Would a trip to Bavaria really be complete without seeing Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein Castle? We didn’t think so! After exploring Germany by car along the Romantic Road we arrived in the beautiful town of Fussen. From there we discovered hiking to Queen Mary’s Bridge is the best way to see Neuschwanstein Castle from above. The parking lot where the hike begins is just a short drive from Fussen, with many people biking and even walking to the entrance. On the drive up is when you will get the first views of both castles as they explode from the mountain sides. We eventually chose to hike and take in the beauty of the castles before going on an actual tour of them.

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Visiting the Castles Vs. Viewing Them

This decision is probably something you should decide before arriving from Fussen. Tours of the castles can fill up days or even weeks in advance. If you do plan to visit one or both of the castles, know that there are buses upon buses of tourists who will be making the trip with you.

This means it will take the better part of an afternoon to complete your visit. In our case, we were a little short on time and wanted to get out into nature a little bit after our long road trip. For this reason, we decided on hiking to Queen Mary’s Bridge to see the Neuschwanstein Castle from above.

Neuschwanstein Castle Official Website & Hohenschwangau Official Website

Arriving at the Queen Mary’s Bridge Hike

At the base of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castle there is an information center, and a couple of snack shops if you need to grab something before you head up to Queen Mary’s Bridge. The parking lots are packed, but it will only cost you a few euros to leave your car for the entire day. As you ascend to the top, you’ll join the many other tourists making the trek to Neuschwanstein Castle and Queen Mary’s Bridge.

Now despite the title of the article, you should know that the majority of people heading to Queen Mary’s Bridge are taking the bus from the parking lot. You can pay for the bus and take the short drive up, or if you don’t mind a little exercise hike your way up like we did. Either way, try to go as early as possible and be the first one on the bridge!

Hiking to Queen Mary’s Bridge

The hiking trail up to Queen Mary’s Bridge is completely paved until you get to the dirt trail towards the top. Although the path is nice and smooth you should be aware it’s a very steep incline. Stay aware and follow the signs to Marienbrücke, which is the name for the bridge in German.

The hike itself is only about 45 minutes, but it’s an exhausting climb! We were shocked seeing mountain bikers going by us on the way up with how incredibly steep it was. Not realizing how strenuous the hike would be Brigitte wore flip flops… As you can you imagine this didn’t go very well! Hopefully you can learn from our mistakes and remember to pack proper walking shoes.

History of Queen Mary’s Bridge

In 1845, King Maximillian II of Bavaria ordered a footbridge to be built across the Pöllat Gorge. He named this bridge and incredible viewing point after his wife, Queen Mary of Prussia. The bridge was first constructed using timber which didn’t turn out to be the sturdiest of materials. It was replaced and reinforced multiple times, including by Maximillian’s son King Ludwig II using iron.

King Ludwig II, as you may know, is responsible for building the famous Neuschwanstein Castle you can see from the bridge. When you stand on the bridge with upwards of 50 other people, you’ll be happy to know it’s has been restored as recently as 2016. However, the barristers you see holding it up are the same ones from back in 1866!

Our First Impressions of Queen Mary’s Bridge

When you finally get to Queen Mary’s Bridge from Fussen you’ll be shocked to see it for a few different reasons.

The Size: Even thought it sits at a harrowing 90 meters above the Pöllat Gorge, Queen Mary’s Bridge is actually quite short in length. This means it won’t take you very long at all to walk across, so savor your moments!

The Crowds: The buses we mentioned will seemingly pull up every 5 minutes with crowds of people rushing towards the tiny bridge. This makes it uncomfortable and a little but difficult to get pictures, but do your best.

The View: Despite the crowded bridge, the view of Neuschwanstein Castle is remarkable and worth every second of the hike!

More Views of Neuschwanstein Castle

If you want an alternate view of Neuschwanstein Castle without the crowds of the bridge there is a way! Once you get to the other side Queen Mary’s bridge, continue on the path that runs up the hillside. About 10 minutes later you’ll find a glorious undisturbed view of the castle.

Planning on hiking to Queen Mary’s Bridge and have any questions? Let us know in the comments below!

Safe Travels,

Brigitte & Jake



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Where To Stay In Near Neuschwanstein Castle

Ultra Luxury (High End) – Hotel Das Rübezahl – Set at the feet of the Bavarian Alps, this elite hotel will make you feel like a king or queen after visiting Neuschwanstein Castle. The hotel offers upscale rooms with sprawling views.

Fun Vacation (Mid Range) – Hotel Alpenstuben – Located right at the entrance to both Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle, it isn’t possible to get closer to the action. This means you can spring out of bed and start exploring before everyone else arrives for the day!

Hostel Life (Budget) – Old Kings Fuessen Design Hostel – Unfortunately, there aren’t any hostels right at the entrance to Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle. However, just a short distance away you will find accommadation in Fussen. This upscale hostel offers a warm community feel in the middle of all the Fussen action.

For more places to stay near Neuschwanstein Castle or Fussen you can explore the latest prices here!

*By booking through our website we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This allows us continue our travels and keep providing great content to our readers! You can also bookmark this link for all your future stays*