A Family Visit to Neuschwanstein and Füssen

When Sage read The Land of Stories, she became fascinated by Neuschwanstein Castle. Our family was already heading southwest from Munich to Austria, so we spent two days visiting the castle and exploring Füssen. Neuschwanstein pops up everywhere, from coffee table books to travel brochures. I’ve seen it in pictures so I looked forward to seeing it person!

Neuschwanstein Castle

I don’t know if it’s the number of castles our family has explored or the number of times Shiloh had poo emergencies when we visited Neuschwanstein but the whole experience was a tad disappointing.

Neuschwanstein was completed in 1892, so as far as castles go, it’s relatively new. The castle is in excellent condition and looks spectacular from afar. However, when we approached and did the tour, I felt like I was in Las Vegas or on a movie set. The castle didn’t seem real. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but the lack of history impacted our family experience. The tour was limited, and the rooms we saw weren’t that impressive. The bedroom was the most ornate, but even that didn’t capture our family’s interest. The best part of the interior tour was the view out the windows!

Whether or not your family goes inside, the castle site is worth a visit. The views are amazing, and even better than the tour are the walking trails surrounding the castle. The area is a beautiful place to explore as a family. There is a suspension bridge, a river, and gorgeous hiking trails.

The Forest Experience Füssen

If you visit Neuschwanstein and Fussen, don’t miss the Forest Experience Center Ziegelwies- Bergwaldpfad. We thought this was MUCH better than the castle! The visitor’s center, the walkway through the trees, and the entire hiking area with different activities around every corner made the perfect family day.

Füssen (city center) is also a great place to wander around. We tried Schneeballen at Stefanie Diller Schneeballentraume, and it was soooo delicious! The ice cream and bakeries were also fantastic.