohenschwangau Castle
Visit Hohenschwangau Castle, Ludwig II's childhood summer residence, and find out what to see during your visit.
Hohenschwangau Castle is a Neo-Gothic castle set in a Hohenschwangau village at the foothills of the Ammergau Alps.
Just this short description is enough to give you a hint that it was one of the highlights of our Bavaria road trip.
Apart from the breathtaking Alpine scenery, there were more reasons to visit Hohenschwangau: it's full of history, boasts gorgeous architecture, and has richly decorated interiors.
And if you ask us, it's a really interesting case. Hohenschwangau is one of the most visited castles in Germany, though it's not exactly for a reason you would think.
The reason for its huge popularity is because it is located just two kilometers from Neuschwanstein, one of the most famous castles in the world.
And while everyone knows that fairytale Disney Castle, we're pretty sure most people learn about Hohenschwangau's existence only after they start planning their trip to this scenic part of Germany. We were one of them.
Visiting the Hohenschwangau Castle was pretty straightforward, but we learned a few essential things about it we want to share in this guide to help your trip go smoothly.
How to Reach Hohenschwangau Castle
Hohenschwangau Castle is located in Hohenschwangau village, only 300 (shorter trail with steps) to 500 meters (road for horse-drawn carriages) from the P4 Parkplatz.
Walking
It takes about 5-10 minutes to reach Hohenschwangau Castle from the village on foot, depending on your pace and how many photos you take along the way.
The elevation gain on this trail is only 40 meters, making it much easier to reach than Neuschwanstein.
We walked to the castle from the Alpsee and eventually merged on the paved road used by horse-drawn carriages. After the tour, we returned via the shorter trail, which was a very easy walk with some steps.
Horse-drawn Carriages
You can take a horse-drawn carriage to Hohenschwangau despite it being only a five-minute walk from the village.
Honestly, there's no point in getting to the castle by a horse-drawn carriage unless you have mobility issues.
It's €5.50 per person for the ride up (and a bit less if you want to get back).
Shuttle Bus
Unlike Neuschwanstein, there's no shuttle bus to Hohenschwangau, which makes only sense as the castle is so close.
Opening Times
Hohenschwangau Castle is open from mid-March to mid-October daily between 9 AM and 5 PM. Hohenschwangau remains open during the winter daily between 10 AM and 4 PM.
It's closed on December 24th, 25th, 31st, and January 1st.
When to Visit Hohenschwangau Castle
The good part is that Hohenschwangau Castle is open (almost) all year round, which is great to hear, as many other European castles close down during the winter.
Obviously, crowds are thinner outside the summer season, but this area remains fairly busy throughout the year. Remember, there's Neuschwanstein right behind the corner.
Still, January, February, and November are relatively quiet, especially compared to June, July, and August. Late spring and summer bring the best weather (and consequently, crowds), but there's another reason why you should visit Hohenschwangau during this period.
It's almost a sure thing that Marienbrucke is open. We believe that most first-timers purchase the Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein combo tickets.
And Marienbrucke is 'THAT' viewpoint from which you can take the most iconic photo of Neuschwanstein Castle.
That brings us to our experience. We visited Hohenschwangau Castle in mid-spring, and the weather decided to remind us that the winter was not yet over.
And the Marienbrucke was closed, as you can see in our photo below.
Packing Tips
Note that the mountains around Hohenschwangau Castle are popular for hiking during summer (for instance, the Tegelberg hike). If you want to tackle this peak, make sure you wear adequate footwear and keep a rain jacket in your daypack, even during this period.
The castle sits at a higher elevation, so it tends to be colder there, especially in winter (and later fall or early spring).
The castle interiors are colder during the winter, but you'll likely be wearing a warm coat or a few extra layers anyway, so that shouldn't be an issue.
Parking
Hohenschwangau village has four designated parking lots. Honestly, it doesn't really matter that much where you leave your car, especially if you want to visit both castles on the same day.
Parkplatz P4 is the ideal place to park your vehicle if you plan to visit Hohenschwangau first, as it's located just below the castle.
P1, P2, and P3 parking lots are about 500 meters from P4, and they're more popular among those who are heading to Neuschwanstein first.
That was our case. We parked at P3 as it was closest to Neuschwanstein, and that was our first stop of the day (it's often first full for this reason).
All parking lots in Hohenschwangau are paid. The half-day rate is about €12 per car (or €15 for a full day).
Tickets
Hohenschwangau ticket costs €21 for adults (and €2.50 service fee if booking online). They do offer some combo tickets; just don't expect them to be much cheaper.
We got the Kings Ticket, which included Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, and the price was almost the same as if we booked it separately.
Since there are only guided tours, you need to book them for specific times. This is the main advantage of booking combo tickets for Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, as you can clearly see all the available time slots.
Remember that while Hohenschwangau is less popular than Neuschwanstein, it's still heavily visited.
Booking your tickets well in advance is recommended, especially if you want to get one of the combo tickets.
Can You See Hohenschwangau Castle for Free
Well, technically, you can walk up to the Hohenschwangau Castle and explore its grounds (courtyards and gardens) for free.
If you're pressed for time, this might work for you, but we still recommend taking the guided tour. For us, that was the most interesting part of the visit.
Guided Tour
Like Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau can only be toured with a guide. There are technically three types of tours to choose from: English Guided Tour, German Guided Tour, and Audio Guide.
At least 12 languages were available during our visit, including Czech, which was neat (and similar to the Margravial Opera House). Combining both tours is relatively easy, but the tricky part is to time everything right.
The easiest way to explain it is by showing you how we planned our day.
Tips for Booking Tickets
We did the Neuschwanstein tour at 9:10 AM and the Hohenschwangau tour at 12:10, giving us plenty of time to tour the castle, explore its surroundings (you really want to walk to the Marienbrucke to get the best views of Neuschwanstein), and stroll from one place to another (though that took us about 20 minutes).
The Neuschwanstein tour was really short, about 30-40 minutes, so we also had time to walk around the Alpsee, a beautiful alpine lake right below the Hohenschwangau Castle.
Another reason we opted for these time slots was that there were simply no available options in between.
Neuschwanstein's tours are more often sold out, so focus on them first during the booking process. Once you see an available spot, then proceed to Hohenschwangau, time slots and check whether it makes sense to visit it before or after seeing Neuschwanstein.
Is It Better to See Neuschwanstein or Hohenschwangau First?
Logically, you should visit Hohenschwangau Castle first to learn how it all started and get a better understanding of Neuschwanstein's origin and the royal family.
We have to admit we were not that familiar with names like Maximilian I and II, Marie of Prussia, Ludwig II, or Otto I, so we struggled a bit at the beginning.
That said, we started our day with Neuschwanstein and quickly got up to speed on the family tree.
Castle Garden
Walking to Hohenschwangau from the Alpsee first brought us to the castle garden. The gardens were quite peaceful (thanks to the bad weather) but quite small, especially compared to places like Nymphenburg Palace or Hermitage Bayreuth.
They were nicely landscaped and had some romantic features, like a Lion's Fountain and marble bath, but it didn't take too much time to explore them (also, Mary's Fountain in the courtyard is beautiful).
The views from the walls were dramatic, but the large parking lot below the castle sort of took the magic away. One can only imagine what the scenery looked like during Maximillian's time.
Arrive on Time
We already talked about it in our Neuschwanstein guide, but make sure you're there on time. 5-10 minutes is enough, but be punctual.
They won't let you in if you're late, and there won't be much room to fit you in one of the following tours in the peak season.
Quick Look into Hohenschwangau's History
The first record of Hohenschwangau Castle, initially known as Neuschwanstein, dates back to the 12th century when the Knights of Schwangau owned it.
The castle had a couple of new owners in the following centuries (for instance, Wittelsbachs used it as a hunting lodge), but the local wars ensured that no stone was left intact.
Now, let's fast-forward to the 19th century when an 18-year-old crown prince, Maximilian II, hiked in the area. He saw the ruined castle perched atop a hillside and immediately fell in love with it (and probably the whole alpine scenery).
He bought back the property in 1832 and, after an extensive reconstruction (Hohenschwangau was rebuilt between 1833 and 1837), used it as a summer residence with his wife, Marie of Prussia, and their two sons.
One of them was Ludwig, who later became King Ludwig II of Bavaria and built Neuschwanstein, Linderhof Palace, etc.
The other boy was Otto, who became King Otto I of Bavaria but was later declared mentally ill. We do recommend remembering these names as you will hear them quite a lot while in this area (and Munich, etc.).
One of our favorite things about traveling is discovering the small details about how some places we visit are connected.
Later that year, we visited Odense, the birthplace of the world-renowned story-teller Hans Christian Andersen. Maximilian II admired the work of this Danish author, and Hans Christian Andersen accepted his invitation and visited Hohenschwangau in 1858.
Another famous name connected to Hohenschwangau was Richard Wagner, who later became a close friend of King Ludwig II.
After Maximilian II's death, King Ludwig II moved into the castle and eventually built Neuschwanstein. In the 20th century, the castle survived both WW1 and WW2 unscathed and later was opened to the public as a museum.
Hohenschwangau Rooms and Interior
One of the main differences is that Hohenschwangau was an actual place where people lived.
The interiors looked more practical, one can say even modest, and while they were still beautifully decorated, they sort of lacked the wow factor Neuschwanstein had on our senses (or the Linderhof palace).
Luckily, our guide was fantastic, and his stories and insights made up for the somewhat dull interiors.
And while the group was bigger than the one we joined in the morning at Neuschwanstein, it didn't feel cramped.
Take what we said about the interiors with a grain of salt. After all, the fairy tale castle would never have happened without Hohenschwangau.
The childhood memories, legends, views, and decorations molded Ludwig II's mind and inspired him to build the Neuschwanstein.
The tour covered a lot of the beautiful rooms in the castle, like the Great Hall (Festsaal), the Swan Knight Hall, the King's and Queen's Bedrooms, the Library, and more.
Is the English Tour at Hohenschwangau Worth It?
We believe so. We did an Audio Guide tour in Neuschwanstein, and this one felt more personal and interesting.
I know we're comparing apples to oranges, but the Neuschwanstein tour was unavailable on the morning of our visit.
The English Tour at Hohenschwangau took a bit under 50 minutes, so it felt like we were on a proper castle excursion.
Photography
The main downside of all Hohenschwangau tours is that photography is not allowed inside the castle; at least, that opinion comes from someone who loves taking photos.
There's always a silver lining on every cloud, and in this case, it was that despite the larger group size, everyone was paying attention to the guide and not the camera screen or viewfinder.
So I enjoyed the tour (well, both of them, in fact, as Neuschwanstein has the same rule) much more, and didn't have to ask Lucie the details I sometimes miss like what Maximillian's favorite room or what was about the Lohengrin connection.
Orangery Hohenschwangau
On the way down, we stopped at Hohenschwangau's Orangery, only to discover that it's not an orangery at all! Or doesn't serve this purpose any longer, to be precise.
The former greenhouse for citruses was transformed into a catholic chapel in 2014 (Christkonigskapelle).
The chapel is quite small but free to enter, so if you have extra time, it might be worth seeing.
What's There to See and Do in Hohenschwangau Village
Our next steps led us back to the village and, eventually, to Fussen, Wieskirche, and Linderhof Palace - all were amazing places worth seeing. But if you still haven't been to Neuschwanstein, this is the place you should visit next.
You might be tempted to explore the Hohenschwangau village, but honestly, there's not much to see and do.
It's just a long tourist street lined with accommodations, restaurants, gift shops, and large parking lots. You won't find any sort of historic center here with cute alleys, little squares, or medieval churches, like in nearby Fussen.
The only place worth seeing there is the Museum of the Bavarian Kings and the Alpsee at the furthest point of the village. Obviously, you will also find the Ticket-Center Hohenschwangau here.
How Long Should I Plan for Hohenschwangau Castle?
If everything goes smoothly, you will need, give or take, 75 minutes for Hohenschwangau Castle.
It took us about five minutes to reach the castle, then we walked around the garden for about 15-20 minutes and arrived at the entry gate 5-10 minutes early.
The tour itself was about 45 minutes long. Obviously, you can stay longer in the garden, but as it was freezing and windy, the time we spent outside was not that enjoyable.
However, the big question is how much time you should set aside for the whole Hohenschwangau area.
Four to six hours sounds about right for an average visitor who wants to see both castles and enjoy some of the most scenic points here. If the weather cooperates, the sky is the limit, and you can easily spend a full day in Schwangau.
Some may even stay overnight in one of the cozy guesthouses, which we'll discuss in a moment.
Accommodation
When it comes to accommodation near Hohenschwangau Castle, you're spoilt for choice. It's a tourist area, after all.
The most convenient way is to stay right in Hohenschwangau village, where you'll find a variety of good hotels, mostly family-run guesthouses.
The nearby Fussen offers an even better selection of accommodation for all budgets (even some hostels if you're a budget traveler).
The whole Neuschwanstein area is a popular day trip from Munich, which is by far the best choice for those seeking luxury, cheap stays, or anything in between.
It all depends on your itinerary. For instance, we stayed overnight in Augbsurg, drove to Hohenschwangau, and arrived in Dachau in the evening.
So, here are our top picks for the best hotels near Hohenschwangau Castle.
Hohenschwangau | AMERON Neuschwanstein Alpsee Resort - Located on the shores of the Alpsee, this 4-star hotel with gorgeous rooms and a wellness center is just a 5-minute walk from the Hohenschwangau Castle. Get a room with a balcony to enjoy all the stunning rooms around you.
Fussen | Best Western Plus Hotel Fussen - This modern hotel is located in Fussen, less than five kilometers from Hohenschwangau Castle. It has cozy rooms, a parking garage, and great food.
Munich | Euro Youth Hotel Munich - Located right next to Munich's Hauptbahnhof, this clean hostel with affordable rooms is ideal for budget travelers who plan to get to Hohenschwangau by train.
Ways to Get to Hohenschwangau
Hohenschwangau Castle is located in the small village of Hohenschwangau in the south of Bavaria.
Sometimes, you can see that the castles are located in Schwangau, but note that the center of this village is technically three kilometers north of the Hohenschwangau and both castles (that's good to know if you're using GPS navigation).
Car: Driving in Germany is easy, as is the whole process of renting a car in Munich (or Munich Airport, Stuttgart, etc.).
We brought our own car for this trip, drove to Hohenschwangau from Augsburg, and spent the night at Dachau.
Hohenschwangau is under two hours from Munich, two and a half hours from Stuttgart, and three hours from Nuremberg.
Train: You can also fairly easily get to Hohenschwangau by train from Munich, Augsburg, etc.
The only downside is that the nearest train station is technically located in Fussen, about four kilometers from the castles.
Bus: A local bus connects Fussen with Hohenschwangau. The bus 73 or 78 departs fairly frequently, and the journey takes around 8 minutes.
Is Hohenschwangau Castle Worth It?
If you like old German castles with medieval charm, the short answer is yes, Hohenschwangau is definitely worth seeing.
Even though it's overshadowed by its more famous neighbor, Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau Castle has romantic interiors and an interesting history that gives you a better idea of the royal family.
This brings us to the longer answer. We didn't drive to this area to see just Hohenschwangau Castle but also Neuschwanstein Castle, the Alpsee, and the mountains around it (at least that was accessible in mid-April).
The Schwangau area is simply stunning, even on a cloudy, cold day, and Hohenschwangau Castle is just one of many places you can explore there.
And if you drive a bit further, there's always Pilgrimage Church of Wies, Linderhof Palace, and tons of other amazing places worth exploring.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
