The 5 Best Fairytale Castles in Germany
Did you even go to Europe if you didn’t visit a castle? Palaces, fortresses, and castles almost straight out of a fairytale are dotted within almost every city and town in Germany, some may only be a shell of what they once were, while others have been passed down through the generations and preserved to such conditions it’s like walking back in time. I have visited a handful of royal and parliamentary homes while traveling Europe, and Germany holds some of the best castles I have ever seen.
The list below has my favourite and some of the best castles in Germany to visit. You are free to wander the grounds of most of them, but a tour can cost anywhere between €10 to €15.
How Many Castles are in Germany?
Germany holds over 12,000 castles, but that’s if you don’t count the castles in Switzerland, Austria, and Italy which were once part of the Holy Roman Empire. The castles in Germany can look anything from romantic palaces still containing original furniture and décor, to castles straight out of a fairytale-like that of Neuschwanstein Castle, or even rubble and ruins of decimated castles that once ruled over the land below.
It’s almost impossible to be able to visit every castle or palace, but that’s why I’ve put together this list of some of the best castles in Germany. The majority of these castles are in either southern or western Germany, so if you’re doing a road trip through the region you should find it easy enough to visit most of these castles. Or better yet if you find other castles that are worth checking out then let me know and I’ll add them to this list!
Neuschwanstein Castle, Schwangau
Location Neuschwansteinstraße 20, 87645 Schwangau. Bavaria State
Tour Prices
Adult: €13
Under 18: €2.50
Neuschwanstein Castle is the fairytale castle of Germany; also known as the Sleeping Beauty castle, Cinderella Castle or Disney Castle of Germany, Neuschwanstein is probably one of the most famous castles in Europe, and one that graces the feed of almost every travel Instagram page and German tourist book. Perched on top of a rugged hill that looks over the German village of Hohenschwangau. Neuschwanstein Castle was built in the architectural fashion of castle romanticism. Since opening in the late 1800s Neuschwanstein castle has been visited by more than 61 million people.
Neuschwanstein Castle is featured in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and used as inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s castle; it’s easily one of the most gorgeous and famous castles in Germany as well as Europe. Whether decorated by snow or Autumn leaves Neuschwanstein is worth a visit if you’re passing through the area.
Be warned that if you’re planning on visiting Neuschwanstein then be prepared for queues of people either wanting to get into the castle, or get the famed photograph from the cliff tops above. We waited in line for around 15 minutes in sweltering heat and didn’t even make it halfway through the queue. As much as the view from above would have been amazing, there are other great photo opportunities in other areas around the surrounding roads and tracks; you just need to search a little harder.
Best Photo Location for Neuschwanstein Castle
The best photo location for Neuschwanstein Castle is the cliff-top view from behind which stretches along the bridge. Follow the path behind the castle for around 8 minutes and you will most likely come across a long queue of people wanting the same picture. This spot is worth the wait.
But if you’re strapped for time head back the way you came and look out for the old dirt track which use to be the original path. It runs parallel to the new tar seal path but has a slightly higher view which allows for a great shot of the castle through the trees. You will need to stretch your legs over a fence and climb onto a tree stump to grab this shot.
Visit their website here.
Burg Eltz Castle, Wierschem
Location Gräflich Eltz’sche, Kastellanei Burg Eltz, Burg Eltz 1, 56294, Wierschem. Rhineland-Palatinate State
Tour Prices
Adults: €11
Family (2 adults, 2 children): €30
Students: €7
There are two popular castles in the Rhineland-Palatinate area which are quite close to each other, one is Cochem Castle which I talk about further below, and the other one is Burg Eltz. Still owned by a branch of one of the three families that lived there in the 12th century. Burg Eltz castle is another fairy tale castle sitting among picture-perfect landscapes with no other buildings in sight. Easily reachable by car from Koblenz, Cochem, or Trier. Burg Eltz is well known for its bridge entrance causing it to be the centre of many photography wars among travelers and Instagram fanatics.
Best Photo Location for Burg Eltz
The best photo locations for Burg Eltz are the main bridge (when no one is on it if possible). To the left of the bridge are a set of stairs which are great for any low angle shots. Or if you want some nature based shots; follow the dirt path to the right of the bridge where you can get a good shot through the trees. The best time to visit Burg Eltz is either early in the morning when you can get a clear photo from across the bridge, or late in the afternoon when you can catch golden hour lighting up the castles in a beautiful golden haze.
Visit their website here.
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Neue Residenz, Bamberg
Location Domplatz 8, 96049 Bamberg, Germany. Bavaria State
Tour Prices
Adults: €6
Under 18: Free
One of the most lavish interiors I have ever seen; built-in 1604 and decorated with a significant collection of baroque paintings which leave no walls of the imperial hall untouched. More than 40 rooms are embellished with furniture and rugs from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Served as an exile for the abdicated Greek royal couple, Otto I and Amalie for several years. And in 1815 is the location of one of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Marshals who jumped out of an upper window as he didn’t want to fall into the hands of the advancing Russian army. This palace has enough history to make you want to hit the pub for a smoked beer.
Best Photo Location for Neue Residenz
Best locations for photos in Neue Residenz? Anywhere within the palace. The walls, paintings and architecture are that amazing it’s hard to get a bad shot. Putting a subject in any photo will show the vast height and size of the interior. And the afternoon light shining through the windows creates Just work with the lighting coming through the windows and you have your shot.
Visit their website here.
Reichsburg Castle, Cochem
Location Schlossstraße 36, 56812 Cochem. Rhineland-Palatinate State
Tour Prices
Adults: €7
Under 18: €3.50
My favourite quaint town of Germany sits below the Reichsburg Castle aka Cochem Castle. Reichburg was first documented in 1051 but destroyed in 1689 during the Palatine Succession. The castle was purchased by a Berlin businessman in 1868 and reconstructed in the Gothic revival style. Cochem has owned Reichsburg Castle since 1978. And has since been decorated with renaissance and baroque furniture. Take a tour through the castle and enjoy immersing yourself in the history of Cochem, but be sure to take the tour in your language. I mistakenly took the German tour and could only make out the pronouns and very few adjectives.
Best Photo Location for Reichsburg Castle
Reichburg castle can be seen from almost anywhere in Cochem. But the best place to see it, especially during sunrise and sunset is from the bridge stretching across the Moselle river. This is one of the most popular spots to grab a photo of Reichsburg Castle as it has a clear view across the town and shows a great perspective of it towering over Cochem. Otherwise, the route to the castle along Schlossstrasse allows for great pictures through the vineyards below. The best time of the day to grab any shots will be at around dusk, when the houses and bars across the waterfront light up and create a great juxtaposition between modern and gothic eras.
Visit heir website here.
Schloss Seehof Palace, Bamberg
Location Schloß Seehof 1, 96117 Memmelsdorf. Bavaria State
Tour Prices
Adults: €5
Under 18: Free
Schloss Seehof Palace in Bamberg is another contender for the top spot on my list of amazing castles in Germany. The interior, including furniture, wallpaper, and rugs, dates back to mid-1700s. A lot of the furniture is all original and is currently on loan from various museums locally and internationally. A desk inside one of the rooms is where Napoleon Bonaparte once used to sign an important document when he visited the Palace.
9 rooms in the Bamberg Palace are open to the public and modeled as closely to what they once were. The grounds contain multiple rows of fruit trees, a grand fountain, and a lake. You can easily spend a couple of hours wandering the grounds, taking pictures, and enjoying the scenery.
Best Photo Location for Schloss Seehof
Schloss Seehof Palace is photogenic from every angle. The entrance across the large lawn allows for a clean, square shot of the Palace. Or head to the rear of Schloss Seehof where you will find an extravagant water fountain and large ponds.
Visit their website here.
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Want to stay in a German Castle?
Germany is scattered with amazing castles, whether they’ve been left to crumble after land wars or have been passed down through generations of families to what we see today. Luckily you can get your chance to spend the night like a Prince or Princess and spend a night or two in Castle Hotel in Germany.
