🎄 Christmas markets 2026: Cologne opens 16 Nov, Munich 20 Nov, Nuremberg 27 Nov. See every date →

Neuschwanstein in Winter 2026/27: Hours, Tickets & Tips

Updated October 2026. Opening times and prices below are for the 2026/27 winter season.

Short answer: Yes, Neuschwanstein is open in winter. From 16 October 2026, guided tours run daily from 10:00 to 16:00. The castle is closed only on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. Adult tickets cost €21 (plus a €2.50 online booking fee), and under-18s go free. In snow or ice, Mary’s Bridge and the shuttle bus can close, but castle tours still run.

Neuschwanstein with snow on it is worth the trip, and winter is a good time to go. The mountains behind the castle are white, and the villages around Füssen are a lot quieter than in summer.

We live in a small German village near the Austrian border, south of Rosenheim, so we’re used to planning day trips around snow, icy paths and short days. A winter visit to Neuschwanstein takes a bit more planning than a summer one, so here’s what to know before you go.

Neuschwanstein winter 2026/27 at a glance

Winter 2026/27
Castle toursDaily 10:00 – 16:00 (from 16 October 2026)
Closed24, 25 and 31 December, 1 January
Ticket Center (Hohenschwangau)Daily 8:00 – 15:30
Adult ticket€21 (€20 reduced), plus €2.50 online booking fee
Children under 18Free, but they need their own free ticket (€2.50 booking fee online)
Tour lengthAbout 30 minutes, guided only, max. 35 people per tour
Shuttle bus€3.50 up, €5 round trip; doesn’t run in snow or ice
Mary’s BridgeMay close in snow and ice; check the daily notice

Do you need to book Neuschwanstein tickets in advance in winter?

I would, every time. You can only go inside on a guided tour, and each tour has a fixed time slot with room for 35 people. Winter is quieter than summer, but the castle is popular year-round, and the Christmas holidays and weekends sell out.

Buy your tickets in the official online shop at hohenschwangau.de. It costs €2.50 per ticket in booking fees, and that includes the free tickets for kids, so put everyone in your group into the booking, kids included. There’s a limited number of same-day tickets at the Ticket Center in Hohenschwangau from 8:00, first come, first served. Or as Germans say, Wer zuerst kommt, mahlt zuerst (literally “whoever comes first grinds first,” from the days of the village mill). Most days they’re gone by late morning, so I wouldn’t build a long trip around them.

Important: plan your walk around your tour time. Tours start on time, and the walk up from the village takes 30 to 40 minutes, longer if it’s slippery.

What’s different about visiting in winter?

Mary’s Bridge (Marienbrücke) may be closed

Mary’s Bridge spans the Pöllat gorge behind the castle and has the famous postcard view. In snow and ice it’s closed for safety, sometimes for days at a time. The castle administration posts a daily update under “Current information” on the front page of hohenschwangau.de, so check it the morning you go. If the bridge is closed, don’t worry: there are good views from the village, from the path up to the castle, and on a clear day from the Tegelberg mountain nearby.

The shuttle bus doesn’t run in snow

The shuttle bus from the village up toward the castle runs only in suitable weather, not in snow or ice. When it does run in winter, the first trip up is at 9:00 and the last at 15:30. When it doesn’t, you have two options:

  • Walk up. It’s about 30 to 40 minutes on a paved road that climbs steadily. In winter, wear boots with good grip. Slip-on ice cleats (Grödel or Spikes, sold in outdoor shops) are worth packing. Germans like to say Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur schlechte Kleidung (there’s no bad weather, only the wrong clothes), and that’s exactly the attitude for this walk.
  • Take a horse-drawn carriage, which takes about 20 minutes, depending on the season and conditions.

Neither the shuttle nor the castle runs on 24, 25 and 31 December or 1 January.

The days are short

The last tours start in the afternoon, and it gets dark early in December and January. Aim to be in Hohenschwangau by late morning, so you have daylight for the walk, the views and a warm lunch in the village. With little legs in the group, give yourself even more time.

Construction on the B17 until mid-December

If you’re driving: the B17 main road through Schwangau is fully closed for renovation from 15 September until about 18 December 2026. The signed detour goes through Hohenschwangau, and both castles stay reachable from all directions, but plan extra time.

How to get to Neuschwanstein from Munich in winter

We like doing trips like this by train, especially in winter, when you’d rather not drive mountain roads in the snow:

  1. Regional train from München Hbf to Füssen. Allow about two hours. Some trains are direct, others need a change. Check the DB Navigator app for your day.
  2. Bus from Füssen station: RVA line 73 (toward Steingaden / Garmisch-Partenkirchen) or line 78 (toward Schwangau), to the Hohenschwangau / Alpseestraße stop. The ride takes about 15 minutes.
  3. Walk or ride up to the castle from the village.

The Bayern-Ticket covers the whole trip, train and bus. In 2026 it costs €34 for one adult and €10 for each extra adult (up to five), and up to three children aged 6 to 14 ride free. On weekdays it’s valid from 9:00, and on weekends and holidays from midnight. If you’re flying in, the castle administration estimates about three hours by public transport from Munich Airport to Hohenschwangau.

Not keen on planning connections in winter? A guided day tour from Munich takes care of the transport, and some include castle tickets. Read what’s included before you book, because tickets for inside the castle aren’t always part of the price.

Hohenschwangau Castle and the Museum of the Bavarian Kings

Right across the valley sits Hohenschwangau Castle, the yellow castle where King Ludwig II spent much of his childhood. It’s open for guided tours in winter too, daily 10:00 to 16:00, with the same closing days as Neuschwanstein. Book it in the same online shop. Note that the Bavarian Palace Administration’s annual and 14-day passes don’t cover Hohenschwangau, because it’s run separately.

The Museum of the Bavarian Kings by the Alpsee is a good warm stop on a cold day. It’s open daily 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30). It’s closed for renovation work from 9 to 11 November 2026.

Is Neuschwanstein worth visiting in winter?

I think so, yes, as long as you plan for the weather. Here’s what winter gives you:

  • The snow views. Neuschwanstein with white mountains and frosted forest behind it is the view most people come for.
  • A calmer visit. Outside the Christmas holidays, mornings are quieter than in summer.
  • Christmas extras. In December you can finish the day at a Christmas market in Munich on the way home.

And the trade-offs:

  • Mary’s Bridge and the shuttle may be closed, so the classic photo isn’t guaranteed.
  • Shorter opening hours and short days mean less flexibility.
  • The walk up can be icy, which matters if you have small kids or a stroller.

A simple winter day plan

  1. Early train from Munich to Füssen. On weekdays, the Bayern-Ticket is valid from 9:00.
  2. Bus to Hohenschwangau, then check the shuttle and bridge status on your phone.
  3. Midday castle tour. Book a time that leaves you an hour for the walk up.
  4. Late lunch in Hohenschwangau, or head back to Füssen for a wander through its old town.
  5. Train back to Munich. If you still have energy, the Christmas markets in the city are open until about 21:00.

Staying near the castles

If you want to see Neuschwanstein in the early morning light, or take it slow with kids, stay a night in Füssen or Schwangau. Füssen has more restaurants and the train station, while Schwangau and Hohenschwangau put you closest to the castles.

For more castles, including Hohenzollern and Eltz, see our guide to Germany’s best castles. If you’re in Bavaria in December, our Munich Christmas markets guide and these Christmas market day trips from Munich go well with a castle day. You’ll find every 2026 market date in our Christmas market calendar.

Auf geht’s (let’s go), and pack warm socks.

FAQ

Is Neuschwanstein Castle open in winter?

Yes. From 16 October 2026, Neuschwanstein is open daily for guided tours from 10:00 to 16:00. It’s closed only on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.

How much are Neuschwanstein tickets in 2026?

An adult ticket costs €21 (€20 reduced). Children under 18 enter free but need a ticket. Online booking costs €2.50 per ticket, including free children’s tickets.

Is Mary’s Bridge open in winter?

Mary’s Bridge (Marienbrücke) is closed in snow and ice for safety. Check the daily “Current information” on hohenschwangau.de before your visit. Castle tours run even when the bridge is closed.

Does the Neuschwanstein shuttle bus run in winter?

Only in suitable weather. The shuttle doesn’t run in snow or ice, or on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. Otherwise you can walk up in about 30 to 40 minutes or take a horse-drawn carriage.

Can you visit Neuschwanstein as a day trip from Munich in winter?

Yes. Take a regional train to Füssen (about two hours), then bus 73 or 78 to Hohenschwangau. The Bayern-Ticket covers both. Book a castle tour for midday so you have time for the walk up.

Sources

Checked on 27 October 2026:

🎄 Free Germany packing list from our family in BavariaGet it