Neuschwanstein Castle || Backpacking Europe!

During Summer 2019 (almost an entire year ago) Elliott and I took a trip across Europe with nothing but the contents of a 30-litre backpack.  All previous posts from this series can be found on my travel blog!

After our last evening in Munich, we got up early and made our way over to Munich Airport. This wasn’t to catch a flight but in fact to collect our hire car, the second of this trip. Our mission for the day was to make our way across Germany into Southern Germany in time to check-in to our Lindau AirBnB that evening.

On the way, we would visit Neuschwanstein Castle located in Bavaria, Germany. Ahead of our trip, we did research into the best ways to get to the castle. It became evident that it was near impossible to reach it by public transport other than the occasional FlixBus. Because of this, it made perfect sense for us to hire a car which would then enable us to continue on our journey toward Lindau.

We arrived at the airport and were suddenly faced with a delay. We joined the long wait to collect our car. Despite EuropeCars best efforts to keep this organised it was fairly unclear how the system worked. We, fortunately, managed to figure it out quite quickly however many were left waiting having not joined the queue.

Europcar had a machine that allowed you to check-in and gave a unique ID number that indicated when it was your turn to head up to the desk. This queue lasted approximately two hours in total but in the end, the person we got to speak to was very helpful and was able to advise us on any extras we would require.

With our car keys and our car located it was time for us to get on the road toward Neuschwanstein Castle.

A very scenic drive, providing lots of beautiful views through small Bavarian villages took us to the foot of the large hill Neuschwanstein Castle is positioned on. This is where we encountered our next issue. Finding a place to park around the castle wasn’t too challenging however I imagine in peak season parking would be a nightmare! What I would recommend though is taking our own cash ahead of the trip.

 

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The car parks only accept cash payment which is paid on departure. There is one cash machine on site which we ended up having to use but this had a steep charge for you to use.

 

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Once parked we started to walk toward the main entrance. This was a little confusing and we found ourselves walking up and down trying to find a way to take a bus partway up the hill. You will find a large building to the right which you would presume is where to access and pay for this service however this is where to book onto guided tours. Unless you would like a guided tour this building won’t be able to aid you in getting up to the castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle from the car park.

 

If you continue your walk you will reach a bus stop which also has a horse and carriage stop as well. Here there is a queue system which also has a station to buy your single or return tickets for the bus ~ if I remember rightly this was also cash only. The company cram a lot of people onto these buses so it isn’t a comfortable ride however is definitely worthwhile if you aren’t able to walk to the top or are short for time. We bought a single ticket each to take us partway up the hill with the intentions of walking back down after visiting the castle.

 

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The bus isn’t able to take you to the very top of the hill and there is still a fair amount of uphill walking at the drop off point. The ground is mostly pathed however so is suitable for wheelchairs/pushchairs if required. 

 

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The bus dropped us off by a long, narrow bridge giving the perfect views of the castle. This definitely made Elliott and I legs go a bit wobbly. If you have a fear of heights this may not be for you however if you are able I would recommend braving it.

View of Neuschwanstein Castle from the bridge.

Being able to stand on the bridge looking at the castle from a distance it is clear why Disney decided to use this castle as a reference when designing Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. It truly is like a lifesize fairytale-like Castle.

 

The bridge also offered beautiful views of the Bavarian mountain-like hills which surround the castle.

After spending some time on the bridge admiring the beautiful view we started our remaining ascent to the top. This was such a beautiful walk and in comparison to some, we had done earlier in the trip very pleasant.

We didn’t enter the castle however spent a while at the top admiring the stunning views from the glass lookout featuring a glass floor as well and looking at the castle exterior up close.

By this point we were starting to feel peckish and also really wanted to find a drink. There was a cafe open selling hot food and drinks. The prices were high but we decided on this occasion to justify it considering we had no other options for food until arriving in Lindau. We ordered some chips and an ice-cold drink. There was also toilet facilities free of charge to use which was really convenient.

After a bite to eat we made our way down the hill by foot. Walking down was really pleasant. We took the path taken by the horse and carriages so were sheltered by trees and flat. Suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. I would definitely walk down if visiting again.

After our visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, we continued our drive toward Lindau stopping by Lake Grüntensee for a break and a moment to relax. When we arrived the lake was quiet bar a couple of families. When we left however it was busy with families relaxing and taking a paddle in the water.

We continued our drive over Lindau ready for a restful evening ahead of another busy driving day!

 

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Neuschwanstein Castle was definitely a highlight of my backpacking trip and would recommend this magical experience to anyone visiting Southern Germany.

Before you go … 

I am extremely excited to announce that for the first time a film I produced is nominated for an award! Lift-Off Sessions, held by Pinewood Studios, are now at the public vote stage of the process. If you are interested in supporting myself, fellow members of my crew, young upcoming filmmakers or indie cinema, in general, I would love for you to rent the selection and cast your vote. You can rent the collection and watch Spinning Frame by clicking here. Through this link, you are able to watch not only Spinning Frame but also all the other selected films for only £8.00.

Thank you so much for all your continued support throughout the creation of this short experimental film. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us! #LiftOffGlobalNetwork#LiftOffFilmFestivals #LiftOffSessions #LiftOffSessionsJune #SupportIndieFilm

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