Bavaria can boast not only its natural landscapes, but also its architectural attractions. Almost every Bavarian town has its own fortress, castle, or palace. Besides, the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle is located exactly in Bavaria. No surprises that tourists come to the south of Germany to discover the hidden gems of the region as well as to see the most popular ones, which are well-known far beyond Germany. Let’s dive into the list of top castles in Bavaria.
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Top Castles in Bavaria
Neuschwanstein Castle
The image of Neuschwanstein has been familiar to almost everyone since childhood and this is not surprising, since it was the castle that became the prototype for the castle from the cartoon “Sleeping Beauty”. The romantic castle, perched on steep cliffs, was conceived by King Ludwig II in the mid-19th century. The style of the castle can be attributed to neo-Gothic; the facades of the building make both a majestic and romantic impression and one of the top castles in Bavaria.
The most popular view of Neuschwanstein Castle is from the nearby Marienbrucke bridge. The inside of the castle is no less impressive than the outside. Its interiors serve as illustrations for Wagner’s operas. The Throne Room undoubtedly makes a special impression. The castle also contains numerous pieces of art. Today Neuschwanstein is a museum and is open to the public.
You can get to Neuschwanstein from Munich by public transport and it makes for a great day trip from Munich. First, you need to take the train to the nearest town of Fussen, from where local buses depart to the castle. The total travel time is about 2.5 hours. Trains to Fussen run throughout the day. You can check the train schedule on Trainline.
If you plan to get there from Munich by car, then follow the route No. A95; the distance is about 120 km; the approximate travel time is 1 hour 40 minutes.
Entrance tickets can be purchased at special ticket offices on site. Tickets are sold for a specific time. Organized excursions are held inside the castle at the time indicated on the ticket. It is possible to take an audio guide if needed. The castle is open to the public daily from 9 am to 6 pm in summer and from 10 am to 4 pm in winter. Children under 18 years old can visit the castle for free. You can also purchase a combined ticket for visiting Neuschwanstein and the neighboring Hohenschwangau Castle at the box office.
Hohenschwangau Castle
Hohenschwangau Castle is somewhat less famous than the neighbouring Neuschwanstein Castle, but it was built even earlier. Its construction was carried out during the reign of Ludwig II’s father; it was probably from father to son that the love for romantic castles was passed on. Hohenschwangau shares many similarities with Neuschwanstein, for instance, it is also built on a hill and has a similar architectural style and magnificent interiors. The castle, by the way, is located opposite Neuschwanstein, so tourists often visit both castles on the same day, which is pretty convenient.
You can get to Hohenschwangau in the same ways as to Neuschwanstein – by train to Fussen with a change to a bus, running directly to the castles. Train schedules are available at Trainline.
You can purchase tickets at the same ticket offices where tickets to Neuschwanstein are sold or on Trainline. Only organized excursions are available inside Hohenschwangau. It is possible to take an audio guide. Visiting hours are from 8 am to 5 pm in summer, and from 9 am to 3 pm in winter. For children under 18 years old admission is free. A combined ticket for Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein is also available thus making it easy to hit these two top castles in Bavaria.
Linderhof Palace
Linderhof Palace stands apart from the list of other castles and is one of the top castles in Bavaria. It is distinguished by its architectural style, its exceptional location, and its interior decoration. By the way, the palace was built under the decision of King Ludwig II, who also gave a start for building Neuschwanstein. Linderhof is located near the Alpine village of Oberammergau, 20 km from Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles. The style of the palace can be attributed to Baroque with Rococo elements.
The interior of the palace is decorated with tapestries, paintings by famous European artists, elegant stuccoes, etc. The most interesting place in the entire palace is considered to be the so-called grottoes of Venus, which looks like an artificial cave, partially filled with water. The king loved to spend his time here. In addition, the palace is surrounded by wonderful gardens, worthy of special attention and decorated with other architectural monuments.
You can get from Munich to Linderhof by the combination of a train and a bus. Traveling by train is not entirely convenient, because you have to make several changes on the way. Trains run only to the neighboring town of Oberammergau via Murnau, from where you have to take a bus or taxi to get to Linderhof. The travel time is about 2.5 hours. You can check the train schedule at Trainline. By car, you can get to Linderhof within 1 hour 15 minutes, following the road #A95.
You can only visit the palace with an organized excursion; the excursion lasts about half an hour. The palace is open to the public daily from 9 am to 6 pm in summer and from 10 am to 4 pm in winter. Children under 18 years old can visit the palace for free. You can also purchase a combined ticket for visiting 3 castles (Linderhof + Neuschwanstein + Herrenchiemsee).
Herrenchiemsee Palace
The Baroque palace of Herrenchiemsee is located on the island, in the middle of Lake Chiemsee, 90 km from Munich. Its unique location makes the palace a popular attraction among tourists. Often, especially in the summer, travelers combine a visit to the palace with a beach holiday on the lake. Herrenchiemsee Palace is often called the “Bavarian Versailles” for its architectural features. The construction of the castle was also carried out by King Ludwig II; it is believed that it was his country residence. The unique interiors of the palace, as well as the garden and park complex located nearby, make the place ideal for walking and sightseeing.
You can get to the castle directly from Munich. Just take the train and get to the towns of Prien am See or Bernau am See. Both villages are located on the shores of Lake Chiemsee, and excursion boats depart from their piers to the island of Herrenchiemsee. The travel time by direct train is about 1 hour 20 minutes. You can check the train schedule at Trainline. By car, you need to follow the road #A8. The duration of the car trip is slightly more than 1 hour.
You can only get to the palace with an organized tour. The palace is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm in summer and from 9.40 am to 4 pm in winter. The entrance ticket includes visits to the museum, galleries and the Augustinian monastery. You can also purchase a combined ticket to visit 3 castles, including Linderhof + Neuschwanstein + Herrenchiemsee, again making it easy to hit these top castles in Bavaria.
Nymphenburg Palace
Do not forget to visit the Nymphenburg Palace, since it is located right in Munich and one of the top castles in Bavaria. Baroque, with lush Rococo elements, the palace was built in the 17th century and has been perfectly preserved to this day. Inside the palace there are several huge ballrooms, apartments of the dukes, rooms made in oriental style, portrait galleries and even an exhibition of ducal carriages. Nymphenburg is surrounded by beautiful gardens with a pond, fountains and various canals. The gardens contain many elegant pavilions that were once used as royal retreats.
Nymphenburg Palace is located away from the central streets of Munich. You can get to the palace by trams and buses. The nearest metro station – Rotkreuzplatz (U1, U7) – is located quite far from the palace square, so it is not recommended as a means of transport. So, you can get to the palace complex by trams No. 16 and 17 and buses No. 51 and 151; you should head to the Armistrasse, Schloss Nymphenburg (closest) or Romanplatz stops. Munich public transport runs strictly on schedule and is one of the most punctual in the World.
You can explore the palace on your own, without organized groups. You can also use an audio guide available in different languages. The palace is open to the public daily from 9 am to 6 pm in summer and from 10 am to 4 pm in winter. Tourists can purchase a palace ticket or a combined ticket, which allows them to see not only the palace itself, but also the garden and park complex with pavilions and the carriage museum. Please note that in winter, the park area is closed to the public. Admission for children under 18 years of age is free.
Other Places to Explore
Besides those 5 world-famous palaces mentioned above, tourists in Bavaria can explore much more. Let’s list some of the less-known sites which are definitely worth visiting and are also some of the top castles in Bavaria.
St. Emmeram Palace
For instance, travellers can go to Regensburg, located in the Upper Palatinate historical region of Bavaria. You can find the St. Emmeram Palace which had been belonged to the House of Thurn und Taxis dynasty for many centuries here. The palace is made in vibrant Baroque Style, which is not so typical for Germany. You can observe the rooms and the cloister with a guided tour. The interiors are not less inspiring than the facades.
New Castle
You may also be interested in viewing the New Castle in Ingolstadt. The facades look quite simple with white towers decorated by red roofs, but inside the palace you can find the Museum of Bavarian Army with an interesting collection of historical weapons and armor. It is one of the top castles in Bavaria you will want to visit.
Bamberg
Another good idea is to visit the Altenburg castle in Bamberg, which is located in the Upper Franconia area. The castle dates back to 12th century and looks absolutely gripping with its Gothic-styled facades. There is not only the Altenburg Castle can also be found in Bamberg. We also strongly recommend visiting the New Residence of 17th century, located in the town center, and the Michaelsberg Abbey which also looks like a medieval castle and located on a hill.
Wurzburg
Wurzburg is one more incredible direction for travelling and seeking castles and palaces. You can find the Wurzburg Residence here. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and can boast a combination of baroque and rococo styles, be it facades or interiors. By the way, the palace contains more than 400 rooms! If you decide to come to Wurzburg, you definitely should visit the Marienberg Fortress as well. It is situated on a hill and has great panoramic views on the town. The landscaped garden around the building and a curious museum of local history inside of the fortress are also nice to visit.
Toppler Castle
Perhaps, the smallest castle in the world is another one of the top castles in Bavaria. It is a Toppler Castle in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. It is a pretty picturesque town in the Franconian historical region of Bavaria with a great number of attractions, including the Toppler Castle. The site was built in the end of 14th century and looks like a tiny tower with a small house on the top. The image of the castle is pretty bizarre and interesting at the same time.
Landshut
If you like medieval buildings, then go to Landshut. It is a tiny, but very picturesque town with the main attraction called the Trausnitz Fortress. The facades look simple, only red roofs decorate the grey stone walls, but the interiors are much more interesting. The Museum of Fine Arts of the Renaissance period is located inside the building which is definitely worth visiting.
Bayreuth
One more town that we recommend visiting is Bayreuth. It is considered to be a town of opera houses, but not only of them. You can find a lush New Palace here. The palace was built in 18th century and can boast baroque and rococo features. A wonderful Art Gallery can be found inside the building as well as magnificent landscaped gardens all around. Another great architectural attraction of Bayreuth is the elegant Villa Wanfried. It was built in 19th century and dedicated to Wagner.
Where to Stay in Munich
You will want to base yourself in Munich to see some of the top castles in Bavaria. TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Munich hotels here!
Munich has many amazing hotels to stay at. My absolute favorite hotel is the Hilton Munich City. You can always try searching Priceline Express Deals for a better price or try to price match a hotel.
The following are some other good hotels in Munich:
- Hampton by Hilton Munich City West
- Hilton Garden Inn Munich City West
- Courtyard by Marriott Munich City
- Moxy Munich Ostbahnhof
- Holiday Inn Munich -City Center
- Hotel NH Collection Munchen Bavaria
Final Thoughts on Top Castles in Bavaria
As you see there are a lot of routes in Bavaria leading to various castles and palaces. The variety of these buildings is huge, be it Gothic-styled castles and fortresses or lush Baroque and Rococo palaces. Besides the top castles in Bavaria which are world-known, it is definitely worth seeing less-popular ones as they can be more authentic.
