abbynicole27

We only have time and money to visit one of these castles - which is the most wonderful?

Seamus

Tough call, but if pressed I'd go with Neuschwanstein because it is more of a "fairy tale" castle. If you are a Wagner fan, though, I'd choose Hohenschwangau.

maitaitom

I've been to both and enjoyed them both. I believe a ticket to one is 9 Euros each while a cumulative ticket to see each in one day is 17 euros each.

If you really only can see one, I guess my pick would be Neuschwanstein because you can take a hike up to the bridge afterward and get the spectacular views.

I actually thought that Hohenschwangau was the more interesting of the two, because Ludwig actually lived there. How long are your going to be there?

I know you're traveling on a budget, but for a total of 16 euros more, I'd go to both.

I also read a couple of other posts. The Sound of Music Tour is fun, but it took the better part of the day, so I guess it all depends on how much of a SOM fanatic you are.

On your last question, I'd spend my time in Salzburg instead of Innsbruck, which did not enthrall me. But that said, I love salzburg, so my opinion is not entirely impartial.

abbynicole27

This will be a day trip from Salzburg. Definitely from the outside, N'stein looks more interesting. Are the interiors significantly different? (we don't really care about the history)

Chicago_Heather

Not to offer a strange suggestion, but have you thought about each visiting 1 of the castles? But, if I were traveling all the way from Salzburg, I would cut 8 Euro elsewhere from my budget and see both.

bettyk

Having been herded through Versaille like cattle, we decided not to take the tour of Neuschwanstein due to the hordes of tourists that were there. What we did do was walk over where you can get the fantastic views of the castle and then took lots of pictures. It's definitely worth a look, but only if you can put up with the crowds.

mikemo

Skip both and visit Burg Eltz.
M

maitaitom

"Skip both and visit Burg Eltz."

I also love Burg Eltz, but the 12 hour round trip drive from Salzburg might be a tad much. However, if abbynicole27's trip takes her near Burg Eltz, I'd certainly recommend it.

indytravel

They're very different so it's hard to compare.

Neuschwanstein is huge on the inside so it feels like a real castle. But it's empty. It has great wood working, some nicely tiled floors and a throne room. I especially liked the kitchens. It has almost no furnishings, paintings, books, anything.

Hohenschwangau is smaller, has more regularly sized rooms and feels more like your rich aunt's old home. It has lots of antique stuff in it furniture, paintings, carpets.

I visited most recently midweek in April 2000. Hardly any crowds which was very nice. My previous visit was on an August holiday in 1990. I recall waiting almost 3 hours to start my tour of Neuschwanstein.

Either way make sure you hike up behind Neuschwanstein for the spectacular view down the stream towards the castle and out into the valley.

Curt

It is easy to do both in same day especially if you are driving rental car. I would do both.

TopMan

I would have to agree with the characterization of Neuschwanstein and its interior "emptiness" although from the outside it is pretty spectacular, especially given its perch, the turrets, and all those other images of it you've seen over the years. And it looks like a (fortified, i.e., the smaller windows, etc.) castle as opposed to a palace.

There is a hike up the hill, or you can usually ride the horse-drawn wagons for a fee.

Of the four places that Ludwig had built (the others being the largest of them all at Herrenchiemsee which is truly a "miniature Versailles" complete with a scaled down "Hall of Mirrors" and the fantasy-oriented (in the interior, at least) Linderhof, I'd say Neuschwanstein is certainly the best known, undoubtedly the most photographed, and the most spectacularly-situated of them all. Just be prepared for a little "less than spectacular" once you get inside. But kids (of all ages) love the place and for good reason.

AisleSeat

I would join the folk who are suggesting that you skip lunch and do both castles. Hohenschwangau will really show you what it was like for the people who lived in a castle and you will get a feeling of history.

Neuschwanstein is a little like visiting a movie set. It was built to be a showpiece and then basically never moved into.

Hohenschwangau is very interesting but it would be a shame to go all that way and say we couldn't spare the time or the dime to do the most famous castle in the world.

RufusTFirefly

The entire story surrounding Mad King Ludwig and his castles is the real attraction for me. Visiting the castles themselves drives home what was happening at that time in Bavaria--and other parts of Europe as well--in terms of the continuing downward slide of monarchies, and the rather grotesque remains of the feudal system.

Neuschwanstein is a bizarre and beautiful confection created by a tortured mind with the power and money to fulfill its strange fantasies. Hear the story, and see the reality of it at Neuschwanstein.

And while it is mostly unfinished inside, it is not completely empty; several rooms were completed and are very interesting. There were only 15 rooms completed, but the detail and craftsmanship in those few rooms are well worth seeing.

As others have pointed out, the views of the castle from outside are fantastic.

abbynicole27

thanks for the advice so far. We'll probably decide when we get to Salzburg - based on how our budget is going so far and how much sightseeing we want to do