How Neuschwanstein tickets work
The castle interior is open only as part of a guided tour of about 30 minutes. Every tour has a fixed entry time and limited places, so a ticket is always for one day and one time slot. Tours run live in German and English. In the tour you see 14 rooms, among them the Throne Hall and the Singers' Hall.
This site is an independent guide. We do not sell tickets and we are not connected to the Bavarian Palace Administration or the Ticket Center. Everything below describes the official system as of October 2026.
Where to buy tickets
There are exactly two official sales points. Nothing is sold at the castle itself.
The official online shop
The shop of the Ticket Center Hohenschwangau is run by the Wittelsbach Compensation Fund. It sells Neuschwanstein tickets on behalf of the Bavarian Palace Administration. Payment is by credit card (Amex, Diners, JCB, Mastercard, Visa) or PayPal, nothing else.
The Ticket Center in Hohenschwangau
The day counter is at Alpseestraße 12 in the village below the castles. It sells a limited quota for the same day only. From 16 October 2026 it is open from 8 am to 3:30 pm, in summer until 4 pm.
Your ticket is a QR code
You show it on your phone at the entrance. A printout is not required. Children must be entered in the booking, because they cannot be added later.
No reservations
There is no booking by phone or email, no waiting list and no option to put a ticket on hold. Be careful with unofficial sellers: commercial resale is prohibited in the terms of the Palace Administration.
Neuschwanstein ticket prices 2026
Official price list valid from 1 January 2026, in euros.
| Ticket | Price at the castle | Online, with €2.50 fee |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | €21.00 | €23.50 |
| Reduced (65+, students, severely disabled, Ostallgäu guest card, KönigsCard; proof required) | €20.00 | €22.50 |
| Children and young people under 18 | Free, but a free ticket is needed | €2.50 |
| Groups from 15 paying guests (written request only) | €20.00 plus €1.50 handling fee | – |
The price list names the €2.50 fee for the web shop and for reservations. Whether the fee also applies at the day counter is not listed, so ask on site. Pupils over 18 with a school ID also go free. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. The ticket for Hohenschwangau Castle next door costs €23.50 for adults in 2026.
Our picks: if the official tickets are gone
These include a castle entry. All cost more than the official €21 ticket.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Guided visit with reserved castle tickets
Meet in Hohenschwangau. Includes a reserved entry for the official castle tour, an English-speaking guide, and the shuttle bus and carriage when they run. The official ticket alone costs €21 plus €2.50 online.
Check availability →
Castle ticket with guided walk up and shuttle
A guide takes you from Hohenschwangau to the entrance, inside you use an audio guide. The shuttle bus to the Marienbrücke is included when it runs.
Check availability →
Castle ticket with audio guide
A ticket for a fixed entry time with an audio guide, no guide in person. Costs more than the official €21 ticket, but can help when the official shop is sold out. Parking, shuttle and carriage are extra.
Check availability →Neuschwanstein tours with tickets
Day trips from Munich, some with castle admission included, with live prices and availability.
We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Combination tickets
They are valid for one day and are sold only in the shop and at the day counter. The extra booking fee is €5 for two sites and €7.50 for three, online only.
| Ticket | Includes | Adult | Reduced | Child |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's Ticket | Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castle | €43.50 | €38.50 | €12 (7 to 17), under 7 free |
| Prince's Ticket | Neuschwanstein and the Museum of the Bavarian Kings | €33.50 | €31.50 | Free |
| Wittelsbach Ticket | Hohenschwangau and the museum | €36.00 | €31.00 | €12 |
| Swan Ticket | All three | €56.00 | €50.00 | €12 |
The King's Ticket takes about 3 to 4 hours according to the Ticket Center, the Swan Ticket 4 to 5 hours. Note that "King's Ticket" here means Neuschwanstein plus Hohenschwangau, not the other Ludwig palaces. The museum is closed from 9 to 11 November 2026, and the tickets that include it are not available for those days.
The Palace Administration sells a 14-day pass for €40 (€80 for a family) and an annual pass for €55 (€100 family). They cover Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee, but not Hohenschwangau. Neuschwanstein still needs a timed ticket: choose the free option for pass holders in the shop and pay only the €2.50 fee. At the moment this works online with a credit card or PayPal. More in our guide to King Ludwig's castles.
No cancellation, no changes
This is the rule most visitors only read after paying.
Online tickets are final
Tickets bought online are excluded from exchange, refund and cancellation. The date and time cannot be changed afterwards.
Late means lost
If you arrive after your entry time, the ticket expires without a refund. The official advice is to be in Hohenschwangau 1.5 to 2 hours before your time.
Plan the walk
The climb from the Ticket Center takes 30 to 40 minutes. Buses and carriages have no timetable and can mean long waits. See getting there from Munich.
Check the weather and trains
Because there is no refund, check the forecast and live train information before you commit to a slot. The rail line to Füssen was interrupted several times in 2025 and 2026.
Sold out: what to do
No ticket for your date does not always end the plan. Work through these steps in order.
1. Try other times and days
The official recommendation is to check an alternative date and to look at the shop again on the day. Smaller extra quotas are released daily from 8 am, depending on availability, in the shop and at the Ticket Center.
2. Go to the day counter at 8 am
The same-day quota is limited and cannot be reserved. According to the operator it is usually sold out from late morning. When it is gone, a visit that day is not possible. At high demand the next free tour can be several hours away.
3. Look at tours with a ticket
Some day tours from Munich include admission and a fixed entry time. Others sell transport only. Compare them on our tours page and check the date and entry time in the offer.
4. Use the waiting time
If you have to wait for a slot, the Museum of the Bavarian Kings at the Alpsee needs no timed ticket. Without a ticket you can still walk to the castle gate and see the outside, and you can reach the Marienbrücke.
Keep planning
Tickets are only one part of the day.
Opening hours and best time
Summer and winter hours, closing days and how to avoid the queue at the day counter.
Munich to Neuschwanstein
Train, bus, car and the walk up from Hohenschwangau.
Hohenschwangau Castle
Ludwig's childhood home, and the tickets that combine both castles.
Neuschwanstein tickets: frequently asked questions
How much is a Neuschwanstein ticket in 2026?
An adult ticket costs €21 and a reduced one €20. Under-18s are free but need a free ticket. Online, €2.50 is added per person, so an adult pays €23.50.
Can I buy tickets at the castle?
No. Tickets are sold only in the official online shop and at the Ticket Center in Hohenschwangau. The day counter has a limited quota that is usually gone by late morning.
Can I cancel or change an online ticket?
No. Online tickets cannot be exchanged, refunded or moved to another date or time. A late arrival makes the ticket expire.
Do I need a ticket if I only want to see the castle from outside?
No. Without a ticket you can walk up to the castle gate and see the exterior. The courtyard is open only with a valid ticket for that day.
Do pass holders still need a ticket?
Yes. With the 14-day pass or the annual pass you must still book a timed ticket for Neuschwanstein. Only the €2.50 fee is charged.
Is the Königsticket the same as a ticket for all Ludwig castles?
No. The King's Ticket covers Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. For Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee you buy separate tickets or use the Palace Administration's 14-day pass.