Visiting Neuschwanstein during the busiest time of year
Bavaria is absolutely amazing and all four seasons have something to offer; In Winter there is snow covered Alpine peaks with hot mulled wine and Christmas Markets, and when the flowers bloom Spring brings everyone out for flea markets and May Pole ceremonies. As Summer begins to warm the days and the nights get shorter there is always a blue within blue lake to jump in where the cold water eases the heat of summer before heading into a local beer festival to watch the children dance in the traditional Bavarian style. Fall brings the Oktoberfest along with the vibrant colors as the leaves begin to change. Each season in Bavaria, southern Germany, is worth a visit. But what about August? The dreaded time of year when many of the schools in Germany are on their summer break and families flock to the Alps and to Neuschwanstein Castle.
Is it worth fighting the crowds in August? – In short, yes. But you had better be prepared, so here are a few things I suggest you know before going.
It will be crowded in August
The first two weeks of August are the roughest as there is an overlap in Germany within the school systems where many of the schools are on their summer break at the same time. Unlike the United States, and other countries, Germany does not allow every school in the country to take summer break at the same time. It would be chaos as many of the parents are guaranteed six weeks paid vacation from their employment and if given the choice they will take their paid work vacation at the same time as their children are out of school which would lead to the entire country shutting down. It just wouldn’t work. So, each state in Germany takes their summer school break at a different time, but there is overlap for many, and it is in the first two weeks of August. So be prepared to find hotel costs higher, lines longer, and traffic to be a nightmare.
Be prepared and make a day of it
To mitigate the crowds, lines, traffic and screaming children here are a few helpful hints:
- Book your tickets for Neuschwanstein Castle online using their booking portal months in advance.
- If you hesitate there is a very good chance they will be sold out. But do not fret as there is one more option. You can contact my dear friend Ruth at International Ticket and Travel Center in Füssen. She keeps a dedicate ticket time each day and can help out for a small booking fee getting you those hard to get tickets to the castle tour.
- Be early. Neuschwanstein works on dedicated ticket times. Once you purchase your ticketed time, allot a minimum of three hours prior to that time as your arrival time to the parking lots.
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- That extra time will be used to find parking and to navigate the crowds. Once you find a parking lot, which costs 12 Euro per car, make your way to the bus that will take you to the castle; not the horse carriage and don’t walk. Wait in the line for the bus patiently and enjoy the view of Hohenschwangau castle, the childhood home of Ludwig II. The bus will bring you to Mary’s Bridge, Marienbrucke, which will afford you the best view of the castle and is worth waiting in the line to get to (helpful hint: if you push through the crowd to the far side of the bridge there is a lot less people). Take in the view then make your way towards the castle entrance stopping at the outlook of Hohenschwangau castle and the lakes. This is my favorite spot. There is a hidden dragon in the mountain if you know where to look. Then, continue on to the back of the castle with the balconies and Otto von Wittlesbach looking out towards Falkenstein before heading up the hill to the entrance of the castle which is at the red brick front. Once again, be early. You can enter the courtyard 40 minutes before your tour time giving you the opportunity to explore the former stables of the castle and see the foundation stones for Ludwig’s small chapel that never got built.
- Pack a backpack. A backpack can be taken into the castle as long as you wear it on the front of your body and you can fill it with essentials:
- water bottle and snacks
- a towel that can double as a blanket incase you find a cozy place to rest
- bandaids and blister pads
- bug spray – the horse fly’s can be brutal –
- wet wipes, just cuz
- sunglasses and sunscreen
- umbrella and pancho
- a change of socks
- Euro in cash form for the many services at the castle that do not except credit cards
- Helpful tip:
- When packing your backpack, if the weather is super hot, which it often is, bring a towel and swim suit ! – Walk to the Alpsee and then follow the trail to the left of the lake, past the boat house, for a leisurely fifteen minute walk where you will find a quiet swimming area for the locals. Pay a few euro and enjoy the quiet atmosphere and amazing food at the little cafe !
Remove the stress
Remind yourself you are on vacation. There is no reason to stress out.
One of the greatest mistakes people make when traveling to this region is attempting to cram as much stuff as possible into their vacation.
Do not try plan an itinerary with Munich then to Vienna, then to Prague, then to Berlin, then to Munich….It’s just too much, especially in August. Keep it simple. Space your day out with plenty of time to simply wander or rest. Be early to events, pack appropriately, and map out where the best beer gardens are. Find one hotel and then plan day trips using the train or a rental car. Keep things close and easy.
Get out there
The last tip I can give you for traveling in Bavaria in August – and seeing Neuschwanstein Castle – is to find and enjoy the little things. Don’t focus on too many big ticket items such as Neuschwanstein Castle and instead, find the off the beaten path experiences. Hop on a regional train and get off at the tiny village. Find the local watering hole, grab a beer, and make new friends. In every village there is a Rathaus that will have a tourist information center and many offer guided tours, maybe even in broken English. It is absolutely amazing the secrets that each of these little ‘dorfs’ hold, just the other day I found a Roman road hidden near the village of Krün. It predated Christ by over 500 years !
So, find your own hidden gems where the others are not looking. Have fun!!!
Or – Book Your Neuschwanstein Tour with All Things Garmisch!
At All Things Garmisch, our Neuschwanstein Castle tour is one of our best-loved offerings, and one we’ve conducted for almost 15 years. We run this tour year-round, and we find there’s something to love about this fairytale castle no matter the season.
With seasoned tour guides on staff, we always look for ways to add to the experience, whether it’s by spending time in beer gardens in the summer or making a stop at a nearby Christmas market in the snowy weather. There’s never a bad time for visiting Neuschwanstein. Book your tour today or reach out to create a custom itinerary with us.
